Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-06791 on 8 March 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 .

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-06791 on 8 March 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 Bank’s recruitment policies and procedures pre-dates development of its gender equality strategy, and please see the answer to question S6W-06789 on 8 March 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 .

I have also asked the Scottish National Investment Bank how it has utilised its gender equality strategy in Bank recruitment policies and processes, and the Bank has provided the following:

"Recruitment of the Scottish National Investment Bank has been ongoing since prior to the launch of the Bank in November 2020.

“The Bank has established a number of guiding principles within its recruitment policy and process to ensure Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Fair Work practices.

"With regards to gender equality specifically, the Bank worked closely with its Recruitment Partner to ensure all adverts reached the widest available candidate pools with flexibility at the heart of our attraction strategy. Gender balance was a key requirement for the Recruitment Partner to ensure balanced applicant pools (where possible and based on candidate availability).

“The Bank set a gender balance target for candidates shortlisted for interview of 50:50, with a minimum threshold of one third candidates being presented for interview being female. Where applicant pools did not meet the basic threshold, further search was undertaken.

“All interview panels are gender balanced, further helping to ensure that appointments are made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition.”

The Scottish Government has had a number of discussions with trade unions and other groups on its green ports model since the publication of an illustrative draft prospectus in March 2021. Those discussions built on our earlier consultation on place-based economic development, in November 2021, which sought views on economic development zones around ports and specifically on freeports. These have influenced our approach to the process for Green Freeports that we have agreed with the UK Government.

Forestry and Land Scotland do not keep central records of the volume of deer fencing erected by year. The data held relates to annual expenditure on deer fencing on Scotland's national forests and land.

Our Adult Learning Strategy will be launched in May. It has been co-produced with adult learning stakeholders, including senior staff from adult learning organisations and adult learners themselves, and aims to improve life chances for adult learners across Scotland. We want to create the conditions for connected adult learning opportunities that link Scotland’s communities, local authorities, third sector organisations, colleges and universities around an offer of learning for adults, particularly those furthest from inclusion and experiencing disadvantage.

To improve the lives of adult learners we need to ensure that there is a strong, well-understood, well-connected and well-resourced system of adult learning in Scotland. The strategy will set out our commitment to evaluating the suitability and levels of future funding arrangements for community-based adult learning. Through the delivery of the strategy we want to ensure that appropriate levels of funding are available to engage and support adult learners across Scotland to meet their needs.

The Scottish Government is aware of the impact the necessary public health restrictions have had on businesses and our £375 million package of support for businesses was targeted at those who were the most immediately affected by measures introduced to control the spread of Omicron.

We announced an £80 million Covid Economic Recovery Fund for local authorities to support local economies and cities recover from the pandemic. This fund empowers councils to consider the needs of local businesses, communities and households and to target support to maximise economic recovery in their areas The flexibility of this fund ensures councils can provide support where they know the need is greatest and this has been welcomed by COSLA. Officials are working with local authorities on delivery arrangements, and funding will be transferred to local authorities in their General Revenue Grant in the last two weeks of March.

We are working closely with local authorities and are in the planning stages of our commitment to provide a device for every school aged child by the end of this Parliament. We will report to Parliament in due course.

The Scottish Government will be providing a £150 cost of living award to all households in council tax bands A to D, including those who are not receiving a reduction under the Council Tax Reduction scheme. Local authorities will also be provided with funds from which to make £150 payments to certain categories of low income households which are exempt from council tax, including those accessing housing support services or living in temporary accommodation. In addition, we are providing an extra £10m to continue our Fuel Insecurity Fund to help households at risk of self-disconnection, or self-rationing energy use.

In addition to the £3m announced on 10 February 2022, the First Minister announced a further £3m for the City Centre Recovery Fund on 22 February, bringing the total to £6m. Funding is awarded directly to local authorities to take forward local recovery priorities and allocated based on city size. The Scottish Government is working at pace with the seven cities to deliver this fund to support economic recovery, attract visitors and increase footfall back into our city centres in line with priority aims identified City Centre Recovery Task Force.