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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S6W-07038

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 04 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 15 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to support apprenticeships or training schemes for people seeking to train in external wall insulation.

Working with industry, we have developed a set of installer skills requirements to help professionalise services in this sector, and provide clearer career pathways for young people. We consulted on these earlier last year and we are now integrating these requirements into the relevant industry standards.

We have partnered with Scottish Renewables and Skills Development Scotland (SDS) to undertake a 'Heat in Buildings Workforce Assessment Project' which will help us define the timing of workforce growth and how best to support people transitioning into key roles. This work will report back in Spring 2022. This will improve our understanding on how best to support workforce investment and ensure that jobs will be available for people to move into as they complete their training.

At the end of 2020 the Scottish Government and Skills Development Scotland (SDS) published the Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan (CESAP) setting out the actions we need to take to ensure our workforce is able to support the transition to net zero.

As part of the implementation of the CESAP, Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) are currently reviewing training needs and available provision required to deliver the ambitions of our Heat in Buildings Strategy. We have commissioned a workforce assessment which will serve as an evidence base for this review.

Modern Apprenticeships are the key pathway for young people into the heating and plumbing industry. The Scottish Government provides a contribution towards training of Mas through SDS. The public funded training contribution is structured by age and level, and prioritised to support outcomes within the Scottish Government's skills and economic strategies.

Three colleges are currently offering insulation apprenticeships - West College Scotland, South Lanarkshire College and Edinburgh College. A further two training facilities at West Lothian College and Dundee & Angus College are due to open August 2022 to meet the increased demand.

In addition the new Insultation Building Treatments (IBT) Level 5/6 qualification approved by Apprenticeship Approvals Group (AAG) to support external wall apprenticeships. This qualification will be supported within Scotland's colleges insultation training facilities with funding received from SP Energy Networks Green Economy Funding and Scottish Government.

This new qualification will further improve the quality and standards of installations in Scotland, in addition to creating new Apprenticeship Opportunities.

Question reference: S6W-07036

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 04 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 15 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what apprenticeships or subsidised training schemes there are for people seeking to train in (a) welding and (b) metal fabrication.

For individuals who undertake the Engineering and Engineering Construction frameworks, there is the opportunity to complete a Scottish Vocational Qualification in the units set out below:

Engineering:

Fabrication and Welding Engineering (SCQF Level 6)
Fabrication and Welding Engineering Sheet Metalwork 3mm, less (SCQF Level 6)
Fabrication and Welding Engineering (Manual Welding) (SCQF Level 6)

Engineering Construction:

Diploma in Welding Engineering Construction Plate (SCQF Level 7)

There are also qualifications available for those who wish to train in welding through the Employability Fund (EF), which was developed as a response to concerns that the existing landscape of provision for pre-employment support in Scotland was too fragmented and not flexible enough to meet the needs of individuals and local labour markets.

With a strong focus on work experience, the EF responds to the different needs of individuals, while also adapting to employer demands on a local basis. Employability Fund can be used to support people to develop the employability and vocational skills they need to make the transition into a Modern Apprenticeship or job.

As part of the EF, the following qualifications are available for individuals to undertake:

Welding - Radiographic Interpretation of Welds
Welding Inspector
Welding Code Core Flux 6 GR EN ISO 96061
Flux Core Welding 6G H-LO45 135/136 incl. Exam
CSWIP Welding Inspection with E-Learning

Question reference: S6W-06553

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 14 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 14 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when the Project Neptune review of ferry governance will be published.

Question reference: S6W-06704

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 11 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government to what extent the Community Needs Assessment of ferry services on the Clyde and Hebrides network will take account of employment and training opportunities at CalMac Ferries.

Question reference: S6W-06703

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 11 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether Transport Scotland used any international examples to inform its Market Assessment of ferry services on the Clyde and Hebrides network, and, if so, what the examples were.

Question reference: S6W-06877

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 25 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 10 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to improve the financial wellbeing of young people leaving care.

The Scottish Government is working to deliver the Care Experience Grant which will provide young care experienced people age 16-25 with, additional financial support and security as they move into adulthood; and support their financial wellbeing. This £200 annual grant will benefit around 50,000 young people. Officials are currently engaging with stakeholders and potential partners to identity the best delivery mechanism for the Grant.

In 2021-22 the Scottish Government distributed over £12 million to support the provision of free welfare and debt advice. This vital funding ensures that people who are struggling the most can access the support they need in a way that works for them – be it face to face, online or over the phone. Care leavers and individuals with care experience can access this advice.

Additionally, eligible care leavers can request aftercare from the local authority who had responsibility for providing their care. Aftercare support can include: financial support to meet essential accommodation and maintenance costs, such as travel and other necessary living expenses; information or advice.

Question reference: S6W-06878

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 25 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 10 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it provides to local authorities to provide young people leaving care with suitable accommodation.

The Scottish Government provides funding to local authorities through the local government funding settlement for the provision of continuing care and aftercare services, which includes provision of accommodation for care leavers. Local authorities have a statutory responsibility to provide support to eligible care leavers and it is the responsibility of each authority to decide how funds are allocated to services within their area.

Question reference: S6O-00883

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 March 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that all apprentices are paid the real Living Wage.

Question reference: S6W-06395

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 8 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of any staff reductions by Network Rail on rail services in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-06396

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 8 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of any reductions to the maintenance budget by Network Rail on rail services in Scotland.