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Transport Scotland has not held any discussions with Network Rail on proposed staff reductions in Scotland.

Network Rail advise that UK wide it has undertaken two rounds of an industry special Voluntary Severance Scheme, focused on management grades where it could be verified there would be no impact on safety, performance or customer service. However, no representations have been made to Scottish Government on this matter.

The Scottish Government asked Andrew Horne, Chief Executive of We Are With You Scotland, to chair a multi-agency working group focusing specifically on improving drug treatment services for young people.

The purpose of the group is to set clear expectations for the delivery of treatment support to children and young people who experience problem alcohol and drug use.

To date, the group have sourced statistical data which will be used to shape how we improve the provision and access to drug and/or alcohol treatment and support services. The group will work towards establishing Standards for Young People’s Alcohol and Drug Services in order to provide consistency in quality across Scotland. The group will also consider residential rehabilitation provision as part of their work to develop these standards. However, residential rehabilitation is just one aspect of a recovery oriented system of care, and the group will also look to develop a comprehensive approach to early intervention for young people which is focused on supporting children and young people to access support that is age-appropriate and in their own community so that, where possible, they can remain with their families.

This is a requirement for the online process but applications can also be made directly to a local authority, including where the legal guardian is not named on the birth or adoption certificate.

Local authorities can look at other documentary evidence to prove the connection. Proofs from school records or through other interactions with the local council are often available.

Our draft NPF4 sets out how our approach to planning and development will achieve a net zero, sustainable Scotland by 2045.

Draft NPF4 includes green energy policies which support renewable energy development other than in National Parks and National Scenic Areas, subject to an assessment of their impacts on a case by case basis. Through the draft NPF4, we are also proposing to designate a national development which would establish the need for a large increase in renewable energy generation and substantial reinforcement and expansion of grid infrastructure throughout Scotland.

We laid the draft NPF4 in the Scottish Parliament on 10 November 2021. Alongside Parliamentary scrutiny of the draft, we are running a public consultation, supported by an extensive engagement programme, and comments are invited by 31 March 2022. Following this period, we will consider the responses received and any appropriate amendments to the draft NPF4 before presenting a final draft to the Scottish Parliament for its approval, in advance of adoption by the Scottish Ministers.

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

Following the decision by Scottish Ministers to transfer HMP Kilmarnock Prison to the public sector on expiry of the 25-year contract on 16 March 2024, SPS will become responsible for the management and operation of the establishment.

In preparation for this transfer:

(a) SPS is in continued dialogue with the contractor KPSL, and their sub-contractor, Serco Justice Services. SPS has also been engaging with surveyors to carry out Dilapidation Surveys of the existing site.

(b) The management of the transfer of HMP Kilmarnock into public ownership, will be undertaken by SPS. As part of this work SPS will liaise with key partners and Third sector service providers to ensure the transfer is successfully concluded.

Up to £5m funding has been made available to local authorities on the basis that they may use it to undertake remedial action in line with guidance on ventilation, with problematic spaces prioritised for action.

As part of the funding arrangements and ongoing work with local authorities on schools/ELC ventilation, the Scottish Government has agreed updated reporting arrangements with local authorities to ensure an appropriate understanding of how and to what extent funding is being used to support remedial action.

a) The ChargePlace Scotland Single Framework Agreement between Transport Scotland and SWARCO eVolt Ltd will be published shortly.

b) The ChargePlace Scotland Single Framework Agreement contains Key Performance Indictors (KPI), it is the KPIs which Transport Scotland use to monitor the contractor’s performance. These KPI’s have been published on the ChargePlace Scotland website and are updated monthly. The Framework Agreement describes the service levels which the contractor is expected to deliver in Schedule 1 of the document.

Our guidance asks local authorities to complete assessments of ventilation in their schools and to ensure that all day care of children services have access to CO2 monitoring, whether via mobile or fixed devices.

We have empowered local authorities to make their own supply arrangements, and supported them to overcome logistical problems when they have arisen.

During the Covid pandemic Network Rail and Transport Scotland examined ways where efficiency savings could be made. There has been no reduction to the maintenance budget in Scotland.

There has been no assessment of impact on services as there has been no reduction to Network Rail’s maintenance budget in Scotland.