- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 October 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 27 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities and health and social care partnerships are participating in the Persons at Risk Distribution (PARD) system.
Answer
It is a matter for Local Authorities to decide whether they want to adopt PARD or use a different system. The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 places a duty on Category 1 and 2 responders to share and access information to support decision making.
To date, Scottish Government and the Improvement Service have held workshops with colleagues from Social Work and Emergency Planning in all Scottish Local Authorities. These workshops have focused on how PARD data can be used to identify people at risk during and to support decision making during incidents.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 02 October 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 27 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to (a) monitor and (b) evaluate the implementation of the new fees and rules for NHS dentistry from 1 November 2023.
Answer
The fee per item system of payment affords the opportunity to robustly monitor and evaluate payment reform, building on existing statistical publications. Officials are presently working with partners on the precise details of the data monitoring programme. Evaluation will be a future consideration, once the new system has bedded-in.
Government recognises that it is important that reform is supported by evidence demonstrating the reality of the position on the ground, in order to support the Scottish Government commitment to sustain NHS dental services.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 October 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-21420 by Jenny Gilruth on 2 October 2023, whether it will provide the information requested regarding what consequences there are for local authorities that do not meet its commitment to provide every school pupil with their own laptop or other digital device, and for what reason it did not provide this information in its answer.
Answer
Further to the response to S6W-21420, we continue to develop delivery plans including consideration of the funding and reporting procedures.
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 September 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost has been, in each of the last five years, of plans relating to individual disabled children and young people's transitions to adulthood, as per its best practice guidance.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold information on any costs associated with transition plans that local authorities have in place for children and young people, as this is a matter for individual authorities.
Under the Additional Support for Learning Act 2004, when a young person is expected to leave school the education authority has a duty to request and share information within specific timeframes to help support their transition. Local authorities are responsible for meeting their duties under the legislation and there are a range of planning mechanisms used by local authorities to meet children’s and young people’s needs.
- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 October 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Emma Roddick on 26 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what action the Minister for Equalities, Migration and Refugees is taking to support Show Racism the Red Card.
Answer
Can I firstly take the opportunity to thank Show Racism the Red Card for their work - I was proud to join fellow MSPs and the First Minister at the photocall that Mr Bibby organised a few weeks ago. I understand that they have engaged with officials across Ministerial portfolios over the years and while they do not currently receive funding from the Scottish Government, they are welcome to apply to future competitive funding opportunities. For example, Ministers are currently considering how we can best fund and support vital work within the Equality & Human Rights portfolio.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 October 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 26 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how it has ensured that the manufacture of the MV Glen Sannox fully meets classification society rules.
Answer
Construction and certification of the MV Glen Sannox in accordance with the contract as a passenger vessel with the relevant classification and safety certificates is the responsibility of the ship builder, Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Ltd (FMPG). Both Scottish Government and Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited receive regular updates from FMPG on progress towards final certification.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 October 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Natalie Don on 26 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains committed to its Programme for Government 2021-22 commitment to "develop plans to deliver free breakfast to all primary and special school children", in light of this commitment not being included in its Programme for Government 2023-24.
Answer
The Scottish Government remains committed to developing plans to deliver free breakfasts to all primary and special school children.
The First Minister announced in this year’s Programme for Government that the Scottish Government remains focused on tackling child poverty in Scotland. We know that food provision is an important part of the mission to tackle child poverty, and that is why there is a range of support already in place for families.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 October 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 26 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government when local authorities will receive an update on any new responsibilities and obligations on local government arising from the national Good Food Nation plan.
Answer
The Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022 ("the Act") requires Scottish Ministers, local authorities, and health boards to publish Good Food Nation Plans. Local authorities will be encouraged to share their views on the national Plan during the forthcoming consultation. Following the consultation process, the proposed national Plan will be laid before the Scottish Parliament. Local authority and health board Plans will be published after the national Plan, as they must have regard to the content of the national Plan in the preparation of their own Plans. The Scottish Government recognises the importance of engaging with local authorities during the development and delivery of the Good Food Nation Plans. Officials have regular meetings with COSLA to provide progress updates on the national Plan and to discuss the duties on local government arising from the Act. The Scottish Government will continue to engage with local authorities and COSLA throughout the Good Food Nation work.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 October 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Natalie Don on 26 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether universal school breakfast provision is a means of building a food system that ensures the right to food for children and young people, as laid out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Answer
Article 24 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child includes the right to adequate nutritious food. Universal school breakfast provision does have the potential to give further and fuller effect to this right.
The Concluding Observations from the UK’s recent state party scrutiny by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child includes a recommendation that the UK administrations strengthen measures to address child malnutrition, food insecurity and growing trends in overweight and obesity, by expanding the free school meals programme to all children in disadvantaged situations. It is not specific about how provision could be strengthened in Scotland.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 October 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 26 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to standardise governance processes across the NHS to improve efficiency, reduce duplication and encourage innovation, and, if so, when it will do so.
Answer
The Blueprint for Good Governance in NHS Scotland has been adopted by all NHS Boards. The second edition, published in December 2022, places more emphasis on the delivery mechanisms and the need to apply a continuous improvement approach to reviewing governance arrangements. Support for innovation and the role of NHS Boards in delivering this is a key component of the Blueprint.
To provide assurance on implementation of the Blueprint, all NHS Boards will complete an annual self-assessment, the outcome of which will be used to create Board Governance Development Plans. Plans will be used by NHS Boards to refine and improve their governance processes and the Scottish Government will look at key themes and national lessons to support further development of our approach to governance.