- Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 September 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 23 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that 9.9% of children starting treatment within child and adolescent mental health services between April and June 2021 had experienced a waiting time of more than 53 weeks, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer
It is encouraging to see a record number of new patients – including those who have waited longest – starting treatment in CAMHS in the last quarter, as our NHS continues to remobilise.
Long waits are unacceptable and we remain committed to meet the standard that 90% of children and young people begin treatment within 18 weeks of referral.
Over the last 6 months Scottish Government officials provided enhanced improvement support to Boards with unacceptable backlogs to increase CAMHS capacity and reduce waiting lists. £4.25m of the Renewal Fund has been allocated to all Boards to reduce backlogs this year.
- Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 September 2021
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Current Status:
Initiated by the Scottish Government.
Answered by John Swinney on 23 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide an update on the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine certification scheme.
Answer
We have this morning placed an update to the paper published on
8 September entitled Mandatory Covid Vaccine Certification in Scotland in SPICe under BIB 62718. The paper is also published on the Scottish Government website: www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-vaccine-certification-update-23-september-2021 .
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 September 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 23 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government when it will abolish non-residential social care charges.
Answer
In the Programme for Government announced on 7 September 2021 the Scottish Government committed to developing options to remove charging for non-residential social care. We are working to deliver these as soon as possible.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 September 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 23 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what criteria are used when determining the use of well-known public figures in public information campaigns, and whether there is any application process.
Answer
Every public information campaign has a unique set of objectives and associated target audience.
The Scottish Government carries out research to ascertain the most effective strategy and messaging for all public information campaigns.
In some cases, a well-known public figure can deliver a message in a more compelling way thus increasing the potential impact of the campaign. Where that is the case, the Scottish Government consider various options recommended by their rostered agencies based on the personality and profile of the celebrity required and appointments are made based on suitability, availability and level of budget (if any) required.
A new protocol is being created and put in place by the Scottish Government to improve the approach to vetting public figures used in campaigns. This protocol will improve the sharing of knowledge between public sector bodies and the Scottish Government central communications function regarding the use of public figures.
- Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 September 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 23 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how the £500 million Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray will be (a) developed and (b) distributed, and who the target recipients will be.
Answer
We will work collaboratively with partners, communities and other stakeholders to take forward the ten-year £500m Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray. The delivery of the Fund will exemplify our co-design and co-delivery approach that will be supported by a programme of broad engagement in the area. This Fund is a new commitment which will require detailed policy design work and implementation planning. We will provide further information on the process in due course.
The Just Transition Fund will support and accelerate energy transition, create good, green jobs and maximise the region’s future economic potential. We are determined to tackle climate emergency and mitigate the impacts of the transition on communities across Scotland, and will work at pace to deliver our sectoral plans for a just transition.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 September 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 23 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Spaces for People scheme, which temporary installations have been removed or reversed; which of the infrastructure is scheduled to be removed or reversed; how much it will cost to remove or reverse this infrastructure, and what the original cost was of each project.
Answer
Spaces for People (SfP) schemes are the responsibility of individual local authorities. It is therefore for local authorities to determine the length of time SfP measures should remain in place and to take decisions on their removal. Sustrans has provided support and advice to local authorities intending to make SfP infrastructure permanent.
The Spaces for People programme provided local authorities with funding to deliver temporary active travel infrastructure. As local authorities are fully responsible for the delivery of SfP measures, they hold information on installation and removal costs for individual interventions.
