Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-16353

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 19 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that support for widening access to colleges and universities is being targeted appropriately across Scotland.

This Government firmly believes that every child growing up in Scotland, regardless of their background, should have an equal chance of attending university and participating in higher education.

Funding for widening access to colleges and universities is allocated to institutions via the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) through a number of mechanisms. For colleges, this includes the Access and Inclusion Fund and student support funding. For universities, this includes the Widening Access and Retention Fund, which is currently allocated to eight post-92 institutions with a higher proportion of widening access students; and embedded additional funding for widening access places. Monitoring is undertaken to focus on outcomes achieved in return for these funds.

The SFC also funds work to support the intake of widening access students, including the National Schools Programme and the Scottish Wider Access Programme, which use a range of eligibility criteria for participation.

Officials are working with stakeholders from the college and university sectors through a Short-Life Working Group on widening access data to ensure that we are best able to identify widening access students across Scotland. Recommendations are expected to be made by the group in Autumn 2023.

Officials are also actively engaging with stakeholders on the interim Purpose and Principles that were published last December which consider how we can deliver a post-school education, research and skills system that is supportive and equitable, which would include our approach to widening access. The final Purpose and Principles will be published later this year.

Question reference: S6W-16474

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 19 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with Deloitte since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

Question reference: S6W-16510

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 19 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with the Scottish Trades Union Congress since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

Information about Ministerial engagements is proactively released on the Scottish Government website. The spreadsheets include a wide range of information including details of the organisation/individuals Ministers met with, as well as the subject discussed.

Scottish Government Ministers meet STUC regularly (list of meetings is available at the link above), reflecting the important role that unions play as key social partners in sustaining effective democracy in society, and contributing to economic competitiveness and social justice.

The First Minister meets STUC on a biannual basis, where current issues are discussed. Recent topics in this forum have included: Cost of Living Crisis, National Care Service Bill and Public Sector Pay disputes. The previous Minister for Just Transition, Employment and Fair Work engaged with STUC and affiliate unions regularly on workplace safety and other issues during the pandemic and initial recovery period. Other Ministers meet STUC regularly on issues relating to their own portfolios for example Budget, culture, transport, health etc.

Question reference: S6W-16320

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the overall staff absence rate was in each of its directorates over the last 10 months.

Absence rates for each of the Scottish Government directorates are as follows:

