Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-14705

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 February 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answer expected on 1 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on work to develop a strategy to support the culture sector’s international connections and ambitions.

Question reference: S6W-14429

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 27 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Elena Whitham on 1 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to allowing licensing boards to charge more than £10 for an occasional licence where the cost of administering the licensing is significantly higher than £10.

The purpose of the occasional licence is to cater for the multitude of events which take place on premises which are not 'fully' licensed but feature the sale of alcohol. These can often include events arranged for the benefit of local communities such as local community fetes, gala day celebrations, wedding receptions and arts events. Occasional licences offer a flexible regime for the hospitality and entertainment sector to provide alcohol at events outside licensed premises.

The Scottish Government previously consulted on whether the current £10 occasional licence fee should be reviewed, and also whether the Scottish Ministers should make regulations setting limits on the number and duration of occasional licences granted. This follows concerns that occasional licences can be used in a manner designed to avoid the consequences of a permanent alcohol licence. Work in relation to this consultation was paused as a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic.

Having reflected carefully on this matter, the Scottish Government is minded to bring forward regulations which will put in place “occasional licence limits” in terms of the number of occasional licences, or the number of days on which occasional licences have effect, in relation to the same applicant or premises in any 12 month period.

The Scottish Government is also planning fresh engagement with licensing stakeholders to consider the level of fee currently charged for an occasional licence.

The approach of the Scottish Government will seek to balance the need for the cost and burden of occasional licences to be met by those seeking them while avoiding any undue impact on important local community events such as gala days and fetes. Any draft regulations would be subject to a targeted consultation and ultimately it will be for the Scottish Parliament to consider and approve.

Question reference: S6W-14288

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 1 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendation in Coming Home Implementation: A report from the working group on complex care and delayed discharge, whether it has established a National Peer Support Network.

The Scottish Government is committed to implementing the recommendations set out in the Coming Home Implementation Report to reduce delayed discharges and out-of-area placements for people with learning disabilities and complex care needs.

Following the publication of the Coming Home Implementation report, the Scottish Government has worked with key stakeholders to understand the role and remit of a Peer Support Network in order to design a model that provides value and allows for genuine collaboration across Scotland. Further details on the establishment of the Peer Support Network will be available soon.

Question reference: S6W-14286

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 1 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendation in Coming Home Implementation: A report from the working group on complex care and delayed discharge, whether it will provide an update on the establishment of a National Support Panel, including what its (a) role and (b) remit is, or will be.

The Scottish Government is committed to implementing the recommendations set out in the Coming Home Implementation Report to reduce delayed discharges and out-of-area placements for people with learning disabilities and complex care needs.

The recommendation made clear that additional work was required by Scottish Government on the precise role and remit of a panel in order to ensure that it would provide value and achieve its objectives.

The Scottish Government and COSLA established and have been working with a new Senior Strategy Group who are advising on developing the National Support Panel, including its role and remit, before it is formally established. Further details will be available soon.

Question reference: S6W-14284

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 1 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendation in Coming Home Implementation: A report from the working group on complex care and delayed discharge, what it has done to increase the amount of available evidence for, and to explore the issues related to, people with enduring mental health conditions who are subject to delayed discharge from hospital.

The Scottish Government has accepted all 5 key recommendations in the Coming Home Implementation Report and is working with people with lived experience, COSLA, professionals from Local Authorities; Health and Social Care Partnerships (HSCPs); the NHS; and other key stakeholders to implement these recommendations. This includes progressing the Dynamic Support Register, Peer Support Network and National Support Panel recommendations, focussing in the first instance on getting it right for people with learning disabilities using a collaborative and partnership approach.

We will work to address wider issues around the delayed discharge that people with enduring mental health conditions experience. Our work on the National Care Service, the Barron Forensic Services Review, and the Scottish Mental Health Law Review will further improve the care and support of people with enduring mental health conditions

Question reference: S6W-14274

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Elena Whitham on 1 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service in response to reports that the number of warrants for entry that have been granted has trebled since 2020.

Whether or not to grant a warrant for entry is a judicial decision.

Legislation places a duty on all government ministers; law officers; and members of the parliaments to uphold judicial independence, barring them from trying to exert influence over judicial decisions.

For the purpose of upholding that independence, there is a duty on the First Minister, the Lord Advocate and the Scottish Ministers not to seek to influence judicial decisions through any special access to the judiciary. "Special access" refers to any access which they may have which a member of the general public may not.

Additionally, if judicial training is considered necessary then this is entirely a matter for the Lord President as Head of the Judiciary.

For these reasons it would not be appropriate to meet with the Scottish Courts and Tribunals service to discuss the increase or otherwise of the number of warrants granted.

Question reference: S6W-14285

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 1 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendation in Coming Home Implementation: A report from the working group on complex care and delayed discharge, whether it will provide an update on what it has done to develop the Dynamic Support Register into a tool for national use.

The Scottish Government is committed to implementing the recommendations set out in the Coming Home Implementation Report to reduce delayed discharges and out-of-area placements for people with learning disabilities and complex care needs.

Significant work has been undertaken to develop and test a Dynamic Support Register, which has been led by a working group and co-designed with people with lived experience, HSCPs and NHS professionals across Scotland. We will be launching the Register soon following successful testing.

Question reference: S6W-14239

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 1 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether both of Scotland's Freeports should be based in the east of the country.

The Scottish and UK governments received five strong bids for Green Freeport status from across Scotland. Each of the bids demonstrated strengths and ambition, however only two could be selected. The bids were jointly assessed by both Governments, and the winners selected following the rigorous process set out in the joint bidding prospectus. The selection of Firth of Forth and Opportunity Inverness and Cromarty Firth delivers Green Freeport Status to the strongest bids from the Central Belt and North of Scotland respectively. A document with more information about the assessment and selection process will be published in due course.

Question reference: S6W-14190

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 1 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) projects and (b) people have been supported through the Digital Inclusion Fund.

The Digital Inclusion Fund was initiated in 2020 to enable students who, owing to low incomes, struggled to access online learning during the pandemic.

To date the fund has supported almost 11,000 learners across colleges, universities and within community learning settings. We expect this number to increase on receipt of final reporting on the £5 million investment for 2022-23; which is expected by the end of this academic year.

Question reference: S6W-14238

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 1 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what it considers the potential economic impact will be for areas that unsuccessfully bid for Freeports.

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