Chamber and committees

The latest Higher Education – Business and Community Interaction (HE-BCI) Survey Report by the Higher Education Statistics Authority (HESA) was published on 04 April 2023. This survey includes information on the number of active spin-offs founded at Scottish Higher Education Institutions, the turnover generated at these spin-offs as well as employment numbers.

We plan to bring forward legislative proposals based on our New Deal for Tenants consultation as soon as possible after the Summer recess.

We recognise the health and wellbeing benefits having a pet can bring and our New Deal for Tenants sought views on proposals to give tenants greater rights to keep a pet.

Scottish Government officials engaged with Battersea Dogs & Cats Home to discuss their Pet Friendly Properties report and how these recommendations could work with tenants, landlords and pets. Officials also engaged with Cats Protection regarding their Purrfect Landlords campaign and to consider ways to encourage more landlords to allow pets in their properties.

We are currently considering responses to the consultation as we develop proposals for future reform and will continue to liaise with all stakeholders during this process.

Scotland's Blue Economy Vision has been developed from the fundamental principle that Scotland's economy is embedded within nature, not external to it. At its core, our Vision recognises that economic prosperity and well-being are underpinned by nature and in order to secure long term economic prosperity from our seas, we must transform our economy and society to thrive within the planet’s sustainable limits.

The marine sectors within Scotland's Blue Economy depend on nature but current trends in nature degradation place a significant risk on Scotland's economic prosperity.

Scientific studies indicate that fish stocks can increase in HPMAs, providing spill over benefits for fishers and making sure there are sustainable levels of fish and other marine products to be derived and benefitted from our seas. For example, a study by Lenihan et al in California has shown spill over benefits with increased stocks of spiny lobster.

As set out in our initial consultation, which closed on 17 April, any specific potential impacts can only be considered once specific site proposals have been developed, following close stakeholder and community engagement.

The requested information is not held centrally. The Official Statistics on Police recorded crime include offences recorded under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, such as section 1 on dogs bred for fighting and section 3 on keeping dogs under proper control. However they do not identify specific circumstances where an individual has been harmed.

As the Rural and Islands Housing Fund is part of the Affordable Housing Supply Programme, the Scottish Government will consider any additional costs associated with improved quality standards for homes delivered through the Rural and Islands Housing Fund and those additional costs will be accounted for in the affordable housing investment benchmarks which determine how a project is appraised.

Scottish Government officials work closely with the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), which provides leadership and advice to Scottish Ministers, local authorities, and the wider libraries sector.

In 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23, we provided funding of £665,000 to SLIC as recognition of the importance of our public libraries, and as an expression of our support for the excellent services they provide. This is on top of the Scottish Government’s general revenue funding to local authorities and includes the Public Library Improvement Fund that supports creative, sustainable and innovative public library projects throughout Scotland.

The Scottish Government’s Youth Employment Strategy – Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) has, since its inception in 2014, remained committed to supporting young people by ensuring that a wide range of pathways and routes into apprenticeships are open to young people. As part of that, we created Foundation Apprenticeships (FAs), with partners across the education and skills system. FAs provide a combination of qualifications and work-based learning for young people in the senior phase of school.

Since their introduction in 2016, 15,371 school pupils have enrolled on an FA and they are now available across all Local Authorities. FAs are now recognised by all Colleges and Universities in Scotland and Scottish Government worked with the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) to ensure that FAs have UCAS tariff points for universities. Work has also been undertaken to ensure that FAs at SCQF Level 6 are appropriately recognised in schools metrics.

Skills Development Scotland (SDS) undertakes activities to support greater parity of esteem and to encourage pupils to take up apprenticeships. SDS careers advisors deliver information sessions on apprenticeships to all pupils in S2 and S3 as they approach option choices. SDS engages directly with parents and teachers to raise awareness of apprenticeships. FA webinars were held in January and March 2023 with a panel of apprentices, employers and teaching staff to share their experiences. Apprenticeship teaching resources are available on SDS’ My World of Work, this includes an FA Schools Toolkit for teachers and a refreshed apprenticeship CPD module for teachers.

SDS also lead on the annual Scottish Apprenticeship Week campaign, which includes a wide array of school activity, with the aim of promoting Modern, Foundation and Graduate Apprenticeships to young people.

DYW Regional Groups also work with SDS, colleges and training providers to highlight the importance of vocational pathways, including apprenticeships to help young people develop key skills and transition to work. This work is enhanced through the placement of DYW School Coordinators in every mainstream secondary school, to highlight work-based learning and help people take that path that is right for them.

The Scottish Government meet weekly with the team at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to discuss their capital investment plans, including redevelopment of the Institute of Neurological Sciences in Glasgow.

This information is not held centrally. Criminal Proceedings data counts people proceeded against and convicted in Scottish courts. It does not include details of disposals relating to animals.