The Scottish Government processed payment of £5.7 million (90%) to Angus Council on 10 April this year based on the interim Bellwin claim provided by the council. Following certification of the final claim and the supporting evidence provided, the balance will be paid to Angus Council week commencing 11 November.

The following table gives the number of live homeless applications at December 25th 2023 for each local authority, along with the number of adults and children these applications refer to.

The Scottish Government is committed to introducing a Promise Bill in this Parliamentary term.

The Government’s future legislative programmes will be announced in the relevant Programme for Government in the normal way in due course.

We are currently conducting a number of consultations which will inform the next steps on key areas and, where appropriate to inform The Promise Bill.

This includes the next stages of reform of the children’s hearing system; the future of foster care; the definition of care experience; and the support available to those moving on from care.

The Scottish Government announced in the Programme for Government that we would undertake a review of Creative Scotland as part of a wider review of how the sector is supported. My officials are currently undertaking preparatory work and I will provide a further update in due course. In the meantime, I would refer you to the update I provided to the Scottish Parliament’s Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee on 18 September: https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/constitution-europe-external-affairs-and-culture-committee/correspondence/2024/letter--cab-sec-to-ceeac--creative-scotland--cs-open-fund-18-sep-2024.pdf.

The Scottish Government does not hold information to enable it to estimate the annual monetary value of the drugs trade in Glasgow.

The Scottish Government welcomes the significant seizure of illicit drugs and the continuing activity by Police Scotland and other partners on the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce to remove illicit drugs from our communities and reduce the harm they cause.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

SPS has invested in technology to support and enhance an existing range of security measures and remains vigilant to the continuously evolving nature of drug use to ensure that these tactical measures remain current and capable of detecting and preventing drugs from entering our prisons.

Despite these measures, individuals do still attempt to introduce contraband into prisons using methods such as drone activity, secretion on a person, impregnation onto and within articles and perimeter wall throws.

SPS recognise the profound impact that illicit articles entering prisons have and acknowledges the continued need to support those in our care who misuse substances as well as those on their recovery journey.

SPS will continue to work with partners to prevent the introduction of contraband and seek convictions where appropriate.

Our framework Drug and alcohol services - improving holistic family support - gov.scot (www.gov.scot), which was published on 8 December 2021, sets out principles of how we will improve holistic support for families affected by drugs and alcohol by taking a whole family approach and using family inclusive practice.

The framework is supported by investing totalling £6.5 million per year over the life of the Parliament.

We are working with local areas to improve their family support and implement family inclusive practice across alcohol and drug services. This is supported by a national working group.

Young people can be referred to Routes from anywhere but are mainly referred to Routes by schools. Referrals are also made by addiction services, GPs, local authorities, social workers and family members. Young people often refer friends and they can self-refer.

The total cost of the Scottish Digital Academy since its commencement in January 2018 to September 2024 is £4,320,722. This includes staff and programme delivery costs.

All electric vehicles disposed from the fleet have been sold through motor auctions.

We first purchased electric vehicles in 1999 however records are no longer held.

A breakdown of expenditure on new electric vehicles and income received from sale through motor auctions from 2010 are provided in the following table.