- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 December 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 December 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish details of the (a) assessments that have been carried out and (b) reports to ministers that have been produced regarding the future use of Dumfries Sheriff Court.
Answer
Assessments relating to the operation of the courts is a matter for Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS).
SCTS has informed Ministers that the introduction on remote jury centres is not a business as usual solution, but is an innovative solution within the wider programme of work for system recovery – Recover Renew and Transform Programme (RRT) - that allows the re-start of Sheriff and Jury trials after a 10 month absence. The operation of the remote jury centres will be kept under constant review, and SCTS is already considering options on how this might be extended next year to deal with an increasing backlog, depending on the likely requirements for continued physical distancing. SCTS has confirmed that in order to minimise travel for those participating in trials transferred from Dumfries To Ayr, jurors will cited from the Ayr jurisdiction and, where the defence and the Crown agree, and the Sheriff has determined it is appropriate, a witness can give evidence remotely from Dumfries Sheriff Court.
SCTS has assured Ministers that this is a temporary solution to deal with the consequences of COVID-19, balancing safety and proportionality, and has also confirmed that as soon as restrictions are removed jury trials will be returned to Dumfries.
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 December 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 December 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what impact assessment has been carried out regarding the decision to move business from Dumfries to Ayr Sheriff Court.
Answer
Impact assessments relating to the operation of the courts are a matter for SCTS.
SCTS has informed Ministers that of Scotland’s 39 Sheriff Courts, 16 are linked to remote jury centres, with jury trials from the remaining 23 courts being transferred to allow their resumption at close to pre-COVID-19 levels. In respect of Dumfries and Stranraer this equates to an average of 2.5 evidence-led jury trials being transferred each month. SCTS has confirmed that the temporary solution which has been developed while public health restrictions remain in place ensures that the vast majority of those involved in trials will not need to travel to Ayr. Furthermore, the operation of the remote jury centres will be kept under constant review.
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 December 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 December 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported concerns regarding the need for roof repairs and a long-term roof replacement at HMP Dumfries, and what plans there are for further investment on the site.
Answer
I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:
SPS is developing proposals for replacing the roof over the health centre, prisoner reception, gymnasium and a section of the prisoner accommodation. Additional works will also be carried out to the prison’s workshed roof. It is intended to award a contract during this financial year and for the work to be carried out during the summer and autumn periods of 2021 at an indicative cost of circa £350k.
SPS also plan to undertake a condition survey of the prison buildings at HMP Dumfries. This work is due to be completed before the end of this financial year and will help to develop a rolling 5 year development plan for the prison. This plan will include a programme of work based on a number of factors and will be used to identify future investment required at the site which will be subject to available funding.
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 December 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 22 December 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether it expects primary school buildings to have enough space to allow multiple classes to be able to meet in the same room.
Answer
Under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, it is the statutory duty of education authorities to manage their school estate, and provide adequate and efficient provision of school education.
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 December 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 14 December 2020
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has received in Barnett consequentials from the UK Government expenditure on the Local Restrictions Support Grant for (a) open and (b) closed businesses, and how this has been allocated, also broken down by the amount allocated to support self-catering businesses affected by the COVID-19 restrictions.
Answer
The breakdown of consequentials to date does not provide the granular detail as to allocations received per the UK Government Local Restrictions Support Grant. Overall, we have been allocated £8.2bn in consequentials this financial year, which we will continue to allocate based on need in Scotland.
Since the start of the crisis, we have invested over £2.3 billion to support businesses of all types across Scotland, including self-catering. In addition to the support offered through the Strategic Framework Business Fund, we recently announced a further £185 million to help impacted businesses through winter. More details will be announced shortly.
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 December 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 11 December 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of reports that dentists are charging NHS patients for additional PPE, and, if so, what (a) its position is on the practice and (b) action it has taken in this regard.
Answer
The Scottish Government has worked with NHS Scotland procurement teams to ensure a robust and sustainable supply of PPE is available to dental practices free of charge, providing it is used on NHS patients. To date we have not identified any instance in which an NHS patient has been asked to meet additional PPE costs to proceed with NHS care. Patients that attend for a private procedure may be subject to an additional charge for PPE.
A patient can contact their NHS Board who have responsibility for NHS dental services in their area for further information or advice. Contact details are available on NHS Inform or NHS Board websites.
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 December 2020
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 17 December 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to accelerate projects that will support the economy in Dumfriesshire.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 17 December 2020
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 December 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Ben Macpherson on 9 December 2020
To ask the Scottish Government how many property transactions, taking place within Scotland, await the formal issue of updated title deeds by the Registers of Scotland, where the updated title deed has not been made available to the property purchaser within six months of the date of completion of the property transaction.
Answer
This is a question for the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland (RoS). She advises me that RoS receives and processes over 550,000 applications on average every year, of which 91% are completed in under 20 days. Their service standards differ depending on the type of application received, with the most complex having a service level agreement of nine months. As at the 3 December 2020, RoS had 42,971 applications to register a disposition, that were older than six months. RoS has recently published information on revised Key Performance Targets and new ways of working that will allow it to deal more effectively with a backlog that has worsened during lockdown. This is in addition to the expedite service it offers to citizens and solicitors who require their completed title sheet more urgently. Properties undergoing registration can still be safely transacted on.
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 23 November 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 7 December 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is making available to ice rinks, in light of the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.
Answer
I recognise that this has been an enormously challenging time for the sport sector and we appreciate the sacrifices made by everyone over the past months to help us tackle the virus.
I am aware of particular concerns around ice rinks and have asked sport scotland to work with the sector to understand the financial position and ensure any potential support is properly targeted.
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 November 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 4 December 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether self-catering premises in local authority areas subject to Level (a) 1, (b) 2 and (c) 3 restrictions, whose businesses are directly affected by the impact of travel restrictions, are eligible to receive a COVID-19 business restrictions grant.
Answer
The Strategic Framework Business Fund offers financial support to businesses legally required to close or to modify their operations. Self-catering businesses in Levels 1&2 or 3, affected by travel restrictions are not eligible for this support. Self-catering businesses required to close in level 4 may be eligible for support if they meet the eligibility criteria. Coronavirus Business Support Grants, the Tourism Hardship fund, rates relief and the £1.5 million Coronavirus Support scheme have all supported self-caterers. We have also provided an additional £30m to support businesses through the local authority discretionary fund. Scotland’s lack of borrowing powers prevents us from fully responding to the economic crisis, and limited funds mean that we must target resources.
