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Scotland' Beaver Strategy , published in September 2022, aims to assess the biological, environmental, economic and social implications of beavers. This includes the benefits that beavers can bring alongside mitigating any impacts on other species, habitats, physical processes, land use and wider ecosystem services. We aim to use this knowledge to inform decision making.

NatureScot also operates the Scottish Beaver Mitigation Scheme and keep records of where they have been asked for advice or support with mitigating beaver activity.

Strategic Environmental Assessments, carried out by NatureScot for beaver translocations in new catchments, have identified where potential beaver habitat overlaps with important infrastructure including railway lines.

Network Rail, who are responsible for rail infrastructure in Scotland, are aware of the reintroduction and translocation of beaver species within Scotland. They have established a working group made up of engineers from different parts of their business which seeks to raise awareness internally of potential issues posed and highlight where beaver activity is already present as well as proposals for where they are going to be introduced. Network Rail are also active in the national Scottish Beaver Advisory Group (SBAG) which has been set up to oversee delivery of Scotland’s Beaver Strategy with NatureScot.

Network Rail’s existing rail infrastructure inspection and maintenance regimes are sufficient to detect any impact on the railway and they can and do respond with detailed assessment on a case specific basis as required. Network Rail have carried out mitigation of beaver activity under licence from NatureScot at a number of locations in Tayside in response to the risk to public safety.

The Scottish Government remains committed to modernising and improving the prison estate, to ensure it is fit for purpose for those that live and work in prisons and supports the rehabilitation of people living there.

Our current infrastructure priorities are the replacements for HMP Barlinnie and HMP Inverness.

Neither the Scottish Government or the Scottish Prison Service have current plans to redevelop the site of HMP Shotts.

We welcome the agreements reached with police officers and staff, which sees them receive a 7% pay increase for 2023/24. The agreement reached with officers, through the Police Negotiating Board for Scotland, means that police officers in Scotland remain the best paid in the UK.

The agreements recognise the valuable contribution police officers and staff make to keeping people and communities across Scotland safe, while cognisant of the current economic climate. They provide a fair pay deal amounting to 12% over 2 years, which broadly mirrors wage growth for firefighters over the same period.

Police welfare, wellbeing and morale are matters for the Chief Constable, who has set out a range of support for officers and staff through the Your Wellbeing Matters and Your Voice Matters programmes.

We are currently developing detailed proposals for the Anti-Racism Observatory for Scotland (AROS). A formal remit will be drawn up (and published) in due course.

A key part of the work being done is to develop governance and oversight of the work being done to tackle racism in Scotland, as per the recommendation of the Expert Group on Ethnicity and Covid-19 (ERG). This will include consideration of how to measure, track and evaluate progress made in eradicating racism in Scotland.

The Scottish Government unequivocally condemns any form of racism, hatred or prejudice. We must all play our part in challenging such behaviour and attitudes.

We are currently developing detailed proposals for the Anti-Racism Observatory for Scotland (AROS). A formal remit will be drawn up (and published) in due course.

The work of the Observatory will align closely with our obligations under the Equality Act (2010) Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and will inform and support implementation of the Convention in Scotland.

Agreement has been reached through the Police Negotiating Board for a 7% increase to officer pay across all ranks for 2023-24. It means that police officers in Scotland remain the best paid in the UK.

The agreement recognises the valuable contribution police officers make to keeping people and communities across Scotland safe. It is also cognisant of the current economic climate and seeks to recognise the fact that officers are unable to take industrial action.

This agreement ensures a cumulative 12.35% increase in police officer pay since 1 April 2022 which broadly mirrors wage growth for firefighters in the Scottish Fire Rescue Service. In 2023-24 Nurses and Paramedics received a 6.5% pay award.

The 2023-24 Programme for Government and Pay Strategy maintains our commitment to a four-day working week public sector pilot to assess environmental, health and wellbeing benefits and productivity gains this could bring.

The pilot and the concluding report will ensure meaningful insights are gained on the benefits and risks of a four-day working week approach.

We are currently seeking an expert partner organisation to support pilot participants, assist with the pilot design and produce an evaluation report. The work of the expert partner organisation will define the framework to judge the effectiveness of the public sector four-day working week pilot proposal.

The Investing in Communities Fund (ICF) currently supports 105 organisations receiving a share of £27 million over the three years 2023-24 to 2025-26. Many of the organisations receiving ICF are delivering their projects for more than one community area thereby enabling an even wider combined benefit and providing assistance for people living in more than 128 communities.

The organisations that have been supported have been published along with details of the funding awards. ICF Round 2 - List of successful organisations

We continue to work in partnership with local authorities and COSLA on delivery plans to ensure every school-aged child has access to a digital device by the end of this parliamentary term in 2026.

This work includes consideration of procurement processes and other costs related to devices, as well as developing a digital strategy for education to help ensure that digital provision supports the wider aims of the education system.