Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-33414

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 20 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Ash Denham on 4 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the most recent travel restrictions, whether people living in England can travel to Scotland to attend wedding ceremonies and, if so, to which areas and levels of restrictions they are permitted to travel to for this purpose.

From 6pm on 20 November 2020, the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels (Scotland) Regulations 2020 restrict a person living in Scotland from leaving Scotland in order to travel to England, Northern Ireland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland, unless they have a reasonable excuse.

Similarly, a person living in England, Northern Ireland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland is restricted from entering or remaining in Scotland, unless they have a reasonable excuse.

The Regulations provide a non-exhaustive list of reasonable excuses. One example permits travel to attend a gathering which relates to a marriage ceremony or civil partnership registration.

This example permits people living in England, Northern Ireland, Wales or the Republic of Ireland to enter or remain in Scotland in order to attend such an event.

In Scotland, marriage ceremonies and civil partnership registrations can take place at all protection levels, subject to guidance on the numbers who should attend. Wedding receptions cannot currently take place in an area affected by Level 4 restrictions.

Restrictions and advice in place in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland may also affect whether an individual can or should travel to Scotland, including for a marriage or civil partnership. Restrictions and advice in place in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are not matters for the Scottish Government.

Question reference: S5W-33523

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 4 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been allocated each year by the interest-free loan scheme for the purchase of e-bikes since it was established, and how much was unallocated at the end of each year.

Question reference: S5W-33522

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 4 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the median annual income of successful applicants to the e-bike loan fund has been in each year since it was introduced.

Question reference: S5W-33521

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 4 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful applications there have been in respect of the interest-free loan scheme for the purchase of e-bikes, broken down by each (i) year since it was launched and (ii) month in 2020.

Successful and unsuccessful applications to the E-bike Loan Fund broken down by year, and month in 2020, is summarised in the following table.

(i)	(a)	(b)
Financial Year	Successful applications	Unsuccessful applications	Notes
2018-19	298	49	E-bike loan started June 2018
2019-20	614	147
2020-21	852	89	Up until the 29th November 2020

(ii)
Month	Successful applications	Unsuccessful applications	Notes
Jan-20	65	15
Feb-20	59	10
Mar-20	39	5
Apr-20	62	10
May-20	166	19
Jun-20	182	19
Jul-20	108	10
Aug-20	112	8
Sep-20	91	10
Oct-20	69	7
Nov-20	21	1	Up until 29th November 2020

Question reference: S5W-33095

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 06 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 3 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to prioritising the installation of low-carbon heating in the existing housing stock ahead of improving energy efficiency in that sector.

The Scottish Government’s fuel poverty and domestic energy efficiency programmes operate on the principle of `fabric first’. We would not normally consider replacing an existing heating system unless the property has first been insulated as effectively as possible.

Our Heat in Buildings Strategy, which will include the update to the Energy Efficient Scotland Route Map, will set out our long term vision for reducing emissions from buildings, including the actions we will take to secure delivery.

Question reference: S5W-33382

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 3 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has published for students who will require public transport to return home at Christmas.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-33579 on 26 November 2020, in which the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills outlined the amending Regulations made to the Health Protection (Coronavirus)(Restrictions and Requirements)(Local Levels)(Scotland) Regulations 2020 to allow students to return home at the end of term and accompanying guidance, which includes travel and transport guidance for students.

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 .

Question reference: S5W-33377

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 3 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of travel restrictions in Level 3 and 4 areas, whether parents or other family members will be allowed to travel to collect students at universities or colleges to bring them home for the Christmas holidays.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-33579 on 26 November 2020, in which the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills outlined the amending Regulations made to the Health Protection (Coronavirus)(Restrictions and Requirements)(Local Levels)(Scotland) Regulations 2020 to allow students to return home at the end of term.

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 .

Question reference: S5W-33437

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 20 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 3 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-25014 by Humza Yousaf on 27 September 2019, in light of the cabinet secretary's comment regarding re-establishing the Scottish Prison Service Throughcare Support Service "when circumstances permit", what these circumstances (a) were prior to and (b) have been since the onset of COVID-19.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond.

The suspension of the Throughcare Support Service (TSS) was a difficult decision for SPS to make in September 2019 and was necessitated by the need to have staff return to their original roles to manage the increasingly complex prison population.

We do however recognise the benefits that the TSS brought to those in our care and we are committed to exploring what any future throughcare support might look like as part of our recovery from COVID.

Question reference: S5W-33436

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 20 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 3 December 2020

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond.

The following table shows the number of people assisted by the SPS Throughcare Support Service for each month during 2017, 2018 and 2019 up to July.

	2017	2018	2019
January	76	88	75
February	103	85	80
March	133	96	99
April	111	89	93
May	114	101	88
June	125	98	91
July	103	96	79
August	96	89
September	101	92
October	98	120
November	115	84
December	111	101
Total	1286	1139	605

Question reference: S5W-33438

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 20 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 3 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many people were (a) trained and (b) employed to provide SPS Throughcare Support Services in July 2019, and how many there are currently.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond.

The suspension of the Throughcare Support Service (TSS) was a difficult decision for SPS to make, necessitated by the need to have staff return to their original roles as prison officers to manage and support the increasingly complex prison population.

In July 2019, SPS had a complement of 42 Throughcare Support Officers and 3 Throughcare Support Officer First Line Managers (FLMs) trained to deliver throughcare support.

There are currently no Throughcare Support Officers employed by SPS, however staff within prisons do continue to provide a variety of pre-release support services through engaging with individuals, their families and our partners, with the aim of supporting a smooth transition from custody to community.

We recognise the benefits that the Throughcare Support Service (TSS) brought to those in our care and we are committed to exploring what any future throughcare support will look like as part of our recovery from COVID.

Financial Year	Funding	Unallocated	Notes
2018-19	£900,000	£0
2019-20	£1,480,000	£0
2020-21	£2,786,966	£430,931	Up until 25th Nov. Full use of funding is forecast.

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