Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government will continue to advance the case for Scotland to remain in the European Union, or failing that within the single market and customs union.

That notwithstanding, the principles of equal treatment and non-discrimination apply to procurement exercises not only as a matter of European law, but also apply to the award of regulated public contracts as a matter of domestic law, by virtue of the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014.

The Scottish Government is also committed to equal treatment and non-discrimination in the awarding of its grants and is required to comply with domestic equality law in the Equality Act 2010 and the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012.

Significantly reducing health inequalities is a top priority.

We are addressing root causes through a wide range of action to tackle deep-seated poverty and inequalities in wider society. This includes investment of over £125m in 2018-19 on welfare mitigation and measures to protect those on low incomes in the face of the UK Government’s cuts and continued austerity.

We are making progress against our public health priorities and taking action to ensure this continues. For example, the Tobacco Action Plan published in June focusses on health inequalities and targeting smoking rates in communities where people find it most difficult to quit. The introduction of minimum pricing at 50 pence per unit on 1 May 2018 is a key milestone on our journey to tackle alcohol misuse in Scotland. Our diet and healthy weight delivery plan sets out our vision for everyone in Scotland to eat well and have a healthy weight, and our ambition to halve childhood obesity by 2030 and significantly reduce diet-related health inequalities. We are currently consulting on world-leading measures to restrict promotions of junk food.

And with CosLA, in 2019, we will establish a new public health body, Public Health Scotland, building on the work of NHS Health Scotland and the Scottish Public Health Observatory to focus the whole system on factors which reduce inequalities and have the greatest impact on healthy life expectancy.

The Scottish Government will review the National Planning Framework (NPF), including the Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) after the Planning (Scotland) Bill has been considered by the Scottish Parliament. Our policy approach to planning for housing is expected to change as a result of the Bill. Our existing guidance - Planning Advice Note 2/2010 - Affordable Housing and Housing Land Audits, will be reviewed in relation to the new policy.

In the meantime, as confirmed in a letter from the Chief Planner issued in November 2017, the policy position on planning for housing is set out in Scottish Planning Policy (SPP), supported by Planning Advice Note (PAN) 2/2010.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-18388 on 20 September 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

Skills Development Scotland is committed to improving the success of individuals with dyslexia as set out in out in their five year Equality Action Plan, published in December of 2015. The Equalities Action Plan Update Year 2 was published in August 2018:

The update can be viewed at: https://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/media/44830/apprenticeship-equality-action-plan.pdf

Skills Development Scotland has a specific focus on the promotion of apprenticeship opportunities to those who influence young people’s career ideas and aspirations, including our careers advisers, education practitioners and parents. This work will consider the differing needs of Skills Development Scotland's customers, including parents of individuals with learning disabilities.

A programme of capacity building for Skills Development Scotland contracted training providers has been developed to help support them in developing their knowledge and ability to recruit and support young people with learning difficulties on their Apprenticeship journey.

Skills Development Scotland has also committed to offer support for Apprentices who have more complex needs and this will include disability awareness training for the employers of these individuals which will be delivered by Open Doors Scotland.

The Additional Support for Learning Legislation has specific provisions relating to transitions. Where a child or young person is expected to leave school (at the end of primary school or when leaving secondary school) the education authority has a duty to request from the appropriate agency or agencies as thought fit, information about provision which the agency/agencies are likely to make for the child or young person on leaving school. Appropriate agencies may include social work services, health boards and Skills Development Scotland. This should take place no later than 12 months before the expected leaving date.

The Scottish Government aims to ensure that all young people have a positive destination when leaving school. It is important that the assessment information gathered by staff in school over the year is given to the young person and their family and that they understand the value of the report so they can use this when discussing their support needs in post school situations.

The Addressing Dyslexia Toolkit helps teachers and practitioners meet the needs of pupils with dyslexia. This online national tool identifies best practice for all education staff in schools including post school transitions.

In our Programme for Government last year, we committed to providing access to free sanitary products in schools, colleges and universities and in the majority of local authorities this is being delivered on educational establishment premises. While the numbers of home schooled children are not centrally held by the Scottish Government, we have stated in our new Programme for Government that we aim to increase the number and range of places where sanitary products are available for those who need them.

I have not met, nor have any current plans to meet Engender to discuss planning matters, but I have noted their correspondence relating to the Planning Bill. My officials met with Engender on 18 May 2018 and are arranging to do so again this autumn, following Stage 2 of the Planning Bill.

The Scottish Public Finance Manual provides guidance on accountability arrangements for the use of public resources, such as grant payments. It requires that certain conditions should be satisfied before grant funding is awarded, including the standing and relevant experience / expertise of the prospective recipient and any delivery partners.

The Manual sets out that; ‘Grant funding provided by the SG must be subject to the lead business area being satisfied as to the standing and relevant experience / expertise of the recipient and any delivery partners.’

Workers have the right to attend their work without fear of harassment, bullying or physical harm, and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect at all times. Therefore, we would also expect any recipients of Scottish Government funding or grants to have in place robust governance processes that protect individuals’ health, safety and wellbeing in the workplace.

We are fully committed to Fair Work and endorse the vision set by the Fair Work Convention for fair work to be embedded in all workplaces by 2025. To that end, we have committed to publishing a Fair Work Action Plan before the end of this year. Legislative powers of the labour market are reserved but the action plan will set out how we plan to use the levers we do have to deliver Fair Work in workplaces across Scotland.