Chamber and committees

Information is available on the number of offences recorded by Police Scotland under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 – which relates to dogs worrying livestock on agricultural land.

A table showing the information requested has been prepared and a copy of this table titled 'Table 1: Offences of Protection of Livestock from Dogs, North Ayrshire, 2007-08 to 2020-21' is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib number 62925).

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-04170 on 12 November 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Through a combination of the £600 million Reaching 100% (R100) contracts, the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme and continued commercial coverage, every premises in Scotland will be able to access a superfast broadband connection.

We do not hold data on full fibre coverage across Scotland. However, Ofcom provides this data as part of the interactive report they produce alongside their Connected Nations updates. Their latest published information, including local authority area breakdown, can be found at https://www.ofcom.org.uk/research-and-data/multi-sector-research/infrastructure-research/connected-nations-update-summer-2021/interactive-report .

The Scottish Government since 2010 has provided funding to the Energy Saving Trust to deliver the Domestic chargepoint scheme, this scheme provides grant funding to support individuals across Scotland install electric vehicle home chargepoints.

To date Energy Saving Trust have provided 433 grants with a value of £137,423 to individuals across the Scottish Borders to install electric vehicle chargepoints.

The Scottish Government since 2010 has provided funding to the Energy Saving Trust to deliver the Low Carbon Transport Loan, this interest free loan has supported individuals and businesses across Scotland purchase new electric vehicles.

As of the 23 rd November 2021, 141 loans have been provided to individuals and businesses across the Scottish Borders to support the purchase of new electric vehicles to the value of £3,946,087.

The Scottish Government since 2010 has provided funding to the Energy Saving Trust to deliver the Low Carbon Transport Loan. In September 2020, this interest free loan scheme was extended to support individuals and businesses across Scotland purchase used electric vehicles.

As of 23 rd November 2021, 17 loans have been provided to individuals and businesses across the Scottish Borders to support the purchase of used electric vehicles to the value of £231,109.50

The Scottish Government recognises the value Agritourism brings to the Scottish economy and has committed to allow funds of between £50,000 to £80,000 to support a delivery plan for the Agritourism Growth Strategy.

The section of the A1 between Edinburgh and the border with England is a trunk road and therefore responsibility for investment decisions on the route rests with Scottish Ministers. There has been no recent meaningful engagement with the UK Government on their plans for the A1 in England. Furthermore, I would like to refer the member to the previously answered question S6W-02271 on 14 September 2021 on the Scottish Government’s plans for dualling and improving the A1. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

The process for declaring an interest is outlined in the SPCB staff conduct rules. 

The purpose of the Code of Conduct is to set out standards of behaviour required of SPCB staff.  The Code of Conduct is a tool for ensuring that SPCB staff meet their contractual obligations and for enabling managers to manage staff conduct.

All staff are required under the Code of Conduct to inform their Head of Office/Group if they have a private interest which may impact on the conduct of their duties. The responsibility rests with the individual member of staff who must declare all interests of a personal, financial, political or professional nature which may compromise or be reasonably perceived to compromise that person’s ability to perform their role in an impartial or objective manner.  

The Code of Conduct requires managers and staff to take steps to mitigate for the risk of a potential conflict of interest so that it, or the perception of a conflict, can be removed.  Management action can include requiring the member of staff to withdraw from the work where the conflict has or may arise, referring decisions to others or requiring the member of staff to withdraw from the activity giving rise to the actual, potential or perceived conflict.

The People and Culture Office maintains a central record of interests.  This is a live register which is updated regularly.   This means that new interests can be added as and when they arise, and interests can be removed as they cease to be relevant.   For example, when a member of staff ceases to carry out an activity which gave rise to a potential conflict of interest the activity is removed from the register.  

The SPCB is aware that there is an increased level of scrutiny of standards in public life and that transparency is important to give re-assurance.  The current arrangements, including the central register of interests, have been in place since 2010.  The SPCB is currently reviewing the Code of Conduct and has asked officials to provide advice on this matter.  

The SPCB will publish the outcome of its review in line with the SPCB’s Publication Scheme and will notify the Member when it has done so. 

The central register of interests is not published.     The register is updated as and when new interests emerge and on an annual basis Group Heads are requested to review entries on the register for their staff to ensure that it remains accurate.   However, the SPCB recognises that transparency is important to ensure confidence in the process for managing conflicts of interest for SPS staff.  Officials are currently reviewing the Code of Conduct and as part of this review the SPCB will consider whether publication of all or part of the register of interests is appropriate.  The SPCB has requested advice from officials to assist it with its consideration of this matter.