Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-22695 on 15 November 2023 which will be communicated separately. 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

Local authorities in Scotland have a statutory duty to offer 1140 hours of high quality funded early learning and childcare (ELC) to all eligible children within their area. An ‘eligible child’ is described in the legal framework as all 3 and 4-year-olds from the relevant start date, and some 2 year olds are also eligible.

A range of research shows that while attending high quality ELC improves outcomes for all children, the children facing the most disadvantage benefit the most. Eligibility criteria for early access to funded ELC at age two currently target children in households that receive low or no income benefits, children with care experience, and children whose parents have care experience themselves.

Targeting eligibility for funded ELC at age two in this way ensures that those who will benefit most from high quality ELC provision, benefit first. While some two-year-old children of working parents will be eligible for this offer, eligibility is not dependant on the working status of parents. Currently, the offer of 1140 hours of high quality ELC is available to around a quarter of families with a two-year-old.

The Scottish Government has committed to work with local authorities and our partners in the sector to develop plans to expand access to funded ELC for two-year-olds. We will also continue to work closely with local authorities and providers to maximise uptake of the existing offer as we develop these plans. Further detail, including on the additional investment required to deliver the childcare expansion over this Parliament, will be set out later this year at the Scottish Budget for 2024-25.

Working families can access other support with childcare costs through UK-wide schemes like Tax Free Childcare or Universal Credit. Information about these schemes is available at the UK Government website Childcare Choices . This includes an eligibility checker.

This is an operational matter for ScotRail and we understand that discussions between ScotRail and RMT on this matter are on-going. We fully expect all parties to engage constructively on this matter.

The Scottish Government does not support Driver Only Operations and continues to specify a requirement for a second member of staff to assist passengers on every ScotRail train.

The independent due diligence on the initial request for capital investment, which included a request for a new plating line, concluded that further work is required to develop a robust business case and support an investment that is compliant with subsidy control rules. Scottish Government is therefore working with Ferguson Marine to examine options to develop the initial investment proposal so that it is compliant with subsidy control rules and aligned with current and potential future commercial opportunities for the yard.

he system of Dog Control Notices is operated by local authorities. Information requested on what breeds, or types, of dog have most often been the subject of Dog Control Notices in each year since 2018 is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Government funded the creation of the Scottish Dog Control Notice Database. This national database went live in February 2022 and brings together the records of all local authorities into a centralised database, that is accessible by local authorities and Police Scotland.

The national database was created and is managed by the Improvement Service. The following table provided by the Improvement Service shows the requested Dog Control Notice information for 2022 and 2023.

Active Dog Control Notices on 31 December 2022

Scottish Government has a Corporate Records Management Policy that is clear that everyone, including Minister and SpAds, are expected to ensure that material, regardless of its origin, is made part of the official record. Scottish Government systems are set up in a way that gives people time to move information to the official record before any auto deletion occurs.

The Scottish Government does not disclose individual personal details regarding pay. For the financial year 2022-23, the costs of the Scottish Government’s Constitutional Futures Division, which co-ordinates the Building a New Scotland prospectus series, are as follows:

• As disclosed on 1 June 2023, total salary: £1,393,090.24
• Total employer’s pension contributions: £390,097.66
• Total employer’s NI contributions: £171,106.88

Further to the answer S6W-21885, we have been clear that if increased teacher numbers are not maintained, we reserve the right to withhold or recoup funding which has been given for this purpose.

That data will be available following publication of the Summary Statistics for schools in December.

In assessing whether these conditions have been met, we will consider any mitigating circumstances individual councils may wish to put forward.

Local authorities are aware of these arrangements.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information. The independent Scottish Housing Regulator publishes the costs of statutory managers in the final report of each statutory intervention. The reports are on their website.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-22695 on‎ 15 November 2023 which will be communicated separately. 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