Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government supports the taking advantage of all opportunities to promote the sustainable growth of the Scottish fishing industry, and our rural and coastal communities more generally. As set out in “Scotland’s Place in Europe”, the Scottish Government support Scotland’s withdrawal from the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) through seeking membership of the EEA post-Brexit. This will help support growth of the fishing industry and rural communities by ensuring that key decisions affecting Scotland’s marine assets are made in Scotland rather than elsewhere, and that we are able to put in place more proportionate fisheries management arrangements.

The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 places duties on education authorities to identify, provide for and to review the additional support needs of their pupils. The statutory code of practice which supports the implementation of the Act, indicates that additional support needs may arise from four factors; disability or health; family circumstances; learning environment and social and emotional factors. Any additional support needs arising from retained primitive reflexes which cause a barrier to a pupils learning should be addressed through this framework.

The data requested has been placed electronically in SPICe with Bib number 58579

Once the AWPR/B-T is open to traffic, we predict a reduction in traffic levels on local roads.

Each local road authority has a statutory duty to manage and maintain all local roads in their area. Other than specific larger roads the AWPR/B-T contractor has to obtain the relevant local authority’s agreement prior to using the local road network for construction traffic. This gives local authorities the opportunity to directly manage traffic levels and to set any conditions that they consider appropriate. This includes agreeing any liability for repairs which may be required as a result of increased traffic.

The Scottish Government managed costs of the case as part of on-going financial management processes in the normal way for unexpected financial pressures. It was recognised that the costs had not been included in budgets for 2016-17 as the case could not have been anticipated. The eventual costs have therefore been managed from existing budgets. It was also recognised that the full cost of the case would not be established until after the conclusion of proceedings. Those costs have now been published (see the answer to question S5W-07107 on 17 February 2017).

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.

I refer the member to the answer that I gave to his question in the chamber when we discussed my statement on trauma on Wednesday 18 January. In reply to his question I said:

“I laid out in my statement the initial priorities for the £5 million spend, which include the development and enhancement of services in the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS). I am sure that Ross Thomson will appreciate that, if the SAS could not do triage through its 24/7 trauma desk, there would not be the glue for the rest of the network.

We have asked the [Scottish Trauma Network] steering group to develop some of the more detailed costings, which will include the development of Aberdeen and Dundee [major trauma centres] over the 12 to 18-month period. That goes beyond the £5 million and that work will be on-going. The 12 to 18-month period straddles two financial years and, in planning for 2018-19, I will want to make sure that any additional costs of developing Aberdeen and Dundee are included. I am happy to keep Ross Thomson informed as the detail of that work is developed.”

The project contractor, Aberdeen Roads Limited (ARL), has confirmed that all operatives it employs directly are paid in accordance with the CIJC (Construction Industry Joint Council) Working Rule Agreement, which sets out a minimum wage for employees. ARL requires all sub-contractors to comply with this agreement.

We have received assurances from the contractor that they have undertaken checks to ensure that all sub-contractors are observing this policy. They have also confirmed that, in the event that any discrepancies are found, appropriate remedial action will be taken.

Safety is a key priority for the project contractor, Aberdeen Roads Limited (ARL).

ARL has assured us that workers employed on the project require basic English skills. ARL has also confirmed that where a group of workers share a common first language which is not English, there will be a designated multi-lingual member of the group with a high level of English verbal and written skills. This ensures that all briefings, tool box talks, method statements etc. are communicated clearly and effectively and priority is given to health and safety issues.

In addition, to compliment the health and safety communications, ARL produces project communications and health & safety materials in several languages, with further translations added as and when a need is identified.