Seòmar agus comataidhean

Our analytics tool logs only record 13 months of data for PDF downloads, so we do not have the data for the easy read and translations of this paper as they were published out with this period.

We have previously answered two FOIs on website visits to the Building a New Scotland Papers:

• Unique online visitor statistics: FOI release - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
• Building a New Scotland webpage visitors: FOI release - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Paper title : Independence in the Modern World. Wealthier, Happier, Fairer: Why Not Scotland?

Main paper URL: https://www.gov.scot/publications/independence-modern-world-wealthier-happier-fairer-not-scotland/

Main paper publish date : 14-6-2022

Main paper views in first month (all pages): 82,675

Easy read URL : https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/research-and-analysis/2022/06/independence-modern-world-wealthier-happier-fairer-not-scotland/documents/easy-read/easy-read/govscot%3Adocument/easy-read.pdf

Easy read publish date: 21-8-2022

Easy read views or download link clicks in first month: Historic data not available for this period for downloads

Audio URL: https://youtu.be/oOiOYMYOLYI

Audio publish date : 29-8-2022

Audio link clicks in first month: 13

Community language landing page URL: https://www.gov.scot/publications/independence-modern-world-wealthier-happier-fairer-not-scotland/documents/

Translation publish date: 14-6-2022

Translation downloads in first month: Historic data not available for this period for downloads

BSL YouTube Link : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKT9Qqg_j-0

Date BSL Version Published: 13-6-2022

Views in first 30 days: 120

The Scottish Government is committed to a just transition to net-zero by 2045 in which no-one is left behind. Engagement with business to develop and implement policies is key to delivery of that commitment and is an extensive cross-government effort which is undertaken on both a case by case basis, and structurally across government. For example of the latter, the First Minister Co-Chairs the Investor Panel which covers just transition and net zero; the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands Co-Chairs the Agricultural Reform Implementation Oversight Board; the Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy Co-Chairs the New Deal for Business Group.

We are also engaging widely on the development of our Just Transition Plans, including with businesses and their representative organisations. A dedicated series of engagement on Sectoral Just Transition Plans for the Built Environment and Construction, Transport, and Land Use and Agriculture was undertaken with SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) in summer 2023.

In 2024 we will be continue our engagement on development of our new Adaptation Programme and new Climate Change Plan and a new Green Industrial Strategy will help businesses realise the enormous economic opportunities of the global transition to net zero.

The external costs associated with the production and publication of the paper ‘ Renewing democracy through independence’ were published in the answer to question S6W-11002 on 23 September 2022. Additionally, there were launch costs for travel, for staff and external attendees, a BSL interpreter and audio visual equipment which totalled £1718.60. 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 .

We have previously answered two FOIs on website visits to the Building a New Scotland Papers:

• Unique online visitor statistics: FOI release - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
• Building a New Scotland webpage visitors: FOI release - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Paper title: Migration to Scotland after independence

Main paper URL: https://www.gov.scot/publications/building-new-scotland-migration-scotland-independence/

Main paper publish date: 3-11-2023

Main paper views in first month (all pages): 22,790

Easy read URL: https://www.gov.scot/publications/building-new-scotland-migration-scotland-independence-easy-read/

Easy read publish date: 3-11-2023

Easy read views or download link clicks in first month: 2,150

Audio URL: https://on.soundcloud.com/TfSaz

Audio publish date: 3-11-2023

Audio link clicks in first month: 20

Community language landing page URL: https://www.gov.scot/publications/building-new-scotland-migration-scotland-independence/documents/

Translation publish date: 3-11-2023

Translation downloads in first month:

Arabic: 15

Bengalii: 6

Bulgarian: 2

Cantonese: 13

French: 16

Gaelic: 12

Hindi: 8

Italian: 1

Mandarin: 9

Polish: 1

Punjabi: 4

Romanian: 2

Russian: 6

Spanish: 15

Ukrainian: 4

Urdu: 29

BSL YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpPkTZ2ZVv8

Date BSL Version Published: 3-11-2023

Views in first 30 days: 18

The recent concerns noted around Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) are acknowledged by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) and partner agencies. Where the material is in poor condition, has degraded or has been incorrectly installed, there could be a greater risk of weakness or collapse which could present additional safety implications. Where RAAC is identified through SFRS Operational Intelligence information gathering or a Fire Safety Enforcement audit, SFRS staff will record information regarding any affected buildings. This allows SFRS to develop a tactical plan to protect firefighters and minimise risk to the wider public in the event of any emergency incident. The safety of fire fighters is paramount and during an incident SFRS will undertake a dynamic risk assessment where necessary to take into account all potential risks, including the presence of RAAC.

