Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-14559

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 21 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer question S5W-13642 by Humza Yousaf on 11 January 2018, in light of the minister's comment that "in the past 5 years, Transport Scotland has been consulted on 4 separate planning applications potentially affecting the Bellfield Interchange and did not object to any of these", whether the minister has been made aware of the East Ayrshire Local Development Plan, which was published on 30 November 2016, in which the reporter commented that "Transport Scotland is not able to support the Local Development Plan spatial strategy at this time".

East Ayrshire Council’s Local Development Plan (LDP) process considered land use changes and identified potential medium to longer term impacts on the A77 Bellfield junction. Transport Scotland made representations to the Proposed LDP noting that development impacts and potential requirements for supporting mitigation had not been fully considered.

Following the LDP review process the Reporter directed changes to the LDP which now includes actions for East Ayrshire Council to progress studies on the impact of future development allocations over the coming years. Transport Scotland will work with East Ayrshire Council on the studies which they take forward and I look forward to seeing this work progress.

Question reference: S5W-13747

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 23 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-13460 by Humza Yousaf on 3 January 2018, whether the proposed study will include an economic impact assessment regarding (a) the economic activity generated by the ports at Cairnryan and (b) how communities along the A77 and A75 corridors and relevant rail routes are influenced by the current road infrastructure.

The South West Scotland Transport Study will be undertaken in accordance with Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance. In doing so it will include an evidenced based assessment of problems, opportunities, issues and constraints in the area including the relationship between the trunk road and rail network and the communities along the routes. The study will investigate the role that the ports at Cairnryan have in the economy of the region and in Scotland both now and in the future. Further details on Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance can be found here(https://www.transport.gov.scot/our-approach/industry-guidance/scottish-transport-analysis-guide-scot-tag/#). A copy of the brief issued for the south west study is available here (https://www.transport.gov.scot/media/41383/latis-lot-2-sw-scotland-transport-study-itt-as-issued.pdf ).

Question reference: S5W-13462

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 15 December 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 15 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport's inquiry into the legal right of still born babies to be eligible for the Crown Office to instigate an inquiry into an unexplained death where appropriate.

The Scottish Government and COPFS continue to discuss the complexities of the law in this area.

The investigation of deaths in Scotland is undertaken by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) on behalf of the Lord Advocate, as head of the system of investigation and deaths in Scotland, a function which the Lord Advocate exercises independently of any other person.

The circumstances in which a Fatal Accident Inquiry may be held are prescribed by the Inquiries into Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc (Scotland) Act 2016. Under that Act, the circumstances surrounding a stillbirth cannot be the subject of a Fatal Accident Inquiry.

COPFS guidance requires the death of a child which is a sudden, unexpected and unexplained perinatal death to the be reported to the procurator fiscal. COPFS keeps its guidance on reporting of deaths under review. Any revisals to COPFS guidance will be a matter for the Lord Advocate.

COPFS may investigate the circumstances of a stillbirth in appropriate circumstances. Scottish Government has been advised that COPFS is considering whether its guidance should clarify the circumstances in which a stillbirth should be reported to COPFS.

That consideration is taking place alongside the work which is currently being undertaken by Scottish Government with a view to bringing consistency to the investigation of stillbirths within NHSScotland.

Question reference: S5W-13642

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 December 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 11 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of applications to develop the sites serviced by the interchange being objected to by Transport Scotland on the grounds that the infrastructure was insufficient to support these developments, and reported concerns that traffic queuing down the access ramp onto the main trunk road being potentially dangerous, whether it will upgrade the Bellfield Interchange over the A77 at Kilmarnock, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

The Scottish Government currently has no plans to upgrade the A77 Bellfield Interchange. In the past 5 years, Transport Scotland has been consulted on 4 separate planning applications potentially affecting the Bellfield Interchange and did not object to any of these.

Transport Scotland seeks to support development proposals which can be demonstrated to have limited impact at Bellfield Interchange or otherwise be able to mitigate their impacts on junction performance.

Like many regions served by the trunk road network, this area has seen an increase in local business, industrial and residential developments over the years which has helped to grow Scotland’s economy. However, this growth brings extra pressure on surrounding infrastructure. Transport Scotland continues to work with the local planning authority in examining the authority’s aims through their Development Plans and specific planning applications, in accordance with Scottish Planning Policy.

Scottish Planning Policy, in relation to Development Management, dictates that, where existing infrastructure does not have the capacity to accommodate a development without adverse impacts on safety or unacceptable impacts on operational performance, further investment is likely to be required and the cost of the mitigation measures required to ensure the continued safe and effective operation of the network will have to be met by the developer.

