The Scottish Government acknowledges the findings from Age Scotland’s The Big Survey 2023 and the clear message they tell us.

We remain committed to delivering access to opportunities and services people need to ensure they are healthy, happy and secure in older age.

By using a risk-based approach and focusing resources on maintaining critical assets, Scottish Water aims to minimise the risk of failure and ensure that infrastructure is functioning properly. The approach combines proactive and responsive measures, underpinned by regular inspections and data analysis. This helps Scottish Water provide a reliable and high-quality service to customers while also being cost-effective and efficient. Additionally, Scottish Water completes around 3,600 sewer repairs every year to ensure the sewer network operates effectively whilst providing an opportunity to survey adjacent pipes for any defects which could allow groundwater to enter the system.

We need to rapidly accelerate our deployment of renewables in order to support decarbonisation of the GB grid by 2035, and significant investment in our grid infrastructure is required to ensure clean, low-cost renewable electricity can flow to where it is needed. We are clear that such infrastructure must be delivered with lasting benefits for our economy and the people of Scotland .

In regard to the proposals for pylons in the Torthorward area, we understand that Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN) has undertaken the first of two rounds of public consultations on the proposed Harestanes West connection. No application has been submitted to Scottish Ministers for consideration with regards to this development. Once an application is submitted it is subject to consultation with the public, statutory and local bodies, and local communities have an opportunity to make a representation to the formal application.

The Scottish Government is aware that communities in areas which may be impacted by proposed electricity network developments may have questions and concerns regarding pylon infrastructure, and we can provide assurance that any potential impacts - on communities, nature, landscape and other valued natural assets - are important considerations when determining applications for consent.

The Scottish Government do not hold this information.

All local authorities in Scotland have a statutory responsibility to manage and maintain their school estate and the Scottish Government expect them to provide an accessible environment for all school users.

The Scottish Government’s Learning Estate Strategy is clear that learning environments should support the wellbeing of all learners, meet varying needs to support inclusion and support transitions for all learners.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-21029 on 13 September 2023. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

The 14 Combined Sewer Overflows identified by Scottish Water catchment studies since 2015 as being at risk of spilling during dry weather are a high priority under Scottish Water’s Improving Urban Waters Route Map. Any reports of dry weather spills are also investigated for potential operational reasons, such as blockages, and Scottish Water follows established reporting requirements for pollution incidents and provides this information in their annual reports: Annual Reports - Scottish Water . New technology is being trialled with a view to identifying and solving problems before customers and the environment are affected.

The Scottish Government welcomes the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland’s report and will carefully consider its recommendations.

The Scottish Government has already taken action to address the gaps in data on out-of-area placements specifically for people with learning disabilities and complex care needs through the implementation of the recommendations made within the Coming Home Implementation Report.

This work is being carried out in partnership with COSLA and brings practitioners, professionals and people with lived experience together to progress these recommendations which aim to significantly reduce inappropriate out-of-area placements experienced by people with learning disabilities and complex care needs.

We launched Dynamic Support Registers across Scotland in May 2023 to improve monitoring of out-of-area placements and to help local areas to plan for people with learning disabilities and complex care needs. Integration Authorities are operationalising these local Dynamic Support Registers and will also report data from them using a new national reporting system.

The operation of Dynamic Support Registers by all Integration Authorities was agreed through a Memorandum of Understanding between the Scottish Government and COSLA.

The Scottish Government has provided funding for 190 properties for energy efficiency measures through the Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan Scheme since it was established in April 2020.

We consulted on powers required to realise the Vision for Agriculture. The Scottish Government has repeatedly made clear that there will be no funding cliff edge for our farmers and crofters.

We do though face the reality that EU Exit means that we no longer have long-term certainty of funding.

The level of support available is dependent on the UK Government responding to our numerous requests for confirmation of the level of future funding that will be provided to replace current support. HM Treasury have provided yearly allocations for the current UK Parliamentary term, but as of yet, there is no funding commitment from 2025.

The Scottish Government fully understands the frustration expressed by stakeholders over the lack of future budget clarity, and the impact this has on the development of future policy.

The Scottish Government has no current plans to provide financial support for homes to use Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil for heat. However, we already offer a comprehensive support package for domestic heat and energy efficiency measures through our Home Energy Scotland service.

As we deliver our Heat in Buildings programme our delivery programmes and support mechanisms will support the phase out of fossil fuel heating systems towards zero emissions heating systems in existing buildings, in tandem with achieving a good standard of energy efficiency across all buildings, in line with our strategic priorities.

In line with the recommendation of the Committee on Climate Change, we agree that bioenergy – such as biomass, bio-heating oil and bio-propane - should only be used in those applications where its carbon reduction impact is maximised, where alternative options are not available, and where it comes from sustainable sources. We recognise that, for a small number of homes, bioenergy might offer the only feasible way to reduce emissions from heating to displacing fossil fuels, especially where electric heating or heat pumps are unsuitable. We will therefore consider how such homes may be dealt with under any future regulatory system.