 Mae'r ddweud o'i pryd o ddiddordebeth, oedd y cwestiynau notes i mi ooyaeth bachu i ddefnyddio y cwestiynau Aberta, yn gweithio i i ddifyddu noll i lidi gwybwyng maesade o'r ddiddordebeth. Oedd, yn un fyddon o'r lliad yn ff…. Wrth i ddim dawnod, mae'n ddull i ddiddordebeth cwestiynau ac ewg o'r adnod i ddiddordebeth o'r ddiddordebeth o'r ddiddordebeth. 1. Donald Cameron I thank you to ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on Scotland's census 2022. As of this morning, the return rate stands at 85.7% with the enumeration of 2,238,784 households. It is an increase of 6.5 percentage points since the start of the extension period on 1 May and amounts to 144,431 extra households being enumerated. The geographical return rate is also encouraging, with 25 of Scotland's 32 local authorities passing the 85% milestone and a further five have passed 80%. Field force enumerators continue to visit households yet to complete the 2022 census. So far, there have been 1.59 million households visited where help is offered to complete the census either online or with a paper copy. This work continues. The number of households yet to return their census form stands at 373,701. All have been written to a number of times and the majority have had a visit from enumerators. In recent days, a final reminder communication has been sent to all of those households. It is evident that the census will not achieve the uptake levels that are necessary for it to be successful. Before the census, the NRS said that there must be a personal response rate of at least 94%. It is clear that that will not now be achieved. Specially worrying is the situation in Glasgow, our largest city. Why has the SNP Government got this so badly wrong and does he see merit in an independent inquiry into the shambles? I am delighted to confirm to Donald Cameron that the most significant increase that there has been in the census extension period has been in the city of Glasgow and more work is under way. I would encourage him and all other members to take the opportunity now that they have it and the public's ear to encourage everybody to take part. Householders have until the end of May to submit their census return. Our absolute priority is to support and enable those who have not yet done so to complete their census return, adding to the over 2.2 million households across Scotland that have already done so. For those who have yet to complete the census, help and support is available via the website census.gov.scot or by calling the free helpline on 0800 0308 308 and field teams who have carried out more than 1.5 million doorsteps visits will continue to support people to complete their census returns. I will not be alone in having been impressed with the extent of the promotional campaign for the census in preceding months. Can the cabinet secretary elaborate on what further targeted campaigning has taken place since the strategic decision to extend the census deadline to the end of May? Throughout the census collection extension period there has been a range of work undertaken to increase the return rate. The marketing campaign was extended with updated messaging informing people of the extension and reminding them of their legal requirement to fill in the census. This updated messaging was featured across television, radio and the press. Updated digital and outdoor adverts were targeted to those local authorities with lower return rates to encourage completion, while media partnerships have taken place to increase return rates among those young people living away from home. Field events have taken place across the country to support people to complete their census. With events being held at places of worship, universities, colleges, supermarkets, libraries and leisure centres, those events will continue this week and into the weekend. Additionally, a quarter of a million postcards and more than 400,000 reminder letters have been sent to households who have not yet completed the census. To ask the Scottish Government how Historic Environment Scotland ensures that communities are adequately consulted when considering whether a building should be listed. Thank you, Presiding Officer. Questions regarding the day-to-day operational matters regarding relating to Historic Environment Scotland's designation process are best answered directly by Historic Environment Scotland. However, I can confirm that when his assesses applications for designations community engagement is a key part of the assessment, it does not make those decisions behind closed doors. It consults with those directly affected, including owners, occupiers and local planning authorities. It also welcomes views from members of the public through its Historic Environment portal. A number of constituents have contacted me and despair at the news that Historic Environment Scotland is currently considering whether Cumbernauld Town Centre should be a listed building. Just as it looked like plans to redevelop the site were progressing, there was an opportunity to replace the current town centre with something fit for a town the size of Cumbernauld, the proposal threatens those plans. Can the minister assure me and my constituents that Historic Environment Scotland will not approve a proposal to list this awful building if it puts plans to develop a modern and accessible town centre at risk? I thank Gillian Mackay for her interests, her constituents' interests and for bringing this issue to the chamber today. I note that our colleague Jamie Hepburn has similarly had a lot of correspondence on this issue and is engaged as Gillian Mackay is. I understand the strength of feeling that there is in Cumbernauld and the way that she