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In FY 21-22 Forestry and Land Scotland employed thirty-eight apprentices, three foundation apprentices and seven mid-year students.

Of those completing their apprenticeships/placements, sixteen apprentices and four students have gone on to secure roles within Forestry and Land Scotland.

Eighteen apprentices are still completing their apprenticeship and are still employed as apprentices.

Four apprentices, three foundation apprentices and three mid-year students have sought employment or further education elsewhere.

In setting the total level of local government support, Scottish Ministers consider local authorities' on-going responsibilities and any new burdens or transfers of responsibility, including those imposed by Parliament through changes in statute. These issues are discussed on a regular on-going basis between the Scottish Government and COSLA.

The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested. There are currently no requirements for Local Authorities to report to the Scottish Government on the number of damp surveys completed.

The deployment of officers and their health, safety and wellbeing are matters for the Chief Constable, with oversight by the Scottish Police Authority, (SPA) and scrutinised by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland (HMICS).

The Police Negotiating Board and the Scottish Police Consultative Forum negotiate and discuss changes to terms and conditions, before amendments are made to regulations; and then approved by Ministers

As part of the 2022-23 police officer pay deal, a strategic commitment was made to consider ways to reduce the working week and the disruption to police officers lives. Work has been ongoing since then with staff associations and across Scottish Government to look at ways to lower demands on officer time, in particular focussing on attendances at court and supporting mental health needs in the community.

The pilot period for the commitment ran from August 2021 to August 2022, and a final evaluation report has been published on the Transport Scotland website . Support was provided to delivery organisations to continue activities until 31 March 2023.

The total number of bikes issued during the pilot period was 2600, the total figure until March 2023 was 3800 and the final figure is due to be calculated next month.

Cycling Scotland, in collaboration with a number of community cycling organisations and national charities representing young people, have developed a programme for 2023/24 that has received £900,000 to continue offering cycles to young people facing financial barriers. As part of this years programme, they will work with Circular Communities Scotland to continue refining the model for delivery to ensure we can make the most out of reconditioned and recycled bikes and ensure as little waste as possible.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information, however, it may be available from local Health Boards.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-18462 on 15 June 2023. 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 .

There were 34 Fixed Penalty Notices issued for infringements detected at sea by Marine Scotland officers from our Marine Protection Vessels in the last 12 months. Of these 3 were not paid within the required time and were reported to the Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Office (COPFS). No other prosecutions were reported directly to the COPFS.

We believe that a well-regulated private rented sector is good for landlords and tenants.

Since 2016 we have ended no-fault evictions and expanded access to tribunal services. We strengthened eviction protections, both in the Coronavirus Recovery and Reform Act and the Emergency Cost of Living Act, introducing a rent cap for most in-tenancy rent rises in the private sector. Just this month I announced our intention, subject to Parliamentary approval, to retain that cap until March next year.

Further reform is needed and we have set out our proposals in our draft New Deal for Tenants.

Prior to April 2023 the costs associated with the DRS were met from the wider Zero Waste budget. However, DRS formed a very small part of those budgets which, as a whole, support major circular economy delivery programmes.

Since April 2023 a temporary division has been set up to deliver DRS. The cost of civil servants working on the scheme from April to end of May 2023 was £319,901.