- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 July 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 21 August 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of any community concerns about proposals to plant Sitka spruce on Warblaw Hill in Langholm.
Answer
Scottish Government is aware of community concerns and Scottish Forestry attended a public consultation drop in event held in Langholm on 4 th May this year, which was arranged by the land owners and their forestry agents with encouragement to do so by officials.
As a result of the drop in session, the proposal which is being developed by Gresham House Forestry on behalf of James Jones and Sons, a private sector sawmilling company, will incorporate ideas and suggestions provided by the local community. It is expected that Sitka spruce, in the final design, will amount to only 25-35% of the total area, with the rest of the tree planting being designed to incorporate other diverse conifer species, native broadleaves and open unplanted ground. In addition, more than 40 % of the area will be retained for agricultural purposes, with the protection and incorporation of existing and new footpaths and public access routes.
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 July 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 21 August 2023
To ask the Scottish Government in what locations surface dressing has been used on the trunk road network in each of the last three years.
Answer
In the last 3 years surface dressing has been used in 5 locations on the Trunk Road Network. These locations are:
- A76 Bargower (South of Kilmarnock)
- A701 Boreland (North of Dumfries)
- A75 Hetland Hall (Between Annan and Dumfries)
- A75 Kinmount (Between Annan and Dumfries)
- A75 Bladnoch (West of Newton Stewart)
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 July 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 16 August 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what advice it gives to any communities that are concerned about the landscape and biodiversity impacts of planting commercial forestry.
Answer
The Scottish Government has recently published refreshed guidance on community engagement and consultation in relation to forestry plans and proposals. The purpose of the guidance is to provide greater clarity around the existing engagement and consultation processes during the development and approval of woodland creation schemes, including commercial forestry projects. The document outlines why community engagement and consultation is important, the processes involved in the development and approval of forestry plans and proposals, roles and responsibilities, and the opportunities for communities to be involved in the development of those plans.
Furthermore, the UK Forestry Standard sets out the technical requirements that applicants developing woodland creation schemes, funded under the Forestry Grant Scheme, should meet in terms of opportunities for the new woodland to enhance landscape and biodiversity opportunities and how to mitigate impacts. These requirement also include the need for detailed wildlife, habitat and landscape surveys and assessments where appropriate.
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 July 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 14 August 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-20182 by Jenni Minto on 25 July 2023, what additional support and financial assistance will be put in place for parents and family members who require to travel and stay overnight to access specialist treatment and be close to their baby.
Answer
Hospitals are expected to provide parents with access to accommodation on site if needed. In addition the Young Patients Family Fund provides reimbursement for costs of travel, subsistence and accommodation for the eligible parents, carers and/or siblings (aged under 18) of child inpatients. In the previous two financial years more than £3.7M was paid to families visiting children in hospital via the fund. More information about the fund, including how to apply can be found on the Scottish Government website Young Patients Family Fund - mygov.scot
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 July 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 4 August 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what action Transport Scotland is taking to enable Annan Harbour Action Group to become the statutory harbour authority for Annan Harbour.
Answer
Transport Scotland consider all enquiries regarding harbour orders, and provide feedback for applicants to consider how the requirements of becoming a Statutory Harbour Authority could be met. Transport Scotland officials have corresponded with and provided advice to the Annan Harbour Action Group at various junctures over the last 3 years and continue to correspond with the Group on its proposals.
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 June 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 25 July 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is the case that the Warmer Homes Scotland scheme does not fund ceiling insulation in flats, and, if so, what the reason is for this.
Answer
Dwelling types including flats are covered by the Warmer Homes Scotland scheme. Domestic Energy Assessors will carry out a survey of the home and recommend suitable improvements which can include insulation measures such as loft insulation, wall insulation and draft-proofing. The improvements offered to the homeowner will depend on the survey results of the home and what room it is in the property. Where there is a roof above the ceiling it will be loft insulation that is offered, subject to access and suitability. Where a flat roof is present, internal wall insulation (IWI) can be applied if appropriate and recommended by the Domestic Energy Assessor. This measure is only offered in habitable rooms (e.g. bedrooms or living rooms).
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 June 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 24 July 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on delivering on the action points identified in its suicide prevention action plan, Every Life Matters.
Answer
The National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group (NSPLG) has made very strong progress in delivering the suicide prevention action plan, Every Life Matters . NSPLG’s final annual report published in October 2022 and can be found here . Delivery has been maintained since October, including focussed work on improving responses for people in suicidal crisis, using the principles of Time, Space and Compassion.
The delivery of Every Life Matters has created an excellent platform to drive forward Creating Hope Together - our ambitious new strategy and action plan , which the Scottish Government published with COSLA in September 2022. The evidence and support for Every Life Matters actions means we are continuing to deliver on those actions as part of our ongoing work.
