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Decisions regarding the formation, format and remit of the new Scotland-wide statutory board will be taken forward during phase two of the review process which began on 1 November.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise will continue to exist. As part of our review of skills and enterprise, working closely with key stakeholders we will consider how the new Scotland-wide statutory board will operate. Current boards will continue to be involved as we develop our plans going forward.

The purpose of the new Scotland-wide statutory board will be to drive stronger governance and alignment across a coherent and fully integrated enterprise and skills system which provides the support that businesses and users of the skills system require. Decisions regarding the formation, remit and funding arrangements for this board for will be taken forward during phase two of the review process which began on 1 November. It is therefore not possible to set out at this stage what future budgets may be, as they will be developed in the normal way to meet funding needs and obligations through spending review and annual budget setting processes.

Asylum seekers living in Scotland can access NHS health services and civil legal advice and assistance in the same way as anyone that is ordinarily resident here.

It is for NHS Boards to provide health services that best meet the needs of their local populations from their general funding allocations.

Scotland has a legal aid system that is not cost limited and has a high eligibility rate. Asylum seekers can apply for publicly funded legal assistance under the same eligibility criteria as any applicant facing legal proceedings and their legal status is not a barrier.

The Scottish Refugee Council, which has received funding of £534,000 from the Scottish Government in 2016-17, works with refugees and asylum seekers and can help them to find legal representatives.

The statistics (available at: http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2016/10/2442) indicate that between 2006-07 and 2015-16, the number of recorded domestic abuse incidents in Orkney has increased from 22 per 10,000 population in 2005-06 to 64 per 10,000 population in 2015-16. This increase should be seen within the context of an increase across most local authorities in the same period and the rate per 10,000 population in Orkney in 2015-16 continuing to be well below than the national rate (64 compared to 108).

The Scottish Government is committed to tackling all violence against women and provided an additional £1.85m (2015-18) to Rape Crisis Scotland to enhance specialist support for victims across Scotland and, in partnership with Orkney and Shetland Women’s Aid, open the first-ever rape crisis services in these areas. These two vital support services are working together to raise awareness of domestic abuse in these communities and support victims to have the confidence to come forward and report it.

The Scottish Government recognises the vital role support services have in raising awareness of domestic abuse in these communities and supporting victims to have the confidence to come forward and report it. That is why we have provided an additional £1.85m (2015-18) to Rape Crisis Scotland to enhance specialist support for victims across Scotland and, in partnership with Orkney and Shetland Women’s Aid, open the first-ever rape crisis services in these areas.

The Scottish Government is taking action and investing record levels of funding to tackle domestic abuse and violence against women across Scotland. In 2016/17, we have allocated £11.8million towards initiatives to tackle violence against women, including a range of front line services for women and children experiencing domestic abuse.

Last year, the First Minister announced an additional £20million would be invested from the Justice Budget (over 2015-18) to tackle violence against women. We believe that in some cases, people feel more confident about reporting domestic abuse to the Police as they believe action will be taken.

We are committed to strengthening the law in this area through the introduction of a Bill creating a specific offence of domestic abuse in 2016-17. We will continue to take action to prevent and eradicate domestic abuse and all forms of violence against women and girls through the implementation of our strategy, Equally Safe.

A range of training on mental health, including suicide prevention training, is coordinated by NHS Health Scotland, and is available to a variety of groups including police officers, prison officers, criminal justice social workers and third sector workers regarding their work with women offenders. This includes Scotland’s Mental Health First Aid, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), Skills-based Training on Risk Management (STORM) and safeTALK. Further information is available at http://www.smhfa.com/about/index.aspx and http://www.chooselife.net/Training/index.aspx

The National Prisoner Healthcare Network’s workstreams on female offenders, mental health and psychological therapies will provide a range of opportunities for local services to consider the provision of services for women with borderline personality disorders and PTSD. In light of this, the Scottish Government does not intend to implement a separate review of the matter.

Non-domestic rates liabilities have not yet been finalised for 2017. The revaluation by independent Assessors will update the rateable value of non-domestic properties, in line with rental values. The Scottish Government will bring forward legislation for the 2017-18 rates poundage and any changes to reliefs in due course, having considered the revaluation effect across sectors.