- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 November 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 19 November 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made with its consultation regarding the legal age of marriage.
Answer
We continue to make progress on this consultation. As well as the minimum age of marriage and civil partnership, it will cover a wide range of areas: extending simplified divorce and dissolution procedures; qualifying requirements for religious and belief bodies when they solemnise marriage or register civil partnership; a Scottish Law Commission report on cohabitant's rights following separation; and some points arising on financial provision when one cohabitant dies.
We are also preparing impact assessments in relation to this consultation. We are planning to issue it within the next few months.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 November 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 19 November 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-30938 by Gillian Martin on 7 November 2024, what modelling it has carried out on potential increases to the household recycling rate from investments made through the Recycling Improvement Fund.
Answer
A local authority is required to model projected impacts to local recycling rates of their project during the Recycling Improvement Fund application process.
Projected impacts are then reviewed by technical experts and contribute to an estimate of the total impact of all Recycling Improvement Fund projects on Scotland’s national household recycling rate.
The projected increase to the national household recycling rate from current projects is 2.5 percentage points, subsequent to the conclusion of the Fund in 2026.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 November 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 19 November 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on timelines for future ScotWind leasing rounds.
Answer
The response to both the concluded ScotWind and INTOG leasing rounds provides Scotland with a hugely exciting opportunity to transform its generating capacity, with 30GW of generating potential and significant revenue opportunities. Our focus is on delivering this opportunity, but we remain open to reassessment and possible additional leasing opportunities in the longer term if deemed necessary.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 November 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 19 November 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken following the reported disruptions to ferry services on the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service network as a result of Storm Ashley.
Answer
The Scottish Government has not taken specific action as a result of disruption to services attributed to Storm Ashley. When sailings are late or cancelled due to weather such as during Storm Ashley and therefore out with the ferry operators’ control, there are no penalties applied.
- Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 07 November 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 19 November 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-25674 by Patrick Harvie on 7 March 2024, whether it will provide an updated table regarding the number of children who have undertaken cycling proficiency training, based on the latest information available.
Answer
Further to question S6W-25674, the latest Bikeability Scotland participation statistics are as follows:
LOCAL AUTHORITY | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | |
Aberdeen City | 21% | 25% | 31% | 57% | 68% | 62% | 68% | 42% | 47% | 9% | 27% | 67% | 100% | 100% | |
Aberdeenshire | 93% | 93% | 76% | 91% | 91% | 63% | 80% | 79% | 85% | 27% | 51% | 65% | 65% | 71% | |
Angus | 74% | 72% | 74% | 57% | 43% | 45% | 50% | 67% | 78% | 41% | 71% | 88% | 94% | 96% | |
Argyll & Bute | 45% | No return | No return | No return | No return | No return | No return | No return | No return | No return | Pilot | Pilot | 22% | 26% | |
Clackmannanshire | 11% | 11% | 37% | 37% | 39% | 44% | 17% | 33% | 100% | 33% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | |
Dumfries & Galloway | 70% | 73% | 47% | 30% | 29% | 41% | 43% | 38% | 36% | 4% | 5% | 29% | 69% | 86% | |
Dundee | 0% | 0% | 3% | 23% | 29% | 17% | 11% | 53% | 91% | 67% | 82% | 97% | 100% | 100% | |
East Ayrshire | 7% | 9% | No return | No return | No return | No return | No return | No return | No return | No return | Pilot | Pilot | 10% | 8% | |
East Dunbartonshire | 5% | 3% | 5% | 24% | 14% | 8% | 22% | 15% | 67% | 76% | 94% | 100% | 100% | 100% | |
East Lothian | 0% | 0% | 11% | 26% | 29% | 23% | 29% | 41% | 49% | 24% | 47% | 94% | 100% | 100% | |
East Renfrewshire | 33% | 40% | 70% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 0% | 100% | 67% | 83% | 96% | |
Edinburgh | 29% | 40% | 52% | 72% | 70% | 48% | 68% | 60% | 53% | 7% | 26% | 40% | 41% | 38% | |
Falkirk | 4% | 6% | 10% | 8% | 22% | 12% | 4% | 6% | 8% | 19% | 6% | 2% | 21% | 19% | |
Fife | 31% | 21% | 16% | 16% | 18% | 21% | 36% | 22% | 29% | 23% | 24% | 33% | 35% | 21% | |
Glasgow | 4% | 4% | 15% | 28% | 25% | 34% | 29% | 35% | 34% | 22% | 33% | 31% | 22% | 24% | |
Highland | 34% | 28% | 16% | 29% | 28% | 29% | 36% | 21% | 30% | 12% | 15% | 22% | 32% | 26% | |
Inverclyde | 4% | 21% | 35% | 10% | 30% | 30% | 20% | 15% | 26% | 0% | 5% | 5% | 10% | 30% | |
Midlothian | 10% | 40% | 63% | 87% | 63% | 63% | 81% | 75% | 69% | 22% | 41% | 65% | 67% | 67% | |
Moray | 96% | 65% | 58% | 47% | 62% | 49% | 37% | 40% | 56% | 27% | 62% | 76% | 93% | 95% | |
Na h-Eileanan Siar | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 5% | 96% | 100% | 0% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | |
North Ayrshire | 0% | No return | No return | No return | No return | No return | No return | No return | No return | No return | No return | No return | No return | No return | |
North Lanarkshire | 0% | 7% | 5% | 0% | 4% | No return | 9% | 10% | 11% | 15% | 29% | 50% | 82% | 64% | |
Orkney | 40% | 40% | 65% | 95% | 90% | 65% | 68% | 63% | 58% | 37% | 90% | 65% | 100% | 100% | |