Organisation/Rolling year period	Apr21-Mar22	May21-Apr22	Jun21-May22	Jul21-Jun22	Aug21-Jul22	Sep21-Aug22	Oct21-Sep22	Nov21-Oct22	Dec21-Nov22	Jan22-Dec22
SG CORE	3.25%	3.38%	3.45%	3.50%	3.55%	3.55%	3.54%	3.55%	3.57%	3.60%
DG COM
DIRECTORATE FOR COVID RECOVERY AND PUBLIC SERVICE REFORM	2.6%	2.6%	2.3%	2.3%	2.5%	3.5%	3.4%	3.5%	3.7%	3.7%
DIRECTORATE FOR EQUALITY, INCLUSION & HUMAN RIGHTS	4.4%	4.9%	4.9%	4.9%	4.5%	4.3%	4.3%	4.6%	4.6%	4.5%
DIRECTORATE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HOUSING	3.3%	3.4%	3.5%	3.6%	3.6%	3.6%	3.5%	3.6%	3.6%	3.5%
DIRECTORATE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY	3.6%	3.5%	3.7%	3.7%	3.8%	3.6%	3.3%	3.3%	3.1%	3.1%
DIRECTORATE FOR TACKLING CHILD POVERTY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE	2.5%	3.0%	3.4%	3.6%	3.7%	4.0%	3.4%	3.2%	3.1%	3.0%
DIRECTORATE FOR UKRAINE RESETTLEMENT								3.6%	3.3%	3.7%
DG CORP
COMMUNICATIONS AND MINISTERIAL SUPPORT	2.0%	2.3%	2.4%	2.4%	2.4%	2.3%	2.6%	2.7%	2.8%	2.8%
DIRECTORATE FOR CORP TRANSFORMATION AND WORKPLACE	4.3%	4.5%	4.6%	4.6%	4.9%	5.1%	5.3%	5.2%	5.0%	5.1%
DIRECTORATE FOR COVID INQUIRIES	1.6%	3.7%	5.8%	4.7%	3.4%	3.2%	3.1%	2.2%	2.4%	2.7%
DIRECTORATE FOR DIGITAL	2.3%	2.4%	2.5%	2.6%	2.5%	2.7%	2.6%	2.6%	2.6%	2.6%
DIRECTORATE FOR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT	3.9%	4.0%	3.9%	3.7%	3.9%	3.8%	4.0%	4.0%	3.8%	3.8%
DIRECTORATE FOR LEGAL SERVICES	2.5%	2.6%	2.8%	2.7%	2.7%	2.6%	2.5%	2.6%	2.9%	3.0%
DIRECTORATE FOR PEOPLE	3.8%	3.9%	3.9%	3.9%	3.8%	3.8%	3.6%	3.7%	3.6%	3.7%
DIRECTORATE FOR PROPRIETY AND ETHICS	0.9%	0.9%	1.1%	1.2%	1.3%	1.3%	1.2%	1.4%	1.4%	1.3%
SCOTTISH PROCUREMENT AND PROPERTY DIRECTORATE	2.2%	2.3%	2.3%	2.4%	2.6%	2.7%	2.9%	3.0%	3.2%	3.2%
DG ECON
DIRECTORATE FOR CHIEF ECONOMIST	2.3%	1.9%	1.6%	1.7%	1.6%	1.7%	1.9%	1.9%	2.3%	1.9%
DIRECTORATE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT	3.2%	3.5%	3.6%	3.6%	3.9%	3.9%	4.0%	4.1%	4.2%	4.2%
DIRECTORATE FOR ECONOMIC STRATEGY	4.6%	4.8%	4.6%	4.8%	4.8%	4.6%	4.6%	4.1%	4.1%	3.7%
DIRECTORATE FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INVESTMENT	3.4%	3.3%	3.1%	3.2%	3.1%	3.0%	2.9%	2.8%	2.9%	2.7%
DG EJ
DIRECTORATE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES	5.3%	5.6%	5.1%	5.2%	5.2%	5.2%	4.8%	4.6%	4.5%	4.5%
DIRECTORATE FOR EARLY LEARNING & CHILDCARE	4.3%	3.9%	4.0%	4.3%	5.0%	5.2%	5.4%	5.2%	5.7%	5.6%
DIRECTORATE FOR EDUCATION REFORM	5.6%	5.3%	5.5%	4.8%	4.3%	4.0%	4.3%	3.7%	3.5%	3.6%
DIRECTORATE FOR JUSTICE	4.1%	4.1%	4.2%	4.1%	4.1%	3.9%	3.8%	3.7%	3.6%	3.7%
DIRECTORATE FOR LEARNING	2.7%	2.7%	2.8%	2.6%	2.7%	2.6%	2.6%	2.4%	2.3%	2.5%
DIRECTORATE FOR LIFELONG LEARNING AND SKILLS	2.9%	3.1%	3.0%	2.9%	3.0%	3.1%	3.4%	3.7%	3.5%	4.0%
DIRECTORATE FOR SAFER COMMUNITIES	3.2%	3.1%	2.9%	3.1%	3.3%	3.2%	3.1%	3.0%	2.9%	2.8%
DG HSC
DIRECTORATE FOR CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER	3.7%	4.0%	4.2%	4.2%	4.1%	4.1%	4.2%	4.1%	4.0%	4.0%
DIRECTORATE FOR CHIEF NURSING OFFICER	4.7%	5.1%	5.1%	5.2%	5.4%	4.7%	5.4%	5.9%	4.8%	5.0%
DIRECTORATE FOR CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, NHS SCOTLAND	2.9%	3.0%	3.6%	3.4%	3.2%	4.2%	3.9%	3.8%	3.7%	3.7%
DIRECTORATE FOR DIGITAL HEALTH AND CARE	3.4%	3.3%	3.2%	2.4%	2.7%	2.4%	3.2%	3.1%	3.5%	3.4%
DIRECTORATE FOR HEALTH FINANCE, CORPORATE GOVERNANCE & VALUE	3.0%	3.1%	3.1%	3.3%	3.8%	3.9%	4.0%	3.9%	4.0%	4.1%
DIRECTORATE FOR HEALTH WORKFORCE	2.8%	2.9%	3.0%	3.0%	2.9%	3.1%	2.9%	2.9%	3.2%	3.5%
DIRECTORATE FOR HEALTHCARE QUALITY AND IMPROVEMENT	5.0%	5.5%	5.4%	5.8%	5.6%	5.7%	5.5%	5.6%	6.0%	6.2%
DIRECTORATE FOR MENTAL HEALTH	3.1%	3.2%	3.0%	3.1%	3.2%	3.2%	3.1%	3.1%	3.2%	3.3%
DIRECTORATE FOR POPULATION HEALTH	2.9%	3.2%	3.2%	3.3%	3.3%	3.3%	3.4%	3.4%	3.5%	3.5%
DIRECTORATE FOR PRIMARY CARE	3.3%	3.4%	3.6%	3.1%	3.1%	3.1%	2.9%	3.0%	3.1%	3.5%
DIRECTORATE FOR SOCIAL CARE AND NATIONAL CARE SERVICE DEVELOPMENT	2.7%	2.7%	3.1%	3.1%	3.4%	3.7%	3.9%	4.0%	4.3%	4.2%
DG NZ
DIRECTORATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL ECONOMY	3.4%	3.6%	3.6%	3.8%	3.8%	3.7%	3.7%	3.7%	3.6%	3.6%
DIRECTORATE FOR ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE	3.5%	3.8%	3.9%	3.8%	4.0%	3.9%	3.6%	3.5%	3.7%	3.9%
DIRECTORATE FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTRY	3.3%	3.4%	3.5%	3.7%	3.6%	3.6%	3.7%	3.9%	4.1%	4.1%
DIRECTORATE FOR MARINE SCOTLAND	3.6%	3.7%	3.8%	3.9%	4.0%	4.0%	4.0%	4.0%	4.1%	4.2%
DG SE
DIRECTORATE FOR BUDGET & PUBLIC SPENDING	3.6%	3.8%	3.6%	3.6%	2.3%	1.9%	1.6%	1.7%	2.0%	2.3%
DIRECTORATE FOR FISCAL POLICY AND CONSTITUTION	1.0%	1.0%	0.8%	0.8%	0.7%	0.8%	0.6%	0.6%	0.5%	0.5%
DIRECTORATE FOR FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY AND EXCHEQUER DEVELOPMENT	4.1%	4.5%	4.9%	5.5%	6.2%	3.0%	2.6%	2.7%	2.5%	3.5%
DIRECTORATE FOR INTERNAL AUDIT AND ASSURANCE	4.3%	4.3%	4.2%	4.4%	4.5%	4.2%	4.3%	4.2%	4.5%	4.3%
DIRECTORATE FOR TAX AND REVENUES	1.4%	1.4%	1.4%	1.4%	2.0%	2.0%	1.5%	1.5%	1.6%	1.6%
DG SEA
DIRECTORATE FOR CONSTITUTION	3.3%	3.1%	3.2%	3.3%	3.6%	3.6%	4.3%	4.6%	3.7%	3.2%
DIRECTORATE FOR COVID CO-ORDINATION	3.2%	3.7%	3.2%	3.1%	4.8%	5.4%	3.1%	2.4%
DIRECTORATE FOR CULTURE AND MAJOR EVENTS	3.0%	3.4%	3.7%	4.0%	3.7%	3.6%	3.7%	4.2%	4.5%	4.9%
DIRECTORATE FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS	2.1%	2.2%	2.3%	2.8%	2.9%	3.1%	3.1%	3.2%	3.2%	2.9%
DIRECTORATE FOR PERFORMANCE, DELIVERY AND RESILIENCE	1.8%	1.8%	1.8%	1.9%	2.1%	2.2%	2.2%	2.5%	2.7%	3.0%
DIRECTORATE FOR STRATEGY	0.8%	1.0%	1.3%	1.5%	2.9%	2.7%	2.1%	1.9%	1.6%	1.5%
EU DIRECTORATE	3.7%	3.2%	1.5%	1.8%	1.9%	1.6%	1.8%	2.6%	3.5%	3.9%
PARLIAMENTARY COUNSEL OFFICE	0.6%	0.5%	0.9%	1.3%	1.9%	1.7%	1.7%	1.8%	1.8%	2.0%
UNASSIGNED TO DIRECTORATE
UNASSIGNED TO DIRECTORATE	1.7%	1.0%	2.1%	2.0%	1.8%	1.9%	2.0%	2.2%	2.2%	0.5%

The information covers the period to December 2022. Figures after that date have not yet been published. Sickness absence is always reported in 12 month rolling periods to account for seasonality.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting staff who are absent from work through sickness with a view to facilitating a return to the workplace as soon as possible. Staff sickness levels and the causes of absence continue to be closely monitored.

Question reference: S6W-16308

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what grant funds it has made available to third sector organisations over the past 12 months.

Question reference: S6W-16416

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what briefings it has prepared for the First Minister's induction.

The First Minister was briefed on the Ministerial Code; Civil Service Code; Code of Conduct for Special Advisers; guidance on Collective Decision Making; procedures for making a formal complaint about a minister’s or former minister’s behaviour; Scottish Parliamentary Pensions Scheme guidance; Safeguarding and Securing Scottish Government Business guidance; the Scottish Government’s IT Code of Conduct, Records Management Plan and Policy and Security Data Handling Standard.

In addition the First Minister was briefed on the private office function; Ministerial Pay, Pensions, declarations of interests; guidance on travel, expenses and gifts; and an overview of the Scottish Government and its governance structures.

The First Minister was provided with a diary note to discuss forthcoming engagements; background information on Bute House arrangements; Counterterrorism Incident guidance; and the civil service liaison arrangements with the outgoing First Minister and Deputy First Minister.

The First Minister was also briefed on portfolio priorities and on the Bute House Agreement.

Question reference: S6W-16468

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with An Lanntair since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

An Lanntair are a key stakeholder of our public bodies. The Scottish Government has not met An Lanntair directly during this period, however Highlands and Islands Enterprise hold regular meetings with An Lanntair, normally on a monthly basis, to discuss operational matters.

In addition, as they are a regularly funded organisation (RFO), An Lanntair has met with Creative Scotland during this period through virtual and in-person meetings, and phone calls.

The key outcomes from those discussions include (i) funding levels, (ii) additional financial support from the various Scottish Government COVID-19 Emergency Funds and (iii) updates of An Lanntair’s ongoing RFO activity including artistic planning, annual review and annual reporting.

The Scottish Government will continue to have regular dialogue with the culture sector and, given the recent changes in the Scottish Government Ministerial team, introductory meetings between relevant Ministers and Creative Scotland and partners across the sector are currently being considered.

Question reference: S6W-16475

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with Development Trusts Association Scotland since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

Development Trusts Association Scotland (DTAS) engage with many areas of Scottish Government and this information is not collated centrally. However, core support is provided by the Third Sector Unit who have met with DTAS at various times since May 2021 to discuss their core funding and the Scottish Government’s Pockets & Prospects Fund which they manage along with the Scottish Community Alliance.

Question reference: S6W-16490

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with Scottish Ballet since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

Scottish Ballet is one of Scotland’s five National Performing Companies and has met with Scottish Ministers on two occasions since May 2021.

On 22 February 2022 Scottish Ballet held an introductory meeting with Neil Gray following his appointment as Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development and Minister with special responsibility for refugees from Ukraine.

On 11 January 2023 Scottish Ballet, along with the other National Performing Companies, met with the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture to explore how their international tours could further enhance the reputation and brand of Scotland overseas.

As a National Performing Company the Scottish Ballet receive direct funding from Scottish Government. Scottish Government officials have met regularly since May 2021 with the Scottish Ballet as part of normal grant management processes.

The Scottish Government will continue to have regular dialogue with the culture sector and, given the recent changes in the Scottish Government Ministerial team, introductory meetings between relevant Ministers and the National Performing Companies are currently being considered.

Question reference: S6W-16359

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 17 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken to determine whether its changes to tax rates have increased or decreased tax revenue.

From the analysis available, evidence shows our reforms have been effective in raising additional revenue for the Scottish Budget. In December 2021 we published a policy evaluation of the Income Tax reforms implemented in 2018-19, showing the policy raised £239m that year.

The Scottish Government actively works with stakeholders, such as HMRC on Income Tax, to continually improve the evidence base to help inform policy development and evaluation.

Chamber and committees