The Scottish Government and COSLA published our suicide prevention delivery priorities for 2023-24 on 28 June 2023. These were shaped through stakeholder discussions and a range of evidence, including views from people with lived experience of suicide.
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 June 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 17 July 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action is being taken to reduce reported backlogs at the Office of the Public Guardian regarding processing power of attorney applications.
Answer
The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) is part of the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service (SCTS). SCTS is an independent body corporate and does not answer directly to the Scottish Government (SG). Instead, it is directly answerable to its board, chaired by the Lord President.
OPG advise that they continue to fund a dedicated taskforce to reduce the time taken to process PoA applications. They have commenced a programme to develop a new case management system, which will provide greater online capability and greater effectiveness in PoA registrations.
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 June 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 17 July 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been allocated to teachers undertaking (a) Into Headship, (b) Excellence in Headship and (c) master's-level qualifications in each of the last three years, broken down by local authority area.
Answer
a) Into Headship
The Scottish Government provided grant funding to Higher Education Institutions to deliver the Into Headship programme, as set out in the following table. This funding was not allocated to local authorities, therefore we do not hold a breakdown by local authority.
| 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | Total |
University of Aberdeen | £79,716 | £98,112 | £107,310 | £285,138 |
University of Dundee | £58,254 | £45,990 | £36,792 | £141,036 |
University of Edinburgh | £110,376 | £162,498 | £101,178 | £374,052 |
University of Glasgow | £113,442 | £82,782 | £67,452 | £263,676 |
University of Highlands & Islands | £76,650 | £180,894 | £95,046 | £352,590 |
University of Stirling | £177,828 | £165,564 | £134,904 | £478,296 |
University of Strathclyde | £144,102 | £104,244 | £135,926 | £384,272 |
Total | £760,368 | £840,084 | £678,608 | £2,279,060 |
b) Excellence in Headship
The Scottish Government provided funding to Education Scotland to deliver the Excellence in Headship programme, as set out in the table below. This funding was not allocated to local authorities, therefore we do not hold a breakdown by local authority.
| 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 |
Scottish Government Funding to Education Scotland | £400,000 | £400,000 | £400,000 |
1. Masters-Level Learning for Teachers
The Scottish Government provided grant funding to the recipients set out in the table below to enable the delivery of Masters-level learning for teachers. This funding was allocated to these recipients on behalf of Teacher Education Partnerships, except for City & Guilds and The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. We do not hold a breakdown by local authority.
Grant Recipient | Universities in Teacher Education Partnership | Local Authorities in Teacher Education Partnership | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | Total |
University of Aberdeen | University of Aberdeen | Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Highland, Moray and Shetland | £71,400 | £88,500 | £88,500 | £248,400 |
City & Guilds | NA | NA | £45,750 | £45,000 | £26,000 | £116,750 |
Dumfries and Galloway Council | University of Glasgow, University of Stirling | Dumfries and Galloway | £15,900 | £6,964 | £5,547 | £28,411 |
University of Dundee | University of Dundee | Angus, Dundee, Fife, Perth & Kinross | £81,900 | £81,720 | £81,000 | £244,620 |
University of Edinburgh | University of Edinburgh | Edinburgh City, East Lothian, West Lothian, Midlothian, Scottish Borders, Fife | £132,200 | £132,400 | £132,100 | £396,700 |
University of Strathclyde | University of Strathclyde, University of Glasgow | East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire | £217,100 | £218,700 | £218,700 | £654,500 |
University of Highlands & Islands | University of Highlands & Islands | Argyll & Bute, Shetland, Orkney, Eilean Siar, Highland, Moray | £53,900 | £53,100 | £54,000 | £161,000 |
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland | NA | NA | £18,300 | £18,300 | £18,300 | £54,900 |
University of Stirling | University of Stirling | West Lothian, Falkirk, Stirling, Clackmannanshire, Perth & Kinross | £55,000 | £55,600 | £55,080 | £165,680 |
University of West of Scotland | University of West of Scotland | East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, North Ayrshire | £40,320 | £40,600 | £41,000 | £121,920 |
Total | | | £731,770 | £740,884 | £720,227 | £2,192,881 |
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 June 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 13 July 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to prevent the destruction and disturbance of peatland during new woodland creation.
Answer
Woodland expansion alongside protecting and restoring peatlands are critical elements of our plans to address climate change and help achieve net zero. Public funding of woodland creation requires high standards of forest practice in line with the UK Forestry Standard: the UK framework to deliver sustainable forest management. The Standard provides requirements and guidelines on planting and managing woodlands in ways that maximise carbon removals and minimise emissions. Planting on deeper peats (over 50 cm depth) is prohibited in Scotland.
Further guidance on ground preparation for woodland creation was strengthened in 2021 to require the use of less disruptive techniques on peaty soils, helping protect these important carbon sinks. Ploughing in preparation of tree planting on peaty soils is limited to less than 10 cm depth to protect peatlands as they are important carbon sinks.