Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-19709 on 14 November 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-19709 on 14 November 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

Fit for the Future – The Report of the Independent Review of Legal Services Regulation in Scotland was published on 23 October 2018. We are considering the recommendations in detail and will publish a Scottish Government response. To inform this response I will be meeting with a range of stakeholders representing consumer interests and the legal sector.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-19709 on 14 November 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

The operational deployment of police officers is a matter for the Chief Constable of Police Scotland. The Scottish Government's Fair Work agenda asks that all employers respect personal and family life and we also expect all employers to work within the working time legislation.

The Scottish Government will submit its initial views to the Department for International Trade (DIT) on the issues raised by the consultation on possible accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans – Pacific Partnership as part of our involvement in the development of future UK trade policy. We will share our views.

In line with the approach set out in Scotland’s Role in the Development of Future UK Trade Arrangements: A Discussion Paper we expect to undertake further discussions with DIT and other devolved administrations to develop a UK wide approach to these and any future trade discussions to ensure that the interests of Scotland are taken into account.

The Scottish Government will submit its initial views to the Department for International Trade (DIT) on the issues raised by the consultations on trade negotiations with Australia, New Zealand and the United States as part of our involvement in the development of future UK trade policy. We will share our views.

In line with the approach set out in Scotland’s Role in the Development of Future UK Trade Arrangements: A Discussion Paper we expect to undertake further discussions with DIT and other devolved administrations to develop a UK wide approach to these and any future trade discussions to ensure that the interests of Scotland are taken into account.

Councils are independent bodies, and it is for them to decide how to deliver their services and meet their obligations.

I am informed by Food Standards Scotland, the independent food body for Scotland, that it has carried out a number of Capacity and Capability Audits of Local Authorities over the past two years. Audits of Local Authorities' food enforcement services are part of Food Standards Scotland's arrangements to improve consumer protection and confidence in relation to food.

Following each audit, the Local Authority is expected to draft an action plan to address the recommendations made within the report. I am informed that Food Standards Scotland follows up all action plans resulting from these audits and works with the Local Authorities until they are satisfactorily implemented.

I am informed by Food Standards Scotland that Edinburgh City Council has put an action plan in place to address the overdue inspections and unrated businesses highlighted within the Capacity and Capability Audit report, and that this will be followed up by Food Standards Scotland as described above.

I am informed by Food Standards Scotland that information on staff engaged in food law enforcement activity in the year 2017-18 was reported to them by local authorities.

Details of the reported numbers are as follows:

The Scottish Government welcomes Reform Scotland’s "Breaking the Languages Barrier” report. As the report itself notes, the Scottish Government is committed to language learning and the value it brings to both individuals and wider society. We will consider the report’s recommendations carefully as part of our ongoing work with partners to grow language learning at school.

Much of what the report recommends is already part of the Scottish Government’s 1 +2 policy, including our aim to increase language learning at all levels in schools, starting from P1 ,rather than focus solely on qualifications. The 2018 local authority languages survey shows that at least 91% of primary schools in Scotland now provide continuous learning in at least one other language from P1 onwards. and are providing a wide variety of second additional languages from P5 onwards, including Chinese and Urdu.

The report calls for an audit of language teaching capability in primary schools. This was carried out by local authorities in 2013. Since 2013, we have provided local authorities with an additional £27.2million to assist them with the implementation of the 1+2 policy.

The report also calls for a greater focus on community languages, including through the involvement of parents. We encourage schools to involve native speakers in language learning including parents, modern languages assistants and university students. Scotland’s National Centre for Languages actively promotes and supports parental and family engagement in language learning in schools.

Additionally, the Scottish Government provides updates on the implementation of our languages 1+2 policy to the Parliament’s Culture, Tourism, European and External Relations Committee every six months.