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On 2 May the First Minister launched Energy Efficient Scotland, the stated goal of which is to achieve near zero carbon wherever feasible by 2050, and in a way that is socially and economically sustainable. The associated Route Map sets out our vision for all buildings in Scotland – that by 2040 all our buildings are warmer, greener and more efficient – and how we will deliver on the National Infrastructure Priority for Energy Efficiency.

Our Route Map to an Energy Efficient Scotland does not set requirements for industrial buildings to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

However we are supporting businesses and helping them to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. We have introduced a cash back incentive to our SME loan scheme, which offers cash back of up to 30% of costs of energy efficiency works ( up to £10,000). We are proposing that energy efficiency standards for non-domestic buildings are continually extended so that by 2040 all buildings are improved to the extent that is cost-effective and technically feasible. This will include industrial buildings.

The Route Map sets out a clear timetable for a review of existing non-domestic energy efficiency regulations with new regulations coming into force in 2021. As part of this we will improve the information and advice that is provided where an energy assessment is undertaken, to help building owners considering cost effective improvement.

We are seeking views on our proposals through the Energy Efficient Scotland consultation, including views on what legislation may be needed to support delivery of our energy efficiency programme.

Within the last two months there have been two reports of illegal pearl fishing incidents in the Assynt area. Both incidents were reported to Police Scotland and investigations are continuing. This is an important area for the conservation of freshwater pearl mussels, with a number of rivers designated for their internationally important populations and a significant number of other important populations. We are extremely disappointed by this persecution of this critically endangered species, which is extremely vulnerable to criminal damage and is a UK wildlife crime priority.

The rivers where both incidents took place are the subject of ‘Riverwatch’ schemes, launched by the ‘Pearls in Peril’ project and aimed at increasing awareness of the threat from illegal pearl fishing. The UK Priority Delivery Group for freshwater pearl mussels (which coordinates activity to combat wildlife crime affecting pearl mussels) has discussed these cases and planning is underway to highlight the continued threat from illegal activity across the Highlands in the media. This is planned for later this summer, alongside awareness-raising with ranger services. There are also river patrols in Highland region, led by Police Scotland with partner organisations, to deter and detect potential criminal activity.

Within all Local Authority secondary schools in Scotland, Skills Development Scotland has devised an improved and expanded approach to Career Information, Advice and Guidance (CIAG), ensuring that skills intelligence is shaped to inform young people of the opportunities available to them. All learning and skills pathways, including the Apprenticeship family, are explored to ensure each individual makes informed decisions.

From August 2018 we will be significantly increasing the number of Foundation Apprenticeships available in the senior phase of school to around 2600, up from 1200 in the previous year.

This year we will also provide 28,000 Modern Apprenticeship opportunities and of those 28,000 starts around 900 will be Graduate Apprenticeships.

In a situation where there is no SIGN guideline on a specific topic, healthcare professionals would be expected to look for other high-quality evidence based guidance on which to base their practice. SIGN have indicated that the above NICE guidelines fit this criteria.

The Scottish Government is in the process of seeking the views of experts on the applicability of the NICE guidelines on Lyme disease for use in Scotland.

Regulation for the supply of medicines is currently reserved to the UK Government. In general terms, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) in England and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry have issued joint good practice guidelines " Ensuring Best Practice in the Notification of Product Discontinuations ".

The guidelines emphasise the need for an early exchange of information and companies are advised to give as much notice of a discontinuation as possible. However, companies are free to review their portfolios as they think necessary and the DHSC has no powers to insist that a company continues to keep a product on the market.

Scottish Government officials meet with DHSC colleagues to discuss medicine supply issues on a regular basis and will continue to do so. Any patients who are concerned about the discontinuation of any products should contact their doctor or pharmacist to discuss alternative treatment options.

As stated in the answer to question S5W-15984, postgraduate Medical training curricula are written by Medical Royal Colleges, approved by the General Medical Council. The training is delivered by territorial NHS Boards in clinical placement settings, also approved by the GMC.

All qualified healthcare practitioners have a professional obligation to undertake continuous professional development to meet identified learning and professional development needs. A range of interventions have been developed and are in place for staff working with adults with a range of health conditions including ME/CFS.

The Scottish Government have been working closely with Action for M.E. and have provided funding to the organisation to support project work aimed at making improvements in care for people with M.E. through increasing knowledge of the condition among health professionals and working to raise awareness, and promote self-management solutions.

Raising awareness of Lyme disease is an ongoing priority for the Lyme Borreliosis Group which is part of the Scottish Health Protection Network. In addition to producing educational materials for the public and medical practitioners, the group has run a number of sessions for Community Pharmacy Groups and in partnership with the local Health Protection Team, held a symposium on Lyme disease on Benbecula. The group continues to meet and discuss routes for raising awareness.

There are no plans to print leaflets as these are freely available to download from the Health Protection Scotland (HPS) website.

The Scottish Government is committed to reduce by more than half, the disability employment gap.

A number of specific actions, including those commitments undertaken since the launch of A Fairer Scotland for Disabled people in 2016 have been taken to support more disabled people into work including those with Autism. These include:-

• Support through Scottish Employer Recruitment Incentive (SERI) and Community Jobs Scotland (CJS) for private and third sector employers to help more young people who face barriers to employment, including Autism.
• Fair Start Scotland – our devolved employment service which will aim to support at least 38,000 people over 3 years of referrals. FSS commenced in April this year and disabled people are a specific priority group for support.
• Putting in place the highest amount of Modern Apprenticeship Funding for disabled people up to the age of 29;
• The launch by Skills Development Scotland of new digital guides for employers including the Employers’ Guide to Inclusive Recruitment
• Funding for the National Autistic Society’s ‘moving forward’ programme from the CashBack for Communities funds, helps target the specific barriers faced by autistic people – a necessary step in the pursuit of meaningful employment. This includes but is not limited to, awareness training for employers.

We recognise more needs to be done. At a Congress on Disability Employment and the Workplace, the First Minister announced the publication later this year of a Disability Employment Action Plan. This will set out the Cross-Government actions we will take towards achieving our long term ambition for more disabled people to be able to enter and sustain employment. We will work with disabled people and their representative bodies to develop this plan. Those supporting people with learning disabilities or difficulties will be a key part of that engagement.

We also recognise the key role employers have to play in this, so an initial key action also announced at Congress was up to £1m for business engagement and support, providing ready access to support for employers to recruit and retain disabled people.

This is a question for the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland. She advises me that that the total number of additional hectares registered in each year since April 2014 is as follows:

2014-15: 58,456

2015-16: 120,115

2016-17: 94,491

2017-18: 137,514

Applicants for registration are not required to provide information on whether the land in question is public or private sector and therefore information is not held on the percentage of public and private sector land respectively that has been registered since April 2014.