- Asked by: Dean Lockhart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 February 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 4 March 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what support it plans to give to (a) the Trossachs Search and Rescue Team and (b) all other search and rescue teams this spring and summer as demand for their services increases following the end of COVID-19 restrictions.
Answer
The voluntary work carried out by all search and rescue (SAR) teams in Scotland, throughout the year, is very much appreciated by Scottish Government (SG) Ministers. Government funding is normally available for: (a) the Trossachs Search and Rescue Team; and (b) all other search and rescue teams, directly from the statutory responder agencies for whom they deploy or operate in partnership with. This is normally achieved through Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), Partnership Agreements (PAs) or by agreeing levels of reimbursement on a case by case basis. Ministers hope the SAR teams are successful in obtaining funds from their deploying agencies in these ways this spring and summer, as demand for their services is expected to increase, following the end of COVID-19 restrictions. In addition, next financial year, SG will again provide the long-established ‘annual grant’ to the Scottish civilian mountain rescue teams which are directly and routinely deployed by Police Scotland (PS) as an extension to PS’ national SAR responsibilities. Significant SG funding was, of course, available to Voluntary Sector organisations, including SAR organisations, for a range of needs, during the COVID 19 emergency. In particular the Communities and Third Sector Recovery Fund will continue to be available into next financial year, via the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations’ website: https://scvo.scot/support/coronavirus/funding . Other relevant Third Sector funding can also be found on the website for the relevant Third Sector Interface (TSI) : Third sector interfaces: contact details - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .
- Asked by: Dean Lockhart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 February 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 2 March 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how many care homes have adopted a blanket ban on indoor visiting for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer
The specific information requested is not held centrally. Since December 2020 we have published data about the visiting status in adult care homes in Scotland on the Scottish Government website. It can be viewed here: Coronavirus (COVID-19): adult care homes - additional data - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
Adult care homes visiting guidance has been kept under review throughout the pandemic as understanding of the virus evolves and the vaccination programme continues. The most recent guidance on resuming meaningful contact between residents and loved ones was issued on 24 February. The guidance, along with frequently asked questions and other useful information can be viewed on the Scottish Government website at: Coronavirus (COVID-19): adult care homes guidance - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .
- Asked by: Dean Lockhart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 February 2021
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Current Status:
Holding Answer by Ivan McKee on 2 March 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-34699 by Ivan McKee on 5 February 2021, whether it will confirm how much was de-committed in each corresponding year.
Answer
Holding Answer by Ivan McKee on 2 March 2021
- Asked by: Dean Lockhart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 11 February 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 25 February 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what level of funding has been invested each year by the Scottish National Investment Bank since it was established, including debt, equity loans or other forms of investment.
Answer
The Scottish National Investment Bank opened for business in November 2020 and has since committed £52.5 million in investments. To date £22.9 million has been drawn and invested in both debt and equity investments that align with the Bank’s missions. Following its launch the Bank has proceeded to develop a strong pipeline of mission aligned investments.
Details of the Bank’s investments are published on the Bank’s website. The full page is accessible at : https://www.thebank.scot/our-portfolio/pfp-capital/ . This is part of the Bank’s new portfolio page which will include profiles of each of the Bank investments: https://www.thebank.scot/our-portfolio/ .
- Asked by: Dean Lockhart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 January 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 5 February 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how much Scotland was allocated in EU structural funds in each year since 2014, and what the reason was for any reduction in allocation in any year
Answer
At the start of the Programme, the initial total EU structural fund allocation to Scotland was €941m for the 2014-20 period. This was split between two programmes, €465m to the European Social Fund (ESF) and €476m to the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Although the programme is not allocated on an annual basis, it equates to an average of €134m per year.
The European Commission, as part of their usual management and governance cycle, automatically de-commit fund allocations from the ESF and ERDF Programmes that have not met their financial targets during a calendar year. These financial targets relate to the delivery of projects and activities delivered by a national network of Lead Partners, which includes local authorities and third sector organisations.
