The Scottish Parliament

Question reference: S6W-26357

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 16 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any additional costs that the hospice sector will face in future years.

It is for Integration Authorities to plan and resource hospice care, using the integrated budget under their control; and to plan palliative care services and costs now and in the future.

We are working with Integration Authorities and independent hospices to develop a national guidance framework to support improved and more consistent planning and resourcing of independent hospice care, and we will continue to explore solutions and options for longer term sustainable planning and commissioning for the sector.

I have met with a number of hospices and hospice leaders over the last few months, including the round table I convened in December 2023, to understand the financial position and challenges that hospices currently face and how they can contribute to palliative care in the future.

Question reference: S6W-26345

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Christine Grahame (on behalf of the SPCB) on 16 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will consider commissioning a Scottish Parliament wall shield plaque featuring the badge element of the Scottish Parliament's Corporate Identity and the official Scottish Parliament tartan, which could be available for MSPs to purchase as a presentational or gift item for sports matches, official visits and other such occasions.

We have asked staff to include the idea in the next survey of products available via our shop as a potential MSP only product branded with the Scottish Parliament identity. Whilst the Member will be aware that MSPs are unable to claim the cost of such gifts or awards under the Members’ Expenses Scheme as it does not form part of their parliamentary duties, there is scope for MSPs to personally choose to present and pay for such items. Initial research indicates plaques are likely to be expensive hence we will research demand and supply during next year’s survey.

Question reference: S6W-26281

Asked by: Annabelle Ewing, MSP for Cowdenbeath, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 16 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether the multi-agency group on commercial sexual exploitation has been established, and, if so, what the membership of the group is, and whether the remit of the group will include consideration of the criminalisation of the purchase of sex.

The new multi-agency group on commercial sexual exploitation held its first meeting on 27 March 2024. The membership of the Group includes representatives from the third and public sector. Details about the group can be accessed here: https://www.gov.scot/groups/commercial-sexual-exploitation/ . It is anticipated that part of the remit of the group will be to help inform the implementation and delivery of our strategic approach to challenging and deterring men’s demand for prostitution.

Question reference: S6W-26248

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 16 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what eligibility criteria it plans to employ for new applications to the reopened Independent Living Fund.

Question reference: S6W-26284

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 16 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether the new Fair Work conditionality in certain agricultural grants will extend to temporary workers in Scotland on a seasonal worker visa.

The following five grant schemes listed will have Fair Work conditionality added to the existing grant conditions

• Agri – Environment Climate Scheme (AECS),

• Crofting Agricultural Grants Scheme (CAGS),

• Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation (FPMC),

• Forestry Grant Scheme (FGS), and

• Sustainable Agriculture Capital Grant Scheme (SACGS).

For CAGS and FGS Fair Work Conditionality will apply from 1 April 2024, for the three other schemes Fair Work Conditionality will be applied from the opening of the next application window for each scheme.

Fair Work conditionality applies to all employees irrespective of contractual length who are working on activity that relies on one of the grants listed above.

Question reference: S6W-26224

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 18 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 16 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider closing the M74 Junction 1 Kingston Interchange, in light of its reported duplication with the M8 Junction 21 at Seaward Street, and dispose of the large amount of land that its slip road to Paisley Road West takes up for residential/mixed-use development.

There is currently no reason for Transport Scotland officials to consider the closure of the M74 Junction 1 Kingston Interchange, which is likely to have significant adverse impacts on the wider local road network given the volume of traffic on the M74 and M8. A clear rationale for changes to the strategic transport network, such as this, need to emerge from a robust business case in line with Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance and Transport Scotland's Guidance on the Development of Business Cases . If this change was for planning or land use change purposes, I would expect this to be initiated by Glasgow City Council.

Question reference: S6W-26213

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 15 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 16 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what targeted funding it is providing to local authorities to purchase electric school buses.

Local authorities receive funding via the local government block grant to enable them to meet their statutory obligations, including the provision of home to school transport. Local authorities are responsible for decisions about the purchase of vehicles. The Scottish Government’s guidance on home to school transport encourages local authorities to procure zero emission vehicles for use in home to school transport services. Local authorities and bus operators that provide home-to-school transport services were eligible to apply to our recent round of ScotZEB 2 funding. This programme provides funding to increase the number of zero emission vehicles and their supporting infrastructure by encouraging collaborative working within the bus sector.

The Scottish Government does not collect information on the number of electric school buses purchased by local authorities.

Question reference: S6W-26214

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 15 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 16 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many electric school buses it has supported each local authority to purchase, in each of the past three years.

Local authorities receive funding via the local government block grant to enable them to meet their statutory obligations, including the provision of home to school transport. Local authorities are responsible for decisions about the purchase of vehicles. The Scottish Government’s guidance on home to school transport encourages local authorities to procure zero emission vehicles for use in home to school transport services. Local authorities and bus operators that provide home-to-school transport services were eligible to apply to our recent round of ScotZEB 2 funding. This programme provides funding to increase the number of zero emission vehicles and their supporting infrastructure by encouraging collaborative working within the bus sector.

The Scottish Government does not collect information on the number of electric school buses purchased by local authorities.

Question reference: S6T-01924

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 15 April 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it will next review the New Build Heat Standard.

Question reference: S6T-01914

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 15 April 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its pledge to provide a free bike to every school-age child who cannot afford one.

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Question reference: S6W-26357

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Question reference: S6W-26345

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Question reference: S6W-26281

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Question reference: S6W-26248

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Question reference: S6W-26224

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