Perth & Kinross | 91% | 61% | 40% | 37% | 34% | 62% | 52% | 51% | 61% | 26% | 67% | 87% | 90% | 99% | |
Renfrewshire | 6% | 8% | 22% | 29% | 20% | 22% | 20% | 22% | 29% | 10% | 59% | 72% | 84% | 86% | |
Scottish Borders | 54% | 54% | 43% | 8% | 27% | 29% | 31% | 31% | 8% | 2% | 25% | 41% | 100% | 100% | |
Shetland | 100% | 53% | 45% | 90% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 25% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | |
South Ayrshire | 79% | 55% | 73% | 76% | 83% | 76% | 81% | 83% | 88% | 44% | 34% | 41% | 59% | 58% | |
South Lanarkshire | 0% | 10% | 17% | 28% | 39% | 34% | 39% | 39% | 43% | 15% | 10% | 40% | 40% | 32% | |
Stirling | 17% | 18% | 5% | 43% | 65% | 68% | 50% | 72% | 66% | 26% | 58% | 74% | 87% | 100% | |
West Dunbartonshire | 9% | 12% | 9% | 21% | 44% | 41% | 49% | 56% | 59% | 13% | 38% | 28% | 31% | 38% | |
West Lothian | 21% | 0% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 17% | 11% | 26% | 9% | 9% | 22% | 30% | 37% | |
TOTALS | 32% | 32% | 35% | 37% | 40% | 38% | 42% | 42% | 47% | 20% | 37% | 50% | 60% | 60% | |
| | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 |
Number of pupils trained across all levels of Bikeability Scotland | 25,974 | 30,800 | 32,105 | 33,082 | 36,711 | 36,314 | 43,700 | 16,327 | 41,046 | 52,604 | 60,228* | 54,039 |
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 November 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 19 November 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of the Cowal and Rosneath Community Needs Assessment by Transport Scotland on 11 September 2024, and the completion of the associated consultation exercise on 9 October 2024, when it will announce the order for new vessels for the Gourock to Dunoon route.
Answer
The Gourock Dunoon Kilcreggan Infrastructure and Vessels Programme is working to develop resilient vessel and port design options. Preferred vessel options will be considered as part of the associated business case and any investment in new vessels and infrastructure will be subject to value for money and affordability considerations.
- Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 November 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 19 November 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding child contact hearings, what action it is taking to ensure that Scottish Family Court processes are streamlined so as to maximise the opportunity for fathers, where it is appropriate, to have meaningful contact with their children without any unnecessary and bureaucratic delays, including through reported delay tactics by defenders in such actions.
Answer
It is the Scottish Government’s view that delay in child contact proceedings will usually not be in the best interests of the child.
The Children (Scotland) Act 1995 (the 1995 Act) is the key legislation in relation to child contact and residence. In deciding whether to make a contact order under section 11 of the 1995 Act, the welfare of the child must be the court’s paramount consideration.
The Children (Scotland) Act 2020 will reform the 1995 Act and a key aim is to ensure that the child’s best interests are at the centre of any contact or residence case. Section 30(2), once in force, will require the court to have regard to any risk of prejudice to the child’s welfare that delay in proceedings would pose.
The Family Law Committee of the Scottish Civil Justice Council developed new case management rules: Act of Sederunt (Ordinary Cause Rules 1993 Amendment) (Case Management of Defended Family and Civil Partnership Actions) 2022 (scottishciviljusticecouncil.gov.uk) covering family actions in the sheriff court. The new rules came into effect on 25 September 2023 and are intended to help prevent undue delay in proceedings relating to the welfare of children.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 November 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 19 November 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of findings in Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce's Energy Transition 40th Survey report that North Sea oil and gas firms "expect a desperately bleak situation to go from bad to worse", what measures it is taking to improve confidence in the North Sea oil and gas sector.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-31114 on 15 November 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 November 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 19 November 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of frontline health spending is spent on child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), and whether if it is on track to meet its commitment of allocating 1% to this.
Answer
Latest available data published in February 2024 by Public Health Scotland in the Scottish Health Service Costs book confirmed that NHS expenditure on child and adolescent mental health rose from £97.9 million in 2021-22 to £114.8 million in 2022-23, an increase of £16.9 million or 17% - representing 0.75% of total NHS expenditure.
We continue to work with NHS Boards and Integration Joint Boards towards delivery of the commitment that at least 1% of their frontline health spending will be dedicated to child and adolescent mental health by the end of this parliamentary session.
- Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 November 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 19 November 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the proposed consultation regarding the legal age of marriage, and family and succession law.
Answer
Work is continuing on this consultation. It covers a wide range of areas: the minimum age of marriage and civil partnership; extending simplified divorce and dissolution procedures; qualifying requirements for religious and belief bodies when they solemnise marriage or register civil partnership; a Scottish Law Commission report on cohabitant's rights following separation; and points arising on financial provision when one cohabitant dies.
We are also preparing impact assessments in relation to this consultation. We are planning to issue it within the next few months.
