- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 30 August 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 27 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government how many days the A7 has been subject to road closures in the last 12 months.
Answer
A table providing details of closures on the A7 from 1 August 2017 to 30 August 2018 has been placed in SPICE, (BIB number 60059). This includes closures due to roadworks and maintenance activities carried out by our Operating Company and other 3 rd parties, and closures implemented by Police Scotland to attend to road traffic accidents and any subsequent follow up actions required.
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 September 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 27 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it takes to (a) assess the quality and (b) monitor the provision of the care call services that are provided by local authorities.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to improving the quality of care in Scotland and wants to ensure that everyone who requires care has access to the highest standards of care in every setting, whether in their own home or in residential accommodation. Although the Scottish Government has overall responsibility for health and social care policy in Scotland, the statutory responsibility for delivering, commissioning or monitoring care call services (also known as telecare) at a local level lies with local authorities.
Each Telecare organisation will perform a yearly survey for citizens in receipt of services, however, results are kept internally. The Scottish Government's Technology Enabled Care Programme continue to work closely with Local Authorities in driving forward the uptake of telecare services and continue to closely monitor the number of people known to have benefitted from telecare services.
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 September 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 27 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what national standards it has introduced regarding the level of care call services that should be provided by local authorities, and how it monitors the effectiveness of these standards.
Answer
Jeane Freeman : Operational standards are the responsibility of the LA providing the service and there are no regulatory requirements. The Scottish Government have always promoted standards bodies (of which there are several) so around a third of organisations are signed up to these (Such as The Technology Enabled Care Services Association - TSA) and are assessed on these processes, however this is voluntary.
Where telecare is provided as part of a care service registered with the Care Inspectorate, the whole care service is regulated by the Care Inspectorate and evaluated through their normal inspections of care services.
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 September 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 26 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the issue highlighted in the Consortium for Research in Deaf Education 2017 report for Scotland that 48% of teachers of the deaf are over 50 and are likely to retire in the next next 10 to 15 years.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-18135 on 29 August 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 .
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 30 August 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 25 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made to improve links between Dumfries and the M74.
Answer
Since 2007 the Scottish Government has invested £75 million in road maintenance along the A75 and £13 million on the A701. Approximately £11 million has also been invested in the A75 Hardgrove to Kinmount project to improve overtaking opportunities and remove known pinch points. Transport investment has to be supported by robust evidence and that is why the Scottish Government is undertaking the South West Scotland Transport study. This study is considering the rationale for improvements to road, rail, public transport and active travel on the key strategic corridors including the A75 and A77 as well as the railway corridors to Stranraer and Carlisle via Kilmarnock and Dumfries, with a particular focus on access to the ports at Cairnryan and will also consider the rationale for improving how Dumfries is connected to the M74.
This study will provide recommendations setting out options for transport interventions which will be considered through the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2).
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 30 August 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 25 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had regarding dualing the A75.
Answer
I met with MSPs, representatives of interest groups, transport operators and members of the public in Stranraer on 24 August to hear first-hand their views on the A75 trunk road.
Transport investment has to be supported by robust evidence and that is why the Scottish Government is undertaking the South West Scotland Transport study. This study is considering the rationale for improvements to road, rail, public transport and active travel on the key strategic corridors including the A75 and A77 as well as the railway corridors to Stranraer and Carlisle via Kilmarnock and Dumfries, with a particular focus on access to the ports at Cairnryan.
This study will provide recommendations setting out options for transport interventions which will be considered through the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2).
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 September 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 25 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government when the road operator contracts for the (a) A7, (b) A75, (c) A76, (d) M74 and (e) A701 will be due for renewal.
Answer
The Trunk Road Operating Company Contracts for the A7, A75, A76, A701 and the M74 between Junction 1 M8 and Junction 12 Millbank (excluding Junction 3 – 6) are due for renewal in August 2020. The procurement competitions for the contracts which contain these routes will commence this Autumn.
The M74 between Junction 3 Daldowie and Junction 6 Hamilton is part of the recently completed M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements project. The management, maintenance and operating contract for this section of the M74 expires in May 2047.
The management, maintenance and operation contact for the M74 between Junction 12 Millbank and the Scottish border expires in July 2027.
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 September 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 25 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of the Consortium for Research in Deaf Education 2017 report for Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Government remain committed to ensuring that all children and young people get the support that they need to reach their full learning potential.
Following recommendations made by the Education and Skills Committee, in 2016 the Scottish Government undertook its own survey of education authorities to establish the picture of support for children and young people with a sensory impairment in Scotland. Following this, the Scottish Government set out a range of actions to support pupils with a sensory impairment. A number of these actions have already been delivered, and we continue to work on those outstanding.
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 September 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 25 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the number of teachers of the deaf is reported to have fallen.
Answer
The employment of teachers of the deaf is a matter for education authorities, to be addressed in light of their local circumstances and priorities.
Under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) Act 2004 (as amended) education authorities have duties to identify, provide for and to review the additional support needs of their pupils, including those with a sensory impairment. This includes ensuring that there are the staff and resources in place to support pupils in their learning.
To support teacher training in sensory impairment the Scottish Government provides £150,000 annual grant funding to the Scottish Sensory Centre to provide high quality Career Long Professional Learning.
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 30 August 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 19 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Scottish Natural Heritage regarding wildfowling in Caerlaverock.
Answer
Management of the Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve is an operational matter for Scottish Natural Heritage. No discussion regarding wildfowling in Caerlaverock has taken place between the Scottish Government and Scottish Natural Heritage.