Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-30747

Asked by: John Mason, MSP for Glasgow Shettleston, Independent
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 14 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Abortion Law Review Expert Group is looking at the 24-week limit and whether it should be updated.

As outlined in the Terms of Reference, the Expert Group is considering the appropriate gestational limits for abortion alongside grounds for abortion; pathways for patients; the data and information collected about patients accessing services; regulations; the right to conscientious objection for healthcare workers; and criminal offences related to having or providing an abortion. This is in line with the commitment made by the Scottish Government.

The Terms of Reference can be accessed online; Abortion Law Review Expert Group - gov.scot (www.gov.scot).

Question reference: S6W-30621

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 October 2024
Current Status: Holding Answer by Shona Robison on 14 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide a breakdown by type of employee, for example, communications staff, policy staff, or, for the NHS, frontline health staff, or any other staff category for which data is recorded, for the Public Sector Employment in Scotland Statistics headcount figure for (a) NHS, (b) Devolved Civil Service, (c) Police and Fire Related Services and (d) Other Public Bodies for Quarter 2 in each year since 1999.

Question reference: S6W-30682

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 14 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a target timescale for the completion of cladding remediation works (a) at the 107 pilot entries in the pilot of the Cladding Remediation Programme and (b) on all residential properties affected by dangerous cladding.

The Scottish Government has received the report for a Single Building Assessment (SBA) based on the specification published on 21 June 2024 for one of the pilot entries. An invitation to tender has been issued to undertake SBAs based on the specification published on 21 June 2024 for a further twelve of the pilot entries.

Pilot works to mitigate or remediate risks have started for five of the pilot entries. Works in this context refers to any action taken to address known cladding-related risks, including Urgent Interim Measures. These numbers relate to known works on a pilot entry only, as developers or other organisations could have carried out works without informing the Scottish Government, and therefore the true numbers may be higher and could increase as further information becomes available.

Works to remediate risks have not been completed for any of the pilot entries. Although work on the external wall cladding system has been carried out on one building, a Single Building Assessment carried out to the standard to be specified by Scottish Ministers under section 32 of the Housing (Cladding Remediation)(Scotland) Act 2024 is required to ensure that all works required have been identified and completed ahead of being designated as complete.

We are aware that there are potentially a larger number of buildings in Scotland affected by cladding beyond those in the pilot phase. Full remediation of a building is a complex process encompassing, assessment, design, remediation, and assurance, with physical completion of work dependent on the entirety of any remediation design and the commercial capacity to undertake such work.

We are continuing to take steps to improve our understanding of the number and nature of these buildings (for example, whether they fall within the scope of the Cladding Remediation Act) and will collaborate with relevant authorities in considering the action required.

For many such buildings, taking forward assessment and any remediation required will be a matter for the relevant developer or other responsible body.

Question reference: S6W-30683

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 14 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, of the 29 Glasgow entries in the pilot phase of the Cladding Remediation Programme, how many entries have had (a) Single Building Assessments carried out, (b) works started to mitigate or remediate risks and (c) remediation works fully completed.

The Scottish Government has received the report for a Single Building Assessment (SBA) based on the specification published on 21 June 2024 for one of the pilot entries in Glasgow.

An invitation to tender has been issued to undertake SBAs based on the specification published on 21 June 2024 for a further twelve of the pilot entries. Seven of which are in Glasgow and that are SG led. It is expected that these SBAs will be completed by the end of February 2025.

Pilot works to mitigate or remediate risks have started for five of the pilot entries. Four of which are in Glasgow. Works in this context refers to any action taken to address known cladding-related risks, including Urgent Interim Measures.

These numbers relate to known works on a pilot entry only, as developers or other organisations could have carried out works without informing the Scottish Government, and therefore the true numbers may be higher and could increase as further information becomes available.

Works to remediate risks have not been completed following recommendations within SBA Reports for any of the SG led pilot entries.

Question reference: S6W-30685

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 14 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in addition to the 29 Glasgow entries in the pilot phase of the Cladding Remediation Programme, how many further properties it anticipates will be identified as having unsafe cladding in Glasgow, and, if this data is not yet available, what efforts it has made to determine the number of affected properties.

We have made significant progress in the last few months, including the passage of the Housing (Cladding Remediation) Scotland Bill and publication of the technical specification for the Single Building Assessment (SBA).

We will publish the SBA Standards this month which will set out the basis for assessment, remediation, compliance, and assurance in Scotland and commence the Act in January 2024.

We are aware that there are potentially a larger number of buildings in Scotland affected by cladding beyond those in the pilot phase.

We are continuing to take steps to improve our understanding of the number and nature of these buildings (for example, whether they fall within the scope of the Cladding Remediation Act) and will collaborate with relevant authorities in considering the action required.

For many such buildings, taking forward assessment and any remediation required will be a matter for the relevant developer or other responsible body.

Question reference: S6W-30616

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 14 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many public bodies are compliant with the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011, which requires them to provide a publicly available report every three years.

Question reference: S6W-30749

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 14 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with rail companies whose trains pass through Carstairs railway station but do not stop there about increasing the frequency of rail services from Carstairs.

Question reference: S6W-30684

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 14 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the complexity of the cladding remediation process for those involved, and what steps it has taken to expedite the delivery of remediation works.

We have made significant progress in the last few months, including the passage of the Housing (Cladding Remediation) Scotland Bill and publication of the technical specification for the Single Building Assessment (SBA).

We will publish the SBA Standards this month which will set out the basis for assessment, remediation, compliance, and assurance in Scotland and commence the Act in January 2024. Combined with the technical specification this allows Developers to conduct SBAs on buildings they have responsibility for.

The Scottish Government has received the report for a Single Building Assessment (SBA) based on the specification published on 21 June 2024 for one of the pilot entries. An invitation to tender has been issued to undertake SBAs based on the specification published on 21 June 2024 for a further twelve of the pilot entries.

These numbers relate to known works on a pilot entry only, as developers or other organisations could have carried out works without informing the Scottish Government, and therefore the true numbers may be higher and could increase as further information becomes available.

We have also begun engagement with linked developers to agree the hand-over of pilot phase buildings where there is draft Single Building Assessments for them to proceed with refreshed SBA assessments which will set the standard for design and remediation.

Full remediation of a building is a complex process encompassing, assessment, design, remediation, and assurance, with physical completion of work dependent on the entirety of any remediation design and the commercial capacity to undertake such work.

We are aware that there are potentially a larger number of buildings in Scotland affected by cladding beyond those in the pilot phase.

We are continuing to take steps to improve our understanding of the number and nature of these buildings (for example, whether they fall within the scope of the Cladding Remediation Act) and will collaborate with relevant authorities in considering the action required.

For many such buildings, taking forward assessment and any remediation required will be a matter for the relevant developer or other responsible body.

We recognise the need to better understand the complexities faced by owners and residents in the cladding remediation process. Our intent is to engage directly with these groups to gain insight into the challenges they experience during the assessment and remediation process. By doing so, we aim to ensure that their lived experiences inform our approach, helping us to identify the barriers they face and work towards more effective and timely solutions. This engagement will be crucial in helping us address the full scope of issues involved and ensuring that remediation efforts are responsive to the needs of those most affected.

Question reference: S6O-03988

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 November 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what ongoing discussions the finance secretary is having with ministerial colleagues and officials regarding the planning of portfolio budgets in the lead up to the publication of its Budget for 2025-26.

Question reference: S6O-03978

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 November 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on work at Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow, in light of the announcement of £14 million worth of investment into the yard earlier this year.

Chamber and committees