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

SPS welcomes the inspection report from HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland (HMIPS), and we are encouraged to hear that the Chief Inspector believes that Scotland is ‘leading the way when it comes to managing women in custody’.

SPS acknowledges that it has been just over a year since the opening of HMP & YOI Stirling, and although the report highlights many areas of good practice, there are areas where further development is needed. We are in the process of working through these areas for those in our care, our staff, and our neighbours.

SPS will work collaboratively with HMIPS on the recommendations made and will provide updates to HMIPS on the actions taken forward in the areas that require further development.

We are confident that our transformative and groundbreaking Strategy for Women in Custody, supported by significant investment from the Scottish Government, has delivered a step change in how we support the rehabilitation of women in our care.

The ALACHO report reflects the significant pressure and increasing demand for homeless support in some local authority areas. However, these challenges are experienced differently across the country and are not universal across Scotland. Although 10 local authorities have declared housing emergencies, which is reflective of the pressures they are experiencing, the report states a number of local authorities are showing an improvement compared to the results in November 2023.

There are many variables for the reasons behind the increased pressure in some areas and local, targeted solutions that consider the needs of each locality are required. Since taking up my role as Housing Minister I have been meeting, and I will continue to meet, with Housing Convenors from across local authorities to discuss issues that are particular to their area and how the Scottish Government can best support them.

The report shows that, although the early prisoner release programme presented a risk in terms of potential impact on homelessness services, this was largely mitigated by early involvement of ALACHO in discussions throughout the planning and delivery of the emergency release processes. This was in addition to information on planned releases shared by the Scottish Prison Service with each local authority area prior to each tranche of releases.

This report highlights the increased demand for temporary accommodation, but not all temporary accommodation is unsuitable. Most households living in temporary accommodation are living in local authority or housing association properties. Some households chose to wait for an offer that fully meets their needs and, in some circumstances, this can take time.

Every local authority in Scotland has the legal duty to provide accommodation for people facing homelessness but we know demand for housing has been exacerbated by the pandemic, which has led to increased pressures for local authorities. When the Scottish Government declared a housing emergency in May earlier this year, we were clear that there needs to be an all-agency approach from partners – including the UK, national and local governments – to address the challenges in the housing and homelessness sector.

Scotland has an effective strategy to end homelessness (Ending Homelessness Together) and an ambitious housing strategy (Housing to 2040). There is widespread support for both from across the sector and there is confidence that they remain the right long-term plans.

We are progressing activity across the three pillars I set out in my statement to Parliament on 20 June 2024:

• delivering more high quality, permanent homes – growing the economy and supporting affordable housing as a vital public service through increased private and public sector investment;
• ensuring that the homes we are delivering are the right homes in the right places - working with local authorities so that that the Affordable Housing Supply Programme continues to support assessed investment priorities based on Local Housing Strategies and Strategic Housing Investment Plans and that the programme has maximum impact on local pressures; and
• ensuring there is a settled home for everyone who needs one#x200f#x200f – with continued effort to address high numbers of people – and particularly children – in temporary accommodation and preventing homelessness before it happens. 

In 2023-24, we invested £83 million of the Affordable Housing Supply programme to enable local authorities and registered social landlords to acquire almost 1,500 properties of the right types and in the right places for use as high quality, affordable, permanent homes. In 2024-25, we will invest almost £600 million in affordable housing, including an additional £40 million to bring existing homes into affordable use through acquisitions and, where appropriate, also bring long term voids back into effective use. By utilising these routes to boosting affordable supply we can deliver homes at pace and scale helping to reduce the number of households in temporary accommodation and the pressures local authorities are experiencing. 

However, the financial constraints we are working within requires actions to be prioritised. There are things we are doing to make the best of the resources we have, alongside taking actions which do not rely on finance, and there is lots of work already underway across the sector. Ministers and COSLA have taken action to address issues around energy supply to void and new build properties. ALACHO has agreed to work with us to take this forward national guidance on flipping and we continue to engage with stakeholders on the Housing Bill.

Work continues to support housing supply and looking for the most effective and efficient ways to deploy our resources. We want to target our efforts where the greatest harms are being experienced while considering the wider operating environment for housing and how we best sequence and phase activity. The review of the deliverability of the AHSP and the work of the Housing Investment Taskforce are also underway and will give us a further set of actions to work towards.

The action we have set out provides a solid strategic and action-focused approach from which we hope all of the key partners are willing to work together.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-28955 on 28 August 2024.

Building regulations set out technical requirements applicable to building work to protect the public interest. The Scottish Government publish technical handbooks which explain how to achieve the requirements set out in the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004. Work to improve compliance with building regulations is at the core of the current work of the Building Standards Futures Board. Information on this work can be found at: https://www.gov.scot/groups/building-standards-futures-board/.

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

Our Young Carer Grant is the only benefit if its kind in the UK, supporting young carers in Scotland to access the same opportunities as their peers. An Interim Evaluation, published in August 2021, confirmed the grant has made a positive impact on young carers’ ability to take part in opportunities, increased their sense of choice and control, and made a positive impact on their mental wellbeing.

