- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 June 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 23 June 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what the roles and responsibilities are of members of the new ScotRail board and its subsidiaries.
Answer
Roles and responsibilities of the ScotRail Board Members and its subsidiaries are set out in the Grant Agreement between Scottish Ministers, Scottish Rail Holdings Limited and ScotRail Trains Limited and the Framework Agreement between Scottish Ministers and Scottish Rail Holdings Limited. The intention is for both agreements to be published by end June 2022.
- Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 June 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus Robertson on 23 June 2022
To ask the Scottish Government when it will respond to the report of the Public Interest Journalism Working Group.
Answer
The Scottish Government response to the Public Interest Journalism Working Group report, Scotland’s News: Towards A Sustainable Future for Public Interest Journalism , is scheduled to be published on the Scottish Government publications page on Friday 24 June.
The response will set out the Scottish Government’s answer to each of the recommendations, and the next steps for taking them forward.
The Scottish Government is very grateful to the Working Group’s members for their hard work in developing the recommendations within the report.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 June 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 23 June 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether clearing the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and psychological therapies waiting times by March 2023, as set out in the NHS Recovery Plan 2021-2026, is referring to meeting the target for (a) 90% of people referred to CAMHS and psychological therapies to be seen within 18 weeks or (b) no person having to wait longer than 18 weeks to start treatment, or whether it is referring to another measure.
Answer
We are committed to meeting the standard that 90% of patients start treatment for CAMHS and Psychological Therapies within 18 weeks of referral by March 2023.
- Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 June 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 23 June 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how much has been allocated to the No One Left Behind strategy in each year it has run.
Answer
Delivery under No One Left Behind commenced in April 2019. The annual allocations from this point are set out in the following table.
| 2019-20 (£m) | 2020-21 (£m) | 2021-22 (£m) | 2022-23 (£m) |
No One Left Behind | 7.078 | 7.078 | 7.078 | 15.643 |
Parental Employability Support Fund (PESF) | 2.100 | 12.350 | 8.650 | 8.790 |
Long Term Unemployed support (LTU) | | | 20.000 | 20.000 |
Young Persons Guarantee (YPG) | | | | 15.300 |
Child Poverty (additional) | | | | 53.060 |
TOTAL | 9.178 | 19.428 | 35.728 | 112.793 |
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 June 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 23 June 2022
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it chose March 2023 as the date by which waiting lists for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and psychological therapies will be cleared, as set out in the NHS Recovery Plan 2021-2026, and whether it will publish the data and evidence that it has to support this decision.
Answer
The date of March 2023 was chosen to drive progress with NHS Health Boards, reflecting the importance of reducing waiting times and meeting the standard that 90% of patients begin treatment within 18 weeks of referral, while also recognising the operational challenges that Boards have faced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This date was chosen as a challenging target, based on regular engagements with Boards and evidence on performance, published on a regular basis by Public Health Scotland - Publications - Public Health Scotland .
We are working with Boards closely and will continue to monitor their performance against the waiting times standard.
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 June 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 23 June 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its proposals as part of the Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan to electrify the rail route between Perth and Dundee.
Answer
As set out in the Transport Scotland Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan, it is planned to electrify between Dundee and Perth by 2035.
As decarbonisation of the line between Dundee and Perth forms a later phase of the rolling programme. Therefore it is at an early stage of development with a detailed implementation programme still to be developed.
The first step towards electrifying to Dundee (from Edinburgh) was taken in June 2022, with the commencement on site of electrification works on the Haymarket to Dalmeny section of route. Work on this estimated £55 million scheme is due for completion by December 2024.
Further development work on the business case for decarbonising the Fife Circle Line has been also been approved to progress to the next design phase for partial electrification of the route using battery electric multiple units.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 June 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Lorna Slater on 23 June 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the support requirements necessary to allow small hospitality businesses to implement mandatory reporting of food waste and surpluses.
Answer
The Scottish Government’s consultation on proposals for a Circular Economy Bill, published on 30 May 2022, proposes that Scottish Ministers should have powers to require mandatory public reporting of unwanted surplus stock and waste of certain materials by Scottish businesses in order to improve data capture and public transparency and help businesses measure and take action on their waste and surplus. The consultation also set our intention that the initial priority for subsequent secondary legislation, with further consultation, would be to introduce mandatory public reporting of food waste and food surplus.
Subject to the outcome of our consultation, we will work with stakeholders to develop detailed assessments and proposals for further consultation, including on the type and size of business that should be subject to any reporting requirements.
- Asked by: Jenni Minto, MSP for Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 June 2022
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Current Status:
Initiated by the Scottish Government.
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 23 June 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the current global supply chain issues resulting from the conflict in Ukraine, what actions it has taken to strengthen the food security of Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Government takes seriously the food security of Scotland, and in response to the conflict in Ukraine, Scottish Ministers established a short-life Food Security and Supply Taskforce, jointly with industry.
The purpose of the short life taskforce was to monitor, identify and respond to any potential disruption to the food and drink supply chain resulting from the situation in Ukraine. It also sought to recommend any short, medium and longer term actions that might be taken to mitigate impacts and resolve supply issues.
The work of the Taskforce has now concluded and arrived at a set of recommendations to strengthen food security and supply in Scotland. The full report and its recommendations will be published today https://www.gov.scot/publications/short-life-food-security-and-supply-taskforce-report/ , it reinforces the Scottish Government’s continued commitment to use all powers it has available to support people in Scotland.
- Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 June 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 23 June 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it uses data from 2020 to apportion Pupil Equity Funding allocations, and, if so, (a) for what reason and (b) what plans it has to use more up-to-date figures.
Answer
Data from the 2020 Healthy Living Survey was one of the components used to determine 2022-23 Pupil Equity Fund allocations.
Due to COVID-19 disruption, the full Healthy Living Survey could not take place in 2021. The previous year’s data was therefore used to prepare funding allocations which aligned with pre-existing PEF allocations to ensure there was no major, disruptive fluctuation between years.
We have listened to headteachers and provided certainty to support long term planning to build on the excellent work we know headteachers are doing by setting PEF allocations for the next four years. In response to fluctuating demand brought on by the pandemic, we have increased allocations to £1,225 from £1,200.
Officials continue to review possible alternatives to Free School Meal data, and a decision on which datasets will be used will be made at the end of that four-year cycle.
- Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 June 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 23 June 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it uses data from 2014 to estimate the number of pupils claiming free school meals in P1 to P3, and, if so, (a) for what reason and (b) what plans it has to use more up-to-date figures.
Answer
Data from the 2014 Healthy Living Survey was one of the components used to determine 2022-23 Pupil Equity Fund allocations for Primary 1 to 3 pupils.
In 2015 the Scottish Government introduced free school meals for all Primary 1 to 3 pupils. The 2014 Healthy Living Survey therefore represents the last dataset fully capturing how many pupils were registered for FSM on income-based criteria before universal entitlement.
We have listened to headteachers and provided certainty to support long term planning to build on the excellent work we know headteachers are doing by setting PEF allocations for the next four years. In response to fluctuating demand brought on by the pandemic, we have increased allocations to £1225 from £1200.
Officials continue to review possible alternatives to Free School Meal data, and a decision on which datasets will be used will be made at the end of that four-year cycle.