Chamber and committees

Based on data provided by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) (academic years 2017-2023) and Skills Development Scotland (2020-2023), the number of employers supported in each year since the start of the Flexible Workforce Development Fund (FWDF) is set out below. Please note that the SFC element of the 2022-23 figure is based on interim data which will be finalised in the coming months.

There are two commitments relating to FAST In the Stroke Improvement Plan 2023:

1. Establish the current degree of public understanding of FAST stroke symptoms and the action required, and whether certain at-risk groups require different messaging.

2. Support the delivery of FAST campaigns, working with third sector organisations, and ensure messaging reaches all at-risk groups.

Work to establish the existing understanding of stroke symptoms and FAST, including variations across demographics, has been completed via quantitative research.

The findings of this research will help to inform the strategic direction of a future stoke marketing campaign. The Scottish Government does not yet have a finalised timescale for running a campaign.

The Scottish Government has no plans to issue guidance on political activity in schools during a General Election period. This is a matter for local authorities who have the statutory responsibility for the delivery of education.

It is important that our pupils understand the democratic process in Scotland, the UK and further afield. Learning and teaching should be conducted in a non-partisan and non-party political basis. Local authorities have a role in ensuring their schools can engage confidently with election issues and that balance and impartiality are respected.

In November 2023 Scottish Government published a consultation on Proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill. This included proposals to set a Heat in Buildings Standard, which would prohibit the use of polluting heating systems after 2045 and require homes to meet a minimum energy efficiency standard. The consultation also asked for views on how to monitor and enforce this Standard, including the role for modifications and exemptions. The consultation closed in March 2024 and independent analysis of the c.1650 responses is currently underway. We will use this analysis to help our thinking going forward, and the First Minister will set out his policy and legislative priorities for the remainder of the parliamentary session in due course.

The Scottish Government welcomes publication of the Infected Blood Inquiry’s final report and thanks the Chair for his work in producing such a comprehensive document. The Scottish Government pays tribute to all those who have been infected, their families and support organisations and reiterates our sincere apology to those who have been infected or affected by NHS blood or blood products. A copy of the Inquiry’s final report is available online at www.infectedbloodinquiry.org.uk/reports/inquiry-report .

The Scottish Government will consider this report fully and is setting up an Oversight Group to help consider the Inquiry’s recommendations for Scotland. That group will involve senior staff from NHS Boards and the Scottish Government, along with charities representing the infected and affected.

There are no current plans to revise the rules governing political impartiality in schools. This is a matter for local authorities who have the statutory responsibility for the delivery of education.

It is important that our pupils understand the democratic process in Scotland, the UK and further afield. Learning and teaching should be conducted in a non-partisan and non-party political basis. Local authorities also have a role in ensuring their schools can engage confidently with election issues and that balance and impartiality are respected.

The UK Spring Budget, announced by the Chancellor on 6 March, generated £293 million of resource consequentials for 2024-25, of which £237 million relates to Health. Health consequentials will be passed on in full to the Health portfolio, in line with our manifesto commitment.

The remaining £56 million of resource funding will be passed on to local authorities to support the Council Tax freeze. This comes on top of the record funding I announced for local authorities back in December.

Disappointingly, Scotland received no new capital or financial transactions funding so the Scottish Government will continue to see a real-terms cut in our capital block grant – a cumulative loss of over £1.3 billion by 2027-28.

The 2023-24 budget in both resource and capital will be delivered on balance, which is a significant achievement given the pressures we have faced. As per normal practice, following the year-end process, Scottish Ministers will confirm the 2023-24 provisional outturn position to Parliament in June.

The Scottish Government has already confirmed to Parliament – at the launch of our consultation on proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill in November 2023 – that decarbonising 1 million homes by 2030 is not achievable. This was based on a reassessment, in the face of the continuing cost of living crisis and higher energy prices, of what would be fair and feasible to achieve over the short term.

Our target for all buildings to be zero carbon by 2045 remains. Shifting more of the transition to clean heat into the early 2030s allows us to benefit from the technological innovation already taking place to build workforce capacity, consumer demand and economies of scale required.

I refer the member to the answers to questions S6W-27379 on 17 May 2024 and S6W-27276 on 14 May 2024.

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 .

Transport Scotland officials meet regularly with officials from Glasgow City Council, to discuss progress and learning around the impact of its Low Emission Zone (LEZ).

Statutory reports on LEZ performance and air quality monitoring are expected from Glasgow City Council in summer 2024 and will be published in due course.