The dates of the announcement and establishment of the working groups that are currently active in the Education and Skills portfolio are as follows:

The Scottish Government, in partnership with local authorities, has been pioneering the transition to net zero in schools through the £2bn Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP). The LEIP targets the reduction in operational energy - e.g. heat, light, power, catering and ventilation - in new and refurbished projects.

LEIP funding is predicated on the achievement of outcomes, including measuring the amount of energy consumed in comparison with a set target level. To better understand this issue, a comparison was carried out between schools constructed or refurbished to Building Regulation standards and the enhanced specification required to meet the LEIP level. This included, for example, improved insulation, higher levels of airtightness and controlled ventilation with heat recovery. While the cost of these measures varies depending on the individual project, an assessment indicated that costs were likely to be approximately 5-8% higher. While the target energy level is only mandatory with LEIP projects, local authorities have been adopting this approach in other projects across their estates, as well as looking at other measures that could be adopted such as the use of solar photovoltaics, heat pumps or wind turbines.

As the LEIP continues, further measures are planned to support the transition to net zero. These include using zero direct emissions heating systems, encouraging the use of electric vehicles by providing charging infrastructure and introducing a new target for embodied carbon. The cost of achieving these outcomes will vary with individual projects, however, an assessment has indicated a range of 6-7% extra might be required. Many of these initiatives are already being included in projects within the current phases of the LEIP and in local authority investment in their learning estate.

The Scottish Government does not maintain such a list.

Our 2018 guidance on human rights due diligence sets out recommendations on how we, our executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) should undertake appropriate due diligence on companies, including their human rights record, before entering into an investment relationship with them.

Any indications of concern would be raised with the local authority. The Scottish Ministers would consider how best to support the local authority including and may seek assurance that action would be taken to address concerns.

In a case of serious financial failure, such as bankruptcy, the Scottish Ministers may make use of legislative powers to ensure appropriate steps are taken to remedy the situation.

The number of decisions to refuse applications for onshore wind developments*, with a capacity of less than 50 megawatts, which have been upheld (appeal dismissed) by the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division is set out in the following table.

The number of decisions to refuse applications for onshore wind development which have been overturned (appeal allowed) by the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division are provided as a point of comparison.

The education sector in Scotland has a wide range of different workforces with a range of different pay bargaining arrangements. Pay negotiations and agreements are at various different stages and funding arrangements across the sector vary significantly.

As outlined in the Programme for Government, the Scottish Government is committed to implementing reform of our national education bodies as part of a holistic approach to education and skills reform, building on the recommendations of recent independent reports. An update on plans will be provided to Parliament in the Autumn.

Decisions by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) on the 2023 appeals service were informed by extensive feedback on the 2022 services from the wider education community - including over 3,500 learners, parents, carers, and practitioners, as well as school, college, local authority and teacher and lecturer union representatives on the National Qualifications 2023 Group and SQA’s Advisory Council.

The evaluation of the feedback (as at https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/105647.12132.html ) identified a number of themes in relation to the 2022 service, including that the majority of respondents were concerned about issues relating to perceptions of fairness and equity.

Following careful consideration of these views, the appeals service for 2023 was aligned with the service used before the pandemic, with important enhancements. The service continued to be free and was available to all learners to appeal directly to SQA and, unlike in 2022, the service was available regardless of a learner’s estimate.

The approach taken is comparable with other appeals services in the rest of the UK and internationally.

As with all SQA policy decisions, a full Equalities Impact Assessment was undertaken in relation to the 2023 appeals process. This can be accessed at: https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/files_ccc/eqia-nq-2023-assessment.pdf .

Audit Scotland conduct annual audits of the financial reports of local authorities in Scotland. In addition, Best Value audits ensure that a local authority is delivering its duty of best value and operating in a prudent and sustainable manner. The audit and assurance and best value frameworks are overseen by the Accounts Commission and any risk of bankruptcy should be identified at an early stage.

The Scottish Government also captures and scrutinises local authority financial data and would identify any financial concerns through this process.

The Cross-Sector Working Group on RAAC remains our main forum for engagement with key stakeholders in the private sector. The minutes of the meetings of that group are published on The Scottish Government Website.

Outwith those meetings, officials will also continue to engage with organisations on a one-to-one basis.