The following table shows the funding provided to Cunninghame, Irvine and Trust Housing Associations between 1999-2000 to 2011-12 to deliver affordable homes. This funding supported delivery of new build homes, rehabilitation projects, conversions and off-the-shelf purchases of both new and second hand homes.

Funding provided to support delivery of affordable homes to Cunninghame, Irvine and Trust Housing Associations 1999-2000 to 2011-12*

The vaccination of poultry and captive birds against avian influenza is not currently permitted. Vaccination is not a routine preventative measure and is a practice prohibited by legislation. There is limited experimental evidence available on the effectiveness of vaccination of poultry and other captive birds against avian influenza, and its varying strains, and there are no vaccines currently available that would guarantee the immune responses required.

If vaccinations were to be applied, there is a danger that they could ‘mask’ the occurrence of disease in a farm, delaying its detection. A poorly applied vaccination programme could even lead to the persistence of disease, whilst vaccinated birds may still be capable of transmitting the virus. Further concerns are that a vaccination programme could have trading implications with EU/third countries.

New developments in avian influenza vaccinations and their potential use are continually being considered and appraised, however, currently the proven effective preventative measure against avian influenza remains the application of on-site biosecurity, which is of fundamental importance to the avian influenza prevention and control strategy for Scotland.

Booster vaccinations in Scotland started as soon as possible once the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) provided their advice on boosters, which stated that the booster dose should be offered no earlier than six months after completion of the primary vaccine course, however there is some flexibility to offer a booster vaccination to the most vulnerable groups after five months.

1,342,841 people have received a booster or 3rd dose to 19 November, and we are working as quickly as we can, prioritising those most vulnerable.

Data on boosters by JCVI priority group is not yet published. We continue to work closely with Public Health Scotland to develop the vaccination data to provide robust statistics that enhance public understanding.

Booster vaccinations in Scotland started as soon as possible once the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) provided their advice on boosters, which stated that the booster dose should be offered no earlier than six months after completion of the primary vaccine course, however there is some flexibility to offer a booster vaccination to the most vulnerable groups after five months.

1,342,841 people have received a booster or 3rd dose to 19 November, and we are working as quickly as we can, prioritising those most vulnerable.

Data on boosters by JCVI priority group is not yet published. We continue to work closely with Public Health Scotland to develop the vaccination data to provide robust statistics that enhance public understanding.

This rapid review will be carried out by people with clinical expertise and will set out expectations for the delivery of support for people who experience mental health and substance use problems. It will involve key stakeholders and be led by the views of people with lived and living experience. The remit of the review will include, but is not limited to, the following:

• The provision of assessment and specialist support for people who experience a dual diagnosis of a mental health condition alongside their substance use problem;
• The delivery of psychosocial support to people with substance use problems in settings which include third sector and primary care;
• The impact of additional, multiple and severe disadvantages on the need for, and delivery of, appropriate mental health and substance use services.

The review will be completed and a report will be published in late Autumn 2022.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is responsible for regulating gravel extraction from rivers under the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 (CAR). Due to the cyber attack SEPA experienced at the end of 2020 it only currently has licence information available for 2021 until the impacted data is recovered for previous years.

In 2021 SEPA issued six licences where sediment management was one of the activities, as detailed in the following table. These activities fall into two main categories – either flood prevention (where there is no practical alternative e.g. clearing under a bridge or other pinch point) or as part of works to protect/ repair an asset.

The EWS1 certificate was developed by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) along with UK Finance and the Building Societies Association (BSA). It is not a Government form, nor is it a legal requirement. The initial phase of the Single Building Assessment program is ongoing, which will be followed by the national roll-out.

In July 2016 it was agreed by Scottish Ministers and COSLA that from 2016-17 onwards 80% of the flood component of the general capital grant would be allocated to large scale projects and distributed according to the SEPA prioritisation of flooding schemes and works set out in the Flood Risk Management Strategies. There were 40 eligible schemes on SEPA’s prioritised list, which was published in December 2015. The Scottish Government is currently committed to funding these 40 schemes subject to the caveat that these remain viable projects. For an eligible scheme, grant funding will also cover all capital expenditure related to the scheme before building work has commenced. What is a capital cost is determined in accordance with proper accounting practice.

The SPCB is responsible for funding the Members’ Expenses Scheme and for determining which indices are used to uprate the overall provisions, which include staff cost provision.

At the SPCB meeting on 5 March 2020, the SPCB agreed to index SCP annually using a mix of Average Weekly Earnings (AWE) and the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) index. This move to a ‘basket’ of indices was considered to provide a steadier basis for any increase as fluctuations are more likely to be moderated. SPCB agreed that this approach should be adopted for future indexation of staff cost provision as a transparent means of determining any increase. There has been no change in this position.

This index is now used as part of the budget setting process and part of our submission to the Finance Committee for the next financial year.

Prior to the start of the new parliamentary session, an in-depth review of the Staff Cost Provision was undertaken. The report on the Review of the Members’ Staff Cost Provision was finalised and circulated to all Members in December 2020. This resulted in a change from the start of Session 6 where members would benefit from increased funding equivalent to one additional FTE staff member.

The SPCB undertakes Members’ Expenses Scheme reviews each session to ensure that the Expenses Scheme continues to support Members in carrying out their roles and to identify where there are any beneficial improvements to the Scheme which could assist Members whilst continuing to maintain the principles and transparency associated with the Scheme. Given the Scheme, including the Staff Cost Provision, has recently been reviewed the SPCB will consider the need for any further review later in the parliamentary session as part of their normal review processes.

Scotland’s policy on GMOs has not changed. We are aware of current debate around novel genomic techniques such as gene editing and how these relate to existing GM legislation, and we note in particular the consideration of this at EU level. The Scottish Government is committed to keeping close to the EU and we will continue to align when appropriate. We are closely monitoring the EU’s position on this issue.