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Improving weight and diet is a top priority for this government as we made clear in the Programme for Government. We will shortly publish and consult on our new Diet and Obesity Strategy which will be brought forward this year. In developing that strategy we look forward to hearing stakeholder views on what further action can be taken, within the powers of this Government, to impact on moving and supporting Scotland's population towards better and healthier lifestyle choices.

Scottish Government analysis of Scottish Household Survey data shows that there were an estimated 120,000* people living in a privately rented property in the Edinburgh local authority area in 2016, a figure which includes both adults and children. This equates to an estimated 23 per cent of the total Edinburgh population estimate of 507,170.

The number of private rented households in the Edinburgh local authority area in 2016 was estimated to be 60,000*, which equates to 26 per cent of the 232,885 households in the area.

* The Scottish Household Survey is a sample survey and therefore the results provided are subject to a margin of error and should be considered to be approximate estimates and not exact values. Figures have been rounded to the nearest ten thousand to reflect this. At a 95% confidence level, the number of people in the private rented sector in Edinburgh in 2016 is estimated to be between 100,000 and 130,000, and the number of households is estimated to be between 50,000 and 70,000.

The following table shows the number of entrants each year on teacher education courses at Scottish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) from 2011-12 to 2015-16. 2015-16 data is the latest data available from the Higher Education Statistics Authority (HESA). 2016-17 data will be published in January 2018.

Entrants on teacher education courses at Scottish HEIs, UK and EU domiciled

Source: HESA, SG analysis

Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5. Totals based on unrounded numbers

Using HESA variable TQSSEC and CTITLE

The information requested is not currently available. 2015-16 data is the latest data available from the Higher Education Statistics Authority (HESA). 2016-17 data will be published in January 2018

8,370 children in Edinburgh were affected by school closures in 2016-17 because of concerns regarding building standards and none of these children lost more than 5 days of schooling.

ScotRail’s performance information does not capture the train services affected by 'leaves on the line’ as low rail adhesion can be experienced on many services during the autumn and early winter months, for a variety of reasons including contamination of rail head surfaces with leaf litter. This is why ScotRail is investing £2.6 million this year in clearing the track and managing rail adhesion.

The current Air Passenger Duty rate amounts are set by the UK Government, which is responsible for assessing the impact of the tax on Scotland and the rest of the UK.

Our aim is to reduce the burden of Air Departure Tax (ADT) by 50% and to abolish the tax altogether when resources allow. Cutting the tax burden will help to ensure a more level playing field with many other European airports competing to secure the same airlines and routes.

We will publish the findings of an independent study of the economic impact on Scotland of reducing the overall ADT burden by 50% in the Autumn.

The Scottish Government does not hold the salary information for Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers as the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body is responsible for paying their salaries.

Special Advisers are appointed in accordance with Part 1 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance (CRAG) Act 2010 by the First Minister for the purpose of providing assistance to the Scottish Ministers. Under the terms of the CRAG Act 2010, the First Minister is required to prepare an annual report setting out the number and cost of Special Advisers and to lay it before the Scottish Parliament. This information will be published in the next few weeks.

On 20 July 2017, The Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work wrote to the Convenor of the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee and gave a commitment to provide an update on the Queensferry Crossing Opening
Celebrations and overall summary of costs in due course. This remains the case
and we will contact the Committee again as soon as we are in a position to
provide this information.

The FRC project is being delivered at £245 million under the budget set at the start of construction in Summer 2011.

The decision to move the launch date was taken by the shipbuilder, Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd (FMEL), to enable a greater quantity of internal outfitting to be completed prior to the vessel’s launch after which all further work has to be completed whilst the vessel is afloat alongside the outfitting berth.

There have been some design changes during the build process and, at this point, additional costs agreed between the contracting authority, Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL), and FMEL relate to enhanced mooring arrangements at £800k per vessel.

The vessel to be named the MV Glen Sannox is earmarked for the Ardrossan to Brodick route and Hull 802 is earmarked for the Uig to Lochmaddy and Tarbert (Harris) routes.

Redevelopment of the harbour and the terminal at Brodick is in the final stages of completion by CMAL. Works at Tarbert (Harris) are at the design stage and the necessary Environmental Impact Assessments and Harbour Revision Orders are being pursued. Works being undertaken at ports throughout the ferry network owned by CMAL and other authorities are planned on the basis of need which often relates to their age and volume of use. The two vessels under construction will be able to operate to the designated ports but in each case the ports are, in any event, required to undergo renewal in order to ensure the long term sustainability of the infrastructure and to maintain and enhance customer experience.

The new Brodick terminal will be within the budget of £30m and the current plans for Tarbert (Harris) indicate an estimated cost of £15m. The three other ports, Ardrossan, Uig and Lochmaddy, are not CMAL.