I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-07565 on 19 April 2022. 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 identification, assessment and management of people with long-term effects of COVID-19 in Scotland is guided by the UK-wide clinical guideline developed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) and the Royal College of GPs.

This guideline is clear that there is no requirement to prove previous COVID infection via a positive test in order to access an assessment or be considered for referral for further investigations or specialist input.

The Scottish Government is actively supporting the implementation of the clinical guideline in Scotland, including through our long COVID ‘Implementation Support Note’ and our collaboration with SIGN on its online ‘Decision Support Tool’ on managing the long term effects of COVID-19.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-07562 on 19 April 2022. 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 .

Local authorities are responsible for determining how they deliver education in their schools. Decisions relating to the provision of digital technology are taken locally. As such, we do not hold this information centrally.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-07563 on 22 April 2022. 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 .

Home Energy Scotland (HES) is the main advice and referral mechanism to all Scottish Government energy efficiency schemes for homeowners. Energy Saving Trust (EST) manages the HES Service on behalf of the Scottish Government. Home Energy Scotland provide regular figures to the Scottish Government on the numbers of households they advise and the value of that advice. The Scottish Government has regular contact with EST to ensure they are meeting pre-agreed targets and maintaining the high standard of the advice that is expected of these services.

Householders making an enquiry to the HES service are dealt with by trained and qualified (SQA) advisors. HES advisers use a series of tools to ensure that the advice provided is based on the most effective measure for each householders’ specific needs. A fabric first approach is also recommended to households to ensure that heat loss is minimised before the most efficient routes to supplying the remaining residual heat requirements are considered. The analysis provided by an advisor to a householder is informed by use of a personalised Home Energy Check (HEC). The Home Energy Check is generated using bespoke energy modelling software which is used to model the thermal and other energy use characteristics of each property based on data provided by the householder. The HEC can be completed online independently by the householder via the HES website or over the telephone with an advisor.

For vulnerable householders who may require a little more support to be able to engage fully with the service or for households considering installation of low and zero carbon heating or renewable energy technologies, further specialist advice is available which can include a visit from an advisor and a bespoke onsite survey of the home. Energy modelling software is again used to model the property and to generate measures recommendations and savings figures for the householder. Through use of approved bespoke energy modelling and ensuring that advice is only delivered by suitably qualified advisors, the quality of recommendations and advice given to householders is maintained at a consistent, high level.

The economic model underpinning the figures in the amended final Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment takes account of a number of factors and costs and benefits do not necessarily increase in proportion to the change in input.

The modelled cost increase reflects the likelihood that there will be additional capacity within the system for return points to handle additional containers and the possibility of an increase in the frequency of collection rather than requiring additional reverse vending machines (RVMs). This would lead to additional running costs and staff time but not costs for additional RVMs. The scheme administrator is responsible for setting a suitable logistics schedule with retailers at an agreed frequency for the collection of materials, aligned with the capacity of the RVM and individual store requirements.

In calculating the impact of our Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) on local authorities, the economic model in the final Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) uses compositional data on the tonnage (‘dirty’ weights) that Local Authorities actually manage, both recycled and in the residual waste stream, rather than the number of containers placed on the market. This aligns with the (weight-related) costs local authorities actually incur.

Hence the benefit to local authorities set out in table 3 of the amended final BRIA does not change in the sensitivity analysis presented in Annex F. The amended final BRIA can be reviewed here: A Deposit Return Scheme for Scotland: Final Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) (www.gov.scot) .

The cost increases within the model are not proportional increases. There may be additional collections but there is also additional capacity within the system.

The cost to the regulator is estimated based on the number of businesses to be regulated; it is therefore unaffected by any increase in the number of containers.