I refer the member to the answer to the question S6T-00024 on‎ 26 May 2021, which can be found here: Meeting of the Parliament: 26/05/2021 | Scottish Parliament Website

Operational policing decisions are matters for the Chief Constable, however Police Scotland confirmed that dialogue was maintained with business premises in the relevant locations contacted prior to 15 May 2021 where details of any threats, risks or potential harm were shared with business owners and operators. The decisions were then made by those businesses as to whether or not they remained open.

The Scottish Government worked closely with Rangers Football Club, Police Scotland and Glasgow City Council to prepare and provide appropriate communications and support ahead of the proposed march by Rangers supporters following the football club’s Scottish Premiership title win.

The Scottish Government is committed to openness and transparency and updates Parliament regularly on discussions relating to Gupta Family Group companies.

On 11 February 2021, Fergus Ewing the then Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy updated the Finance and Constitution Committee on the contingent liability arising from the Lochaber guarantee. The Cabinet Secretary made a statement to Parliament and answered questions on 24 March 2021 on the administration of Greensill Capital UK Limited and its implications for businesses in Scotland, including GFG companies. The former Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy also briefed a cross-party meeting of MSPs and MPs alongside the relevant trade unions on the financing challenges facing the GFG Alliance on 16 April during the election period.

The GFG Alliance is currently in a process of refinancing and restructuring its global businesses in the wake of the collapse of Greensill Capital UK. This is a sensitive commercial matter and Scottish Ministers are duty bound to maintain commercial confidences and not to fuel speculation or prejudice commercial processes.

The Scottish Government will continue to publish details of all Ministerial engagements via its website ( https://www.gov.scot/collections/ministerial-engagements-travel-and-gifts/ ) and take opportunities to update members and Committees of Parliament where appropriate.

The UK government`s Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is responsible for the delivery of driving tests in Scotland, however the Scottish government works closely with the DVSA to ensure that waiting times to access a driving test are minimised as much as possible. In collaboration with the DVSA we secured delegated authority earlier this year for some transport operators and the emergency services to undertake driving tests for their own staff, thereby reducing the numbers of people awaiting tests at DVSA test centres. In advance of driving tests resuming when Scotland moved to Protection Level 3 on 26 April 2021, we engaged with DVSA on their remobilisation plans and the development of communications materials to ensure that candidates were “test ready” when they presented for a test. We continue to meet regularly with the DVSA to discuss ways in which we can expedite access to driving tests.

The Scottish Government will take decisions on international travel in the best interests of Scotland at the right time and based on the scientific evidence available. The Global Travel Taskforce and its recommendations are for the UK Government, but where possible we will continue to seek an aligned four nations approach to international travel restrictions.

Recently, this has included alignment on the traffic light system for international travel which came into effect on 17 May 2021. Officials are in regular contact with the Department for Transport and the other devolved administrations on this issue as we make progress in responding to the pandemic.

According to Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) Performance Data analysis for the year 2020-2021 the total number of dwelling fire fatalities stands at 46, with a further 7 in non-dwelling property types. As further information may yet come to light, for example from coroners reports, the figures are subject to change. SFRS Fire and Rescue Incident statistics are published annually and include figures on fire fatalities and trends. These can be found here https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/about-us/fire-and-rescue-statistics.aspx .

The Scottish Government recognises the need to tackle our throw-away culture, which includes so-called ‘fast fashion’. For example, the Revolve Programme run by Zero Waste Scotland already seeks to raise awareness of the benefits of responsible consumption by promoting the environmental benefits of second-hand over new clothing purchases, as well as directing consumers to the network of over 100 certified stores: What is Revolve? | The first choice for second-hand shopping (zerowastescotland.org.uk) .

SEPA has identified that Textiles and Apparel Manufacture will be the subject of a forthcoming Sector Plan. This will set out how SEPA will regulate and engage with the industry to tackle and reduce the environmental impacts from the textile sector: Plans in development | Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) .

The Scottish Government is committed to bringing forward a Circular Economy Bill to advance Scotland's ambitions to promote an economy where materials remain in use for as long as possible, rather than being thrown away, and to establish a fund based on the success of the Saltire Tidal Energy Challenge Fund for innovation in tackling textile pollution and throw-away culture.

The Scottish Government is making good progress with the development of a Women’s Health Plan and aims to publish it within the first 100 days of this new government.

The Young Person’s Guarantee, launched in November 2020, has the ambition that, within two years, every person aged between 16 and 24 will have the opportunity to study; take up an apprenticeship, job or work experience; or participate in formal volunteering. It aims to give all young people the chance to succeed despite the economic impacts of Covid-19, while also ensuring employers continue to benefit from the fresh talent and new perspectives that young people bring to workplaces across Scotland.

Through our additional investment of £60 million in 2020-21, funding has been provided for around 18,000 new and enhanced opportunities to support young people in Scotland. These opportunities include up to:

• 11,000 opportunities through local authorities;
• 5,000 places in colleges;
• 1,400 new apprentice pathways; and
• Support for 1,300 vulnerable 16 and 17 year olds through third sector provision from Inspiring Scotland and the Princes Trust/Barnardo’s/Action for Children consortium which provides support for care experienced young people.

The early success of the Guarantee will be maintained during 2021-22. Additional investment of £125 million will go towards the Guarantee, the National Transition Training Fund, and other initiatives, ensuring the future workforce has the skills needed for a green recovery and supporting those at risk of long term unemployment. This includes personalised employment support and retraining for those who have been made unemployed or are at risk of redundancy due to the pandemic. This is in addition to our already significant investment in Education, Employability and Skills and also builds on DWP investment in Kickstart.

The £70 million for the Young Person’s Guarantee will provide:

• an additional £45 million for local partnerships to provide training and employer recruitment incentives
• a further £10 million for colleges to deliver around 5,000 more short, industry-focussed courses
• £10 million to continue to support the roll-out of new school coordinators as part of the internationally recognised youth employment strategy - Developing the Young Workforce
• £5 million for a new graduate internship scheme, increased volunteering capacity and third sector programmes

These new additional opportunities will complement our existing provision through schools, universities and colleges, our person-centered employability services Fair Start Scotland, No One Left Behind and the Employability Fund, and third sector support such as Discovering Your Potential, Our Future Now and Community Jobs Scotland.

As restrictions begin to ease, we are continuing to work closely with our delivery partners to maximise the number of young people being supported into these opportunities and to enable local partnerships to respond flexibly to meet the needs of young people during this challenging time.