I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-36103 on 15 April 2025. 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

The Minister for Housing and I wrote to the Convener of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee on 11 March to provide an update on the implementation of the Female Genital Mutilation (Protection and Guidance) (Scotland) Act 2020 and our planned next steps: Letter from the Minister for Equalities, 11 March 2025.

As the letter outlines, since the start of this year, my officials have been engaging with the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service and the Scottish Civil Justice Council to understand the legal and technical changes that are required for implementation of the Act.

My officials have also set up a Working Group which includes representation from Health, Social Work, Education, Child Protection, Police Scotland and third sector organisations. Additionally, officials are considering what training and awareness raising materials are required to support the implementation of the Act.

We are aiming to implement the Act by Summer 2026 and are working closely with our partners to achieve this.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-36103 on 15 April 2025. 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

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-36103 on 15 April 2025. 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

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-36103 on 15 April 2025. 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

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-36103 on 15 April 2025. 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

Social Security Scotland’s application forms for disability benefits were designed with disabled people and organisations who support them, to ensure the forms were accessible and inclusive for the people who would be using them.

Careful consideration was given to each of the questions, so people can give Social Security Scotland the information on their individual needs required to make a decision, while balancing the length of the application form.

Social Security Scotland supports people to apply for benefits, including in-person by appointment through its Local Delivery service based in each local authority in Scotland.

Social Security Scotland continues to review how people, including young cancer patients, access its services, and the Agency uses feedback from clients and stakeholders to drive forward improvements, including through its annual Client Survey.

The Adult Disability Payment: Independent Review began in February 2024 and is considering people’s experiences of applying for Adult Disability Payment, which includes the application form and process.

Social Security Scotland has a dedicated application route for terminally ill adults, children and young people with a diagnosed terminal illness. Published data shows the Special Rules for Terminal Illness applications are currently processed within three working days for Child Disability Payment and two working days for Adult Disability Payment.

COPFS does not hold this information.

There are a number of agencies who may be involved in carrying out inquiries into the circumstances surrounding a death. It is important that the results of those inquiries – which may be specifically instructed by COPFS or part of a separate investigation process - are carefully considered by COPFS before any decisions can be taken on the holding of an FAI.

COPFS has limited influence over the timescales for the completion and provision of reports by other organisations. However, we are currently constructively engaging with many of the public bodies responsible for the completion of internal investigations to ensure that they are completed to an acceptable standard, with outcomes provided to COPFS at the earliest possible stage.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-36103 on 15 April 2025. 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

The Scottish Government wrote to the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee on 11 March 2025 to provide an update on commencement and implementation of the Children (Scotland) Act 2020:

Letter from the Minister for Victims and Community Safety

The Act is a wide-ranging piece of legislation, and while some provisions are already in force, we have had to prioritise certain areas of implementation work, such as the regulation of child contact services. We plan to lay secondary legislation this summer to bring child contact services within the regulatory remit of the Care Inspectorate. We will then turn our focus to other key areas, such as the register of child welfare reporters.

We also plan to make further commencement regulations this year. A short set of provisions will be commenced before summer recess and a second set of commencement regulations will be made later in 2025. There will be a lead-in period of around 12 months before the second set of provisions come into force due to the operational and court rules implications.