The Young Carer Grant is one part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to recognising the contributions of young carers across Scotland. Young Carers aged 11 to 18 can also access non-cash benefits and support through the Young Scot Young Carers Package, which provides tailored discounts and opportunities including high value e-vouchers, wellbeing boxes and vouchers for family days out.

Routinely collected data on the waiting time for a diagnosis of endometriosis are not available.

However, in 2024 Endometriosis UK published a report based on a survey of 4,371 people who received a diagnosis of endometriosis from a medical practitioner or following a diagnostic intervention. The report suggested that the current average waiting time for a endometriosis diagnosis in Scotland is now 8 years and 10 months.

Endometriosis has two stages of diagnosis, a working diagnosis at primary care level and a confirmed diagnosis via laparoscopy at secondary care. Not everyone with endometriosis will want to have a laparoscopy to confirm their diagnosis, particularly if their symptoms can be well managed.

We know that excessively long waits for laparoscopy are not acceptable and we apologise to all patients waiting too long. We are determined to drive improvements in this area and continue to work closely with NHS boards and stakeholders on a number of actions which will see patients treated as quickly as possible.

We want people to achieve a working diagnosis as soon as possible to enable swift access to appropriate care and treatment. Through the actions set out in our Women’s Health Plan we have taken steps to support both women and health professionals to learn more about endometriosis, the symptoms and treatment options.

Pre-release planning, including in relation to housing needs, was a key feature of the recent emergency early release process. 

Scottish Prison Service (SPS) worked closely with representatives from Local Government – including housing departments, wider public bodies, and the third sector in the planning and operation of the process.

SPS officials conducted an expedited pre-release process to help prisoners identify their needs, and supported their engagement with relevant community services. That included establishing their housing status and making referrals, as required, to Local Authority housing departments. 

Releases were staggered across four separate tranches, which enabled service providers to better support those released. SPS notified Local Authorities and key stakeholders of planned releases, to each area, prior to each tranche.

For those nearer to their expected liberation date, any planning would have been underway, in line with the Sustainable Housing on Release for Everyone (SHORE) Standards.

As is normal practice, Local Authorities allocate housing in their area, including to those released as part of the emergency release programme, where necessary, in line with local resources and demand.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-28987 on 28 August 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility, which can be found at: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

The Scottish Government recognises that Tourism is a vital part of the Scottish economy both nationally and locally.

We are working closely through the Visitor Management Group with the relevant agencies, Local Authorities and National Park Authorities to ensure those visiting areas of natural beauty are aware of their responsibility in respecting the local environment. The Group was established in 2020, by the then Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Tourism, because of tourism pressures in rural areas. It meets regularly with a cross Government approach to address issues caused at rural pinch points in scenic countryside areas. This includes addressing such issues as managing visitor dispersal, the impact of motorhomes, littering, environmental damage, public toileting and antisocial behaviour.

VisitScotland undertook research, on behalf of the Visitor Management group, in 2023 to better understand the motivations and behaviours of people visiting Scotland in campervans and motorhomes. The full results are here:

Motorhomes, Caravans and Camping - Industry Research | VisitScotland.org

The research found that many visitors do wish to do the right thing and are actively seeking out information on issues such as parking and waste disposal. We all want to see responsible tourism, which balances the needs of local communities, visitors and the environment. The response to any visitor pressures needs to be a combination of visitor messaging, encouraging responsible behaviour and visiting at quieter times of year, alongside practical responses such as improved infrastructure, as well as engagement and education.

In that regard, VisitScotland will continue to promote responsible visitor messaging, and we will do that alongside partners such as local authorities and others who lead on infrastructure and ranger services. In more extreme cases it will be for local authorities, roads authorities or Police Scotland to manage any infringements.

VisitScotland promote Sustainable and Responsible Tourism in Scotland on their website Scotland's Responsible Tourism Promise | VisitScotland and A Guide to Outdoor Safety in Scotland | VisitScotland.

Although the access rights enshrined in the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 relate to responsible rights of non-motorised access to land, the three key principles within the accompanying Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC) provide useful general guidance: that people should respect the interests of other people, care for the environment, and take responsibility for their own actions. The SOAC provides further advice on how to wild camp responsibly, should those using motorhomes decide to hike from their parking space. Local authority and National Park Authority access officers take the lead role in assisting land managers to manage access.

We would ask that all visitors to our rural areas behave in a manner that respects and protects our environment so everyone for generations to come can enjoy the great Scottish outdoors.

We have committed to consider the justification for and practical operation of Compulsory Sales Orders and to reform the existing compulsory purchase process. We need to properly and fully consider the justification and benefits of introducing Compulsory Sales Orders, against a complex practical and legal background, and to make sure they would be compatible with Convention rights.

Local authorities already have broad compulsory purchase powers, which can and are used for a range of purposes including to bring vacant and derelict property back into productive use. As part of our work to reform and modernise compulsory purchase, a Practitioner Advisory Group was set up in February 2024, and we are engaging with it and wider stakeholders to help us develop our reform proposals, with the aim of a public consultation in autumn 2025. Further information on the reform programme is available at https://blogs.gov.scot/planning-architecture/2024/07/09/compulsory-purchase-reform/