- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 October 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 3 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on what due diligence was carried out on Astraius prior to the memorandum of understanding being signed with Prestwick Spaceport.
Answer
Glasgow Prestwick Airport, together with its partner South Ayrshire Council, signed a memorandum of understanding with Astraius to enable horizontal space launch activity from the planned Prestwick Spaceport.
Glasgow Prestwick Airport is operated on a commercial basis and at arm’s length from the Scottish Government, in compliance with our obligations under the Trade and Co-operation Agreement between the UK and the EU. Ministers do not intervene in the commercial discussions at the airport.
It is for the airport’s management team to consider all potential business opportunities to maximise the use of the assets of the airport and build on the progress which has already been made.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 07 October 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 3 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with (a) Stagecoach and (b) First Glasgow regarding the reported cancellation of bus services in the last month.
Answer
Transport Scotland officials meet bus stakeholders, including both Stagecoach and First, on a fortnightly basis. This has recently included discussion on the impact of driver shortages on service provision. Bus operators receiving emergency COVID-19 funding are contractually obliged to run a range of pre COVID mileage, any deviation from which has to be agreed with Transport Scotland. They are also required to consult and cooperate with local transport authorities as to their service plans. These terms are set out in public service contracts with operators and a model contract is available on the Transport Scotland website at: https://www.transport.gov.scot/public-transport/buses/covid-19-support-grant/
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 October 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 29 October 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address vitamin D deficiency in (a) general and (b) relation to levels of deprivation, in light of reports that nearly half the population in the most deprived areas had suboptimal vitamin D levels compared with a quarter of the population in the least deprived areas.
Answer
The Scottish Government continues to work closely with Food Standards Scotland and other partners to raise awareness of the importance of vitamin D, particularly amongst those at highest risk of deficiency.
On 11 October, Food Standards Scotland (FSS) launched a new national campaign to raise awareness of vitamin D and encourage people in Scotland to take a daily 10 microgram supplement throughout the winter months. The campaign will run between October 2021 and February 2022 and follows on from previous promotional activity undertaken by FSS earlier this year. Action to target specific population groups at higher risk of vitamin D deficiency is being considered and will be integrated throughout the campaign.
Leaflets highlighting the importance of vitamin D and supplements are available in a range of languages and formats. Healthy Start vitamins, which contain Vitamin D, are provided free to all pregnant women in Scotland throughout their pregnancy and have been since April 2017. Vitamin D supplements are also available free of charge for breastfeeding women and all babies up to the age of one.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 October 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 29 October 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what research it is undertaking to assess levels of vitamin D deficiency in (a) general and (b) relation to levels of deprivation, in light of the most recent survey on this issue reportedly being undertaken in 2010-12.
Answer
Vitamin D status is measured annually as part of the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS).
The latest report is available at: NDNS: results from years 9 to 11 (2016 to 2017 and 2018 to 2019) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The Scottish Government is not currently undertaking research to assess levels of vitamin D deficiency in the general population, including in relation to deprivation.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 October 2021
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 4 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the proposed £500,000 fund for local organisations in international development partner countries to take forward work to ensure women and girls are safe, equal and respected.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 4 November 2021
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 07 October 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Ben Macpherson on 27 October 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what correspondence it has had with local authorities and COSLA in relation to raising awareness about claiming pension credit and supporting people to do so.
Answer
Pension Credit is reserved to the UK Government and, therefore, the Scottish Government has not corresponded with local authorities or COSLA in relation to raising awareness about claiming pension credit or supporting people to do so.
The Scottish Government funds the Citizens Advice Network in Scotland to deliver the Money Talk Team Income Maximisation Service. This is a money advice service that includes advice about all benefits, including pension credit. We have undertaken three national marketing campaigns to make people aware of the service.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 07 October 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 26 October 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what subsidised training schemes are in place for people seeking to train as (a) HGV and (b) bus drivers.
Answer
There are a number of subsidised training schemes provided by Scottish Government in regards to HGV and Bus Driver training:
- Employability Fund - offers employability and skills training for unemployed individuals across Scotland. HGV driver training is available to eligible individuals through this fund.
- Modern Apprenticeships – learn on the job to gain the experience you need and work towards a recognised qualification. The Freight Logistics framework applies to HGV/LGV. As part of this framework apprentices will be offered the opportunity to study SVQ Driving Goods Vehicles at SCQF Level 6.
- Individual Training Account – to help people develop the skills they need for work. Up to £200 contribution towards a training course, which can include HGV and Bus driver training.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 07 October 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 26 October 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been supported through its training schemes to train as (a) HGV and (b) bus drivers in each month since the start of 2019.
Answer
There are a number of subsidised training schemes provided by Scottish Government in regards to HGV and Bus Driver training including: Employability Fund, Modern Apprenticeships, National Transition Training Fund and Individual Training Accounts
A summary table has been provided, showing the number of people supported through the various schemes in relation to HGV and Bus driver training. To ensure consistency, we have provided figures based on financial years 2019-20, 2020-21 and Quarter 1 of 2021-22.
Intervention | Timescale | Numbers |
Employability Fund Bus and Coach Drivers HGV/LGV Drivers | 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 Q1 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 Q1 | 38 * * 216 87 26 |
Modern Apprenticeship (HGV) | 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 Q1 | 1100 987 290 |
National Transition Training Fund (NTTF) – Part of Year One delivery extended until June 2021 (Driver CPC / LGV with CPC / PCV with CPC) | October 2020 - June 2021 | 37 |
Individual Training Account (HGV and Bus Driving courses combined) | 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 Q1 | 537 292 195 |
Note: Disclosure control (*) has been applied where figures are less than 5 or where such small numbers can be identified through differencing
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 07 October 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Ben Macpherson on 25 October 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what information Social Security Scotland holds on current pension credit uptake, and how many people who are currently entitled to pension credit do not claim it.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-03574 on
25 October 2021. 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: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 07 October 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Ben Macpherson on 25 October 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has access to Scotland and sub-Scotland level data on current pension credit take-up.
Answer
Pension Credit is reserved to the UK Government. The Department for Work and Pensions publishes an estimate of Pension Credit take-up, annually, at a UK-wide level only. The latest figures published (covering 2018/19) show that 76% of the maximum amount of possible Pension Credit expenditure was claimed.
