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The UK Government’s decision to introduce means-testing of Winter Fuel Payments in England and Wales in 2024-25 significantly reduces the annual funding available to the Scottish Government, by an estimated £140 million to £160 million. It is with deep regret and only following careful consideration that the Scottish Government has decided it must replicate that decision in Scotland and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment will therefore be payable to people over state pension age in receipt of certain benefits. Those benefits are Pension Credit, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Universal Credit, Working Tax Credits and Child Tax Credits (where the award is not less than £26 in respect of the tax year 2024-2025).

Payments of Pension Age Winter Heating Payment in 2024-25 will be made by the Department of Work and Pensions on behalf of the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Book Trust (SBT) has a dedicated page on their website providing information on the total number of accredited Reading Schools. The website can be accessed at: https://www.readingschools.scot/map and includes a filter option which enables the total to be broken down by local authority.

That web page confirms that, as of 6 September 2024, there are 505 accredited Reading Schools, with 663 working towards accreditation. All 32 Local Authorities have schools working towards an accreditation and the total number of schools involved in the programme is 1,168.

The most recent Scottish Government statistics on the number of schools in Scotland confirms there are 2,456 schools. This means that approximately 21% of schools are currently accredited and 48% are involved in the programme.

As part of the Far North Line Enhancements project, the Scottish Government previously granted authority and funding for enhancements to the Radio Electronic Token Block signalling system on the Far North Line and for line speed improvements at various points on the Line. The majority of these enhancements are now completed.

Further options for development of services north of Inverness remain in consideration. However, given the extremely challenging financial climate, and following the UK Autumn Statement, Ministers have had to take difficult decisions in setting the budget for 2024-25. For the time being this affects the Scottish Government’s ability to fund any projects to which it is not already committed in the current investment programme.

The Scottish Government does not collect or hold, nor has assessed data on current 3G, 4G and 5G mobile notspots or areas with coverage, alongside train routes in the Highlands and Islands region. Overall policy relating to telecommunications, including mobile communications, is reserved to the UK Government.

ScotRail matches its resources to best meet passenger needs during expected grow in demand, for example when special events are happening.

ScotRail advises that it added extra carriages for travelers attending the Largs Viking Festival at the weekend of 31st August and 1st September 2024 and maintained an hourly service to Largs on 7th September. Extra carriages were added to services ran on Sunday the 8th September to provide better capacity.

ScotRail is expected to remove its current temporary timetable as soon as possible, when ScotRail pay talks are concluded and ScotRail drivers agree to return to delivery of more train services.

The advantages for capacity and performance of a new rail loop in the Delmore area are recognised. However, the proposal for a passing loop at Delmore does not feature in the Scottish Government’s current investment programme.

Given the extremely challenging financial climate, and following last year's UK Autumn Statement, we have had to take difficult decisions in setting the budget for 2024-25. This affects our ability to fund any projects which do not yet feature in the current investment programme.

A loop at Delmore remains in consideration for future delivery alongside a number of other potentially valuable schemes.

The Scottish Government funds the Scottish Book Trust (SBT) to deliver the Reading Schools programme and therefore SBT works with teachers to seek feedback and improve its programme.

SBT seek feedback from teachers taking part in the programme via annual surveys. They conduct three teacher surveys: one to gather feedback on their Professional Learning offer; a second one focusing on the process for staff experience; and a final survey that is sent after accreditation is granted to assess the impact of the programme on the school.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-29411 on 17 September 2024. 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.

The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care met with the Chair of the Scottish Hospice Leadership Group and Hospice UK on 8 August to discuss long-term planning and funding for the commissioning of hospice care as part of an agreed visit.

I am also meeting the Chair of the Scottish Hospice Leadership Group and Hospice UK on 18 September to discuss these matters further.

The Scottish Government continues to work with Integration Joint Boards (IJB) chief officers and independent hospices to support longer term sustainable planning and commissioning for the sector.

However, it is for Integration Joint Boards (IJBs) to govern, plan and resource adult palliative care in their areas, including independent hospice care, using the delegated budgets under their control. We would encourage hospice colleagues to continue to engage with IJBs to help ensure that the needs of the local population are met.