- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 30 August 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 13 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-01498 by Graeme Dey on 6 August 2021, whether it will provide a detailed plan for how the £198.32 million, that remains from the £200 million, will be spent to reduce journey times between Aberdeen and the central belt, and in which financial year(s) it will be spent.
Answer
Network Rail is currently assessing the options identified for delivering the required capacity enhancements and journey time savings between Aberdeen and the central belt. When the most effective options have been selected in alignment with available funding, it will then be possible to compile a detailed plan for delivering the project and to spend the remaining budget .
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 September 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Clare Haughey on 13 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the number of childcare settings that have signed up to the Scottish Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme.
Answer
We continue to promote registration so more children can benefit from milk and a healthy snack. We are working in close partnership with COSLA and Local Authorities via an Implementation Group. We will shortly be expanding the remit and membership of this Group to include wider stakeholders and to ensure the scheme is meeting the needs of children and settings as we look ahead to scheme Year 2 and beyond.
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 September 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Clare Haughey on 13 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what actions it has taken to date to prepare for implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill.
Answer
In March 2021, the Scottish Parliament unanimously passed the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill (the “Bill”), which aims to incorporate the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into Scots law to the maximum extent possible within the powers of the Scottish Parliament. The UK Government challenged the legislative competence of certain provisions of the Bill in a reference to the UK Supreme Court. A hearing was held on 28 and 29 June 2021 and judgment is awaited.
The Scottish Government remains committed to the incorporation of the UNCRC to the maximum extent of the Parliament’s powers and to commencement of the Bill as soon as possible. Whilst the reference means that the Bill cannot receive Royal Assent at this stage, the majority of work in relation to implementation can and is continuing, consistent with the fact that the case is before the UK Supreme Court.
- We are investing in a £4 million programme over three years to help to ensure public services are consistently upholding children’s rights
- The UNCRC Strategic Implementation Board has been meeting monthly since 1 July 2021 to provide strategic vision and oversight of a comprehensive and joined-up implementation programme
- A UNCRC Implementation Guidance Reference Group has been established comprising of key partners, and has been meeting fortnightly since 17 May 2021 to assist Scottish Government in developing non-statutory guidance to assist public authorities and those undertaking functions of a public nature to fulfil the UNCRC
- To support the meaningful and inclusive participation of children and young people in the UNCRC Strategic Implementation Board and wider implementation programme, we are working to establish a consortium of organisations that have strong, trusting relationships with children and young people across Scotland
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 September 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 13 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what measures are being taken to find alternative sailing routes to the Western Isles, and to inform ticket holders whether their tickets will be valid on alternative routes, in light of reports that Caledonian MacBrayne has cancelled all its ferry sailings between Malaig and Lochboisdale from 31 August to 8 September 2021.
Answer
When disruptions occur CalMac Ferries Ltd will conduct a network wide review to minimise the impact on communities. This includes redeployment of vessels from elsewhere on the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) network, identification of an alternative ferry route when an island (or group of islands), has more than one port, and provision of additional sailings on these alternative routes.
In this instance, it included additional sailings on the Uig – Lochmaddy route allowing onward travel to Lochboisdale, with the MV Clansman redeployed to operate this service. Services on all affected routes resumed normal timetabled sailings from 10 September 2021.
CalMac Customer Operations teams moved impacted traffic from affected sailings, contacting customers advising them of suggested alternative sailing; or if the customer preferred, offer a full refund.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 September 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Clare Haughey on 13 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what measures, policies or strategies it has in place to help prevent family breakdown.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to delivering the Promise, supporting families to stay together in a safe and loving environment, and reducing the amount of children who are taken into care. Fundamentally, Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) is the Scottish Government's approach to supporting children and young people. It supports families and helps to prevent family breakdown by making sure children and young people can receive the right help, at the right time, from the right people. GIRFEC is a strengths-based approach and is underpinned by principles that include working in partnership with families, and providing an early offer of support to improve outcomes for children, young people and families.
The Scottish Government also recognises more needs to be done to transform the system of holistic support that is provided to families. The Programme for Government 2021 commits to investing at least £500 million over the life of this Parliament to create a Whole Family Wellbeing Fund. This will enable the building of universal, holistic support services, available in communities across Scotland, giving families access to the help they need, where and when they need it. Furthermore, our ambition is that from 2030, we will be investing at least 5% of all community-based health and social care spend in preventative whole family support measures that will enable us to continue to Keep The Promise.