The Scottish Government microplastics monitoring programme began in 2013, and has undertaken annual surveys since that time. The Scottish Government has conducted an initial assessment for microplastics in surface water, which was published in Scotland’s Marine Assessment 2020, using data from 2013-14 to 2019-20. This assessment can be viewed at https://marine.gov.scot/sma/assessment/microplastics-surface-water

There is currently no internationally agreed baseline for microplastics in surface water, which is mainly due to very few countries conducting this sampling. The sampling of microplastics in surface water generates highly variable data. Due to this variable nature, the data Scottish Government currently holds is not sufficient to produce trends, and several more years of sampling would be needed for a scientifically robust analysis to be conducted and support future assessments.

Our microplastic sampling compliments our wider marine litter monitoring programme and outputs from this have been used to inform the action plan of our revised Marine Litter Strategy published in 2022. All of these actions help address microplastic pollution as they target macro litter which can break down into microplastics, such as fishing gear and wet-wipes containing plastic, as well as microplastics directly in the form of plastic pellets. Plastic pellets are the second largest source of primary microplastic pollution globally. Our work on pellets has been ground breaking and used to inform multiple outputs: the first internationally applicable Publicly Available Specification which is a form of standard published by the British Standards Institution and sets best handling practice requirements for businesses, an internationally adopted recommendation for pellet handling and certification schemes through the Oslo Paris Convention, and our work has also supported the development of a European certification scheme to prevent pellet loss. This follows a previous action on microplastics in the form of legislation to ban microbeads from rinse-off personal care products in 2018.

Transport Scotland collects and uses a range of data on transport from a variety of sources. These incorporate collection methods that remained relatively unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as automated traffic counters, recorded ticket purchases, and other operational data.

Throughout the pandemic period, Transport Scotland published a range of data regarding travel, providing an ongoing insight into the impact of the pandemic ( https://www.transport.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/analysis/ ).

The key survey source for transport data is the Scottish Household Survey (SHS). The SHS collects a range of data on people’s transport and travel habits in Scotland, including a record of all the journeys they made the day before the survey interview.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the survey was adapted in 2020 and 2021, including a change from face-to-face interviewing to telephone. However, since 2022, the SHS has returned to being a face-to-face interview, primarily administered in people’s homes. The survey is operated using an established methodology and collects data from a representative sample of around 10,000 Scottish Households.

The Scottish Government has already announced that the annual report and results from the 2022 Scottish House Condition Survey will be published in February 2024.

The figures in the following tables represent the number of members of the Scottish Teachers' Superannuation Scheme (STSS) and Scottish Teachers' Pension Scheme 2015 (STPS 2015) who have opted to retire before the respective scheme's Normal Pension Age (NPA), in each of the last five years. The information includes only members employed by local authorities and is broken down by local authority area. Information is not held centrally on whether these members were primary or secondary teachers.

From 1 April 2022 all active members joined the STPS 2015. Table A shows members who have retired from the STSS before their NPA, which is age 60 for those who joined the scheme before 1 April 2007 and age 65 for those who joined thereafter. Table B shows members who retired from the STPS 2015 before their NPA, which is the later of age 65 or State Pension Age. Some members may be represented in both tables as they may have taken pension benefits from both schemes before the NPA in each scheme.

Table A: Scottish Teachers' Superannuation Scheme

It is not possible to provide information on staffing costs for this work because in line with usual practice, details of individual tasks carried out by civil servants, including the number of hours spent on them, are not routinely recorded as there is no business need to do that.