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It is for the Church of Scotland to make decisions about its estate management based on the changing needs of its own membership.

The Scottish Government has been engaging with Historic Environment Scotland, Church of Scotland and other stakeholders on the closures of historic and listed churches. We will continue to work closely with the Church of Scotland and leaders of all faiths and denominations, to regularly discuss issues impacting on their communities.

The Scottish Government understands the benefits of reusable nappy use in relation to reducing household costs in addition to reducing the impact on the environment.

Following the concerning news regarding the liquidation of TotsBots Ltd, our Baby Box Managing Agent ensured that all outstanding orders for a reusable nappy pack that had been sent to Tots Bots were fulfilled. Our Baby Box Managing Agent subsequently appointed a new reusable nappy supplier on 22 November who are providing the same offer as Tots Bots when parents return a pre-paid voucher or register via a QR code. The reusable nappy pack offer provides one waterproof nappy wrap and five stay dry nappy pads to try for free and offers a 15% discounted rate on future purchases. All families who received a Baby Box whilst the programme was without a nappy supplier have now been contacted and offered the opportunity to claim a reusable nappy via the new supplier.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-23097 on 4 December 2023. 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 .

• Monitoring compliance with Fair Work First principles, including the requirements to pay workers at least the real Living Wage and provide appropriate channels for effective voice, is the responsibility of individual grant managers across government and of relevant funders across the wider public sector, including through our Peatland ACTION programme. It takes place within existing grant assurance and monitoring processes, as with any other condition of grant, such as agreed outcomes.
• Peatland Action partners comply with these principles as part of their own procurement frameworks that govern the respective grant agreements. They do this through a range of measures like mandated self-declaration when applying for grants and the regular liaison with the contractors during the course of ensuing works including site visits.

With regard to the reasons behind the rationale for budget reprofiling, the exceptionally challenging financial conditions as outlined in the letter from DFM and Cabinet Secretary for Finance to the Convenor, regarding “Update on 2023 – 2024 In Year Budget Changes” on the 21 November 2023 advise these.

The CfWT was intended to be a “centre of expertise” to test new ideas around post-pandemic ways of working, providing research and advice to support innovative solutions to improve workplace productivity and wellbeing as well as being the support mechanism for the 4DWW pilot. There are a number of institutions and programmes dedicated to improving workplace productivity and wellbeing and engaging with businesses at scale.

The work of the enterprise and skills agencies is closely aligned to the aims of the CfWT. For example, Scottish Enterprise’s Workplace Innovation service helps businesses to implement fair and innovative people practices that have positive impacts on performance, productivity, engagement and wellbeing. Likewise, Highland and Islands Enterprise Innovation Programme helps organisations to improve productivity by increasing sales through the development of new products or services, or making process improvements through adopting technologies or new working practices. These initiatives play an important role in promoting ‘what works’ in improving workplace productivity and wellbeing, and proactively communicating these messages to businesses.

Just Transition Plans for sectors, sites and regions will be a key vehicle for managing our rapid transformation to a net zero, climate resilient economy. Plans are outcome-focused and our national just transition outcomes explicitly call for climate action that helps businesses thrive, supports fair work and good, green jobs and enhances wellbeing. We began with our draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan (JTP) and will be followed by JTPs for Agriculture and Land Use, the Built Environment and Construction, and Transport, as well as a site-based plan for the Grangemouth industrial cluster.

There are also synergies with the CFWT concept’s focus on the future of work and our commitment to explore ways of promoting and encouraging flexible and inclusive workplaces that benefit all workers. We are currently providing £153,575 in funding to flexible working experts, Flexibility Works, to promote and support employers across Scotland to adopt flexible workplaces.

Information on the allocation of CashBack funding is only formally collected at a local authority level. The total funding allocation to Fife local authority area between 2008 and March 2023 was £4,124,198.

Estimated funding of £1,061,633 is attributed to the Cowdenbeath constituency during that same period. This includes funding of £745,761 that was allocated to organisations delivering project activity based in the area (Scottish Sports Futures, Basketball Scotland, Boxing Scotland and the Scottish Football Association). The remaining funding was shared between organisations that supported individuals or groups across Fife and were available to children and young people in the Cowdenbeath constituency (Access to Industry, The Prince’s Trust, YouthLink Scotland, Youth Scotland and The Venture Trust).

Phase 6 of the CashBack for Communities programme runs from April 2023 to March 2026. The current estimate of spend across the Fife area is £1,036,803. Of that funding, an estimated £543,266 is currently attributed to the Cowdenbeath constituency, based mainly on anticipated project delivery in that area by Scottish Sports Futures and Starcatchers.

Details of all the Phase 6 CashBack partners and information on project delivery by local authority area are available on the CashBack for Communities website: https://cashbackforcommunities.org/

• The Scottish Government funds five direct delivery partners on an annual basis, based on the government wide capital spending allocations as agreed by Cabinet. These five direct delivery partners are NatureScot, Forestry and Land Scotland, Cairngorms National Park Authority, Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority and Scottish Water.
• These delivery partners then sub-contract physical restoration works to organisations in the third sector and private sector contractor companies.
• Contracts for peatland restoration are issued on a composite unit cost basis. Therefore, labour costs – for example machine operator wages – are not itemised separately.
• As each individual project across delivery partner and geographic location can vary significantly, it is not possible to determine an average labour cost across or within the delivery partners.

Adult Disability Payment provides support for people who have a long-term disability or health condition. To be entitled for Adult Disability Payment an individual must have had needs relating to their disability or health condition for 13 weeks before entitlement can begin, although they can apply before the 13-week period is complete. This means that, if they are awarded Adult Disability Payment, payment can be backdated to the date they became eligible.

Where an individual has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, their application is fast-tracked and they are automatically eligible for the highest level of award without being required to meet the 13-week period.

The application process for Adult Disability Payment has been designed with disabled people to ensure it is as straightforward as possible and support is available to help people apply.

Scottish Government guidance is reviewed and updated regularly to ensure that information for the public and workplaces aligns to current policy. Policy is driven by the latest data, evidence and expert advice and is reflected in the communication of guidance. Throughout the pandemic public health advice on a range of complementary protective measures has been provided. When restrictions were in place (up to April 2022) advice was in place through guidance to support understanding and adherence of restrictions. Since the lifting of restrictions, guidance offers practical, risk-based advice on how to build infection resilience to respiratory infections including COVID-19, for individuals and workplaces. Any change in response will be driven by the data and evidence gathered, as well as expert advice.