A total of £38.9 million was awarded to local authorities, Regional Transport Partnership (RTPs), the National Health Service (NHS) and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) via Spaces for People as set out in the following table:
Partners | Funding award |
Aberdeen City Council | £ 1,760,000 |
Aberdeenshire Council | £ 310,000 |
Angus Council | £ 788,958 |
Argyll & Bute Council | £ 915,000 |
City of Edinburgh Council | £ 5,000,000 |
Clackmannanshire Council | £ 367,000 |
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) | £ 128,850 |
Dumfries and Galloway Council | £ 595,000 |
Dundee City Council | £ 2,460,000 |
East Ayrshire Council | £ 555,000 |
East Lothian Council | £ 1,400,000 |
East Renfrewshire Council | £ 1,030,000 |
Falkirk Council | £ 190,000 |
Fife Council | £ 2,420,000 |
Glasgow City Council | £ 7,500,000 |
Inverclyde Council | £ 585,000 |
Midlothian Council | £ 191,962 |
Moray Council | £ 778,800 |
NHS Grampian | £ 817,500 |
NHS Lanarkshire | £ 210,000 |
NHS Lothian | £ 90,000 |
North Ayrshire Council | £ 400,000 |
North Lanarkshire Council | £ 1,066,978 |
Perth and Kinross Council | £ 1,353,000 |
Renfrewshire Council | £ 695,000 |
Scottish Borders Council | £ 1,200,000 |
Scottish Environment Protection Agency | £ 120,000 |
South Ayrshire Council | £ 510,000 |
South Lanarkshire Council | £ 1,200,000 |
Stirling Council | £ 513,000 |
TACTRAN | £ 250,000 |
The Highland Council | £ 1,968,560 |
West Dunbartonshire Council | £ 740,000 |
West Lothian Council | £ 641,500 |
ZetTrans | £ 200,000 |
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 September 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 23 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent by each local authority in each year since 1999 on energy efficiency for homes.
Answer
The amount spent by each local authority in each year since 1999 on energy efficiency for homes is a matter for individual local authorities. The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.
- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 September 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 23 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of a proposed loss of 500 jobs at McVities in Glasgow and 100 jobs at CalaChem in Grangemouth, whether it will commit to producing an Industrial Strategy for Scotland that is investment-led, jobs-first, people-centred and manufacturing-driven.
Answer
The Scottish Government was deeply concerned to learn of the ongoing risk to jobs at both McVities and CalaChem. The member will be aware of the ongoing engagement between the Scottish Government and McVities, and I have already responded to the member in relation to engagements with CalaChem.
The National Strategy for Economic Transformation will represent a coherent Green Industrial Strategy for Scotland, which, supported by the Just Transition Plans for industry, will include a vision for reinvigorating the Scottish manufacturing and industry, supporting Scottish supply chains and creating high-quality jobs.
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 September 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 23 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how it will "ensure community housing trusts are adequately funded so that they can support the delivery of our enhanced rural home building plans", as set out in its Shared Policy Programme with the Scottish Green Party.
Answer
Our shared policy programme with the Scottish Green Party recognises the important role that community housing trusts play in supporting our remote, rural and island communities and the delivery of more affordable homes in these areas. We will work with these organisations to achieve this aim, including through the availability of Scottish Government operated funds, for the continuation of their important work.
- Asked by: James Dornan, MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 September 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 23 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to meet with representatives from Rangers FC, Police Scotland, Glasgow City Council and members from the Irish-Scottish community, in light of recent events in Glasgow and the reported singing of racist songs.
Answer
The Scottish Government unequivocally condemns all forms of hatred or prejudice, including anti-Irish racism, and understands the impact that recent events will have had on Irish communities in Scotland. There is no excuse – it is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Scotland is a diverse, multi-cultural society and this diversity strengthens us as a nation. That is why we are determined to tackle all forms of prejudice and discrimination.
We continue to work with Police Scotland who monitor the situation on reported hate crimes and hate incidents closely. The Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans also meets fortnightly with the Chief Constable of Police Scotland, where a number of matters are discussed.
Additionally the Scottish Government meets regularly with faith and belief organisations and consults with organisations representing the Irish-Scottish community. We are continuing to consider further engagement with representatives of communities impacted by recent events to provide reassurance that the Scottish Government take all forms of hate crime and bigotry seriously.