In addition, the Scottish Government continues to deliver a range of policies aimed at supporting the specific needs of children, young people and families. For example:
- National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland (published 2 September 2021), which places greater emphasis on prevention and support and working with children and families to reduce the risk of harm.
- Development of a Framework to improve holistic family support for families affected by a loved one's drug or alcohol abuse.
- £120 million through our Recovery and Renewal fund to address the mental health impacts of Covid-19 including a range of actions addressing relationship support.
- Funding to Relationships Scotland, who provide a number of services including family mediation, relationship counselling and “parenting apart” classes.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 September 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 13 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has issued to schools regarding the identification of food on their menu that contains pork.
Answer
The Scottish Government published updated guidance on Healthy Eating in Schools on our website in February 2021. This guidance is available on our website through the following link: Healthy eating in schools: guidance 2020 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
Our guidance recognises that cultural traditions, religious beliefs and faiths can have a significant impact on the kind of food we eat, how it is prepared and even how or when it is eaten. Therefore the guidance advises that local authorities may wish to work with their school communities to include a statement within their school food policy that reflects the diversity of their particular school population.
Although the guidance makes no specific reference to what action should be taken to identify foods containing pork or other animal products, where a child or young person or their parents/carers request a special diet, whether that be for medical or cultural reasons, we would expect schools and local authorities to accommodate any such requests.
- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 September 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 13 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of when the contract between Transport Scotland and Jacobs UK Limited, to review transport governance structures in Scotland, was signed, and what the duration of the contract is.
Answer
Jacobs were awarded the review of transport governance structures in Scotland, which formed part of the National Transport Strategy review, through a Task Order. This was progressed as a call off from the previously signed Agreement as a supplier for one of the Lots forming part of the Multi-Supplier Framework Agreement for Transport and Land-Use Modelling and Transport Appraisal and Planning.
The duration of the Task Order was 13 and a half months from November 2017 to 31 December 2018.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 September 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 13 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its cooperation agreement with the Scottish Green Party, whether it will provide an update on the progress of the A90 Montrose link road and whether any changes will be made to the delivery of the project.
Answer
This is a matter for Angus Council as the A90 Montrose link road is a local road project being taken forward by the Council.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 September 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 13 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the examination diet not taking place in each of the last two years, whether the SQA will provide all (a) state and (b) independent/private schools with a rebate in examination fees, similar to that offered by other exam providers elsewhere in the rest of the UK, including non-public sector providers.
Answer
Charges for National Qualifications have remained unchanged since 2012-13 despite changes in costs. While charges contribute towards the cost of awarding National Qualifications they do not cover the full costs. In addition, 2020 and 2021 late entry fees have been waived and there have been no charges for appeals. There are therefore no plans to reimburse National Qualifications payments.
For 2021, SQA estimates that the costs of providing certification for national qualifications was £41.7m, while income from local authorities, colleges and independent schools is expected to be £30.5m. The remaining cost is covered by SQA’s grant in aid budget from the Scottish Government.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 September 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 13 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on how the recently announced Gresham House Forestry Fund (a) meets one of the tests of the Scottish National Investment Bank that projects supported cannot attract private investment, and (b) contributes to diversifications of forests and land ownership.
Answer
The Bank has been established to be administratively independent from Government. While Ministers set the Missions, the Bank’s Board determines its investment strategy and investment criteria. Any investment the Bank makes is assessed rigorously by the Bank’s experienced investment team and must deliver both commercial returns and mission impact returns that support at least one of the missions. It must also meet the Bank’s subsidy control permissions, including assessing whether the Bank is at risk of crowding-out private investment.
There is potential for a substantial and growing market for natural capital and nature-based solutions to climate change emerging in Scotland, and for these in turn to have positive benefits for local communities. The Bank’s investment supports Gresham House in a new sustainable forestry fund venture which is focused on new and diverse planting in Scotland. It represents a new investment proposition which mainstream investors have yet to fully embrace. The Bank’s cornerstone investment is designed to encourage other investors to follow the Bank into this new type of forestry fund.