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The Scottish Government is clear that wildlife crime is abhorrent, reprehensible and unacceptable. The persecution of birds of prey has no place in modern Scotland. It is also completely at odds with our work to address the biodiversity crisis, which is supported by so many people and organisations across Scotland.

That’s why we have taken a number of steps over recent years to strengthen the law on wildlife crime - most recently through the introduction of the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act which makes a number of important changes to wildlife legislation.

The Act, which was passed by the Parliament in June 2020, increases the penalty for a range of wildlife offences, including the killing of birds of prey. Individuals found guilty of those types of offences can now face up to five years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. The Act also gives Police Scotland more time to investigate wildlife crimes.

Furthermore, we commissioned, and committed in our 2021-22 Programme for Government to delivering the recommendations of, the Grouse Moor Management Review Group. This is being done as a matter of urgency and includes the licensing of grouse moors.

The Scottish Government is not aware of existing scenarios where veterans would be financially disadvantaged as a result of military compensation payments reducing or removing reserved benefit entitlements.

As such, there has not been any examination of whether the Scottish Parliament's existing powers could be used for top-ups or discretionary payments. In scenarios where veterans were being disadvantaged as a result of compensation payments it would be appropriate for this to be remedied at source by the Department for Work and Pensions and the Ministry of Defence.

We are committed to ending Scotland’s contribution to climate change by 2045, and to ensuring we do it in a way that is just and leaves no-one behind.

The science is clear that the world cannot go on extracting fossil fuels indefinitely if the necessity of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees is to be achieved.

The presumption should be not to develop new oilfields unless there is rigorous assessment showing that it is both necessary and consistent with our obligation to limit warming to 1.5 degrees and in the overall interests of fast and just transition. We have consistently said that the Cambo field should not be given the green light, but should be subject to a rigorous climate compatibility assessment to ensure that it is consistent with emissions reductions targets, the Glasgow Climate Pact commitment to limit warming to 1.5 degrees and in the interests of a fast and just transition.

The challenge for all countries therefore is how quickly the transition from fossil fuels to renewable and low carbon alternatives can be achieved - and to ensure that the transition is a just one. We are undertaking a programme of work and analysis to better understand Scotland’s energy requirements as we transition to net zero, ensuring an approach that supports and protects our energy security and our highly skilled workforce whilst meeting our climate obligations.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

Since 1991 the SPS Prison Survey has provided a unique insight into life in Scottish prisons from the perspective of those who are in custodial care; it furnishes a meaningful channel for the “user’s voice” to be heard. It offers a rich data source which complements official statistics and provides the Service, partner agencies, researchers and academics with valuable time-series trends. The Survey focuses on the core elements of prison life: living conditions, family contact, healthcare, relationships, atmosphere and perceived safety. Over the years, the questionnaire has introduced new topics on mental health, substance misuse, housing status, military service, knife carrying, gang membership, violence against women, equality and diversity, looked after as a child and adverse childhood experiences. The most recent Prison Survey in 2019 [1] found that one quarter of those held in custody reported that they had been in care at some point during their up-bringing.

Work undertaken in 2017-18 by SPS and the Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice (CYCJ) [2] on children and young people in custody also showed that they came from a range of communities across Scotland, but most came predominantly from the central belt. The highest numbers of young people in both age ranges were from the most deprived 10% of communities, with almost two-thirds of the 16 and 17 year olds and over half of 16 to 21 year olds living in the 20% most deprived communities in Scotland.

[1] Prison Survey 2019, J. Carnie & R. Broderick, Scottish Prison Service, 2019, page 19

Publications (sps.gov.uk)

[2] Children and Young People in Custody in Scotland: Looking Behind the Data, G. Robinson, J. Leishman & C. Lightowler, Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice, 2018, page 8

Children and Young People in Custody in Scotland: Looking Behind the Data (Revised June 2018) - Children's and Young People's Centre for Justice (cycj.org.uk)

The Scottish Government has set out the range of technologies that it considers to be low or zero emissions heating systems – and which includes a range of renewable heating systems – at page 16 of the Heat in Buildings Strategy.

The Strategy can be accessed at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/heat-buildings-strategy-achieving-net-zero-emissions-scotlands-buildings/

As set out in the Heat in Buildings Strategy, the Scottish Government will consult in detail on our approach to regulating heat in buildings during 2022, which may include further discussion of those technologies which will, or will not, be compliant with future standards.

Scotland has led the way in the delivery of affordable housing across the UK with 103,650 affordable homes delivered since 2007, nearly 72,000 of which were for social rent, including 16,432 council homes. And we are committed to delivering a further 110,000 affordable homes by 2032 of which at least 70% will be available for social rent and 10% will be in our remote, rural and island communities.

Over the period 2007-08 to 2020-21, the City of Edinburgh Council has received more than half a billion (£558.7 million) in grant support from the Scottish Government which has contributed to the delivery of 13,341 affordable homes.

The City of Edinburgh Council will benefit from a further £233.8 million funding for good quality affordable housing across the capital over this parliament. This funding represents an increase of £32.4 million, a 16% increase on the previous five years.

In 2021-22, the City of Edinburgh has also been allocated over £3.33 million for preventing and responding to homelessness, £871,000 for Rapid Rehousing Transition Plans (RRTPS), as well at £563,000 for RRTPs through the Winter Fund for Social Protection. In addition, the Scottish Government is providing £101,850 to support the delivery of a Rapid Rehousing Welcome Centre in Edinburgh from 4 October 2021 to 2 May 2022.

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.

Transport Scotland is responsible for improving and maintaining Scotland’s trunk road and motorway network. Local roads are the responsibility of the Local Authorities.

Contracts are written to minimise road closures. Planning minimises disruption to businesses, communities and the travelling public. Peak times are avoided where possible, with works often planned overnight. Safety of road workers, the environment/ecology and local stakeholder feedback is of key importance.

Advance notice is conveyed through press release, local/national radio, social media and road signage. Traffic delays are monitored and variable message signs notify delays to enable alternative routes and minimise congestion.

The Scottish Fiscal Commission’s January 2021 forecast for expenditure on the Scottish Child Payment, utilised to set the Scottish Budget 2021-22, was £68 million. The Scottish Fiscal Commission’s August 2021 forecast revised this estimate to £55 million for 2021-22, based on updated estimates of eligible children. The difference between the forecast at the time of setting the Scottish Budget 2021-22 and the August 2021 forecast is £13 million.

Based on Social Security Scotland’s expenditure to the end of October 2021 we currently expect Scottish Child Payment expenditure to be in line with the Scottish Fiscal Commission’s August 2021 forecast of £55 million for 2021-22.