Chamber and committees

Throughout the pandemic, the Scottish Government has worked in collaboration with the college and university sectors to provide support and guidance, and to ensure the safety of staff and students. Following the publication of the Scottish Government’s updated Strategic Framework on 22 February, we are working with partners on the Advanced Learning COVID-19 Recovery Group to develop a framework to replace prescriptive sector-specific guidance.

This framework will provide high-level guiding principles and support for institutions in developing local solutions. We will also work with universities and colleges to support the development of institution-level COVID-19 Response Committees. The committees – using existing structures where possible with representatives from the institution, trade unions, students and accommodation providers – will monitor the public health and wider context, with a view to adjusting local safety protocols accordingly. This will enable decisions on COVID-safety measures, beyond any that may be in place across society, to be determined locally and, where possible, collectively.

In 2006 the Scottish Government transposed the European Union's Environmental Noise Directive (END) for managing noise pollution into Scots law via the Environmental Noise (Scotland) Regulations 2006. European countries follow a generally consistent approach to noise mapping and action planning, for example the prioritisation process developed for Scotland’s noise action plans is based on a prioritisation process which aligns closely with the Dutch Road Noise Mitigation Programme.

In preparation for the next round of noise mapping, and to ensure noise mitigation best practice and associated legislation is fully considered, the Scottish Government has convened the Scottish Environmental Noise Steering Group (SENSG). This includes representation from key stakeholders and provides a forum to steer the production of Scotland’s strategic noise maps and associated Action Plans, including the prioritisation of control measures such as any that may be required on the trunk road network.

VisitScotland already works closely with ScotRail as a key national partner. The relationship includes liaising on matters relating to the visitor experience and running joint marketing campaigns, including a spring 2022 campaign to promote family days out in Scotland's cities.

ScotRail Trains Limited have been charged with producing a Market Growth Strategy, from April 2022, that develops and implements appropriate products and services to address post–Covid markets including, in particular, tourism. To assist with the development of that strategy and in furtherance of the relationship that exists between ScotRail and VisitScotIand. I have asked my officials to establish with them what more can be done to promote tourism and, in particular, actions to encourage visits to national attractions by rail.

Session 6 has seen a change in the nature of the items that the Chamber Desk processes. In particular, the number of Urgent Questions being lodged has increased significantly. This had had an impact on the previous pattern of work undertaken by the Chamber Desk. When Urgent Questions are submitted, they are given priority due to the timeframe for such questions to be taken if selected and only selected questions are published. This, combined with the necessary prioritisation of oral questions and motions and amendments for debate, has resulted in a longer turnaround time for written questions than Members will previously have been used to.

To respond to these changes in demand and pattern of work, additional staffing resources have been deployed to the Chamber Desk. Due to the specialist nature of the services provided by the Chamber Desk, the impact of these additional resources will not be immediately realised as staff require to undertake training and familiarisation with the role. However, the position is being actively assessed on an ongoing basis to ensure that questions and motions are processed in the timeliest manner possible. We are grateful for Members’ forbearance while the necessary training is undertaken.

This information is not collated centrally. It is for local authorities to ensure that it has sufficient services, including public toilet services, and to ensure they are safe to use.

Many school children use public bus services to get to and from school and will benefit from the u22s scheme. Other pupils who are eligible for free school transport and use dedicated school transport or public bus services will continue to travel to school for free. We are working closely with local authorities to understand impact of the scheme on school transport and this will inform our planned review of the scheme after its first full year of operation.

We know some people may not be able to apply online, for example if they do not hold the required proofs. For this reason applications can be made in-person via local councils. Local councils determine the documents which are required for offline applications and accept a wider range of proofs such as interactions with other local authority departments. Many local councils also have dedicated staff on hand to help applicants who might have difficulty with the application process.

In some council areas, schools are coordinating applications on behalf of their pupils. Schools will contact parents or guardians and pupils directly if this arrangement is in place.

The Scottish Government welcomes the publication of the comprehensive and well informed Joint Report on Automated Vehicles by the Scottish Law Commission and the Law Commission of England and Wales.

While the majority of the Law Commissions’ recommendations fall within legislative competence reserved to the UK Parliament, some fall within devolved competence, such as a specific defence applying to driving offences committed in Scotland by the driver of an automated vehicle with a User-in-Charge function.

We will continue to engage with our partners in the UK and Welsh Governments on the development of those regulatory frameworks needed to support the safe deployment of automated vehicles, informed by the findings and recommendations of the Law Commissions’ Joint Report.

Transport Scotland is responsible for the policy and some aspects of the operational delivery of the free bus travel scheme for under 22s. However, the Improvement Service (IS) is the accountable body for the NEC scheme and cards are delivered by the National Entitlement Card Programme Office (NECPO) on behalf of local authorities.

Transport Scotland has not been prescriptive on what constitutes acceptable proof or verification that an individual is eligible for the scheme. This is to allow delivery partners and local authorities the flexibility to support applications from a range of eligible individuals.

The Improvement Service, acting on behalf of Local Authorities, make decisions on what evidence is required to support an application for the scheme for online applications through the www.GETYOURNEC.scot website, and all other elements of the application and card issuing process. Local Authorities have discretion regarding the rollout of application and approval processes, which should allow for a broader range of evidence to be accepted, both in person and through other methods that local authorities may use.

Transport Scotland receives regular reports from IS and NECPO on any issues with the application process and we are working closely with them to ensure that children and young people can receive their cards that will give them free bus travel.

It is not currently possible for someone to apply online for a card in a different name from that shown in their official identity documents, however an applicant can contact their local authority and request a different name is displayed on their card from that in their identity documents.