Chamber and committees

The impact of climate change policies on disabled people is a key consideration in just transition planning. We are currently engaging widely on priorities for our Just Transition Plans to ensure the transition to net zero and climate resilience reflects the needs of everyone across Scotland before developing the specific policies and engaging in bilateral meetings at Cabinet Secretary level. We are currently working with several disabled people’s organisations to enable them to engage with their members on our behalf and ensure that the needs of disabled people are reflected both in the Plans, and in wider Scottish Government policy.

The Scottish Government has a duty to ensure that Government policies protect the rights of disabled people and reduce inequalities. Strategies, Plans and policies related to net zero, energy and transport are thoroughly assessed to ensure they do not discriminate against disabled people through our Equalities Impact Assessment requirement.

We also engage with protected groups to develop fair policy. Examples include engagement on Scotland’s Accessible Travel Framework and co-designing Just Transition Plans for the energy and transport sectors.

We are currently working with several disability organisations to enable them to engage with their members on the development of our Just Transition Plans, to ensure the needs of disabled people are reflected both in the Plans and in wider Scottish Government policy.

We funded ASH Scotland and Young Scot to develop online resources on vaping which are available for young people, and their teachers or carers on the Young Scot website. We are working with colleagues in Education to review additional resources on vaping and tobacco smoking to ensure they provide the best impact.

However, it is up to individual schools to decide what to teach against the experiences and outcomes of the Curriculum for Excellence. Children and young people will learn about a variety of substances, and explore the impact risk taking behaviour has on life choices and health.

Enforcement of legislation around the sale and purchase of nicotine vapour products (NVPs) is carried out by Local Authorities as part of the Enhanced Tobacco Sales Enforcement Programme (ETSEP). This is overseen by the Society for Trading Standards Officers in Scotland (SCOTSS) and funded by the Scottish Government.

SCOTSS membership includes representation from every Scottish local authority trading standards service. We regularly meet with SCOTSS, our last meeting took place on 21 June 2023, and our standing agenda includes enforcement in relation to NVPs and tobacco.

Through this engagement, we continue to support strong national and local alliances to tackle the availability and sale of tobacco and NVPs to under 18s.

The Scottish Government continues to make progress on drafting the refreshed Tobacco Action Plan and this is due to be published in Autumn 2023.

The Plan will renew our focus on meeting our ambitious target of a Tobacco-Free Scotland by 2034. We are considering a range of evidence, including the latest international evidence, and are working closely with stakeholders, including Smoking Cessation Co-ordinators, ASH Scotland, the Poverty Alliance, Trading Standards and PHS to deliver actions that will further reduce the smoking rates.

The suitability of Zero Direct Emission Heating Systems is dependent on a number of factors, including, for example: the age of the property, its location, available space, and any energy efficiency improvements that have already been installed or are required to support the efficient operation of a zero direct emissions system.

Home Energy Scotland (HES), administered by Energy Saving Trust on behalf of the Scottish Government, is a domestic advice service that acts as a single point of access for free, bespoke, impartial advice on energy efficiency, renewable heating and fuel poverty support in Scotland. HES provides in-depth support to householders on low and zero emissions heating technologies, other domestic renewables and more complex energy efficiency improvements.

Later this year we will publish our Heat in Buildings Public Engagement Strategy, outlining how we will work with stakeholders to increase public awareness and understanding of the need to transition to renewable heating, the different technological options available to achieve this and how to access existing advice and support.

The Scottish Government places great importance on sport and leisure facilities, they are vital in supporting the physical and mental health of the nation.

sport scotland, our national agency for sport, is working with Scottish Swimming to undertake a review of the facilities estate. This will improve the understanding of the current swimming pool facilities provision and help to predict the landscape in the short, medium and long term to ensure the sustainability of these important facilities. This review will contribute to a better understanding of how we can best support facilities in Scotland.

In the interim, it is vital that all partners at a local level work together to explore all avenues and approaches, to ensure that local clubs and communities have access to sport and leisure facilities.

(a)The Scottish Government supports the installation of solar panels on public sector buildings through the Scottish Green Public Sector Estate Decarbonisation scheme which provides several funding routes for public sector organisations to decarbonise their buildings.

The deadline for receipt of the first quarter of the ASP minimum dataset (April – June 2023) was the end of July 2023. We intend to review the data quality and comprehensiveness of the initial submissions and expect to publish results when we are assured that the new collection is providing a robust national picture of Adult Support and Protection in Scotland.

Tackling poverty and protecting people from harm is one of three critical missions of this government.

The Tackling Child Poverty Ministerial Oversight Group, which I will convene, will provide Ministerial-level oversight and assurance of the delivery of the actions set out in Best Start, Bright Futures.

Scottish Child Payment is already delivering targeted support directly to our priority family groups, as set out in our Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan. This payment is not available anywhere else in the UK – and it is available because this Government is prioritising lifting children out of poverty, despite our constrained resources.

Due to Scottish Government policies an estimated 90,000 fewer children are expected to live in relative and absolute poverty this year.