While the Scottish Government keeps legislation under review, we have no current plans to introduce a social responsibility levy.

There are no available estimates on the amount of funds that could be raised on the section 14 provision contained within The Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Act 2010, as this provision has not been enacted.

Scottish Ministers would be required to consult on the draft regulations relating to the social responsibility levy if this provision was to be enacted in the future.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information. The SFRS fleet, its maintenance and usage are matters for SFRS.

It is for each licensing authority to take account of the legislation and guidance, and to agree and publish a local licensing policy and fee structure.

The introduction of Air Departure Tax (ADT) was deferred due to state aid issues raised in relation to the Highlands and Islands exemption. In January 2023, the UK Government replaced EU state aid rules with its own subsidy control regime.

We continue to explore all options to implement ADT in a way that protects Highlands & Islands connectivity and complies with the UK Government’s subsidy control regime.

The Scottish Government recognises the critical role air connectivity plays in the lives of residents and communities in the Highlands and Islands, and in the promotion of sustainable economic growth across the region.

Once a solution to the Highland & Islands exemption has been identified, we will review the rates and bands of ADT prior to the implementation of the tax, to ensure they are aligned with our world-leading climate ambitions.

The UK-wide Air Passenger Duty will continue to apply in Scotland until ADT is implemented.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-12962 on 22 December 2022. The Scottish Government does not hold this level of service detail for Rape Crisis Centres. Rape Crisis Centres are independent charitable organisations which hold their own information on their waiting lists. It is for individual local centres, or Rape Crisis Scotland as the umbrella organisation, to provide this information.

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

There have been no Scottish Fire and Rescue Service stations closed in the last five years. Information regarding the SFRS estate is published annually and can be found here Statistics | Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (firescotland.gov.uk)

As advised in the previous answer, the information requested is not routinely gathered or held centrally by the Scottish Government. Any outstanding liabilities to settle equal pay claims will be reflected in a local authority's annual accounts. Information of this nature can be obtained by approaching individual local authorities or COSLA accordingly.

As outlined in our draft route map to 20% car km reduction, the scale of the challenge means that we need to take forward a broad combination of interventions, including infrastructure, incentives and regulatory actions. However, we are committed to a Just Transition, and therefore agree with the Commission that our approach must take into account the needs of those who may be less able to reduce their car use, such as carers and those living with a disability, or in rural locations.

We are taking an evidence-based approach to what might work to achieve change, including learning from what others are doing across the UK and in other countries. We have commissioned research on equitable options for car demand management. Using the findings of this and other research, we will work with local authorities and regional partners to support equitable measures that will encourage active travel and use of public transport, for a fairer and greener transport system.

However, we do not have all the levers we need, and are limited by UK Government inaction. The most direct levers on the cost of buying or running a petrol or diesel car – fuel duty and vehicle excise duty – are reserved to the UK Government, and reforms to transport taxes will be crucial in meeting net zero targets. We will continue to call on the UK Government to urgently set out options to replace existing motoring taxes, with meaningful consultation and agreement with the devolved nations.

The Scottish Government has robust processes in place for assessing outcomes, performance and value for money in relation to expenditure from Portfolio budgets.

Accountable Officers are in place to ensure that public money is used efficiently and effectively in line with guidance published in the Scottish Public Finance Manual. This includes scrutinising significant policy proposals or plans to start or vary major projects/policies, and then assess whether they measure against the required standards for regularity, propriety, value for money and feasibility.

As you will be aware, the Scottish Government’s National Performance Framework tracks progress toward our national outcomes and the associated national indicators. There are further tools that are more specific to the Education and Skills portfolio. For example, the primary purpose of the National Improvement Framework since January 2016 has been to bring together an enhanced range of information and data at all levels of the system, to drive improvement for children and young people in early learning and childcare settings, schools, and colleges across the whole of Scotland.

Furthermore, all recipients of grant funding receive letters which clearly outline their objectives and expected outcomes from the funding and targets/milestones in which progress against these objectives and outcomes will be measured.

The Scottish Government has not provided direct funding to Clydebank Women’s Aid. However, in 2021 the Scottish Government awarded £2,250,000 of funding, over a three year period, to Scottish Women’s Aid through the 100 Days (Covid emergency) funding. The funding was provided to frontline services for women and girls affected by gender-based violence, to deal with additional pressures that occurred during the pandemic. Scottish Women’s Aid divided the funding amongst local Women’s Aid organisations including Clydebank Women’s Aid.

The main objectives of the 100 days (Covid emergency) funding are to fund additional staff to respond to an increase in demand from victims of abuse for support services; improvements to organisations’ IT and digital resources; and additional training to allow services to be augmented so that more people can quickly and easily access help.