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Scottish Government officials are assessing the available evidence, including the Social Security Advisory Committee’s July 2016 report, to understand whether the recent decline in the number of social security appeals in Scotland that followed the introduction of mandatory reconsideration is attributable to improved decision making and early resolution of disputes, or is a result of changes in claimant behaviour.Our approach will be further informed by the current consultation on social security in Scotland, where we are seeking input from people who have experienced the mandatory reconsideration process to ensure that the system of appeals for devolved benefits is transparent and accessible.

 

Yes. An Equality Impact Assessment of the cleft surgery review has been carried out. It will be published on the NHS National Services Scotland, National Services Division, website (www.nsd.scot.nhs.uk) in early August 2016.

The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 places a number of duties on Responders identified in the legislation. It is the responsibility of the individual responder agencies to ensure compliance with the legal duties placed upon them by the Act. Structures which support responders in Scotland to carry out those duties - the North, East and West Regional Resilience Partnerships - are set out in the associated Civil Contingencies Act (Contingency Planning) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2013. The Regional Resilience Partnerships bring together senior representatives of all the statutory responders to ensure effective multi agency collaboration, provide strategic direction and agree priorities, in order to make Scotland more resilient.

We have made clear that the Scottish Government is committed to incorporating further guidance on physical restraint and seclusion within the refreshed ‘Included, Engaged and Involved Part 2: A Positive Approach to Preventing and Managing Schools Exclusions’ (IEI2). This guidance is for all children, including children with complex additional support needs, including those arising from learning disabilities. This is in line with the petition responses stating that restraint and seclusion should be seen within the context of early intervention, positive relationships and behaviour.The purpose of the guidance is to support local authorities, mainstream and special schools and other learning establishments and their partners to keep all children and young people fully included, engaged and involved in their education wherever this takes place; and to improve outcomes for those most at risk of exclusion. The guidance focuses on prevention, early intervention and responses to individual need, incorporating staged interventions and additional support to prevent problems escalating.The draft guidance is clear that ‘it is only acceptable to physically intervene or to restrain a child or young person where the member of staff reasonably believes in all the circumstances that if he/she does not physically intervene or restrain the child or young person, the child or young person’s actions are likely to cause physical damage or harm to that pupil or to another person.’ It also highlights that ‘The use of physical intervention, physical restraint and seclusion should all be included in an agreed plan and be used as a last resort. Where seclusion is used it should be used under supervision and should take into account the additional support needs of the child or young person.’

The commercial process for the transitional employment support for disabled people in 2017-2018 has commenced and until that is complete we cannot confirm the final numbers. However, the Scottish Government is looking to match the current level of starts on the Work Choice programme. We will be able to announce details of the agreed volumes when the contracting process is complete by the end of this year.

Comparable spend by the UK Government, on Work Programme and Work Choice in Scotland, in 2015-16 and 2016-17 is currently unavailable. However, the Scottish Government estimates that spend on both programmes will decrease to around £54m in 2016-17. The Scottish Government’s indicative Fiscal Framework settlement of £7m in 2017-18 therefore represents a circa 87% reduction on this level of expenditure. As announced on 22 March 2016, to mitigate these cuts the Scottish Government will provide up to £20m additional funding on transitional devolved employment services in 2017-18.

 

The Scottish Government has committed to retain the non-means tested, non-repayable nursing and midwifery student bursary at least at its current level. The review will now focus on what additional support students might need to enable wider participation and increased retention. The review findings will now be presented to Scottish Ministers by the end of 2016.

The Scottish Government recognises the concerns that have been expressed about the level of exploitation of mountain hares in some areas and has put in place research to gather data on population levels. In the meantime, proportionate management of mountain hares as a quarry species and to protect trees and gamebirds can continue. Should evidence emerge of large indiscriminate culls that could threaten local populations of mountain hares then we will consider if further measures such as a moratorium are necessary.

A review of moorland management was undertaken by independent experts from the Scottish Natural Heritage Scientific Advisory Committee. This review was published in October 2015, and identified the need for improved monitoring and data to assess national trends of mountain hare populations.

This work is underway in the form of a collaborative four year (2014-17) study involving Scottish Natural Heritage, the James Hutton Institute and the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, acting on the advice of several mountain hare experts, to trial a range of methods of assessing mountain hare numbers, to develop a better monitoring strategy, and to improve the quality of the information used to assess population status and the sustainability of hare management measures.

Hare management requires to be undertaken in accordance with obligations under the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended in Scotland) which implements the EU Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora in Scotland. This means hare populations must be managed sustainably and their management should also not compromise the conservation status of the species. Certain methods of killing or taking mountain hares are also prohibited, including any means which is indiscriminate and capable of causing the local disappearance of, or serious disturbance to a hare population.

Scottish Natural Heritage is working with Scottish Land & Estates to encourage estates to be more transparent about the reasons for culling hares and to encourage estates in the same area to collaborate and develop a more measured and coordinated approach to sustainable hare management. The intention is for additional information from the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust National Gamebag Census to be made available in order to help inform these strategic decisions.