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Currently in Scotland, Electronic Monitoring is available as a Restriction of Liberty Order or for those released from prison on Home Detention Curfew. Electronic Monitoring is also used by the Parole Board as a condition of licence; as a Restricted Movement Requirement as part of Community Payback Order; as a Movement Restriction Condition for young people; or as a condition of a Drug Treatment and Testing Order. Support is dependent on the individual circumstances.

However, we know from international evidence that electronic monitoring can be a useful tool that can aid reducing reoffending when set within a wider package of support. The Scottish Government established an expert Working Group to look at Electronic Monitoring in Scotland to consider how best we take this forward specifically looking at: how electronic monitoring can be used at different points in the criminal justice system; what level of support can be provided in the community whilst maintaining public protection; and the opportunities that new technologies can provide.

The Working Group submitted their report to me at the start of the summer, and I plan to publish their report and recommendations shortly.

The Scottish Government will lay the Code of Practice before Parliament no later than 12 January 2017, as required by Part 2 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016.

A public consultation seeking views on a draft Code of Practice closed on 15 July 2016 and responses to the consultation were published on 15 September 2016. The Scottish Government will continue to work closely with the independent Stop and Search Advisory Group to revise the Code of Practice in light of consultation responses.

I meet regularly with the Chief Constable and other senior officers from Police Scotland to discuss a range of policing and public safety matters.

The setting of local policing priorities is a matter for local police commanders in partnership with the relevant local authority.

The collaborative statement of Good Scrutiny and Engagement provides guidance for local authorities on their responsibilities under the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012, including the scrutiny of local police plans.

Local policing priorities are set out in local police plans, prepared by local police commanders in partnership with the relevant local authority.

Equality and diversity within Police Scotland is a matter for the Chief Constable. We understand, that in line with the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012, Police Scotland will publish their next report into Equality and Diversity in 2017. This report follows the publication of their Equality and Diversity Update in 2014 and their Equality and Diversity Mainstreaming Progress Report in 2015. Police Scotland's equality and diversity publications can be found at the following link: http://www.scotland.police.uk/about-us/equality-and-diversity.

The Scottish Government is investing record levels of funding to tackle all forms of violence against women and girls and to ensure that victims receive the support which they need. This includes funding for Scottish Women’s Aid and the Women’s Aid network who provide vital services for women, girls and children who have experienced or who are experiencing domestic abuse. Over the last 5 years, the total funding allocation from the Equality Budget to these organisations is as follows:

2012-13: £5,124,150

2013-14: £5,516,740

2014-15: £5,577,567

2015-16: £5,433,956

2016-17: £6,039,116

We recognise that action is needed to stimulate demand for energy efficiency improvements, and the programme for government sets out our intention to consult this winter on the regulation of private rented sector housing to increase energy efficiency standards as part of the development of Scotland’s Energy Efficiency programme. We will also, in due course, consult on phased regulation of other existing buildings to improve their energy efficiency to support the aims of the programme as well as looking at what financial incentives may be appropriate. Further detail on Scotland’s Energy Efficiency programme will be set out in the draft energy strategy in winter 2016.

The programme for government reaffirms our commitment to develop a very significant energy efficiency and low carbon heat generation programme and includes a commitment to make available over half a billion pounds to Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme over the next four years.

A one-size fits all target may not be appropriate for something as diverse as Scotland’s housing stock. We are currently undertaking analysis as part of the development of the Climate Change Plan which will inform the long term objectives of the National Infrastructure Priority. Further details will be set out in the draft Energy Strategy, which will be published for consultation alongside the draft Climate Change Plan winter 2016.