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We are aware that, following our successful public awareness campaign, there is significant public interest in carrying out work to comply with the new standard for fire alarms in all Scottish homes. It is, therefore, possible, that some retailers will have short term supply issues. We are also aware that some manufacturers may be affected by difficulties with imported components. However, 90% of the market share is met by manufacturers with a UK base using European components, and they have assured us that there is a sufficient supply of alarms available to meet the expected demand by 1 February 2022, when the new standard comes into force.

However, I would emphasise that when the legislation comes into force, it says that work should be done within a reasonable period, which takes into account individual circumstances. No home owner will be penalised if they are unable to do the work within that timescale.

Revenue Scotland is responsible for the collection and management of the fully devolved taxes. As such, it has no role in any aspect of the UK Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention scheme.

The First Minister announced funding to support small and medium-sized businesses to make improvements to their ventilation, would be made available. The Business Ventilation Fund opened for applications on 23 November 2022.

Businesses are currently providing information as part of this application process in advance of any funding being issued.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-04128 on 30 November 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are 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

Yes, work is currently in progress to ensure people can access their COVID-19 booster vaccination information in the app and on the paper and PDF versions through the NHS Portal. It is expected this will be available from December 2021, following the recent agreement of international standards on how to display booster information on 18 November.

Proof of booster vaccinations are not currently a requirement of the domestic certification scheme. However, we are aware that a small number of countries have introduced a vaccine ‘expiry’ point as part of their certification arrangements.

In the meantime, people intending to travel should check the entry requirements of the country they are visiting on the GOV.UK foreign travel advice pages, as PCR testing is also widely accepted.

Scottish Government officials are currently working with COSLA, Scotland Excel, Scottish Care, the Coalition of Care and Support Providers (CCPS) and the Fair Work in Social Care Group on the implementation of the uplift for adult social care workers providing direct care in commissioned services in the independent and third sector. The National Care Home Contract is managed by Scotland Excel on behalf of Local Authorities; this will be updated to reflect the pay uplift to at least £10.02 per hour and providers will receive a letter of variation to the contract. Local Authorities and Scotland Excel will work at pace to ensure care homes have all the necessary information ahead of the new rate starting on 1 December 2021. Where this is not possible, funding will be back dated and provided for all hours worked from 1 December 2021.

The Cost of Care model will be updated and the uplift will be applied to both care staff and senior care staff.

We have not made a formal assessment of how many fire and smoke alarms will be disposed of as a result of the new regulations coming into force in February next year. Fire and smoke alarms are classed as small electrical equipment items and most are suitable for recycling. We encourage people to either return alarms to the retailer or take them to their local authority recycling centres as they already would do together with other items for recycling.

It is possible that awareness of the new standard, which includes the need to replace alarms that are more than ten years old, may lead to an increased number of expired alarms being recycled over the coming months.

The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) previously published advice on the Management of end-of-life smoke detectors, including advice for businesses and households on safe disposal and promoting the environmentally sound management of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) devices.

I am aware of ongoing discussions between industry and Scottish local authorities regarding recycling options of end-of-life smoke alarms as part of Household Waste Recycling Centre provision.

SEPA continue to engage with the WEEE sector and other UK Environment Agencies.

All alarms have a limited lifespan of around ten years due to deterioration of the sensors over time. Where alarms are expired, or no longer fit for purpose, it is recommended they are disposed of appropriately either by returning to the retailer or taken to a local authority household waste recycling centre.

The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) previously published advice on the Management of end-of-life smoke detectors, including advice for businesses and households on safe disposal and promoting the environmentally sound management of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) devices.

I am aware of ongoing discussions between industry and Scottish local authorities regarding recycling options of end-of-life smoke alarms as part of Household Waste Recycling Centre provision.

SEPA continue to engage with the WEEE sector and other UK Environment Agencies on this matter.

I am most grateful to my colleague, Mr Burnett, for raising the important matter of overseas recruitment for social care providers. Regarding the recent funding for NHS boards; this funding cannot be routed to social care providers, who sit outwith the NHS. However, I would be happy to explain to Mr Burnett the work which is ongoing to address recruitment within the sector.

The Scottish Government are working hard to attract more people to a career in the social care sector. For the past two years the Scottish Government has funded an Adult Social Care Marketing Campaign. A further national marketing campaign launched on 8 November to attract more people to the sector.

We believe that Scotland’s social care services benefit greatly from the staff in the workforce who come from overseas. The sector is deeply concerned about the impact that the post-EU Exit loss of freedom of movement will have on recruitment to critical frontline social care roles. Scottish Government and key sector partners will continue to engage with UK Ministers to highlight why Scotland’s social care sector must have access to workers from outwith the UK, to help meet shortfall in workforce capacity and avoid the subsequent impact on our most vulnerable citizens. We also highlight that Scotland’s care workers are qualified, registered and regulated.

We will continue to push for a migration system tailored to Scotland’s needs, including a Scottish Visa, and work with partners and employers to develop proposals that suit their requirements.