STPR2 did not recommend further work on the business case development for this proposed fixed link after the preliminary appraisal stage.

This was on the basis that the assessment work had highlighted significant issues in relation to topography and infrastructure requirements needed for this option.

As a result the option was assessed as not offering “value for money” and consequently was not considered further in the appraisal process.

The Access to Argyll and Bute (A83) project announced a recommended preferred route corridor through Glen Croe in March 2021. This will help address the strategic need to improve connectivity to the Argyll and Bute region.

Details of the number of asthma annual review appointments is not collected centrally. However, the Scottish Government recognises that annual asthma reviews are an important element in enabling people with asthma to self-manage their condition. That is why asthma reviews form an important priority in our Respiratory Care Action Plan for Scotland and are already a key recommendation in national clinical guidelines.

Since the start of the pandemic, the NHS in Scotland has been dealing with the unprecedented impact of COVID-19 which meant that some procedures and appointments were postponed to ensure the safety of patients and staff. This has resulted in many appointments being delivered differently or being delayed due to the additional challenges in delivering services.

However, we fully expect that patients be treated in line with their clinical priority and in these circumstances, we expect GP Practices to schedule appointments or advise of alternative arrangements as soon as clinically appropriate.

We advise anyone who has any concerns regarding their asthma to contact their GP practice. They will be best placed to provide specific advice and support based on individual circumstances.

Our response to the recommendation of the Climate Assembly agrees with the need for review of regulation to further improve energy and environmental standards for new homes. It noted the relevance of the current review of Scottish building regulations, due to be completed this year. It provides an assurance that the outcome sought by the recommendation will be reported on, as part of the current review of standards.

I can confirm that we are looking at opportunities to move to Passivhaus or an equivalent standard within the timescale indicated by the Assembly. I have asked that work on this topic be undertaken over the coming months, in support of the ongoing review of Scottish building regulations and for this be reported back to the Assembly as work progresses.

On 26th January the Scottish Government published its draft vision for Scotland’s future public electric vehicle charging network and announced its plans for a new £60m public electric vehicle infrastructure funding programme. This recognises that to grow Scotland’s public charging network we will need to attract commercial investment which can potentially secure significant opportunities to anchor well-paid, high-quality jobs across Scotland.

The vision acknowledges that the public sector will have a critical role in attracting investment in public electric vehicle charging infrastructure through partnership working with the private sector. Local authorities will continue to plan outcomes for local areas including development of public charge point strategies and community engagement around these. This new approach to growing Scotland’s public electric vehicle charging network potentially enables a variety of charge point ownership and operator models, which could include community initiatives, particularly in rural areas. There is also potential to deliver community wealth building opportunities through local public procurement exercises and targeting socially inclusive investment to support local jobs.

STPR2 did not recommend further work on the business case development of this proposed fixed link after being considered at the detailed appraisal stage.

An engineering assessment of the shortest possible road tunnel and alternate bridge option, which measured 15kms and 12kms respectively, concluded that both options were currently impractical to construct. The tunnel on the grounds of fire safety and the bridge due to the potential length of span required over the deepest section of water.

Furthermore, while the STPR2 Case for Change for the Highlands and Islands Region highlighted issues relating to the resilience of island connections, no analysis undertaken through the STPR2 process supported a conclusion that a fixed link connection between the Orkney Islands and Scottish mainland would address this strategic problem. Instead, STPR2 recommendation 24, recommends the renewal and replacement of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services and Northern Isles Ferry Services vessels including progressive decarbonisation by 2045.

The Heat in Buildings Strategy confirms our intention to introduce, subject to consultation, regulations requiring Scotland’s homes to meet EPC Band C equivalent, where that is technically feasible and cost effective from 2025. We plan to consult during 2022 on our proposals for such regulations, and this will include details of any exemptions including those linked to cost and availability of finance, clarity on the burden of responsibility, and matters relating to compliance and enforcement.

Adults and children with a learning disability who were coded in their GP systems, have now been invited for vaccination as at-risk groups. Criteria from the Green Book (GB) was used to develop queries to run across GP IT systems to identify and extract data on those identified as being eligible based on GB criteria. In addition, the Scottish Government has worked across carers and disability policy areas to cascade information via the third sector to organisations who support people with a learning disability – to further highlight this offer.

Under the Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland Regulations 2020, producers must register with SEPA either directly or via a scheme administrator for their products to be sold legally onto the Scottish market. In line with the full implementation date that I announced in my statement to Parliament on 14 December 2021, the window for producers to make such registrations will run from 1 January-28 February 2023.

SEPA’s digital registration service is currently in development and will be online from 1 January 2023 in accordance with the producer registration window.

The 2021 consultation on the draft Heat in Buildings Strategy included 7 consultation workshops, which were open to all interested participants. Of the 156 attendees, 147 identified themselves as representing an organisation. Workshop attendees were not asked to register their personal circumstances, so information on how many were off-grid householders was not recorded.

The Scottish Biometrics Commissioner was created through legislation introduced by the Scottish Government to the Scottish Parliament in 2019. The first Commissioner, Dr Brian Plastow, was appointed by Parliament and took up post in April 2021. The Commissioner’s main function is to support and promote the adoption of lawful, effective and ethical practices in relation to the collection, retention, use and destruction of biometric data for criminal justice and police purposes.

The scope of the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner Act 2020 allows for the Commissioner’s oversight role to be extended to cover other bodies that have criminal justice or policing functions. Therefore, additional legislation would be required in order to broaden the Commissioner’s remit to include the use of facial recognition technology used in schools, shops, supermarkets and other public places. Consultation with the bodies affected and proper reflection would be required before any such legislation could be considered.