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The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) is a valuable tool for identifying geographic areas where deprivation is most concentrated, and was used in identifying the Challenge Authorities as councils with high levels of deprivation to be targeted in the first phase of the Scottish Attainment Challenge.

It is recognised that this method may not always account for poverty experienced in rural and remote geographic areas, or settlements where low-income families reside alongside other families who are not deprived.

As we work to refresh the Scottish Attainment Challenge from 2022-23, we are analysing the alternative data sets available to us for use in the distribution of funding. The aim is to achieve a distribution of resource that equally recognises the challenges faced by low-income children across the country. Closing the poverty-related attainment gap and ensuring every young person has the chance to fulfil their potential remains central to this Government’s work. Our ambition is a long-term one and we know that the challenges presented by the pandemic mean our efforts to deliver equity in education are more vital than ever.

There is a wealth of evidence supporting the efficacy of face coverings, which includes but is not limited to the impacts on children. Our decisions on face coverings have always and continues to be based on the available scientific and medical evidence. The Scottish Government Covid-19 Advisory Group and the Covid-19 Advisory Sub-Group on Education and Children’s Issues applies the advice from: World Health Organisation (WHO) ; Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) ; and other sources, and use it to inform decisions in Scotland.

We continue to review our face covering policy on a regular basis in light of the emerging evidence on coronavirus and in the light of that evidence we removed the requirement in regulations for children under the age of 12 to wear face coverings on 9 August 2021.

Negotiations are a matter for ScotRail and staff representatives through established collective bargaining arrangements. That being said, I have had discussions with Abellio ScotRail and the trade unions, and have encouraged every constructive effort to resolve the situation.

Through the pandemic we have supported rail operators, including ScotRail, with funding of around £1bn, of which over £450m is additional funding, to maintain services and full employment and salaries for rail staff. Any pay rise, including payments for rest day working, would need to be funded by efficiencies agreed by both sides.

The Scottish Government is committed to minimising the carbon emissions impact of all City Region Growth Deals, including the assessment of their contribution to the achievement of the national net zero target. All City Region Growth Deal projects must follow Green Book guidance by quantifying their whole life carbon emissions impact and incorporating this value into the economic case. This is an ongoing and proactive carbon management process, facilitated by the City Region Growth Deals Sustainable Development Manager.

The Scottish Government funded Saltire Research Awards will this year support 93 research projects through the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) schemes and create around 70 exchanges through the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) scheme, across a broad range of disciplines and partners. Details on these are available on the RSE and SFC websites. Funding awards to successful bids will be made shortly.

The cost of energy remains a significant issue in terms of tackling fuel poverty and can discourage switching to electric zero emissions technologies for heating. As energy pricing and obligations are reserved, we must see action by the UK Government if we are to meet both our emissions and fuel poverty targets.

The Scottish Government is engaging broadly to raise our concerns for the people and businesses of Scotland. A letter has been sent this week from the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport to the BEIS business secretary highlighting the need for affordable energy and Ministers are engaging with industry and consumer groups, including fuel poverty organisations.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

The number of deaths in custody in prisons over the past five years is detailed in the following table:

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02844 on 23 September 2021. 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 .

While there is no mandatory requirement for public body senior officers to take specific carbon mitigation training, in recognition of the value of climate literacy the Scottish Government has supported the Royal Scottish Geographic Society to develop a Climate Solutions Qualification, written with University of Stirling’s Management School, University of Edinburgh’s Centre for carbon innovation and the Institute of Directors. This course is designed to increase climate literacy and climate action throughout public and private sector leadership.

The Scottish Government has supported the delivery of 100 places on the course to leaders across the public and private sectors, equipping them with a vital understanding of key issues related to addressing the climate emergency. In total, 400 leaders from business and the public sector have now completed the full online qualification, and 60,000 people have subscribed to a shorter 90-minute version.

Policy on transport fuels is reserved to the UK Government and the roll-out of the E10 petrol grade is an initiative led on by the UK Department for Transport (DfT).

DfT's "Know Your Fuel" campaign has run across Scotland to inform motorists of the change and also offers an online vehicle compatibility checking tool. The Scottish Government's Traffic Scotland information service recently released tweets alerting motorists to the E10 introduction and provided links to DfT's online information resources."