The number of probationers local authorities bid for was greater than the number of probationers required to be allocated.

As at May 2023, local authorities bid for 3,818 probationers. The number of probationers allocated were 3,161.

The General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) is responsible for administering the Teacher Induction Scheme and as such undertakes seminars and information sessions with prospective probationary teachers. This includes encouraging probationary teachers to consider taking a placement further afield.

The Preference Waiver Payment (PWP) was introduced in 2004-05 to attract newly qualified teachers to more remote and rural local authorities who experience difficulties in securing probationers . Students can opt for the PWP whereby they waive their right to express a preferred local authority and will be prioritised to remote and rural local authorities such as the north east in return for an additional payment.

Currently the PWP is £6000 per annum for Primary teachers and £8000 per annum for Secondary teachers.

Public transport operators undertook detailed planning for the UCI Cycling World Championships.

With regards to the rail network, ScotRail ensured it was capable of meeting the demands of both competitors and spectators alike during the period of the Championships.

Specifically for the Argyle Line, many services were strengthened from 3 to 6 carriages, serving Dalmarnock for the Velodrome, Scotstounhill for the BMX venue and for general travel across Glasgow. Additionally, to take account of events at the Velodrome, on 6 and 13 August, all train services before 1000 hours and after 1800 hours made an additional stop at Dalmarnock Station.

The Scottish Government published both the National Low Emission Framework, and Low Emission Zone (LEZ) Guidance to assist any local authority wishing to introduce a LEZ to improve air quality.

Substantial grant funding has also been provided to assist local authorities in establishing and enforcing their LEZ.

Scottish Government also provides grant funding to support lower income households and smaller businesses to adapt to LEZs via the LEZ Support Fund.

Transport Scotland and their operating company, BEAR Scotland, have taken a number of actions following the recent A86 landslide at Roybridge and further measures are in hand.

A series of landslips emanating from private land adjacent to the A86 trunk road occurred on Tuesday 13 June 2023. Six separate locations along the A86 were affected with an estimate 900 tonnes of material reaching the A86. An unoccupied private dwelling was also affected with material depositing close by. The property was secured and no further action was required. Records indicate that 100mm of rain fell in a localised area within a 3 hour-period. This led to the mobilisation of material from the land, leading to closures of both the trunk road and the parallel rail line

Geotechnical and operational response teams attended, leading to the road reopening under traffic lights by Wednesday 14 June 2023 and fully reopening on Monday 19 June 2023. The railway opened on the same day.

Additional heavy rainfall on 11 July led to an overnight closure with the A86 reopening at lunchtime 12 July under traffic lights, which were removed on 13 July.

As noted above, the immediate response by the geotechnical and operational teams enabled access to be returned as soon as it was safe to do so. This helped to reconnect communities and business access in the area. This work was undertaken in conjunction with both Network Rail and the private landowners from whose land the mobilised material emanated. These locations along the A86 continue to be monitored by BEAR Scotland.

For the medium to longer term, measures are currently being discussed with the adjacent landowners to help them develop remediation works, including inspections for any blocked culverts in their land, to prevent further incidents affecting the A86.

As previously announced, we intend to open a Scottish Government Office in Warsaw within the lifetime of this Parliament. The office will contribute to a fairer, greener Scotland by promoting Scottish culture and expertise, attracting inward investment and fostering people-to people contacts between Scotland and Poland.

The UK Government’s 11th hour decision to undermine DRS in Scotland will have affected businesses across Scotland that were preparing for the launch of the Scottish scheme. We wrote to the UK Government on 16 May, 19 May and 23 May 2023 to inform them of the potential impact a delayed decision on the IMA exclusion, or not providing an exclusion, would have on businesses. In our letter dated 2 June 2023, we specifically highlighted our concerns about the impact this would have on Circularity Scotland Limited (CSL).

Administrators (Interpath) were appointed on 21 June 2023, and are currently working through the details of the administration process for CSL. The administration process will assess if any businesses has been directly financially affected by CSL going into administration.

The Scottish Government remains committed to the delivery of a successful DRS in October 2025 and are pushing the UK Government to set out how this can be delivered across the UK. The onus is now on DEFRA to work with the devolved nations, industry and wider stakeholder to ensure this scheme is launched successfully and on time.

As of 28 July 2023, a total of 65,602 properties in Scotland remain eligible for a voucher worth up to £5,000 through the R100 SBVS. That total is broken down by R100 contract area as follows:

North – 31,104

Central – 29,550

South – 4,948

The R100 SBVS remains the most generous broadband voucher currently available and we continue to publicise its availability via the press, social media, and through continued stakeholder engagement activity across Scotland. Suppliers registered to deliver connections through the R100 SBVS provide a range of superfast capable technologies including fibre, fixed wireless, 4G and satellite. The R100 SBVS can also be combined with the UK Government’s Gigabit Voucher, where applicable, to provide up to £9,500 to secure a gigabit capable broadband connection.

The National Strategy for Economic Transformation sets out the need to strengthen Scotland’s position in new markets and industries, generating new, well-paid jobs through a just transition to net zero and a highly skilled workforce is critical to the delivery of that ambition.

Our No One Left Behind approach will support a growing number of green jobs and innovation activity by offering all-age employability support to all who require it with a focus on helping those furthest from the labour market with the most complex barriers to gaining and sustaining fair work, such as carers, single parents, and those on low incomes.

The Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) awards a range of loans, bursaries and living-cost grants to eligible students to assist with their expenses while studying. This can include providing support with living costs for those who have had to reduce their working hours in order to undergo training and upskilling. Detailed information for specific groups can be found on the SAAS website including grants for lone parents and undergraduate students with the lowest household incomes - Student Awards Agency Scotland - SAAS - Funding Your Future .

This is an operational matter for ScotRail. The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.