There are a number of reasons for de-commitments which include but are not limited to:
- Difficulties in accurately forecasting expenditure profiles. For example at the start of the programme the number of future participants in the Youth Employment Initiative projects turned out to be over-estimated as soon as the successful impact of economic recovery took effect and youth unemployment dramatically reduced. Young people in Scotland had been able to access a range of choices around skills, training and education which were adequately resourced and therefore the take up of European funded YEI places during the early years of the programme significantly reduced.
- European Structural Funding rules preclude the quick or easy movement of unspent allocations between priorities, years or partners. Therefore when demand does not materialise at the rate that had been anticipated, those projects are often scaled back and it is not possible to divert the allocated funds elsewhere.
- The size and complexity of the programmes meant that they took longer than anticipated to establish at the start, which has enabled lessons to be learned for future funding programmes.
- Financial challenges of our lead partners in securing match funding to support their activities.
- Asked by: Dean Lockhart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 February 2021
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 11 February 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what measures are planned ahead of the peak visitor season to avoid disruption similar to that experienced in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 11 February 2021
- Asked by: Dean Lockhart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 December 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 29 January 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by the First Minister on 8 December 2020 (Official Report, c. 11), whether it will publish the public health data that was used to inform the decision to place the Stirling Council area under Level 3 COVID-19 restrictions, and what its response is to reports that public health officials had advised that a move to Level 2 would have been more appropriate.
Answer
Decisions on levels, both initially and on review, carry significant consequences, for the communities they affect and for Scotland as a whole and we are committed to ensuring decisions are informed by data and analysis. The evidence is assessed through a process that is open, transparent and collaborative so that restrictions are not kept in place longer than is strictly necessary to achieve the aim of suppressing the virus. It is important to note that there are no set triggers for moving between levels. Instead we have a range of indicators which might suggest that a review of the position may be necessary. Wider considerations also have been taken into account
In line with the process set out in the allocations document, the National Incident Management Team (NIMT), chaired by Public Health Scotland and including representatives from local government as observers, meet to discuss the latest analysis of data, which is agreed with local partners including Directors of Public Health. The NIMT then provide advice to a group made up of the Scottish Government’s chief advisers and lead officials representing the “four harms” and observers from local government. This group helps form recommendations for Ministers on allocation of levels, which are subsequently agreed at Cabinet.
Each week we publish the considerations and analysis that have informed the review. This week that included considerations regarding the imminent festive period and in order to safely allow limited gathering over Christmas, a deliberately cautious approach was taken. Lowering prevalence of the virus prior to the festive period is key to avoiding the need for more restrictive measures in the new year and to ensure that the NHS does not become overwhelmed by COVID-19 in January, which is traditionally the most challenging time for it. It is vital that the risk that gatherings of family and friends poses to further spread of the virus is managed carefully to ensure that the hard work and sacrifices of people and businesses across Scotland are not undermined.
- Asked by: Dean Lockhart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 January 2021
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 14 January 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to help alleviate loneliness in older people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 14 January 2021
- Asked by: Dean Lockhart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 December 2020
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 23 December 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to local authorities regarding their duty to consult before important changes to services are made.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 23 December 2020
- Asked by: Dean Lockhart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 November 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 16 December 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made with the mutual aid arrangement between NHS Forth Valley and NHS Lanarkshire regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, and what impact this arrangement has had on its decisions relating to the COVID-19 Strategic Framework restriction levels for each local authority within the NHS boards' areas.
Answer
As set out in our NHS Winter Preparedness Plan, our over-riding priority continues to be that the NHS is not overwhelmed in the coming weeks and months. We continue to work closely with all Health Boards, including NHS Forth Valley and NHS Lanarkshire, to ensure they have robust plans in place to deal with a range of pressures on capacity, including COVID-19 and the normal winter pressures; whilst maintaining as many non-Covid services as possible, in addition to emergency and urgent care.
Mutual aid arrangements are also in place between NHS Boards to ensure that there is enough capacity across the system to deal with peak levels of demand. In recent times, NHS Forth Valley has provided such assistance to NHS Lanarkshire across a range of specialties, including intensive care, breast cancer and orthopaedics. This activity is kept under close review by NHS clinicians and managers.
The mutual aid arrangements in place are taken into account by the National Incident Management Team, and inform the expert advice they provide to the Scottish Government on Ministers’ decision-making of the COVID-19 Strategic Framework protection levels.
