Chamber and committees

My officials in Transport Scotland are currently considering the most appropriate route for continuity of these services. I will consider this advice as soon as I receive it. The most important factor for passengers and staff will be seamless provision, irrespective of future models considered.

We are working closely with NatureScot and Scottish Forestry in exploring the best approach to developing a new National Register of Ancient Woodlands, which will be published when that work is complete. A new National Register of Ancient Woodlands is part of a suite of initiatives that will be underpinned by a new biodiversity strategy which we recently consulted on this summer.

Primary care budgets provide additional funding to support core enabling programmes for primary care such as mental health, health inequalities and rural healthcare. Funds that are allocated are based on need, and final confirmation of spend will be included as part of the Scottish Government provisional outturn.

The majority of this budget relates to Corporate Running Costs (CRC) which supports staffing and other costs of central functions, with this allocated out across all portfolios, as set out in annual budgets. The remainder of the spend is fully allocated in support of staffing costs within two Health and Social Care Directorates – Health Finance, Corporate Governance and Value and Directorate of Chief Operating Officer. Final confirmation of spend will be included as part of the Scottish Government provisional outturn.

Skills Development Scotland (SDS) has operational responsibility for the Modern Apprenticeship programme and administer funding, on behalf of the Scottish Government.

SDS have confirmed that no Modern Apprenticeship contracts have been terminated in line with clause (a) 22.1.2.1, (b) 22.1.2.2 and (c) 22.1.2.3, as set out under section 22, Termination for Reputational Damage in the Modern Apprenticeship Programme Conditions.

The Fair Work Action Plan : Becoming a Leading Fair Work Nation by 2025 and the new Anti-Racist Employment Strategy – A Fairer Scotland For All , will both be published today.

It is this government’s ambition for Scotland to be a place where every person has the same opportunities to enter, sustain and progress in a safe, diverse and inclusive labour market.

Fair Work is a model for innovation and success, with many employers in Scotland already implementing fair work practices, addressing labour market inequalities, providing safe and secure working environments, and promoting inclusive workplace cultures. Through these practices, employers reap the benefits of a fairly rewarded, respected, diverse and inclusive workforce, in their performance, innovation and productivity.

Our ongoing work to reduce the Gender Pay Gap and the Disability Employment Gap is now incorporated within the refreshed Fair Work Action Plan, ensuring we better align on common issues such as pay and workers’ rights, whilst also allowing for action to be taken on discrete issues for respective protected characteristics.

The Anti-Racist Employment Strategy seeks to respond to the scale and complexity of the challenge of institutional racism, and will put anti-racism at the heart of what we do. Commitment to diversity and inclusion will not only help us to build a well-being economy, but it will also help us towards becoming a Fair Work nation, benefiting employers, workers and wider society.

Links

The Fair Work Action Plan : Becoming a Leading Fair Work Nation by 2025 - https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781805252870

Anti-Racist Employment Strategy – A Fairer Scotland For All - https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781805252887

Today, we have published the Interim Purpose and Principles for Post-School Education, Research and Skills.

This publication sets out and seeks views on the interim Purpose and Principles and the topics that have to be explored to develop a plan for implementation that will deliver against them. This has been developed on the basis of feedback from previous research, reviews, reports and engagement, including the SFC Review of Coherent Provision and Sustainability and the National Strategy for Economic Transformation , and sets out the priorities that must guide our decision making in the face of a challenging set of imperatives for reform. A stakeholder engagement plan for the next phase of work and a discussion guide to support people to hold their own sessions on the interim Purpose and Principles are also published today, which is available in Gaelic or easy read format.

This is a matter for Public Health Scotland. The information requested is not held centrally.

The Scottish Government has accepted that the 25% figure for offshore wind potential is dated. We are undertaking an examination of our records and have initiated work to quantify Scotland’s offshore wind potential. Once this work has concluded we will consider which legacy documents may need to be updated.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-12355 on 8 December 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 .