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The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. As fire safety is a responsibility of local authorities, this information may be available by contacting local Authorities directly and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

However, I wrote to all local authorities in August seeking reassurance of fire safety across the school estate. From the detailed responses received, we are reassured that local authorities have taken all steps necessary to ensure the fire safety of their schools.

Responsibility for monitoring Performance against the Neurological Health Services Standards (HIS,2009) is a matter for NHS Boards. These standards are currently under redevelopment by HIS.

From 1st April 2018 the Health and Social Care standards will be taken into account by the care Inspectorate, healthcare Improvement Scotland and other scrutiny bodies in relation to inspections and registration of health and care services.

The Review of Targets and Indicators for Health and Social Care in Scotland report, published on 15 November 2017, identified some key principles in how to use targets and indicators across both health and social care to improve outcomes for people. A further stage of work will be undertaken aimed at ensuring a broader-based assessment of the overall quality of care whether in hospital or in the community.

The existing National Transport Strategy (NTS) was published in 2006 and set out a 20 year vision to 2026 and strategic framework setting out our priorities for transport in Scotland. A Refresh of the National Transport Strategy was undertaken and published in January 2016, keeping the overall NTS framework and updating the strategic context whilst also recommending fuller, collaborative Review of the NTS. The full Review of the NTS is underway building on the earlier work. Both the existing 2006 National Transport Strategy and on-going Review are not predicated on any one source of evidence but are informed by a range of available evidence. This includes a call for evidence issued to support the work of the Review: .

The Transport (Scotland) Act 2005 placed a duty of each Regional Transport Partnership to develop a regional transport strategy (RTS) for their area. The RTS should have regard to the needs of the region and take account of and guidance given to it by the Scottish Ministers such as the National Transport Strategy.

The Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 enables local authorities to prepare local transport strategies. Local transport strategies are a way in which local authorities can have regard to the statutory RTS and are able to detail how they intend to deliver on national objectives at a local level, and provide an action plan for meeting local challenges and objectives.

It is the role of the Scottish Government to provide policies, frameworks and resources to NHS Boards so they can deliver services that meet the needs of their local populations. The provision of healthcare services is the responsibility of local Boards, taking into account national guidance, local service needs and priorities for investment.

Scottish National Heritage is continuing its work, including with stakeholders through a workshop in September, on a paper on a national ecological network for Scotland. This is in the context of the commitment in the 2020 Challenge for Scotland’s Biodiversity to complete the suite of protected areas and improve their connectivity through a national ecological network centred on those sites.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-10045 on 26 July 2017 which set out work on a number of the projects in Scotland’s Biodiversity - A Route Map to 2020 which contribute to ecological connectivity. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at

I can assure Parliament the Scottish Government fully accepts the principle of animal sentience and will take all appropriate action to safeguard animal welfare standards. Animal sentience has been recognised in Scottish legislation for over a century, most recently in the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.

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I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-11940 on 2 November 2017. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-11940 on 2 November 2017. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at