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I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

The standard operating procedure relating to the admission of transgender people in custody has been developed and is nearing the final stages of the approval process.

The Scottish Government, in its Scottish Connections Framework, committed to collaborate across our full network – our international offices, including SDI, GlobalScots, Trade and Investment Envoys and public bodies – to map and engage our diaspora.

This will be an ongoing task as we discover more about our international diaspora, rather than a discrete project with a beginning and end date. Progress will be reported in the biennial review of progress towards implementing the Framework.

The Framework also committed to publish a digital directory of diaspora organisations hosted on scotland.org. which will launch in 2023.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-18236 on 8 June 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

The Scottish Government, in its Scottish Connections Framework, committed to trial the launch of Instagram channels in targeted international markets. Adding Instagram channel capacity in specific locations will allow the Scottish Government to more closely engage with diaspora members in country and build on the audience base from existing social media channels.

The Scottish Government plans to launch at least one additional Instagram channel in a priority diaspora market by the end of 2023. A final launch date will be confirmed in due course in consultation with officials advising on this location.

The Scottish Government, in its Scottish Connections Framework, committed to pilot a Scottish Connections Fund to support the aims of the Framework.

The fund will support initiatives that bring together those with a connection to Scotland, promote Scotland’s reputation and interests, and build greater connections back to Scotland itself.

The fund will be open to bids from both individuals and organisations within Scotland’s diaspora networks. We will publish details of the fund in 2023, including the amount available.

As set out in our 2021 manifesto and confirmed in the Framework for Tax 2021, we are committed to reducing the Higher Property Rate, ensuring that the largest businesses pay the same combined poundage in Scotland as in England by the end of this parliamentary session.

Since the Barclay Review made this recommendation, we have introduced the Intermediate Property Rate on 1 April 2020. On 1 April 2023, we increased the rateable value threshold at which the Higher Property Rate applies, from £95,000 to £100,000. As a result, over 95% of properties are liable for a lower poundage rate in Scotland than in anywhere else in the UK.

Budget decisions are made annually in light of affordability.

Local authorities were responsible for the administration of the Tenant Grant Fund given their knowledge of local need. Each local authority provided the Scottish Government with quarterly returns showing spend against their funding allocation. Data on full versus partial mitigation of arrears was not provided routinely by all local authorities.

The quarterly information collected was published on the Scottish Government website here: Tenant Grant Fund monitoring report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) and is summarised below.

The Scottish Government, in its Scottish Connections Framework, committed to establishing an external advisory group drawing on the knowledge and experience of our international diaspora and from expertise in Scotland and beyond. Officials are currently developing the proposals on the advisory group which will be provided to Ministers for decision. As per the framework the Scottish Connections advisory group will be established in 2023 with exact date to be confirmed. The group will be appointed by the Cabinet Secretary for External Affairs on recommendation from officials, in consultation with relevant policy areas and partner agencies to ensure a broad geographical coverage, and diversity of backgrounds and expertise.

The group’s responsibilities, including whether or not it will be asked to report to the Scottish Government, will be determined by its mandate which is currently being developed. The frequency of the meetings will be agreed by ministers and confirmed at the first group meeting but we anticipate the group to meet at least twice yearly.

There are over 70 HRT products available in the UK and supply issues are affecting only a small number of them.

The Scottish Government are aware that there have been continuing shortages across the UK due to a number of factors. The supply of medicines, including HRT products and the associated legislation, is a reserved matter for the UK Government. We continue to engage with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) to seek a lasting solution.

A series of UK-wide Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) have been issued by DHSC, after consultation with the Scottish Government and other UK administrations, allowing community pharmacists to supply specific alternatives without needing to seek agreement from the prescribing doctor. An SSP is an additional tool to manage and mitigate medication shortages. This gives individuals the option to receive substitute products in a safe and effective way to ensure medication continues to be available to all.

The Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 specifies that before NatureScot can apply to Scottish Ministers for a Land Management Order, they must first have sought to agree a Management Agreement with the respective land manager. It is for this reason that Land Management Orders are only used as a last resort. Since 2019, 58 Management Agreements have been put in place to restore natural features on protected areas and no Land Management Orders have been used.

The City Centre Recovery Taskforce was established in 2021 to identify actions to support city centre recovery from the effects of the COVID pandemic. It was wound up following publication of its report in March 2022 and the Scottish Government is now working with the Scottish Cities Alliance and city leaders to deliver on the report’s recommendations.