In respect to longer term development planning, the East Ayrshire Local Development Plan was adopted on 3 April 2017 and includes actions for the Planning Authority (East Ayrshire Council) to progress studies to understand the impact of development on Bellfield Interchange over the coming years. This work will be progressed through consultation with Transport Scotland and other relevant stakeholders.

Vehicle activated signs were installed in September 2017 to warn trunk road users of impending traffic queues and this location will continue to be monitored following the introduction of the vehicle activated signs.

Question reference: S5W-13461

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 15 December 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 9 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether compulsory cardiotocography (CTG) training for all neonatal staff has been implemented across all NHS boards; whether time is allocated during working hours for this training, and whether it is compulsory at least twice a year.

Question reference: S5W-13460

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 15 December 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 3 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the meeting with the A77 and A75 Action Group on 15 November 2017, during which the Minister for Transport and the Islands reportedly committed to commence an infrastructure review for these trunk roads as links to the port of Cairnryan within a month or two, when this review will commence; when the results are expected, and what the parameters of the review will be.

The South West Scotland Transport Study will consider the rationale for improvements to road, rail, public transport and active travel on the key strategic corridors including the A75, A77 and the railway corridors to Stranraer and Carlisle via Kilmarnock / Dumfries and will have a particular focus on access to the ports at Cairnryan. It will examine the case for change in relation to transport infrastructure investment.

The procurement of consultants to undertake the study is currently underway with appointment likely to take place in January 2018 and with final reporting expected in Autumn 2018.

Question reference: S5W-13137

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 December 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 13 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to deliver funding from the apprenticeship levy to finance apprenticeships in (a) floristry and (b) coopering, given this is a skill required in Scotland's whisky industry, and what its position is on whether a lack of publicly-funded apprenticeships in these skills (i) is a barrier to entry to the profession and (ii) restricts the ability of firms to expand their workforces.

The Scottish Government clearly set out our response to the introduction of the UK Apprenticeship Levy in December 2016, and underlines that Levy funds largely replace existing UK Government funding for skills and training. The Scottish Government will continue to invest the Levy in skills, training and employability to meet the needs of employers, the workforce, young people and Scotland’s economy.

It is important to note the Modern Apprenticeships is an employer-led programme. Skills Development Scotland (on behalf of Scottish Government) funds a contribution towards the apprentice’s work based learning on the basis the employer offers a good quality, sustainable job. Therefore, the numbers of new starts funded by Skills Development Scotland per annum are influenced by expressed employer demand

A funded Floristry MA framework was available in Scotland from 2008-2012 but was consequently discontinued due to lack of uptake. Skills Development Scotland report there has been no subsequent contact from employers with demand for this framework. However there are alternative qualifications available such as the City and Guilds Diplomas in Floristry at Level 2 and 3 available across Scotland’s regional College network.

Coopering frameworks are currently delivered in Scotland through the National Cooperage Federation apprenticeship programme and are therefore not offered through a specific Modern Apprenticeship framework.

Should there be sufficient evidence of demand from industry in Scotland, new qualifications and MA frameworks can be developed.

Question reference: S5O-01599

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 December 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase workforce productivity.

Question reference: S5O-01565

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 6 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that rural communities have access to public amenities.

The Scottish Government is fully committed to supporting our rural communities and ensuring equality of access to public amenities across Scotland. For example:

Investment in community-led regeneration, delivered through the £20 million Empowering Communities Fund, supports areas which are more disadvantaged, remote or fragile enabling the purchase of land, buildings, and facilities, as well as supporting community based activities that develop or enhance local services and projects.

In addition, the Community Empowerment Act makes it easier for local communities to take on public sector land for public benefit. It creates new rights for community bodies and new duties on public authorities, strengthening the voices of communities in the decisions that matter to them; reducing socio-economic inequalities and encouraging equal opportunities.

In housing, our Affordable Housing Supply Programme and the Rural and Island Housing Fund provide flexible solutions for the delivery of more affordable homes for rent or purchase in rural Scotland, ensuring that rural communities are able to access the amenities that matter the most.

These are just some of the actions that demonstrate our commitment to equality for all who live and work in rural Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-12699

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 28 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will list all (a) formal and (b) informal meetings that (i) ministers and (ii) officials have had regarding the (A) Borderlands and (B) Ayrshire Growth Deal; when these took place; who attended; where the location was; at which meetings a minute or note of the proceedings was taken, and whether it will publish these minutes or notes.

The Scottish Government is fully committed to finding ways to support regional economies to thrive in Scotland. Ministers and Scottish Government officials have engaged regularly with a range of stakeholders as the proposals for both the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal and Ayrshire Growth Deal have developed. We are committed to working with regional partners over the coming months as they shape and refine proposals for Inclusive Growth Deals for Ayrshire and for the Borderlands.

Chamber and committees