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The responsibility for the review of education authority policy on additional support needs rests with each individual education authority. This is in addition to the requirements of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) Act 2004 (as amended) which requires education authorities to identify, provide for and to review the additional support needs of their pupils. Local authorities are supported to carry out their duties under the Act by the statutory Supporting Learners’ Code of Practice.

Education Scotland works in partnership with the Scottish Government, ELC, schools and local authorities to improve the outcomes and educational experiences for all learners, including those who require additional support through a range of activities. These include:

• Support and challenge from Education Scotland Inclusion Wellbeing and Equality Officers through the national and regional focus
• Information, guidance, professional learning and reflective opportunities which include a focus on additional support needs and inclusion
• The HM Inspection model of education which provides support and challenge to promote improvement for all learners through the fulfilment of statutory duties, inclusion and equality.

The Scottish Government and COSLA published our joint national response to the independently chaired review of implementation of additional support for learning in October 2020. Angela Morgan’s report sets a clear direction in how we can continue to build on progress in this area. The joint action plan sets out the measures we will take to implement her recommendations.

Local authorities should consider these recommendations as part of implementation of additional support for learning policy locally.

We published an updated action and progress report on 1 st November 2021. The action plan and governance arrangements for this work are available from: Additional support for learning action plan: progress report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

Resilience of the Electricity Sector is reserved and therefore the responsibility of the UK Government.

Access to the Priority Services Register is available to anyone that meets the eligibility criteria and individuals can register by contacting their energy supplier or network operator.

The issue regarding compensation schemes is something that would also be best directed to Ofgem.

We will continue to press the UK Government, industry and the regulator for assurance that increased resilience of the electricity networks in Scotland is a priority.

Despite the promised £290 million from the UK Government not turning out to be net additional funding, given the offsetting reductions they applied to their prior funding estimates, the Scottish Government during the Budget Bill Stage 3 debate on 10 February, detailed additional support worth around £290 million for our cost of living response. £150 is being provided to everyone in receipt of Council Tax Reduction, and to everyone in council tax bands A to D, as well as certain households exempt from council tax. This is worth around £280 million, plus £10 million to continue our Fuel Insecurity Fund.

The Scottish Government recognises the important role that energy generated from solar PV can play in contributing to the decarbonisation of Scotland’s energy supply and in securing a just transition to a net zero by 2045.

In developing the vision for the future of solar as part of the forthcoming Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan we will draw on internal analysis and work closely with the sector to explore the potential for solar energy capacity in Scotland .

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-07181 on 24 March 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-07181 on 24 March 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

The Scottish Government works in partnership with the Care Inspectorate, which maintains information on the operating status of social care services including day services. Decisions regarding access to day services are made at a local level by the relevant Health and Social Care Partnership, in line with Covid-19 Guidance issued by the Scottish Government. Services should undertake a risk assessment prior to re-opening, involving the Local Authority, Health Protection Support Teams and the Care Inspectorate. The Scottish Government is in regular contact with HSCPs and Local Authorities and encourages them to open services in line with Covid-19 Guidance where possible.

The Scotland’s Census 2022 contact centre experienced high volumes of calls in its first few days of operation and we are aware that some callers have experienced longer than average wait times at peak points during the day. National Records of Scotland apologise for any frustration this may have caused.

Callers to the Freephone helpline (0800 030 8308) are advised at the start of the call of current wait times and therefore have the option to phone back at a less busy time. An automated option (option 1) is also provided for those wishing to order a paper form. This involves no wait time.

Additional resources have been placed into the contact centre to deal with periods of peak activity. Contact can also be made with the census team via web chat, e-mail or physical correspondence. Contact details can be found here: Contact us | Scotland's Census 2022 . Help and advice on a range of topics is also provided at www.census.gov.scot .

These updates continue to have a positive impact, with general reductions in the average wait times in week 2 and beyond. There is ongoing active monitoring and management of the position to ensure that those that need help are able to speak to an agent.

In the specific context of Scotland’s island communities and Scotland’s Census 2022, we are aware that the most significant barrier is likely to be digital connectivity. The Scottish Government Digital infrastructure strategy aims to: deliver 100% superfast broadband access across Scotland; improve the availability of mobile connectivity across the region, by using linkages to broadband availability; and, ensure the underlying infrastructure is in place to support the future growth of high-bandwidth connectivity.

We want everyone living in Scotland to be included in the Census, including those in harder to reach rural and island communities. Whilst the 2022 census will be predominantly online, paper questionnaires and support materials will also be available for those who are unable, or do not wish to, complete online. In addition, we have also: appointed a Regional Manager, based in Na h-Eileanan Siar, who will help bring local knowledge to our operational plans and support stakeholder engagement and partnerships throughout the highlands and islands; and, appointed Area Managers based in Argyll & Bute, Highlands, Dumfriesshire, Borders, Na h-Eileanan Siar, Orkney and Shetland Islands to support rural and island communities at local authority level. We are also on-boarding field force enumerators who will be allocated all across Scotland (where possible from those communities) to provide national help and support coverage on the ground, and will provide non response follow-up to ensure we are maximising response.

We are monitoring census submissions, nationally, regionally and locally and by Local Authority Area. This will allow us to identify any areas where we need to invest more effort in encouraging and maximising response.

Businesses offering only massage and complementary and alternative medicine services were not within the scope of the Close Contact Services Fund. The Close Contact Fund was targeted at businesses impacted by the necessary public health restrictions introduced to reduce transmission of the Omicron variant. The eligibility criteria for the Close Contact Services fund, which has now closed to applications, is available on the Scottish Government website: Close Contact Services Fund (closed) - Coronavirus (COVID-19): funding for businesses affected by Omicron control measures - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .