The Scottish Government has robust security policies and procedures in place, with training and guidance available for all staff to help them understand their security responsibilities. Steps include adhering to best practice in password management and using features such as two-factor authentication which is available on most social media platforms. The Scottish Government is not responsible for the cyber defence of the platforms themselves, but we refer to the UK Government’s SAFE Framework which outlines a set of standards for digital brand safety and includes the requirement for platforms to commit to cybersecurity.

The Scottish Government runs a number of accounts on social media platforms. Responsibility for uploading content to these accounts lies with the teams who manage those accounts. There are currently four social media managers with specific responsibility for uploading content to the Scottish Government’s primary social media platforms. An additional 112 Communications staff have access to carry out this task as part of their wider role and responsibilities. Outside of the Communications Division this task could form a part of many other roles and is not formally captured or recorded .

The Scottish Government does not have access to information about cyber security incidents affecting social media platforms, except where they have been publicly disclosed by the platforms themselves. We refer to the UK Government’s SAFE Framework which outlines a set of standards for digital brand safety and includes the requirement for platforms to commit to cybersecurity. We hold no record of Scottish Government accounts on social media platforms being compromised as a result of hacking.

The Scottish Government's Communications Division has not had any meetings with Meta on this topic.

Information on Ministerial engagements is routinely published on the Scottish Government website and can be found at: www.gov.scot/collections/ministerial-engagements-travel-and-gifts/ .

Information on Ministerial engagements prior to May 2016 can be found at: https://www.webarchive.org.uk/wayback/archive/20170401123936/http:/www.gov.scot/About/People/14944/Events-Engagements/MinisterialEngagements .

Scottish Ministers have a statutory duty to manage and maintain the trunk road network in line with the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984. There is no legal requirement for Scottish Ministers to pay compensation for loss of business, inconvenience or additional motoring costs as a result of road closures required for road maintenance.

Homelessness data, which includes information about temporary accommodation placements, is available for all local authorities from 2017-18. The following table shows the lower (a) and upper (b) quartile of total time in days spent in temporary accommodation for households with homelessness applications that closed in each year from 2017-18 by household type. The figures are based on homelessness applications with at least one associated temporary accommodation placement.

Lower (LQ) and upper (UQ) quartile of total time (days) spent in temporary accommodation, by household type: 2017-18 to 2021-22

(a)The Scottish Government does not hold information on the number of Pharmacy places available at universities in each of the last five years. With the exception of controlled subjects, the Scottish Government does not direct individual universities on the allocation of funded places for eligible Scottish students, and it is for each university to decide how to distribute its funded places between faculties and courses. This approach also applies to Pharmacy courses, which are not controlled subjects.

The following tables show the number of full-time entrants to undergraduate and postgraduate pharmacy courses at Scottish universities.

Data has been provided in two tables due to a change in the subject classification coding used by universities in 2019-20.

Full-time Entrants to Pharmacy Courses at Scottish Providers, by level of study

My officials in Transport Scotland have advised that neither they, or the south west unit Operating Company, Amey, are aware of any reported major concerns from the community regarding the impact of planned maintenance closures on the A76 trunk road near Upper Nithsdale.

Transport Scotland, through its Operating Companies, consider local communities and affected businesses during the works planning and consultation process. For planned closures, consultation with the community and business groups is undertaken as part of the planning process, to consider the specific concerns and needs of those parties. Where possible, works are scheduled to avoid busier periods and times. This helps to minimise impacts on road users, businesses and local communities, with operating company contracts including specific times on certain routes where planned works are to be avoided.

In Autumn 2022 Transport Scotland launched a national marketing campaign across TV, radio, digital and social media and outdoor advertising channels. This has significantly increased awareness and understanding of the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme, and has encouraged even more young people to apply.

Additionally, since January 2022, Transport Scotland has undertaken extensive stakeholder communications to encourage uptake. This includes providing informational and promotional materials and advice to over 300 private, public and third sector organisations who work with children, young people, families, those in poverty, disability and carers groups, and others who may benefit from the scheme.

In October and November 2022, communications materials were also issued directly from Transport Scotland to all 2,500 Primary and Secondary schools across Scotland, providing access to bespoke resources and advice to communicate about the scheme with their pupils and families.

Information and resources for stakeholders are available on the freebus.scot website , which have already been widely used.

Transport Scotland continues to reach out to existing and new stakeholders to promote the scheme and encourage more young people to benefit.