We are working with key partners to implement the recommendations of the 2022 evaluation of the first-year of the Suicide Prevention Bereavement Support Services. This showed how well the service meets the needs of family members, whilst also flagging a number of operational aspects (such as support for staff and young people) where further work would be helpful in order to inform roll out planning.

We are therefore investing a further £255,000 in 2023-24 to extend the pilot Suicide Bereavement Support Service until March 2024. This ensures continuity of service and we will use this time to gather further evidence about its impact. The final independent evaluation report is due to be published in early 2024. This will inform subsequent roll out of support for families bereaved by suicide across Scotland.

This forms part of our ambitious work on suicide prevention, which is underpinned by significant investment of £2.5m in 2023-24, and a Programme for Government commitment to double suicide prevention annual funding to £2.8 m by 2026.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-20718 on 5 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

Information on the number of buildings in the programme is published and can be found here:

Single Building Assessment programme: spending information - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Information is provided on a regional basis in line with requests from residents and homeowners to protect their privacy.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-20573 on 5 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 Home Energy Scotland (HES) Grant and Loan Scheme offers funding for a range of zero direct emissions heating systems, energy efficiency measures and additional measures, including solar PV and energy storage systems in some circumstances.

From 27 June 2023 funding offered for solar PV/energy storage systems through the HES Grant and Loan Scheme has been limited to where a household is installing these measures alongside a certified renewable heating system, or where one is already in place. Previously, applicants could claim interest free loan funding for solar PV as a standalone measure.

The HES Grant and Loan Scheme is open to all owner occupier households in Scotland and we do not collect socioeconomic data as part of the application process.

The HES advice service acts as the gateway to the Scottish Government’s heat and energy efficiency schemes. HES will refer households to a scheme suitable to their circumstances, including our Warmer Homes Scotland Scheme and Area Based Schemes, which are targeted at those in fuel poverty.

Where a person chooses a care home that does not accept the National Care Home Contract, the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002 and associated guidance Charging for Residential Accommodation Guidance (CRAG) allows for topping up of care home fees. The Act and guidance also sets out the conditions around the top up of care home fees and states that these arrangements should be sustainable.

Any contract agreed when an individual enters residential care should clearly set out what happens if any top up fees can no longer be paid, and this contract is covered by consumer protection laws. The Local Authority also has a statutory responsibility for the delivery, commissioning and charging for care home services.

Scottish Ministers have set out our public commitment to ensuring that every penny of consequential funding received from the UK Government is invested in assessing buildings and making unsafe buildings safe. Information on expenditure on the programme is published quarterly and can be found here:

Single Building Assessment programme: spending information - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

The most recently published figures show a spend of just over £3.6m. This publication also includes information on the number of buildings in the programme. Information is provided on a regional basis in line with requests from residents and homeowners to protect their privacy.

The Scottish Government is not aware of these reported comments from the EIS. The up to date national picture on Behaviour in Scotland’s Schools will publish later this year.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information. It is statutory responsibility of local authorities to manage and maintain their school estate.

However, the proportion of schools in “good” or “satisfactory” condition has increased from 61% in April 2007 to 90.4% in April 2022.

The summary of 2022 reports will be published in the coming weeks at: Access to counsellors in secondary schools and children and young people’s community mental health services – summary reports - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)