Chamber and committees

Part 5, Chapter 1 of the Digital Economy Act 2017 relates to improving Public Service Delivery. It includes regulation-making powers in relation to the disclosure of information by a public authority (or persons providing services to a public authority) to other public authorities (or persons providing services to them). The Scottish Ministers will consider how best to make use of the regulation-making powers it has under Part 5, Chapter 1 but there are no firm plans yet in place to lay any such regulations. There would be consultation on any proposals in line with the provisions of section 44(4) of the 2017 Act. Any regulations made by the Scottish Ministers under Part 5, Chapter 1 would be subject to the affirmative procedure in the Scottish Parliament.

The Scottish Government consultation on increasing organ and tissue donation set out workable proposals for a soft opt out system of organ and tissue donation which were significantly different from those in the Transplantation (Authorisation of Removal of Organs etc.) (Scotland) Bill. The proposals can be found here: https://consult.scotland.gov.uk/health-protection/organ-and-tissue-donation-and-transplantation/supporting_documents/00511160.pdf.

The Scottish Government intends to introduce legislation during this Parliament which will provide for a workable soft opt out system of organ and tissue.

The Audit Scotland report used the Scottish Funding Council’s (SFC) infact online database in order to calculate Full-Time Equivalents (FTE) for the 20 incorporated colleges in Scotland.

The infact database can be used to split the number of FTE’s down by a number of variables, including individual college as Audit Scotland have done, however it does not have an accurate estimate of SDS Employability fund supported FTEs: https://stats.sfc.ac.uk/infact/index.htm

A more appropriate measure of students who are supported at college by SDS is the Funded FTEs as published by the SFC in the Official Statistics ‘College Statistics 2015-16’ publication. This shows that of the 117,204 Scottish Government funded FTEs delivered in 2015-16, an estimated 750 of them were funded through SDS’s Employability Fund: http://www.sfc.ac.uk/communications/Statisticalpublications/2017/SFCST032017.aspx (available in the background data file - Figure 3)

The Get Ready for Work programme was superseded by the Employability fund in 2013-14.

Scottish Government officials have engaged with the Home Office and Police Scotland to clarify the position on immigration compliance and enforcement patrols in Scotland relating to EU nationals rough sleeping. The Minister for International Development and Europe has written to the UK Immigration Minister expressing our concern that we were not consulted in advance of these measures being adopted, and seeking assurance from the UK Government that EU Treaty rights, and the dignity of EEA nationals, are being respected.

Officials are also working with the COSLA Migration, Population and Diversity Team to understand the extent of these patrols.

The Scottish Government is clear that any enforcement measures taken must be humane and respect the rights and dignity of migrants, particularly those who may be vulnerable or at risk. EEA nationals, who exercise their right to free movement within the terms of EU law to move to Scotland, have a legitimate reason to be here and will continue to be welcomed.

The Scottish Government was not consulted by the UK Government or officials, nor have we received information from City of Edinburgh Council in respect of immigration compliance and enforcement patrols of EU nationals rough sleeping in Scotland. Scottish Government officials have however engaged with the Home Office and Police Scotland to clarify the position.

The Scottish Government strives to present a balanced assessment of our education system and encourages others to do likewise. The number of our young people leaving school for a positive destination is at a record high of 93.3 per cent. Success in national qualifications is well documented. In every school visit, Scottish Ministers meet confident, engaged young people who have a huge contribution to make to society. We would encourage everyone, including all members of the Scottish Parliament, to reflect the strengths and achievements that they see in the schools in their constituencies in their own dealings with national and local media.

The use of undercover officers is an operational matter for the Police Service of Scotland.

The Scottish Government is committed to creating a modern, inclusive Scotland which protects, respects and realises internationally recognised human rights. We fully support the existing human rights protections found in the European Convention on Human Rights, given domestic effect through the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Scotland Act 1998, and also the safeguards contained in EU Law. These rights belong equally to all people and the Scottish Government will continue to work with public, private and third sector partners to achieve a shared vision of a Scotland where everyone can live with human dignity.

The training of police officers, in whatever discipline, is a matter for the Police Service of Scotland.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-03262 on 5 October 2016. 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