³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

As advised in the previous answer, the information requested is not routinely gathered or held centrally by the Scottish Government. Any outstanding liabilities to settle equal pay claims will be reflected in a local authority's annual accounts. Information of this nature can be obtained by approaching individual local authorities or COSLA accordingly.

The Scottish Government has been exploring the workforce demand for skilled stonemasons through engagement with the stonemasonry short life working group led by Historic Environment Scotland. The working group was set up to look at stonemasonry and traditional skills provision in Scotland with a view to identifying sustainable models of stonemasonry training for future delivery.

Additionally, Historic Environment Scotland ran a stonemasonry consultation in early 2023 to inform understanding of the size, shape and resilience of the stonemasonry sector in Scotland.

The stonemasonry working group have since provided their report of findings and recommendations to Ministers for their consideration.

The Minister for Higher and Further Education and Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development met recently to discuss the report and will also meet with HES and key stakeholders in due course to discuss the report’s findings and proposals for sustainable provision of a Stonemasonry apprenticeships and traditional skills in Scotland.

The Purpose and Principles for Post-School Education, Research and Skills, and the Independent Review of the Skills Delivery Landscape publications both make clear that the system needs to be reformed to deliver both for the learner and the needs of employers. This includes a commitment to national, regional and local skills planning to ensure that the education and skills system continues to be responsive to learner and employer needs.

There is no requirement to display the short term let licence at or on the premises. There is, however, a requirement to display a site notice at or near the premises for a period of 21 days from the submission of the application.

There is a right for members of the public to make representations or objections about applications, which may include referencing an applicant’s suitability as a fit and proper person to hold a short-term let licence. Therefore the site notice must contain the name and address of the applicant, the address of the short-term let premises and the names and addresses of the owners of the premises (if different from the applicant).

I met with representatives of the hospice sector on 3 October to discuss funding and the development of a new framework.

I have committed to holding a round table later this year to discuss the development of a framework with health and social care partnerships and independent hospices to support local planning, commissioning and funding of independent hospice care.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-21436 on 9 October 2023. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

My thoughts are with the family and friends of the individual, who tragically died in September 2018 at Saughton Mains and it is regrettable that Edinburgh Trams Ltd have been found to have breached health and safety legislation through failures to properly assess risk to pedestrians at this location. Health and safety legislation is a reserved matter.

The Scottish Government have had no discussions with Edinburgh Trams Ltd following this ruling.

It is inappropriate to comment on live proceedings or speculate on any possible outcomes and how they will be managed. The Scottish Government’s response to any challenges to Scotland’s Low Emission Zones will be considered on a case by case basis.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-21579 on 5 October 2023. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

We are aware of the global issues affecting construction, which are impacting the pace of affordable housing approvals and starts. We are working closely with the construction industry and housing partners to mitigate these issues where possible.

We continue to collaborate with all our partners to achieve our shared goal of delivering more affordable homes for Scotland.

The 10,757 affordable homes delivered to the year to end June 2023 represents the highest annual figure since the statistical series started in 2000.

Zoopla published a report titled “ ” on 14 September 2023. This report is based on newly advertised rental data and does not include trends in rents for existing tenancies and does not therefore cover trends in rents for the whole private rented sector in Scotland.

This report states that the average monthly advertised rent for 1 to 4 bedroom properties on the open market in Scotland in July 2023, was £748, 64% cheaper than the corresponding rent in London of £2,053.

The report also states that these rents in Scotland increased by 12.7% in the last year to July 2023, very similar to the corresponding increase in London of 12.4% and similar to other regions in England and Wales, with increases of 10% and above in the North West and West Midlands.

The Scottish Government considers that there are a wide range of factors contributing to high increases in private rents in Scotland and across the UK. The Programme for Government confirms the intention to introduce a Housing Bill to deliver a New Deal for Tenants, including the introduction of long-term rent controls for the private rented sector to address large increases in rents both during and between tenancies in Scotland.

The Cost of Living (Tenants Protection) Scotland Act 2022 provides stability of rents for the majority of existing tenants in the private rented sector in Scotland. Since 1 April 2023, rents for tenancies subject to the rent cap can increase by up to 3%, or landlords can apply to Rent Service Scotland for approval of an increase of up to 6% in specific circumstances. Our emergency legislation has led the way at a time when rents have been rising across the UK, stabilising rents to help tenants to stay in their homes. Anywhere else in the UK, private tenants have faced a double impact of unfettered rent rises both during and between tenancies.