Chamber and committees

All buses are required to be compliant with the Public Service Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 2000 (PSVAR) which are a matter reserved to the UK Government.

We are however aware that the Department for Transport (DfT) have granted some time limited exemptions to home to school transport and rail replacement bus services.

The UK Government, through their published National Bus Strategy for England “Bus Back Better”, included a commitment to complete a review of PSVAR by the end of 2023. This review should ensure that the accessibility of bus and coach services continues to be informed by the needs and expectations of disabled passengers for the foreseeable future.

All trains which run in Scotland must meet the Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Non-Interoperable Rail System) Regulations 2010 (RVAR 2010) and the requirements in the Persons of Reduced Mobility National Technical Specification Notices (PRM NTSN). These regulations are reserved to the UK Government and regulated by the Office of Road and Rail.

The UK government (DfT) Access for All and Mid-Tier Programmes will deliver step-free access at Anniesland, Croy, Dumfries, Johnstone, Port Glasgow, Uddingston and Anderston between 2019 and 2024. The Scottish Government also remains committed to improving access, as part of wider rail investments, beyond the UK government programmes and over the same period Scottish Government will provide funding for step-free access at Aviemore, Pitlochry, Nairn and Kingussie stations in addition to making all new stations fully accessible.

The Scottish Government has committed to delivering a new deal for tenants and to consult on the options, deliver legislation and implement an effective national system of rent controls by the end of 2025.

We will set out our proposals for taking this work forward in our forthcoming rented sector strategy which we aim to publish for consultation by the end of this calendar year.

The Scottish Government has no functions in relation to the use of animals in research and testing.

The use of animals in research and testing is an area of policy reserved to the United Kingdom government, and is overseen by the Home Office.

As part of our work to implement rent controls during the course of this Parliament, we will examine and consider a wide range of information, evidence and expert views, including submissions to the Scottish Parliament's Non-Government Bills Unit on fair rents, to inform the policy development of this important area of work.

The Scottish Government has committed to delivering a new deal for tenants and to consulting on the options, deliver legislation and implementing an effective national system of rent controls by the end of 2025.

Our aim is to ensure quality, affordability and fairness for everyone who rents their homes and we will set out our proposals for taking this work forward in our forthcoming rented sector strategy which we aim to publish for consultation by the end of this calendar year.

Tenant participation is at the heart of our work to develop the Strategy and we are working in partnership with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Tenants Information Service and the Tenant Participation Advisory Service, as well as existing tenant groups, to understand tenants’ lived experiences and hear their views.

Alongside the views of tenants and stakeholders who respond to the consultation on the strategy, we will consider a wide range of information, evidence and expert views on rent controls, including examining international comparisons, to inform the policy development of this important area of work.

The Electricians Working Group last met on 29 October 2019 and discussed the proposed consultation on the regulation of electricians and on increasing consumer awareness about the use of electricians. Minutes of all meetings of the Electricians Working Group are available at https://www.gov.scot/groups/electricians-working-group/ .

The Electricians Working Group is expected to meet once the Scottish Government’s response to the consultation is published and will discuss that response.

Vitamin D status is measured annually as part of the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS).

The latest report is available at: NDNS: results from years 9 to 11 (2016 to 2017 and 2018 to 2019) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The Scottish Government is not currently undertaking research to assess levels of vitamin D deficiency in the general population, including in relation to deprivation.

We welcome the MS Society’s Neurology Now report as an important document highlighting the issues for people with MS and wider neurological conditions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. I am pleased to say that I recently met with officials from the MS Society to discuss the findings of the report and the ongoing development of MS services in Scotland.

Let me assure the member that the Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all people living in Scotland with MS are able to access the best possible care and support, and benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and person-centred. As you may be aware, we are investing £4.5 million over 5 years to implement our Neurological Care and Support – National Framework for Action. This Framework aims include improving the provision of co-ordinated health and social care and support, developing sustainable workforce models and ensuring high standards of care for people living with neurological conditions, including MS.

Over the past year we have invested over £300,000 to projects which improve the health and wellbeing of people with MS in Scotland.

Regarding a reporting framework to measure improvement, we have commissioned NHS Healthcare Improvement Scotland to work with NHS boards, integration authorities, the third sector and people with lived experience to assess progress in implementing the General Standards for Neurological Care and Support. Undertaking this work will identify areas of improvement across NHS Scotland and help to drive forward better standards of care for people with neurological conditions.

The consultation ‘Use and Sale of Fireworks in Scotland, and tackling the misuse of pyrotechnics’ ran from 20 June to 15 August 2021. The consultation consisted of two sections; the first sought views on proposed changes to how fireworks can be supplied and used in Scotland; while the second section considered the use of pyrotechnic devices.

Over 1,700 responses were received, with the majority submitted by individual members of the public, with stakeholder organisations including the emergency services, the fireworks industry and animal welfare organisations also responding. An analysis of consultation responses, undertaken by an independent contractor, will be published shortly.

Where permission was granted, responses have been published at https://consult.gov.scot/justice/use-and-sale-of-fireworks-in-scotland/consultation/published_select_respondent .

A Fireworks and Pyrotechnics Bill will be introduced to Parliament in Year One of this Parliamentary term to prevent harm in our communities.