We want to put fair work principles at the heart of the retail sector. This is a key theme of the Retail Strategy, and the ongoing work of the Fair Work Working Group.

Were employment powers devolved, we could do more to protect and enhance workers’ rights, tackle poverty and increase fairness through legislation. In the absence of these powers we are committed to promoting a fair work strategy produced in collaboration with the retail sector and trade unions.

I would like to reiterate what my predecessor, Tom Arthur, stated on this matter and affirm that the Scottish Government is receptive to any suggestions for non-legislative routes that could be explored. We would be willing to consider any proposal from USDAW that could progress this endeavour.

The Scottish Government deeply values ongoing collaboration with USDAW and we view our continued engagement through the Retail Industrial Leadership Group and Fair Work Working Group as essential in ensuring we reach our ambition for fair work to drive success, wellbeing and prosperity for individuals, businesses, organisations and society.

The Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022 was introduced to provide additional protections to tenants through the worst of the cost of living crisis, and we have always been clear that the measures are timebound and temporary. Prior to the introduction of the Act, private tenants in Scotland already benefitted from some of the strongest protections in the UK, and tenants will continue to benefit from the strong legal protections introduced by The Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016. In addition, the Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Act 2022 further strengthened tenants’ rights by requiring private landlords who are seeking to evict on the basis of rent arrears, to comply with certain specified actions prior to pursuing eviction. The Tribunal, in assessing the reasonableness of eviction in such cases, is also required to consider the extent to which the landlord complied with these new requirements. This enhanced protection has been in place since 1 October 2022.

In terms of support for tenants regarding housing costs, in 2023-24 we have invested over £83 million in Discretionary Housing Payments; a vital tool to reduce poverty, safeguard tenancies and prevent homelessness. In 2024-25 we will make over £90 million available, mitigating UK Government cuts such as the bedroom tax and benefit cap.

This year’s Programme for Commitment commits to go further to enhance the rights of tenants, and a Housing Bill will be brought to Parliament in this parliamentary year to deliver a New Deal for Tenants.

We are also consulting with stakeholders on the proposed approach to temporarily modifying the rent adjudication process, to prevent unintended consequences when the emergency measures come to an end.

The Scottish Government and the Scottish Funding Council continue to support universities in developing their own mitigating strategies to minimise any negative impacts on long-term financial sustainability. This includes any reduction in international student fee income.

Within the context of a challenging international environment and stricter UK Government immigration rules, the Scottish Government remains committed to working with the university sector to ensure that Scotland remains the destination of choice for international students, demonstrated by our commitment to launching Scotland’s International Education Strategy early in 2024. We have engaged closely with key stakeholders, including universities, to develop the strategy, which will focus on three key themes: attracting and diversifying the international student population; maximising the economic benefits of international higher education; and promoting Scotland as a world leader in research and knowledge exchange.

VisitScotland pay all staff in line with the Scottish Government pay guidelines. HR records cover the past six years, these are stored in line with legal requirements of employee record keeping.

VisitScotland’s digitised annual accounts published on VisitScotland.org cover 2012-13 onward. Detailed in these, since (and including) the 2012-13 financial year, no bonus payments have been made to executive level staff. These annual accounts are publicly available by accessing online at https://www.visitscotland.org/about-us/annual-corporate-reports/annual-report

Please note that by ‘executive level’, VisitScotland refers to CEO and Director level staff.

Questions regarding day-to-day operational matters of Historic Environment Scotland are best answered directly by Historic Environment Scotland.

I have asked Historic Environment Scotland to respond directly to the member with a reply to his question in writing.

No funding was offered through the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) for the repair of small scale wind turbines in 2022 and 2023.

In 2022 and 2023, CARES funding has mainly focussed on decarbonising community buildings and supporting off-electricity grid communities to upgrade their energy systems and decarbonise their energy supplies.

VisitScotland has provided the following data:

The level of funding set out in the Scottish Budget reflects that the delivery of Glen Sannox (801) is now at an advanced stage. The costs and delivery schedules of both 801 and 802 continue to be scrutinised closely, with updates provided regularly to the Scottish Parliament.

As of 8 January 2024, there were 1267 GlobalScots registered on the GlobalScot website.

The Scottish Government delegated the management of Holyrood Park to Historic Environment Scotland as a Property in Care. This delegation includes decision-making relating to the ‘Radical Road’ which was closed in 2018 following significant rockfall and it has remained closed to minimise the health and safety risk posed by the active threat of rockfall. Historic Environment Scotland advised that there have been a number of further rockfalls on to Radical Road since the closure.

While managing the Park, Historic Environment Scotland is legally obliged to comply with all relevant legislation, of which health and safety is particularly important. Historic Environment Scotland has to ensure the health and safety of its visitors, staff and contractors.

Historic Environment Scotland also has a duty of care to people entering the Park, under the Occupier’s Liability (Scotland) Act 1960, in relation to dangers caused by the state of the Park, as well as a general civil law duty of care. The Occupier’s Liability legislation and the general duty of care were central in the decision to close Radical Road.

The risks in relation to the ‘Radical Road’ and other areas of Holyrood Park will be routinely re-assessed by specialist geotechnical engineers, and potential mitigating measures considered to inform future plans.