- Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 14 February 2022
-
Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 1 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many children living in (a) Midlothian, (b) East Lothian, (c) Scottish Borders, (d) Dumfries and Galloway, (e) South Ayrshire (f) East Ayrshire, (g) North Ayrshire, and (h) South Lanarkshire council areas are eligible to receive a free bicycle and, of those, how many (i) have received a free bicycle, and (ii) are yet to receive a free bicycle.
Answer
We do not have the information requested as we are still in the test phase of this programme which will help establish eligibility. In this government’s first 100 days, we established six pilot schemes to provide free bikes for school age children who cannot afford one. A further four pilots were then established by the end of 2021. These pilots will run for up to 12 months, testing different approaches and delivery models to help inform a national rollout. Sustrans are running a pilot in Dumfries & Galloway, Cycling Scotland are running a pilot in Midlothian and Scottish Cycling are running a pilot in North Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire and Scottish Borders. To date, there have been 238 bikes issued in Dumfries & Galloway. We do not have figures for the bikes in the remaining four local authorities as they are accessed through a non-ownership model linked to training.
- Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Monday, 14 February 2022
-
Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 1 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many people are on the waiting list for maxillofacial surgery in NHS Grampian, and what steps are being taken to reduce waiting times.
Answer
The latest available statistics on NHS Waiting Times published up to 31 December 2021 can be accessed using the following link:
https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/nhs-waiting-times-stage-of-treatment/
Public Health Scotland (PHS) notes that at 31 December 2021, 533 patients were waiting for treatment as an inpatient or daycase in NHS Grampian within the specialty of oral and maxillofacial surgery. 557 patients were waiting for a new outpatient appointment.
To improve waiting times across Scotland, the NHS Recovery Plan was published in August 2021. The 5 year plan will support an increase in inpatient daycase, and outpatient activity to address the backlogs of care, which will be supported by the implementation of sustainable improvements and new models of care.
- Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 14 February 2022
-
Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 1 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government by what date it estimates that every eligible child living in (a) Midlothian, (b) East Lothian, (c) Scottish Borders, (d) Dumfries and Galloway, (e) South Ayrshire (f) East Ayrshire, (g) North Ayrshire, and (h) South Lanarkshire council areas, will have a free bicycle in their possession.
Answer
We do not have the information requested as we are still in the test phase of this programme which will help establish eligibility. In this government’s first 100 days, we established six pilot schemes to test how best to provide free bikes for school age children who cannot afford one. A further four pilots were then established by the end of 2021. These pilots will run for up to 12 months, testing different approaches and delivery models which will then be independently evaluated to help inform a national rollout.
- Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Friday, 11 February 2022
-
Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 1 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support patients to access GP services in Inverclyde.
Answer
The Scottish Government is providing funding of £30 million to support GP practices in Inverclyde and the rest of Scotland to continue providing a high level of care to patients through this winter and into the next financial year.
The funding will help with the provision of existing GP services, including:
- supporting more face-to-face appointments
- extra GP sessions, practice nurse time and non-core hours covering all appointments
- more administrative time and practice manager time
- organised cover for reflection, learning and innovation
- external GP locum sessions
The Scottish Government has also allocated £155 million this year to health boards to expand teams within GP practices including increased:
- pharmacy support for repeat prescriptions and medication reviews
- nursing support for routine tests and wound treatment
- access to physiotherapy services
£2.5 million has been allocated to Inverclyde Health and Social Care Partnership from this fund. These measures will ensure patients can see the right healthcare expert at the right time while giving GPs more time with patients most in need of their skills and allowing doctors to focus on complex diagnosis, such as suspected cancer cases.
- Asked by: Dean Lockhart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 February 2022
-
Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 1 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown by (a) social, (b) local authority and (c) private-occupied housing of the number of domestic dwellings that will be covered by the Heat in Buildings Strategy and require upgrades on energy efficiency or new low-emission heating technologies.
Answer
The Heat in Buildings Strategy is the foundation for delivering the heat transition in Scotland. It makes clear the Scottish Government’s intention to use regulation as part of a policy package that will ensure all buildings reach a good standard of energy efficiency by 2033, and use zero emissions heat by 2045. Regulations will also support delivery of the statutory 2030 target and the scale of decarbonisation in the buildings sector set out in the Climate Change Plan update. The breakdown of numbers of dwellings that will require upgrades in different periods and across different tenures depends in part on the detail of how regulations are implemented, meaning at this stage the requested analysis is not possible. We will consult on regulatory proposals prior to introducing legislation, and this process will be accompanied by appropriate impact assessments.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 February 2022
-
Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 1 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has discussed the requirement for properties to meet an EPC rating of C or above with the buildings insurance industry, and what it anticipates the impact will be on insurance premiums and availability for properties that are unable to be made to reach the required C rating by the deadline.
