To protect those on the lowest incomes from cost of living increases, the Scottish Government will ensure that from 2021 the first of £12,750 of the non-saving and non-dividend income of a Scottish taxpayer is tax free. If necessary, in 2021 the Scottish Government will create a zero rate band above the Personal Allowance to ensure that this protection for low income taxpayers is delivered. Detailed income tax proposals for the financial year ahead, including the financial implications will be set out each year by the Scottish Government at the Draft Budget.

Skills Development Scotland (SDS) published its Equality Action Plan (EAP) Year 1 update on Tuesday 18 July 2017. The update can be viewed at: http://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/media/43416/sds-equalities-action-plan-update-2017.pdf.

In future SDS aim to publish annual EAP reports alongside the publication of their Annual Operating Plan and year-end statistics in June of each year.

We have no current plans to make this a legal requirement. We will publish guidance towards the end of this year setting out the importance of employing the appropriate professional expertise and the factors to be considered in assessing what constitutes appropriate.

Information on completed projects within the hub programme between 1 April 2011 and 31 March 2017 is as follows:

Further information on the projects included in the table is available from the following link www.scottishfuturestrust.org.uk/publications/vital-signs-march-2017/

I wrote to all local authorities on 24 June 2017 to seek assurances about external cladding systems used in school buildings. As we are still awaiting response, I will respond in full after recess.

The Scottish Government published its refreshed guidance “Included, Engaged and Involved Part 2: A Positive Approach to Preventing and Managing School Exclusions” on 19 June this year. This guidance promotes the importance of positive relationships and restorative practices in schools. It also provides advice for local authorities and schools on the approaches that can be used to help prevent exclusion.

The guidance includes specific advice on good practice for supporting a pupil returning from an exclusion and Annex C of the guidance document provides a checklist of key considerations to be made prior to, during and after exclusion.

We recognise that effective learning and teaching is a key part of both preventing exclusion and supporting children and young people who have been excluded. Education Scotland provides support to schools and local authorities to promote and embed the approaches set out in the guidance and their Inclusion and Equalities Team also helps local authorities to develop their own positive relationship policies.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on the school exclusion rate of pupils who were adopted or living in school hostels or lodgings.

Statistics on the exclusion rate of disabled pupils since 2009/10 are published in Table 15 of the exclusion statistics supplementary data, available on the Scottish Government website here:

http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/exclusiondatasets

statistics on the exclusion rate of disabled pupils for 2008/09 are published on the Scottish Government website here:

http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2010/11/03094708/19

statistics on the exclusion rate of disabled pupils for 2007/08 are published on the Scottish Government website here:

http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2010/11/03095204/20

statistics on the exclusion rate of disabled pupils for 2006/07 are published on the Scottish Government website here:

http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2010/11/03092252/20

Since 2010-11 the Scottish Government has collected data on exclusions biennially. Statistics on exclusions covering academic year 2016-17 will be published as part of the 2017 edition of the Summary Statistics for Schools in Scotland bulletin.

This data is not held by the Scottish Government.

Section 14(3) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 provides that education authorities have a duty to continue to provide education for a child or young person during a period of exclusion from school.

The Scottish Government’s refreshed guidance “Included, Engaged and Involved Part 2: A Positive Approach to Preventing and Managing School Exclusions” provides guidance on key legislation relating to exclusion and advice on the appropriate provision of education during a period of exclusion from school.

Support is provided to schools and local authorities by Education Scotland, who help to promote and embed the approaches set out in the refreshed guidance. Education Scotland also provides support and advice through a range of national networks for third sector groups who are working to improve the educational outcomes for learners at risk of being excluded.

More broadly it is a clear principle within Curriculum for Excellence that learning and teaching should support the needs of all learners through personalised and targeted support where it is required. This would include learners who are excluded from school.

Statistics on pupils being excluded multiple times for the period since 2009-10 are published in Table 7 of the exclusion statistics supplementary data, available on the Scottish Government website here:

http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/exclusiondatasets

statistics on pupils being excluded multiple times for the period 2008-09 are published on the Scottish Government website here:

http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2010/11/03094708/9

statistics on pupils being excluded multiple times for the period 2007-08 are published on the Scottish Government website here:

http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2010/11/03095204/11

statistics on pupils being excluded multiple times for the period 2006-07 are published on the Scottish Government website here:

http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2010/11/03092252/10

Since 2010-11 the Scottish Government has collected data on exclusions biennially. Statistics on exclusions covering academic year 2016-17 will be published as part of the 2017 edition of the Summary Statistics for Schools in Scotland bulletin.