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The Scottish Government endorses, the robust regulation of onshore drilling techniques associated with the extraction of shale gas, such as fracking. The Scottish Government approach is underpinned by the principle that the highest levels of environmental protection must be enforced. The Scottish Government has strengthened Scottish planning policy in relation to onshore unconventional gas activities through the introduction of buffer zones and additional risk assessments; and ministers will bring forward further guidance to empower potentially affected communities, ensuring that the views of local communities are taken into account. This will deliver rigorous scrutiny and regulation; strengthen monitoring; and will be particularly directed at any proposals which involve hydraulic fracturing.

Scottish Ministers have met with INEOS on one occasion in the last six months, which was requested by INEOS to discuss matters relating to recent announcements from the company.

The Scottish Government commitment, given on 17 March 2014, to bring forward a human trafficking bill confirmed that specific provisions would be included within the bill to enhance the rights of victims to access support and assistance.

This will build on the current arrangement under which the Scottish Government provides grant funding of £723K to those agencies that provide direct support to potential and confirmed victims of human trafficking.

The competent authority for decisions on the identification of individuals as potential victims of trafficking is through the UK wide National Referral Mechanism. Identification through this process affords victims access to support services which is provided on a needs assessment basis.

The National Referral Mechanism process is under review by the UK Government. The Scottish Government has participated actively in the review and will consider carefully the conclusions from the review and in particular the implications for potential and confirmed victims of trafficking recovered in Scotland.

It is the intention that Scottish Ministers will work with all relevant agencies to prepare, implement and review an anti- trafficking strategy. As part of this process we will engage closely with those organisations who provide assistance and support to potential and confirmed victims of trafficking. In developing, implementing and reviewing the strategy we will seek the views of these organisations about how best to take account of the experiences of those potential and confirmed victims of trafficking.

The Scottish Government have not been approached by the Men’s Health Forum Scotland (MHFS) regarding the future of the Glasgow Men’s 10k run.

We recognise the importance of promoting men’s health and that’s why we provided over £500,000 to Men’s Health Forum Scotland between 2007 and 2012 through the Keep Well budget and Section 16b of the General Grants Scheme.

It has been highlighted to MHFS on a number of occasions that for any business to be sustainable central government funding cannot be relied upon given the economic climate. They have been encouraged to pro-actively seek alternative funding streams to help the organisation develop an effective sustainable business model.

I understand that there have been issues in securing funding for the 2015 Glasgow Men’s 10k event. This type of event can be a fun and visible way to promote causes such as better men’s health. It is essential however that such events be sustainable as well as successful. The Scottish Government provide funding to Jog Scotland who have provided expert advice and support to Men’s Health Forum Scotland in marketing the 2014 event and organising the associated 5k run. I have therefore asked my officials to meet with Men’s Health Forum Scotland to explore all options that would allow the 2015 and future events to happen successfully and sustainably.

There are currently twelve open cast sites in Scotland that are operational. Of those sites, nine are still producing coal and three are carrying out restoration and care/maintenance activities.

Restoration and aftercare arrangements including financial guarantees are agreed between the operator and the planning authority as part of the planning process on a site by site basis.

Issues of restoration and aftercare for open cast sites were addressed as part of the cross-party Scottish coal industry taskforce through Scottish Government’s consultation, Opencast Coal Restoration: Effective Regulation.

The analysis from responses received for that consultation was published in July 2014 and is available at .

Two separate working groups have been established to take forward and develop and make assessment of the responses to the consultation. The output from the groups will be produced in a report with conclusions and recommendations to the opencast coal task force before the end of 2014.

There are currently twelve open cast sites in Scotland that are operational. Of those sites, nine are still producing coal and three are carrying out restoration and care/maintenance activities. In some cases it is the continuation of coaling which facilitates the workforce and vehicles on site to best enable restoration to take place.

There are currently twelve open cast sites in Scotland that are operational. Of those sites, nine are still producing coal and three are carrying out restoration and care/maintenance activities. Restoration and aftercare arrangements including financial guarantees are agreed between the operator and the planning authority as part of the planning process on a site-by-site basis.

Issues of restoration and aftercare for open cast sites were addressed as part of the Scottish Government’s consultation Opencast Coal Restoration: Effective Regulation, which invited views on revisions to planning policy and advice including Planning Advice Note 64: Reclamation of Surface Mineral Workings. The consultation closed on 27 February 2014. Two separate working groups have been established to take forward and develop and assess the responses to the consultation.