Answer
The Scottish Government recognises that the proposals to set minimum energy efficiency and zero emissions targets for domestic properties will affect a range of stakeholders, and will consider relevant impacts during our planned consultation on the regulatory pathway and the setting of standards, as laid out in the Heat in Buildings Strategy. This will include the building insurance industry, mortgage lenders and all those impacted by the proposals.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
-
Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 1 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what the remit is of the recently established Agricultural Policy Development Group.
Answer
The Agricultural Policy Development Group (APDG) was established in September 2021 (as referred to at ARIOB on 30 September 2021: https://www.gov.scot/publications/agriculture-reform-oversight-implementation-board-minutes-30-september-2021/ ) as part of the Scottish Government’s approach to developing future agricultural policy and support. It enables government officials to discuss and share policy proposals and to get the input of key stakeholder interests to their development. In addition to Scottish Government officials, the APDG currently comprises representatives from NFU Scotland, from Environment LINK and an independent individual with extensive government and industry experience and expertise.
The Group’s Terms of Reference can be reviewed here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/agriculture-policy-development-group-terms-of-reference/
Crofting interests on the Board are represented through NFU Scotland as well as the Chair of the Scottish Crofting Federation, Donald McKinnon. This is not the only route for stakeholders to input their proposals as part of this work and we would welcome all relevant organisations engaging with officials to provide their thoughts and ideas on current and future aspects of the National Test Programme. In particular, we would welcome stakeholder organisations encouraging their members and supporters to participate in the National Test Programme. There will also be a full consultation on future policy and legislative proposals for rural support.
The Academic Advisory Panel (AAP) was established to provide independent scientific and academic context for planning agricultural reforms.
The AAP’s Terms of Reference can be reviewed here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/academic-advisory-panel-terms-of-reference/
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 1 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on (a) when it anticipates that vessels 801 and 802 for the CalMac fleet will enter into public service and (b) the current revised total cost of the build, including a breakdown of (i) capital costs, (ii) resource costs and (iii) any loans or underwritten finance made in relation to the build at any point and to any party.
Answer
We continue to work with the yard to do everything we can to ensure that the new vessels enter service as quickly as possible, to deliver the further service improvements our island communities deserve .
After further analysis has been undertaken regarding the recently discovered legacy cabling issue, the new Ferguson Marine Chief Executive will outline the revised schedule for vessels 801 and 802, in his quarterly update to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee at the end of March 2022.
The total estimated costs to complete the vessels remains the capital spend of £110m-114.3m, this is likely to change with the most recent cabling issue however we are unable to provide an update at this time, as we await the quarterly update. There is no resource funding at this time or loans to any parties regarding the build out of 801/802.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 February 2022
-
Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 1 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many times the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government has met the leader of Angus Council since May 2021; what was discussed at each meeting, and what the agreed outcomes were.
Answer
I regularly meet representatives of all Scottish local authorities, and their national body COSLA, to discuss a wide range of issues as part of our commitment to working in partnership with local government to improve outcomes for the people of Scotland.
Information about Ministerial engagements is proactively released on the Scottish Government website. The spreadsheets include a wide-range of information including details of the organisation / individual I met along with the subject discussed.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 February 2022
-
Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 1 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving to creel fishermen, in light of the planned removal of customary exemptions to a seasonal ban on white fish catches, which is expected to come into force on 14 February 2022.
Answer
In line with Scottish Government policy, we will not provide financial compensation to fishermen for areas closed in order to protect fish spawning, such as those in the Firth of Clyde. This approach is consistent with that take in respect of similar management measures, including the National Cod Avoidance Plan and MPAs.
Whilst we fully understand that the non-continuation of the exemptions may come with short term costs, this seasonal closure covers a short period of 11 weeks, during which vessels may fish in alternative locations, which the vast majority regularly do. This is a more targeted closure than in previous years; the overall size of the closure compared to previous years has been reduced by 28%. The closure will not affect quota and should not affect the overall volume of fish that fishers are able to catch over the year. Moreover, cod and potentially other stocks, should benefit from the closure period, allowing greater fishing opportunities on the reopening of the seasonal closure.