Chamber and committees

According to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) Incident Statistics, in 2020-2021 the total number of dwelling fire fatalities was 46. For 2021-22 the total number of fatal casualties from fires in dwellings were 30.

SFRS Fire and Rescue Incident statistics are published annually and include figures on fire fatalities and trends. These can be found here https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/about-us/fire-and-rescue-statistics.aspx .

Any death from fire is one too many and that is why effective fire safety, to prevent fires and reduce their impact, remains a priority for the Scottish Government and SFRS. Whilst fire safety priority groups, themes and actions are operational matters for SFRS, the Scottish Government actively supports measures to reduce fires and fire fatalities.

This information is not available centrally as expenditure is not classified by the Scottish Government in the manner requested and financial support for third sector and charitable organisations is provided by various sources.

The purpose of the guidelines which HM Inspectors publish are designed to support schools to prepare for an inspection. The guidelines describe how inspection teams work in particular sectors or areas of provision. This guidance sets out what to expect from an inspection and outlines the types of activity undertaken by inspection teams. This guidance is published on Education Scotland’s website.

Education Scotland has a complaints handling procedure that sets out what providers and stakeholders can complain about in relation to inspection and how a complaint is dealt with.

Scottish Ministers’ powers relating to inspection of educational establishments and services are set out in the Education (Scotland) Act 1980. Under this legislation, any person who wilfully obstructs HM Inspectors in the pursuance of their inspection duties is committing an offence. This is the only aspect of the conduct of inspection that is enforceable.

The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested. Individual social landlords are responsible for their own maintenance costs.

Social landlords are required, under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001, to keep houses they let fit for human habitation and ensure that any repairs are carried out when they are needed.

We work closely with social landlords in our shared ambition to provide quality, affordable social homes and continue to have constructive engagement with them on a range of matters.

There are no plans to review the definition of long-term vacant with regard to the Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme (VDLIP).

Each application received will be assessed by the Independent Investment Panel. Projects concerning sites that have been vacant and derelict for fewer than 15 years are not ineligible.

15 years registered does provide a marker for a significant length of time that indicates market forces alone will not be likely to bring the site back into use. However where a site has potential to become long term vacant and derelict, a project proposal may be able to justify bringing forward investment to unblock its reuse.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) 2021-2022 Incident Statistics outline that the total number of fatal casualties from fires in dwellings during 2021-2022 was 30. As further information may yet come to light, for example from coroners reports, this figure is subject to change.

SFRS Fire and Rescue Incident statistics are published annually and include figures on fire fatalities and trends. These can be found here https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/about-us/fire-and-rescue-statistics.aspx .

While we have not made any direct assessment of the Peterborough model, Zero Waste Scotland has engaged with Peterborough City Council in the past and has since explored a number of regional strategies and approaches to help inform their work to support cities and regions to adopt circular economy principles.

Zero Waste Scotland recently developed a framework for local authorities. The framework has been produced to help local authorities embed circular economy into their own operations, their wider cities, districts and regions and to deliver circular opportunities and benefits. It draws together experience, knowledge and learning from Scotland as well as other organisations and locations.

A range of information and advice is available from Zero Waste Scotland and local authorities to help consumers recycle and dispose of waste responsibly, including gas canisters. Householders can seek specific advice from their local authority on recycling and disposal options in their local area.

Nitrous oxide canisters should not be disposed of in residual waste (‘black bag’) bins as they may explode if they are crushed, increasing the risk of injury or fire. Consumers of nitrous oxide canisters should follow advice provided by suppliers or contact their local authority to check that these items are accepted at their nearest Household Recycling Centre, where gas canisters can be safely stored and disposed of by a specialist waste contractor that has the facility to recycle them safely.

We will continue to work closely with the waste sector to consider any further advice required to support safe disposal of nitrous oxide canisters.

Attainment in literacy in Scotland’s schools remains strong. The 2021/22 Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence levels (ACEL) data demonstrates that approaches to COVID recovery in education are working.

Data on ACEL showed a record increase for 2021-22 in the proportion of primary school pupils achieving the expected levels of literacy. Comparing 2021/22 levels with 2020/21, primary literacy attainment was up 4 percentage points to 71%. In terms of the poverty related attainment gap, 2021-22 ACEL data also showed a record decrease in the gap between primary literacy levels, which are now more similar to pre-pandemic levels. 2022 exam results show a Higher English pass rate of 81.3% which represents an increase of 7.9 percentage points compared to 2019 when exams were last held. English is the most common subject at National 5 and Higher. In addition, the Policy Prospectus launched in April by the First Minister, includes a commitment to re-joining the Trends in International Mathematics and Science and Progress in International Reading Literacy studies. Participation in international surveys enables countries to share important information about their educational policies and practices and how these foster educational progress.

In 2021 the Ministerial Population Taskforce published Scotland's first Population Strategy, a key building block of which is to create conditions for Scotland’s population profile to be spatially distributed in as balanced a way as possible. Delivering on commitments within both the Population Strategy and the National Islands Plan, we are currently developing an Addressing Depopulation Action Plan aimed at providing the policy framework and actions we and partners will look to take, to enable population retention and repopulation across rural and island communities.

Workforce numbers and locations are regularly reviewed to ensure that the organisation is delivering for the people of Scotland as efficiently and effectively as possible. We undertake workforce planning in line with Scottish Government (SG) priorities.

In addition to considering the location of roles, SG is committed to flexible hybrid working for our workforce, enabling staff to work from a range of locations, both within government offices and working from home. Some of these locations are situated within the Highlands and Islands. Managers are asked to establish a flexible hybrid model with their teams that ensure business needs are met, which will vary depending on the nature of the roles and requirements.

The SG website references our ways of working and more information can be found here Ways of working - Work For Scotland (work-for-scotland.org)

A core SG Estate Strategy is under development and the themes informing the key principles will reflect the Depopulation Action Plan and the SG People Strategy including its Hybrid Policy. These policies alongside the expectation to increase sharing opportunities with Public Sector bodies, particularly in regional and rural locations, will help inform our Asset Planning.

SG undertook a trial in three Local Hub locations between 2021 to early 2023 in light of a commitment to provide SG colleagues with the option to use buildings closer to home. Feedback has been utilised to inform planning across the national estate and requests for utilising core estate buildings for SG staff. Enhancing access control, space booking tools and agile working facilities are being planned and implemented across our estate to enhance ease of use and support ability to work in different locations.