- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 August 2022
-
Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 23 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has reportedly procured a civic mediation service to facilitate dialogue between anti-abortion campaigners who gather at abortion clinics and those who are affected by such activities; who was consulted on this approach, and how people will be identified and invited to participate.
Answer
All women in Scotland should be able to access timely abortion care without judgment or intimidation. Last year, a Ministerial-led working group was formed to explore possible ways to solve the problem of women being harassed outside abortion clinics as quickly as possible. The working group is made up with partners including CoSLA, Police Scotland and affected councils and Health Boards to look at how to address the protests and vigils that take place outside of abortion clinics. A number of pieces of work have been commissioned by the group to explore views in this area, including this work and research to develop a detailed picture of women’s experiences as a result of the protests.
Those leading this work met separately with various parties to hear their views. This work has now concluded.
This is one of a number of actions being taken. Subject to the detail of a forthcoming Supreme Court judgment, the Scottish Government will also support Gillian Mackay MSP with the development and drafting of her proposed Members Bill to protect safe access for women to healthcare facilities that provide abortion services.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 August 2022
-
Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 23 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-10165 by Shona Robison on 19 August 2022, what (a) assessment, (b) feasibility studies and (c) survey activity it has conducted to determine the number of buildings of 11 metres and over that will require (i) assessment for and (ii) remediation of combustible cladding.
Answer
The work of the cladding remediation programme will gather data as it progresses with Single Building Assessments. This information will be used to build a reliable register of information as set out in the Ministerial Working Group on Mortgage Lending and cladding report in March 2021.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 29 August 2022
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 23 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of ScotRail’s rail passenger revenue from 1 January to 31 July 2022.
Answer
Prior to the 1st April 2022, ScotRail services were operated by Abellio ScotRail. Under the terms of the franchise agreement, revenue figures for the period are commercially confidential. The published accounts for Abellio ScotRail for this period will be found at Companies House in due course.
For the period after 1st April, relevant revenue figures will not be available until the annual accounts for ScotRail Trains Ltd. have been audited, verified and published after the end of the financial year 2022-23.
- Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Friday, 26 August 2022
-
Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 23 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made regarding the location of the three Shetland ScotWind projects, announced on 22 August 2022, overlapping with fishing grounds for the Shetland fishing fleet.
Answer
The three projects now offered Option Agreements from Crown Estate Scotland under the ScotWind clearing round are located entirely within the SMP-OWE Plan Option NE1. Adoption of the SMP-OWE and the seabed leasing round followed the delivery of a Sustainability Appraisal, which included a Social and Economic Impact Assessment (SEIA). This SEIA estimated the negative impact of the Plan Option NE1 and the SMP-OWE as a whole, based on a series of development scenarios. Through that process and direct engagement with the fishing sector, the Plan Option was reduced further to avoid overlap with fishing activity. The SMP-OWE planning process considered fisheries data through an assessment of spatial and economic data, alongside consultation and steering group information. Although the planning process attempted to minimise impact on a wide range of receptors, there remains some overlap with receptors and we would expect engagement with the fishing sector as project applications are developed to be critical to determining the ultimate footprint of any development.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 September 2022
-
Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 23 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how much has been (a) budgeted for and (b) distributed from the Fuel Insecurity Fund in each year of its operation.
Answer
The Fuel Insecurity Fund was first established in the winter of 2020, as part of the wider Winter Support Fund, to help households struggling with their energy costs who were at risk of severely rationing, or self-disconnecting entirely because they could not afford their energy costs.
Fuel Insecurity Fund |
Year | Budgeted | Distributed |
2020-21 | £7m | £3.595m |
2021-22 | £10m | £10m |
2022-23 | £10m | £4.1m* |
In financial year 2020-21, £3.595m was spent by our partners.
As set out in our Programme for Government this year we have committed to using the Emergency Budget Review to double our Fuel Insecurity Fund to £20 million, to provide further support for the many households across Scotland who are already struggling to pay their bills and heat their homes.
* Full current 2022-23 budget of £10 million has been allocated across our third sector partner organisations, which they have the flexibility to drawdown in the financial year to best support and target customer needs up to the end March 2023.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 September 2022
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 23 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government when the Minister for Transport last visited Glasgow Airport.
Answer
I have not visited Glasgow Airport during my time as Minister for Transport, however I look forward to meeting with the CEO of AGS Airports on 5 October 2022.
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 September 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
-
Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 23 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether NHS Scotland will roll out the use of HeartFlow technology across all NHS boards, following its introduction in NHS Western Isles.
Answer
The Scottish Health Technologies Group (SHTG), are part of Healthcare Improvement Scotland, and provide advice to NHS Scotland on the use of new and existing health technologies (excluding medicines). The SHTG made a recommendation in 2021 on the use of HeartFlow: 20210714-heartflow-adaptation-v20.pdf (shtg.scot) . Health boards are required to consider SHTG’s advice.
The Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD), hosted by NHS Golden Jubilee, includes the Modernising Patient Pathways Programme (MPPP). Work to promote HeartFlow technology across Health Boards is a key activity for the MPPP cardiology specialty group.
More information on the Centre for Sustainable Delivery can be found here: CfSD :: NHS Golden Jubilee , with information on the cardiology specialty network available here: Cardiology | Turas | Learn (nhs.scot).
- Asked by: Evelyn Tweed, MSP for Stirling, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 September 2022
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 23 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase the uptake of the Young Persons' (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel Scheme, in light of reports from First Bus of just a 50% uptake since the scheme went live in January 2022.
Answer
We’re seeing many young people already benefitting from the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme, with well over 20 million journeys having been made since its commencement in January. We have now launched a national marketing campaign to increase awareness and understanding of the scheme and, ultimately, encourage more young people to apply and enjoy the benefits of free bus travel.
Transport Scotland has also provided communications and promotional resources for stakeholders at freebus.scot, and these have been shared with over 300 public, private and third sector organisations who work with young people and families, and within the transport sector.
- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 September 2022
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 23 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what estimates it has made of any potential revenue loss to ScotRail of not selling alcohol on trains.
Answer
Transport Scotland does not normally hold this level of detail. Relevant revenue figures will not be available until the annual accounts for ScotRail Trains Ltd. have been audited, verified and published after the end of the financial year 2022-23.
- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 September 2022
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 23 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many times enforcement action has been taken in relation to the alcohol ban on ScotRail trains, and what estimate it has made of how many times the ban has been breached.
Answer
Safety and security on our railways is reserved to UK Government and as such the member may wish to contact British Transport Police in relation to enforcement measures on ScotRail trains.