The Scottish Government has subscribed to the Anholt-Ipsos Nation Brands Index? (NBI) survey since 2008 and biennially since 2010.

The Scottish Government has used the NBI to assess and monitor how Scotland is perceived around the world. Data from the NBI is used to update one of the Scottish Government’s 81 National Performance Framework (NPF) indicators on ‘Scotland’s reputation’.

The NBI examines the image of 60 nations by looking at a country’s reputation along six dimensions of national competence: Exports, Governance, Culture, People, Tourism, Immigration and Investment. Together these provide an overall indication of a nation’s reputation.

The data supplied through the NBI should be viewed as a snapshot of people’s attitudes and perceptions of Scotland, which is useful in helping us understand more about Scotland’s international reputation. By subscribing biennially, Scotland can track its reputation in the long term. This data can also be used to compare Scotland’s reputation with that of other countries and to monitor how Scotland sees itself. We do not set target rankings.

The most recent NBI publication reports on findings from the 2022 data. Scotland is expected to be included in the sample of the 60 measured countries in 2023, as it is every year; however, we did not subscribe to the survey in 2023.

The Scottish Government notes the findings of the Anholt-Ipsos Nation Brands Index ranking on exports and would like to draw the member’s attention to response to S6W-20781 on 4 September 2023.

A Trading Nation (ATN) is our national export growth strategy, which takes an evidence-based approach to maximising our efforts in priority markets and sectors that can yield the greatest opportunities for trade and help us achieve our target of an increase in Scotland’s GDP from 20% to 25% over ten years. As well as targeting the economic benefits of export growth, ATN aligns with the key guiding principles of our Vision for Trade strategy. The Vision for Trade focuses on specific actions we are taking to achieve broader economic, social, and environmental ambitions by ensuring that the decisions we make in terms of where, how, and who we trade with align with those key principles and will enhance our global trade reputation.

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) provides basic information about the energy efficiency of a building. EPC assessments are conducted by qualified Domestic Energy Assessors who must be members of an Approved Organisation. An EPC assessment for existing buildings is a non-intrusive survey and assumptions are required based on the age and characteristics of the building. The Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) is the underlying methodology used for EPCs and is owned by the UK Government. There are well-recognised limitations to the current methodology and assessment process and we are working with the UK Government to ensure planned updates to SAP across the UK help improve the accuracy of EPCs.

By their nature, EPCs are intended to reflect, and allow comparison of, the building assessed, rather than the way its occupants use it. For this reason, the calculations are based on standard patterns of occupancy and use. For example, this means that the cost figures in a domestic EPC are not bespoke to the current occupants.

Earlier this year, the statutory advisers on climate policy to governments throughout the UK, the Climate Change Committee, wrote to the Scottish Government setting out a series of recommendations for the reform on EPCs, noting that the current energy efficiency rating on EPCs is a measure of energy costs, not energy efficiency. In response to this advice, the Scottish Government published a consultation on EPC reform on 25 July 2023. This seeks stakeholder views on proposals to reform the current metrics to provide more holistic information about the efficiency of a home that is relevant to current and potential owners and occupiers.

It is not appropriate for Scottish Government to be involved in contractual decisions or discussions between grant applicants and firms constructing the homes. Any inflationary claims from construction firms should be submitted to their client whose role it is to assess such claims. It is for the client to decide if they want to support a claim.

The Scottish Government notes the findings of the Anholt-Ipsos Nation Brands Index ranking on "contribution to innovation and science", and would like to draw the members attention to response to S6W-20781 on 4 September 2023.

Scotland’s world-class university research and its key outputs of new knowledge and insights are fundamental to green economic recovery and growth. The most recent Research Excellence Framework found that there is world-leading (4*) research in every one of our universities in Scotland, and almost 90% of its impact was judged as outstanding or very considerable.

Scotland's National Innovation Strategy sets out a vision for Scotland to become one of the most innovative small countries in the world over the next decade.

Scotland’s research sector is highly regarded in the international community, with publications related to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals research being cited twice as often as the global average and over half of this research carried out with international partners.

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

By the end of May 2023, there were 67,615 cardholders under the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme in Glasgow City. This represents 67% of the estimated eligible population in the local authority area.

Cardholder data is supplied by the National Entitlement Card Programme Office (NECPO) and is provided by local authority. As such, data is not available by constituency area or larger parliamentary regions.

NECPO supports the 32 local authorities by assisting with the integration of various national and local public services on the National Entitlement Card (NEC) and are the joint controller with local authorities of this data. The figure includes travel products collected from the Transport Scot Pass Collect mobile app.

No penalties have been paid by Cunninghame Housing Association in relation to the delayed handover of the 60 social rented properties at Windermere Park Annan.

The second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) was published in December 2022, which marked the completion of over 3 years of detailed technical appraisal. It will inform the Scottish Government’s transport investment programme over the next 20 years and will help to deliver the vision, priorities and outcomes set out in the National Transport Strategy.

Recommendation 14 of the STPR2 advises that bus priority interventions are implemented within Scotland’s cities and towns where congestion is highest. In the case of the motorway network around Glasgow, Transport Scotland will continue to progress plans for the M8, M77 and M80, considering actively managed hard shoulders for buses like those already operating on the M90/M9 Queensferry Corridor and on the M8 eastbound approach to Hermiston Gait.

The STPR2 Delivery Plan is in development and will provide further insight on the programming of the recommendations including those interventions detailed in recommendation 14.

The Scottish Government does not hold information regarding which local authorities use the BASRiS form to fast-track applications from terminally ill people for housing adaptations.

We know that there can sometimes be issues with the way in which adaptations are accessed and delivered locally. I have asked my officials to work with COSLA and representatives from the housing sector to consider how the process can be streamlined and improved for people who need adaptations, including those living with terminal illness.

Local authorities have statutory responsibility for housing, including assessing and meeting housing needs of their areas, and setting out how requirements for housing will be met in their local housing strategies (LHSs).

Guidance published in 2019 to support local authorities with preparing LHSs includes a strong focus on consultation and engagement and Association for Local Authority Chief Housing Officers (ALACHO) were involved in its development.

All LHSs are subject to a robust review process by the Scottish Government and an independent peer reviewer and feedback provided to local authorities.