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As set out in our response to the Temporary Accommodation Task and Finish Group recommendations, there are a number of reasons a property can become void. We will therefore work with each local authority, starting with the areas facing the greatest temporary accommodation pressures, on the solutions to accelerate void processing that are right for them.

We are in discussions with the Scottish Housing Regulator, the Association of Local Authority Chief Housing Officers, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, the Glasgow West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations, COSLA and Shelter to agree what changes could be made in the next two to three years that would reduce the turnaround time for vacant social homes. We will confirm specific actions in due course, once agreed.

The answer to S6W-20289 on 16 August 2023 makes clear that we are currently unable to say how many households will be directly lifted out of temporary accommodation.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Information about the levels of introgression in rivers flowing into Loch Shin is contained in the first assessment of genetic introgression in wild salmon in 2021: A national assessment of the influence of farmed salmon escapes on the genetic integrity of wild Scottish Atlantic salmon populations | Marine Scotland Data Publications – see pages 26/27.

Rivers from the Kyle of Sutherland area were included in the National Introgression Programme for Scotland (NIPS) survey as additional targeted sites within the Shin system. No introgression was detected in rivers in the Kyle out with the Loch Shin system, but introgression was detected in 3 of the 7 sites in the Loch Shin system itself. These three sites were those closest to freshwater smolt rearing facilities. Sampling around Loch Shin was repeated in 2021 and further sampling is being undertaken in 2023 with survey sites within the Loch Shin system now included as an integral part of the NIPS survey.

The source of escaped fish in the Shin system was examined by Marine Scotland in 2018 with the results published in a peer-reviewed scientific paper: Identification of the farm of origin of Atlantic salmon smolt escapees in a freshwater Scottish loch using single-nucleotide polymorphic markers | ICES Journal of Marine Science | Oxford Academic (oup.com) .

At this time the loch contained two fish farms which each used salmon from different strain/hatchery origins. Genetic analysis was able to identify escaped fish from both farms within the system. The non-random nature of fish collection and trapping locations prevented determination of either absolute proportions of escapees in the entire Shin system or escape proportions from each site. However, it was clear that fish from both farms had escaped.

Currently we have not undertaken any modelling and do not have an estimate of property acquisitions likely to be supported. All acquisitions will align with Local Housing Strategies.

The Scottish Government considers the conversion of temporary to permanent accommodation an effective measure to increase the number of social homes. We encourage local authorities to ‘flip’ a tenancy wherever the property is in the right location, and of the right size and type to meet the household’s requirements. Large scale flipping of tenancies can be particularly effective in areas where the greatest pressures in temporary accommodation are experienced.

In our response to the Temporary Accommodation Task and Finish Group recommendations, we said that we will work with COSLA, the Association of Local Authority Chief Housing Officers and the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations to develop national guidance to encourage more effective stock management by the end of this year.

The advice provided on the Scottish Government website is correct. Home owners may use either sealed battery or mains-wired fire alarms to meet the Tolerable Standard guidance. The Building Standards Domestic Technical Handbook 2022 sets a higher standard requiring two power supplies for new buildings under the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004, as amended.

Since 1 February 2022, the Tolerable Standard has required every home in Scotland to have interlinked smoke alarms and a CO alarm where there is a carbon-fuelled appliance.

This requirement already applied to new build and private rented properties since 2013. The Tolerable Standard ensures the same level of protection now applies to all tenures, regardless of whether someone owns their home or rents from a private or social landlord.

The Tolerable Standard sets out the following requirements for coverage in every home:

• One smoke alarm installed in the room most frequently used for general daytime living purposes (normally the living room/lounge);

• One smoke alarm in every circulation space on each storey, such as hallways and landings;

• One heat alarm installed in every kitchen;

• All smoke and heat alarms to be ceiling mounted; and

• All smoke and heat alarms to be interlinked.

Having an interlinked system means the occupier will be alerted immediately, regardless of the room in which the alarm is triggered, increasing the chance to escape.

Sealed battery alarms or mains-wired alarms are compliant with the standard. Both types of alarm are interlinked by radio frequency and do not need WiFi.

If battery alarms are used, they must be sealed tamper-proof units and have long-life lithium batteries. Batteries last for the duration of its operational lifespan, which may be up to 10 years or more - although sensors degrade over time.

The Tolerable Standard is a minimum standard, and does not preclude more effective or extensive systems provided that they meet the basic requirement of (a) a secure power source for the lifetime of the unit, and (b) effective means to provide an immediate alert in the event of any part of the system being actuated.

New build homes and homes undergoing refurbishment work that requires a building warrant are required to comply with the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004, as amended. Guidance on this is set out in the Building Standards Domestic Technical Handbook. This requires that smoke alarms be mains operated with battery back-up and all alarms interlinked.

However, long-life and tamper-proof battery powered alarms have been allowed as part of the Tolerable Standard in recognition that it may not be possible or may be prohibitively costly to install mains powered alarms in existing properties where there is no refurbishment work planned.

The Scottish Government is committed to the creation of a Scottish Veterinary Service (SVS) to ensure there are highly trained staff to provide Scotland with good animal health and food safety to meet all our needs across the public and private sector for animal health issues.

A Programme has been established to manage the work required to create an SVS, which includes determining which functions the Service should deliver, and conducting a financial appraisal of the operational and investment costs of the Service.

All potential functions considered for future delivery by the SVS are already funded by the Scottish Government under a variety of arrangements. The financial appraisal will assess how consolidation under a single body provides opportunities to enhance quality, efficiency, resilience and value for money.

The Marine Directorate’s Science, Evidence, Data and Digital Portfolio published its first assessment of genetic introgression in wild salmon in 2021: A national assessment of the influence of farmed salmon escapes on the genetic integrity of wild Scottish Atlantic salmon populations | Marine Scotland Data Publications .

The research found evidence of introgression at 23% of the sites examined. Further, the patterns of introgression detected were not uniform across the country. Rather, signs of introgression were concentrated in areas of marine aquaculture production and freshwater smolt rearing. Outside these areas, little to no genetic changes were detected. The results highlighted how important it is to prevent farmed fish escapes, to protect the integrity of wild salmon populations in areas of aquaculture production.

This was the first report of the National Introgression Programme for Scotland (NIPS), sampling took place between 2018 and 2019. NIPS is an ongoing nationwide project that is researching the link between fish farm escapes and introgression in wild salmon populations. In 2021 a second NIPS survey was conducted across the country with samples and data from this currently being analysed. A further NIPS survey was also initiated in 2023 and sample collection is now underway. Analysis of the NIPS surveys from multiple sampling years will provide a picture of temporal changes in levels of introgression.

A series of meetings, both at a political and official level, are underway to engage with local authorities on the Scottish Government’s response to the recommendations of the Temporary Accommodation Task and Finish Group. We are aware that there are some areas of the country where this work is less urgent, such as local authorities where registered social landlords (RSLs) have a low supply of stock or the type of stock is not in demand.

We are working with the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations and the Glasgow West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations and other partners to identify ways to target action on the local authorities with the greatest temporary accommodation pressures, including some stock transfer authorities. We will report on outcomes from these discussions in due course.

As outlined in the answer to S6W-20375 on 16 August 2023, the national acquisition programme is part of the wider Affordable Housing Supply Programme. No civil servants will be assigned solely to work on the national acquisition programme.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers