Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government was unable to provide an answer within the 10 counting day deadline because it was waiting for a third party to provide the necessary information; in this instance the membership of a newly formed working group.

The standard Scottish Government process ensures that if a written parliamentary question is not answered within 10 counting days (20 days during recess) then a holding reply will automatically be issued. The substantive answer reiterated the information on the website, but was delayed going through the drafting and parliamentary process.

It is considered that despite the delay, the process is consistent with the Scottish Ministerial Code, with Ministers and officials acting in good faith and always have regard to the terms of the Scottish Ministerial Code when answering parliamentary questions.

While regulation of banks is a reserved matter, bank branch closures are a matter of great concern to communities across Scotland. The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work and I raised the issue of branch closures with representatives of Scotland’s financial sector at the last meeting of the Financial Services Advisory Board on 10 May 2017. I was pleased to see a recognition from those present that consideration of the impact of closures was now necessary and we are keen to engage in that discussion.

I do appreciate that the banks must make savings and efficiencies in delivering their services in a changing world and digital banking is having an impact on footfall in branches, but clearly there is a continuing need for face to face provision of banking for some customers. So while I recognise that, in general, declining branch activity is a driver for banks to change their operating model, I urge the banks to see branch closures as a last resort, and before closing a branch to consider genuine consultation with local stakeholders and communities to explore all practical options.

Given that, the regulation of banking remains reserved to Westminster, the Scottish Government cannot compel banks to maintain a branch presence where they have taken the commercial decision to close. However, I will continue to engage with the banks to ensure that their future strategy for Scotland takes into account the needs of customers, local communities and staff and to ensure that banks concerned are aware of our own concerns and those of the people of Scotland and to identify any actions that can be taken to assist retention of banking facilities in communities affected by current or potential bank closures.

I share your concerns over the closures recently announced by the Royal Bank of Scotland and by other banks. This is a key item I plan to discuss with UK ministers, now that the UK parliamentary election has passed.

The Longannet Task Force brings together key partners to mitigate the economic impacts of the power station’s early closure. Co-chaired by the Scottish Government and Fife Council, its membership is drawn from Scottish Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland as well as union, community and elected representatives to ensure those impacted by the closure are represented on the Task Force.

As well as through their elected members, community interests are specifically represented by the Chair of the Valleyfield Ash Liaison Committee, selected due to the long standing lagoon impacts that had been accommodated locally. The Chair of the Committee is also representing other relevant community views.

The Longannet Task Force also agreed that Fife Council should lead on additional engagement with non-member community groups, working closely with Clackmannanshire Council and Falkirk Council in their respective areas, to ensure those groups could engage with Task Force activities.

S5W-08693 will be answered in due course.

The Scottish Government provides record levels of funding to a range of organisations to develop and deliver high quality programmes to encourage an increase in everyday cycling. These organisations are obliged to incorporate road safety guidelines and promote mutual respect to all road users as part of their projects.

There are a number of initiatives that contribute to reducing aggressive behaviour towards people cycling, such as the recent "Operation Close Pass" and the annual "Give Everyone Cycle Space" awareness campaigns. Organisations also promote the use of the Highway Code for all road users. Additional projects include cycle skills training for children, adults and cycle ride leaders and "Practical Cycle Awareness Training" provision for HGV, and PCV drivers as well as young and learner drivers.

The Scottish Government estimate average house prices and rents in the Housing Need and Demand Assessment (HNDA) Tool. This assists Local and Planning Authorities and National Parks to estimate housing need and demand over the next 20 years. The Tool provides results for different size areas including Strategic Development Plan Authorities, Local Authorities and National Parks and Housing Market Areas.

The Tool provides the following estimates of house prices and rents as at 2016:

• Cairngorms National Park – median house price £218K, median weekly rent £135.

• Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park - median house price £245K, median weekly rent £121

These estimates are based on Registers of Scotland and Rent Service Scotland data as at 2012, which are then projected forward. The HNDA Tool will be updated with the latest house price and rent data in Summer 2017.

The Tool can only provide estimates of house prices and rents for four geographies shown above. it is not designed to produce outputs based on rural or urban geographies although the available geographies may be of interest. The Tool is available on the Scottish Government website at http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/supply-demand/chma/hnda. A short user instruction is also available.

There is no specific Modern Apprenticeship framework available for Veterinary Nursing. However, training is available through a variety of veterinary nursing courses at the Scottish Rural College and North Highland College. The latest figures available for Quarter 2 of this year show that there were 262 enrolments to those course.

Full details of these courses and how to apply are available on the individual Colleges’ websites.

Prior to Skills Development Scotland being established in 2008, LANTRA (Land-based, Aquaculture and Environmental Conservation Industries) delivered a Modern Apprenticeship, including a NVQ delivered by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, but both of these were withdrawn due to lack of uptake from employers and prospective students.

A final reply has now been issued to question S5W-07899. This provides a link to updated terms of reference for the group chaired by Professor Russel Griggs, including details of the group members.

The updated terms of reference, including membership and timescale, for the group chaired by Professor Griggs were published on the Scottish Government website in May 2017. The membership of the group is as follows:

Russel Griggs (Chair)

Allan Bowie

Caroline Drummond

Maggie Keegan

John Kinnaird

David Michie

Colin Mitchell

Pete Ritchie

Geoff Squire

Vicki Swales

John Thomson

Christine Watson

Graham Young

The updated terms of reference are available at this link: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/farmingrural/Agriculture/Theterms.