has articulated it. However, the Historic Environment Scotland Act 2014 delegated the responsibility for compiling or approving lists of buildings of special, architectural or historic interests to Historic Environment Scotland. Appeals against the decisions of Historic Environment Scotland till list buildings are made to the Scottish ministers. As ministers may have a future role in the decision-making process, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the merits of any proposed listing. However, I would ask Gillian Mackay to note that being listed does not necessarily prevent development or the altercation of a building, and I would again encourage Gillian Mackay, colleagues and constituents to engage with Historic Environment Scotland in the process. When I met with Historic Environment Scotland in March, they informed me that 200 sites across Scotland are shut or have restricted access. How does HES intend to fund any reconstruction work in sites that require further intervention? I thank Sharon Dary for that question. It is an issue that I have engaged with the management of Historic Environment Scotland on a regular basis regarding the high-level masonry issues that there are at sites across Scotland. It is slightly tangential from the listing process, but it is something that I have been able to engage with HES on a regular basis visiting Lennithgo Palace, visiting Dunbarton Castle or Broth Abbey to be able to see for myself the work that is on-going already. I am hopeful that the process of assessment can be carried out as quickly as possible so that visitors and staff of Historic Environment Scotland sites are able to enjoy those sites safely, as we would all expect them to do so. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the potential impact on Scotland of the UK Government's reported plans to unilaterally change the Northern Ireland protocol. The Scottish Government has made its views clear to the UK Government. We are deeply concerned about the UK Government's plans to override the protocol unilaterally and the catastrophic damage that this could cause to Scotland. Kate Forbes and I have written to the Chancellor and to the Foreign Secretary, respectively, calling on the UK Government to re-engage with our EU partners constructively. We have received no reply and we have had no meaningful discussions with the UK Government on that. The UK Government's threats to breach an international treaty, signed in good faith just two years ago, could spark a trade war with disastrous economic consequences for Scotland and for all parts of the UK. For the UK Government to even contemplate such reckless action in the midst of a cost of living crisis, it is unthinkable and it is indefensible. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. If the UK Government will not listen to the Scottish Government, the Irish Government, the First Minister, designate of Northern Ireland, the European Commission and many, many more who would suffer in a Tory-made UK EU war, does the cabinet secretary believe that the UK Government might instead listen to the US House of Representatives, which, in a joint statement with the European Parliament last weekend, concluded that renegotiating the protocol is not an option, only joint solutions will work. The deterioration of the dispute over the Northern Ireland protocol such that it necessitates an intervention by Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and by Richard Neil, the leader of the US congressional delegation that has been in Europe this week is a grave cause for concern. The prospect of a trade deal between the UK and the United States is clearly going to recede rapidly if the UK Government maintains its reckless attitudes to negotiations with the European Union and far from identifying the benefits of Brexit, the UK Government seems determined to seize upon every imaginable harm that can be extracted from Brexit. We can only hope that the UK Government will listen to our US partners, pull back from its irresponsible threats and focus instead on dialogue with our EU partners, and find a durable, agreed solution. Last April, the First Minister claimed that the Northern Ireland protocol was a template for an independent Scotland in the EU. Last week, she warned that it could trigger a trade war with the EU and tip the UK into recession. What is the Government's view this week? I am sorry, but I do not think that Willie Rennie understands what the Northern Ireland protocol is. What we are talking about is the UK Government breaching the Northern Ireland protocol. Having said that it was oven ready and said that it was a fantastic deal, it is the UK Government that is unilaterally threatening to break international law. I am surprised that Willie Rennie does not know that. He should know it, and there is a world of difference between that and a Northern Ireland protocol agreed by both sides, which could be workable if the UK Government was prepared to live up to its international treaty obligations. Question 4, not lodged. Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. To ask the Scottish Government how its super-sponsor scheme takes account of the preferences of Ukrainian refugees regarding settlement locations within Scotland. The super-sponsor scheme is designed to provide a quick and safe route for displaced people from Ukraine to come to a place of sanctuary by removing the need for applicants to be matched to an individual sponsor prior to being given permission to travel to the UK. Once people have arrived, a national matching service delivered by ITCOSLA will match those settling here with longer-term accommodation across Scotland. Displaced people from Ukraine are asked to complete a short questionnaire that captures key information and preferences. That information is then used to find suitable longer-term accommodation, which will be offered as a choice. All 32 of our local authorities are taking part in this programme and hosts have offered up their homes right across the country. The national matching service will ensure that people are offered settlement opportunities across Scotland, recognising that people will have different preferences and available housing is limited in some authorities. I thank the minister for that answer, but there is growing concern over what seems to be an over bureaucratic system that has been put in place. The adoption of what seems to be the Syrian and Afghanistan resettlement scheme model to 32 local council areas and how that is now being administered for Syrian refugees. I understand that there are currently 1,000 Ukrainians who are living in hotels who have had no clarification provided around the matching process for this scheme. Can I ask the minister what consideration is now being given to a single scheme that can be delivered and break down that process beyond councils having to decide? What advice has also been provided to councils on that to make sure that it is speeded up? On the last point, I absolutely agree with Miles Briggs that we need a process that is moving as quickly as possible. I am working with officials, with local authority partners to ensure that we are in a process of making sure that people are allocated longer-term accommodation, matched to accommodation as quickly as possible, and that necessary safeguarding checks are carried out as quickly as possible both to the properties that have been offered and to individuals who are offered them, as I am sure Miles Briggs would expect. On the numbers that Miles Briggs has quoted, I do not recognise them, but I would be happy to meet Miles Briggs to discuss the process that goes through regarding the matching process, to ensure that we are able to offer people sustainable longer-term accommodation as quickly as possible, to relieve undoubted pressures such as there are in Edinburgh, where Miles Briggs obviously represents, which has become a national hub for arrivals, to ensure that we are able to have a good flow going through the system. To ask the Scottish Government what services the £10,500 tariff provided by the UK Government to local authorities for displaced Ukrainians arriving under the sponsorship scheme is expected to cover. The £10,500 tariff is designed to support local authorities to meet all their associated costs, including providing education advice and referrals to specialist public health services, including mental health services and adult social care, supporting to access employability support and social security, homelessness assistance and community integration through provision of translation services, community events and signposting to further support. The £10,500 tariff is paid per person, but only for those who have settled under the homes for Ukraine sponsorship, which includes the supersponsor scheme, not for those under the family sponsorship scheme. From this one payment, the £200 emergency payment for guests is also paid. Obviously, in addition to the costs that the minister mentioned, there is also health costs that do not appear to be covered. To me, it does not seem enough to cover what services will be required to spend. It is ridiculous to hear from the minister that there is no money made available at all for those settled under the family scheme. Does the minister agree with me that the tariff is not adequate that the UK Government should increase so that local authorities are suitably reimbursed and that that should be for all-displaced Ukrainians no matter what scheme they arrive through? I thank Joe Fitzpatrick for his question. I absolutely agree that the tariff is not adequate for the support that our public services are and will provide as we support displaced people from Ukraine, nor is there specific additional funding for NHS services, a point that I have made to UK ministers repeatedly. There is no funding at all for those arriving under the family scheme, and that is clearly not acceptable. Our local authorities and public services will be supporting people regardless of the route by which they are arriving, and funding must be provided for them to do that, a point that I will be raising with UK ministers again. I know with support of Welsh colleagues in trial-atel meetings this afternoon. I have repeatedly called for the UK Government to provide parity of funding and to consider the resources that are needed to fund public services and to provide clarity on how long they will be available for. In the meantime, the Scottish Government has provided local authorities with significant funding support, in addition to the UK Government funding, to allow local authorities to quickly make accommodation available for people who require longer-term support. Can I ask the minister if the Scottish Government is giving specialised support and aid to disabled Ukrainians similar to Northern Ireland? All those arriving from Ukraine will have full access to NHS services and social security on the same basis as people ordinarily living in Scotland. That means that those fleeing war in Ukraine will have access to any support that they need within our health service, as well as immediate access to social security benefits such as the child and adult disability payments. In addition, a public protection response has been adopted across Scotland to ensure that vulnerable people displaced from Ukraine are protected and have access to the same supports and safeguards as any other vulnerable person under Scottish jurisdiction. