Seòmar agus comataidhean

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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-29458 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 Scottish Government’s recently concluded £28.75 million Scottish 4G Infill investment programme and the UK Government’s ongoing Shared Rural Network programme have, and are continuing, to deliver widespread improvements to mobile connectivity across the whole of Scotland.

The Scottish Government continues to engage with BT Openreach and the mobile network operators to improve phone connectivity across the country, which includes access on train routes in the Highlands and Islands region. However, policy relating to telecommunications, including mobile communications, is reserved to the UK Government.

Operational delivery of National Qualifications is a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) as the awarding body for Scotland. As a Non-Departmental Public Body, SQA operates at arm’s length to ministers and is responsible for its own operational decisions, including appeals processes.

The approach to National Qualification appeals in 2024 is the same as last year and is the same approach that, discounting the pandemic years, has been in place since 2014 in Scotland. It is comparable with other appeals services in the rest of the UK and internationally – but with free and direct access for learners.

SQA’s decision to revert to an enhanced version of the established appeals approach in 2023 was informed by an extensive evaluation of the 2022 approach, and engagement with the National Qualifications Group, of which Scottish Government was part, as well as a wide range of stakeholders - including teachers, parents and young people. Decisions in 2024 were, similarly, informed by evaluation of the 2023 awarding arrangements.

Drawing on the views of stakeholders, the SQA (and Qualifications Scotland once formed) will continue to evaluate the awarding processes to inform decisions going forward.

ScotRail will introduce a range of new discounted fares, including a 20% reduction in weekly, monthly and annual season ticket prices, 12 flexi tickets for the price of 10 and super off peak fares following the end of the year long extended trial removing peak fares for passengers from October 2023 to October 2024.

ScotRail Trains Ltd. regularly engages with a range of business groups to understand their views. All weekend, later evening and between-peak tickets remain available at off peak rates and many products are available which offer further discounts to passengers depending on their circumstances at all times of the day.

Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) as procuring authority for the programme will continue to involve all relevant stakeholders, including local authority harbour owners, in planned upgrades and works associated with the Small Vessel Replacement Programme.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

The forecasting that has been undertaken to produce SPS’ workforce plan projects that SPS will employ 3623 full time equivalent prison officers on 1 April 2025. This projection relies on assumed variables, such as turnover rate.

As you will be aware, the majority of bus services in Scotland are operated on a purely commercial basis by operators who use their own commercial judgement on service routes and frequencies. Local authorities can identify where there is a social need for particular bus services and can subsidise these at their discretion however this is entirely a matter for the local authority to consider and action as appropriate.

In relation to rail travel, the Scottish Government brought ScotRail into public ownership to ensure that ScotRail focuses its delivery on the needs of Scottish passengers. ScotRail keeps its services under continued review to ensure its services meet passengers requirements as much as possible.