���˿���

The “GoWell” research confirms our argument that rising fuel prices, beyond the Scottish Government’s control, can outweigh any potential gains we make by improving energy efficiency.

Whilst we welcome the news that almost 100,000 fewer households were in fuel poverty in 2015 compared to the previous year, we know there is much more work to be done. The Scottish Fuel Poverty Strategic Working Group and Rural Fuel Poverty Task Force published final reports on 24 October 2016. The reports collectively made over 100 recommendations and we will publish a formal response shortly. Both reports are the first step in the development of our new fuel poverty strategy, including a new fuel poverty target, which we will consult on later this year.

Published information by ISD Scotland shows that the number of patients whose operations were cancelled by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde due to capacity or non-clinical reasons was 113 for the month of November 2016. This compares with 111 in October 2016 and 115 in November 2015.

The Scottish Government continues to work to support health boards to manage their capacity planning to keep cancelled operations to a minimum. Decisions to cancel a patient's operation is never taken lightly, any postponed operations will be rescheduled at the earliest opportunity. The Scottish Government has also already announced a £200 million investment to create six new elective treatment centres which will carry out procedures like hip, knee and cataracts operations. These centres will allow people to be treated more quickly for planned surgery to help the NHS meet increasing demand from a growing elderly population and reduce the number of operations cancelled.

The Scottish House Condition Survey indicates that around 33% of households in the social housing sector were fuel poor in 2015. This equates to around 199,000 households and is around 47,000 fewer households than in 2014.

The Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing (EESSH) aims to improve the energy efficiency of the social housing stock in Scotland. Achievement of the EESSH 2020 milestone by social landlords, will help to reduce energy consumption and to tackle fuel poverty potentially saving social tenants an estimated average of around £210 per year on their energy bills. Social landlords are making good progress with the Scottish Housing Regulator reporting that 69% of social housing met the standard at April 2016. A review of EESSH will begin early next year to consider how best to maximise progress towards the current target and any further milestones.

We have also allocated nearly £4.3 million to 10 projects through the HEEPS: Loan scheme for Registered Social Landlords 2016-17 to help RSLs improve the energy efficiency of their housing stock.

The official source for UK earnings estimates is the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) published by Office for National Statistics. The latest information for 2016 was published on 26 October 2016. The long-term trends in relation to the gender pay gap in Scotland are positive.

The most recent estimates of gender pay gap sourced from the ASHE data (based on full-time median hourly earnings excluding overtime) show that the gender pay gap in Scotland has decreased from 7.7% in 2015 to 6.2% in 2016. The gap in the UK stands at 9.4%. However, there is clearly still more to do, particularly for Managers, Directors and Senior Officials in Scotland where the gender pay gap, for full-time median hourly earnings excluding overtime stands at 19.8% (based on the ASHE).

We are working hard to address the complex drivers and causes of the pay gap. We continue to fund the 'Close the Gap' partnership to encourage and work with employers to enable actions to address the gender pay gap. Under the Programme for Government we have committed to almost double the level of free childcare for three and four year olds by 2020; we know that women are disproportionately likely to be in low paid jobs so we actively promote the living wage and currently have 690 employers signed up for accreditation with a target of 1,000 by Autumn 2017. We have brought more transparency to pay issues by lowering the threshold for public authorities in Scotland to publish their pay gap. We also support fair work practices, including flexible working, which can be crucial in helping women and men combine career development with family responsibilities. We have also established a Returner’s Project, initially in the Science sector, so that women can get help updating skills and knowledge and assistance in entering a traditionally male job and so employers can retain skilled staff after a career break.

In the EU referendum, Scotland voted clearly and decisively to remain within the EU, with majorities in every local authority area. The Scottish Government is working to ensure that the vote is respected.

The latest monthly figures from the Office of National Statistics on the changes in prices of renting residential property from private landlords in Great Britain, published on 24 November 2016, show that private rents in Scotland fell by 0.2% in the year to October 2016, whilst rents in the Region of London increased by 2.6% across the same time period, available at: .

The Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016, passed by the Parliament earlier this year, will provide rent stability and predictability for tenants in the private rented sector as rents can only rise once in 12 months and tenants will be given 3 month notice of changes to enable them to budget accordingly. In addition, councils will have the power to apply to Ministers for a cap on rent increases in their area for up to 5 years where rent increases are causing undue hardship to tenants.

Life expectancy in Scotland is increasing. The gap between life expectancy for men and for women is Scotland is continuing to narrow.

Reducing health inequalities is one of the biggest challenges we face. To tackle this we recognise that the root of health inequalities can be found in income inequalities. We’re taking action focused on addressing the underlying causes of ending poverty, fair wages, supporting families, and improving our physical and social environments.

In Glasgow, the Scottish Government is funding the pilot Links Worker pilot programmes, which is right on the front line of the battle against health inequalities. The Link Worker programme sees a dedicated individual working in GP surgeries, helping patients on a one-to-one basis with non-medical problems that are making them feel unwell. We are committed to increasing the number of community Links Workers in disadvantaged areas to 250 over the next five years, with 40 to be recruited by September 2017.

The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 was put in place to ensure that all children and young people with additional support needs receive the support they require to achieve their potential.

The Act places strict duties on local authorities to meet the additional support needs for all children for whose school education they are responsible, and to tailor provision according to their individual needs. The "Supporting Children’s Learning" code of practice explains these duties, providing guidance to local authorities on the Act's provisions as well as on the supporting framework of secondary legislation.

In addition, the Scottish Government is currently reviewing the guidance on the presumption of mainstream education. The review is being undertaken in partnership with key stakeholders and will be published for consultation early in 2017.