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work of Scotland's welcome hubs for Ukraine refugees. The welcome hubs have been established at key entry points, Edinburgh airport, Glasgow city, airport and Cairnryan port. They continue to provide support from healthcare to translation services, clothes and food to temporary accommodation and trauma support. Multi-agency teams at our welcome hubs have triaged more than 1,500 people to date and are assessing people's needs on arrival. They are a single point where we can triage and support people. We are continually working with our national and local partners, including local government and the Scottish Refugee Council, to improve and streamline our approach. I take this opportunity to thank all those involved in our welcome hubs for the incredible work that they are doing. I thank the minister for that response. Not all arrivals pass through the welcome hubs, minister. Those hubs are the point of contact for arrivals and offer them support such as language support, healthcare, food and clothing. However, what steps have been taken to make sure that new arrivals do not use the welcome hubs so that they are not neglected and that they are not supported in a way for those who actually do go through the hubs? I thank Alexander Stewart for the important point that he has made. It is absolutely the case that the Scottish Government is working with our local authority partners to provide support and services for all arrivals from Ukraine. Multi-agency teams working within the hubs are ready to provide support from healthcare to translation, as I have already set out. However, we remain focused on providing a safe and secure place to address any immediate wellbeing and safeguarding needs for displaced persons and will continue to do so. If he has particular issues in the area that he represents regarding ensuring that there is proper contact made, I would be happy to ensure that that can be taken up with local authorities. Staff at Scotland's welcome hubs are becoming more experienced by the day as they assist and triaging displaced people from Ukraine. Can the minister assure the Parliament that those hubs will continue to be supported in that triaging role and allowing a warm Scots welcome to be afforded to all those displaced Ukrainians arriving in Scotland? Yes, absolutely. I thank Alasdair Allan for giving me the opportunity to thank our teams in our welcome hubs. They have been moving at pace and have been needing to work to an increasing scale and to ensure that they are meeting the needs of those arriving from Ukraine. It is very much appreciated, both by the Scottish Government, the people of Scotland and also by people who have arrived from Ukraine. Having that warm Scottish welcome that has been fed back to me has been very much appreciated. I am sure that we will make sure that we continue to support that approach so that people arriving here get the sanctuary and support that they need and deserve. To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the specific risk to female refugees who are fleeing Ukraine to settle in Scotland. Anyone meeting the UK Government eligibility criteria can apply to sponsor a displaced person through homes for Ukraine, which means that there are safeguarding risks inherent in the system that both I and the Welsh Government have raised on a number of occasions with UK ministers. I have urged them to replicate the supersponsor schemes of our Government. The supersponsor scheme means that disclosure checks are done in advance of guests being placed with hosts. We also have guidance that supports all operational partners involved in safeguarding to identify and respond to risk and need for displaced people from Ukraine. Ruth Maguire, I thank the minister for that answer. Active safeguarding is, of course, extremely important. I understand that Tara and Just Right Scotland have reduced a leaflet in Ukrainian and Russian explaining the risks of trafficking to women. Recognising that vulnerability can increase over time, will the Scottish Government consider including violence against women and girls partnerships and services in responses at strategic and operational levels and commit to carrying out gender-specific risk and safety planning, not just at entry, but in the medium and long term also? I thank Ruth Maguire, particularly in her role as the chair of the cross-party group, for her question in that regard. I absolutely will happily consider the suggestions that she has made. Safeguarding measures that we have put in place are imperative to ensuring that we are able to provide the necessary protection that would be expected. We must ensure that Scotland provides a place of safety and sanctuary. The guidance that I have mentioned has been developed with expert partners and draws on intelligence regarding the vulnerabilities of certain groups, including women and girls, as identified through the UN Refugee Agency and the Scottish Refugee Council and Zero Tolerance. The biggest risk factor that I can see at the moment is the fact that there is still a need in some areas for private matching and informal social media private matching that is on-going at the moment provides the biggest risk. The easiest way to stop that is to have a statutory matching service in place, as we have in the Scottish and Welsh super-sponsor schemes, and I would encourage the UK Government to follow that lead. Thank you minister. That concludes portfolio questions on constitution, external affairs and culture. There will be a very brief pause to allow front bench teams to change positions, should they wish. Thank you.