Chamber and committees

Platform 12 extension works at Edinburgh Waverley were successfully completed to enable introduction of electric services in December 2017. The crossover between platforms 10 and 11 was successfully installed during the Christmas period.

The sale process recently concluded with Amey Rail Limited for Carillion’s Rail contracts, excludes projects in Scotland. Network Rail has therefore implemented their contingency arrangements for the projects in Scotland previously being undertaken by Carillion.

Network Rail expect to enter into new contracts with other suppliers for the delivery of the Waverley of the platform 5 & 6 extension works as part of the Department for Transport’s Intercity Express Programme (IEP) and, for the commissioning of the crossover between platforms 10 and 11.

Network Rail has been liaising with special managers appointed by pwc and existing commitments remain in place to protect Carillion staff and suppliers.

Officials provided an update on the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 to a group of carers, public sector practitioners, and third-sector representatives in Musselburgh in June 2017. This event was hosted by East Lothian HSCP, and provided an opportunity to listen to the views of local carers about the provisions in the Act, including on breaks from caring.

More generally, recent engagement with carers and carer representatives has included a focus on the Carers Act and has been national rather than specific to Lothian. This has included:

•  consultation on proposals for the Carers (Scotland) Bill;
•  an Implementation Steering Group to guide our approach to implementation of the Act;
•  a working group to develop proposals for regulations related to breaks from caring;
•  public consultation last year on these regulations and a draft carers charter summarising rights under the Act;
• a coproduction day with stakeholders, also last year, to help develop statutory guidance for the Act; and
•  a recent meeting with the Scotland Network of carer centre managers and trustees to discuss draft guidance under the Act.

Since the announcement of Carillion’s collapse, the Scottish Government has been involved in daily calls with the Official Receiver, their appointed Special Manager PWC, and with all UK Government Departments to seek to ensure on-going service delivery for all of Carillion’s contracts.

Transport Scotland has been, and continues to be, in regular dialogue with Network Rail following the announcement on 15 January 2018 regarding the liquidation of Carillion and subsequent sale process for its railway business. Network Rail is providing regular updates on both this aspect and also the current schemes being delivered by Carillion.

Platform 12 extension works at Edinburgh Waverley were successfully completed to enable introduction of electric services in December 2017. The crossover between platforms 10 and 11 was successfully installed during the Christmas period.

The sale process recently concluded with Amey Rail Limited for Carillion’s Rail contracts, excludes projects in Scotland. Network Rail has therefore implemented their contingency arrangements for the projects in Scotland previously being undertaken by Carillion.

Network Rail expect to enter into new contracts with other suppliers for the delivery of the Waverley of the platform 5 & 6 extension works as part of the Department for Transport’s Intercity Express Programme (IEP) and, for the commissioning of the crossover between platforms 10 and 11.

Network Rail has been liaising with special managers appointed by pwc and existing commitments remain in place to protect Carillion staff and suppliers.

Since the announcement of Carillion’s collapse, the Scottish Government has been involved in daily calls with all UK Government Departments, the Official Receiver and their appointed Special Manager PWC to seek to ensure on-going service delivery for all of Carillion’s contracts.

Transport Scotland has been in regular dialogue with Network Rail following the announcement on 15 January 2018 regarding the liquidation of Carillion and subsequent sales process for its railway business. Network Rail has confirmed that whilst there is some impact on the IEP Gauging Programme and the works at Waverley Station, mitigation measures are being implemented, to reduce any impact. Network Rail has confirmed that the Shotts Electrification project has not been impacted and remains on programme.

All grant applicants to the funding programme were notified of the outcome of the assessment process by 16 February 2018. Applications for funding greatly exceeded the funds available for distribution and additional time was required to fully assess applications.

The list of successful organisations and projects will be published before the end of this financial year.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-14754 on 27 February 2018. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

Aileen Campbell : Self-directed Support is Scotland’s mainstream approach to social care. This approach to social care has been chosen to ensure individuals are empowered to be equal partners in their care and support decisions and to participate in social and economic life.

Self-directed support enables a support budget to be used over a period of time instead of allocated hours of care on a daily or weekly basis. For example, North Lanarkshire calculates and audits support budgets on a 12-month basis, allowing someone to use support as flexibly or intensively as they require over that period.