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The Air Quality in Scotland website www.scottishairquality.co.uk contains a wide range of information on air quality for all members of the general public. Specific educational resources on the website are Air Pollution Detectives, aimed at 8-11 year olds and Clear the Air aimed at 12-15 year olds.

Through the website, members of the public can also sign up to the Know and Respond service which provides voicemail, SMS or email alerts when air pollution levels are forecast to be high, along with advice on action that can be taken to minimise the impacts on health.

In addition, the Learn About Air package which is operated by SEPA includes, amongst its resources, ten mobile air quality sensors which are loaned to schools. The sensors are sited to provide information about air pollution levels during drop off and pick up times, illustrating the impacts of parked and idling vehicles outside schools.

Further information on Learn About Air can be found at www.Learnaboutair.com

Under the Environment Act 1995 and associated regulations, local authorities are required to declare Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) and develop action plans where air quality objectives are not being met. The Scottish Government provides practical and financial support to those authorities currently implementing action plans. These plans contain a wide range of measures designed to not only directly improve local air quality but also to raise awareness amongst the public of the health impacts of poor air quality.

Cleaner Air for Scotland - The Road to a Healthier Future, published in November 2015, sets out a comprehensive series of actions which are intended to deliver further air quality improvements and protect the health of all citizens of Scotland.

Under the Environment Act 1995 and associated regulations, local authorities are required to declare Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) and develop action plans where air quality objectives are not being met. The Scottish Government provides practical and financial support to those authorities currently implementing action plans.

There is no specific legislation covering indoor air quality. However the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 focuses on the health and safety of buildings, the conservation of fuel and power within buildings and sustainable development.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-08571 on 18 April 2017. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

There is a statutory minimum tolerable standard for all housing (including those occupied by at-risk families ) which includes that homes must be substantially free from rising damp or penetrating damp. Owners and tenants can seek advice from their local authority. Assessors will exercise their expert judgement in deciding if a house is substantially free from dampness.

The Scottish Government website provides guidance to help local authority assessors identify dampness including tables which describe patterns of dampness for the main building elements. Local authorities have broad discretionary powers to enforce work needed on substandard housing, and where appropriate, to provide assistance.

Under the statutory minimum tolerable standard for all housing including private lets and owner-occupied housing, homes must be substantially free from rising damp or penetrating damp.

Local authorities have a statutory duty to address any housing which falls below the tolerable standard. Section 85 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 requires local authorities to ensure that houses which do not meet the tolerable standard are closed, demolished or brought up to the tolerable standard within such period as is reasonable. Local authorities have powers to require owners (including those who rent out their properties to tenants) to carry out work needed to bring a house up to standard, and discretionary powers to provide advice and assistance to property owners where it is needed.

Private landlords also have a statutory duty to ensure that the homes they let are wind and watertight and in all other respects reasonably fit for human habitation. Private Sector tenants can apply to the First-tier Tribunal (Housing and Property Chamber), who have powers to enforce landlords’ duties. The Housing (Scotland) Act 2014 also provided further powers for local authorities to refer cases to the Tribunal on behalf of tenants.

We are committed to tackling Islamophobia in all its forms, and we recognise the importance of ensuring that young Muslims are able to participate fully in society at all levels. We will continue to tackle hate crime, encourage people to report it, and challenge prejudice and intolerance wherever it exists. Our vibrant and multi-faceted minority communities make a significant contribution to our national life – we will ensure that continues to be recognised and celebrated.

We are supporting a programme of work through a coalition of equality organisations to increase representation of women, disabled people, and those from Black Minority Ethnic communities and faith groups – as well as Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Intersex communities - in politics.

Young Scot is working with the Scottish Government’s Race Equality Team, through a co-design model for race equality in Scotland of young people from minority ethnic backgrounds and communities in realising the vision and ambition of the Race Equality Framework. To advance race equality, tackling racism and addressing the barriers that prevent people from minority ethnic communities from realising their potential.

We have provided over £300,000 of funding to Show Racism the Red Card, Amina and Interfaith Scotland from the Equality Budget during 2016-17 to help promote equality and address discrimination. Of this funding Amina has been delivering workshops in secondary Schools since 2012 to tackle Islamophobia and raise awareness of Islam.

On World Interfaith Harmony Day - 7 February 2017, Interfaith Scotland and St. Ninians School collaborated on an Interfaith event to encourage harmony between all regardless of faith. This was attended by over 200 young people attended from 6 schools.

Show Racism the Red Card has a project Tackling Contemporary Racism delivers a transformative educational programme to young people across Scotland to educate against formation of racist attitudes including Islamophobia.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-08278 on 13 April 2017 which addresses this question in part and is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

In addition, we are committed to tackling gender stereotyping in all its forms, and we recognise the importance of ensuring that young Muslim women are able to participate fully in society at all levels. We are taking a range of steps to advance gender equality and tackle violence against women, and a draft delivery plan for our Equally Safe strategy was published on 23 March setting out ambitious steps in this area.

The Scottish Government is funding Amina £111,534 and Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Organisations Scotland (CEMVO) with funding of £62,000 for 2016/17. CEMVO is establishing a minority ethnic Women’s network and aiming to hold a number of related events in 2017 to link in to the Race Equality Framework (REF) actions. The first event was held on 22 February, with over 90 women attending. As well as looking at the vision, purpose and structure of a possible network for Minority Ethnic women, discussion took place on employability issues, with potential solutions identified. Additionally over the course of 2017 we will organise a series of Themed Roundtables linked to REF themes involving policy officials with key experts from a range of statutory and third sector organisations and academia. One of these Roundtable events will focus on employability and, amongst other sources, will consider the feedback gathered at the minority ethnic women’s network event.

Amina works to promote equality for Muslim Women by tackling prejudice, hate crime and inspiring community cohesion. Amina’s Building Bridges project focuses on Muslim, Minority Ethnic women in Dundee to provide information and support on a range of areas from mental wellbeing to registering to vote. Building confidence and participation that strengthens Muslim, Minority Ethnic women of all backgrounds to fulfil their potential and participate fully.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-04906 on 30 November 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx