Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-12089 on‎ 21 November 2022 which is 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

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-12089 on‎ 21 November 2022 which is 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

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-12089 on‎ 21 November 2022 which is 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

As the First Minister acknowledged in Parliament on 27 October, the allegations of the existence of such establishments are concerning and she made clear any foreign country that operates in Scotland must abide by Scottish law.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-12089 on‎ 21 November 2022 which is 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

Mid-Market homes are let under private tenancy arrangements, mostly Private Residential Tenancies. There are therefore no plans to re-categorise mid-market rental properties owned by registered social landlords as social housing, and no decision has been taken about the use of the emergency measures beyond 31 March 2023. Any decision regarding the emergency measures will take into consideration the cost of living situation as it develops, and will be also be informed by our engagement with tenants, landlords and other stakeholders.

An estimate of the number of households with legislation compliant alarms will only be available when the results of the 2022 Scottish House Condition Survey are published. This is expected to be by early 2024. For social housing, the Scottish Housing Regulator will publish its annual Social Housing Charter report for 2022-2023, which will set out the information for this sector, in August 2023.

Scottish Government has provided a total of £2.1 million between Care & Repair and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to support those in greatest need or at greatest risk of fire, to meet the new standard.

There are no plans to discontinue national standardised assessments for P1 learners. The Scottish Government commissioned David Reedy to conduct an independent review of the assessments for P1 children in response to motion S5M-13945. The Reedy review (2019) concluded that the P1 SNSA was compatible with a play-based approach to learning, had valuable potential and should continue. The report further identified “scant evidence of children becoming upset when taking the P1 SNSA” – a finding which is borne out by pupil survey responses from P1 learners in 2021/22, which indicate 92% of children felt happy completing their assessments.

The national standardised assessments are designed to be age and stage appropriate, and as inclusive as possible: there is no time limit for their completion; learners can undertake the assessments in more than one session; the system is compatible with a range of devices and assistive technologies; and teachers have the flexibility to decide how and when assessments are administered. As such, we expect most primary one learners to undertake the assessments, as has been the case in previous years*. As always, teachers’ presentation decisions should be made after considering the individual needs and wellbeing of children, the diagnostic purpose of national standardised assessment and the way in which teachers and schools intend to use information.

* 2019/20 exception, due to COVID-19 related school closures.

The recently re-established Headteacher Recruitment and Retention Working Group works jointly with education stakeholders to develop, agree and take forward actions to help improve the recruitment and retention of headteachers in Scotland. The group has been meeting on a quarterly basis since January 2022 with the last meeting taking place on 7 September 2022.