Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-10799

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 02 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the amount of remuneration for each individual currently serving on two or more boards of public bodies, and whether it will provide a list showing the amount for each position held.

The Scottish Government public appointments team, in line with the Ethical Standards Commissioner Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies in Scotland, publishes information including the rate of remuneration on those holding board member and Chair positions on the boards of regulated public bodies. This information is published on the Public Appointments website on the Scottish Government Website. [ Full list of public appointments by public body - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) ].

An extract is attached highlighting the remuneration received by those individuals who currently serve on the boards of two or more public bodies.

Board Members Holding Two or More Public Appointments

Name	Board	Position	Remuneration
Ailsa Raeburn	Crown Estate Scotland	Member	£219.50 per day
Ailsa Raeburn	Highlands and Islands Enterprise	Member	£10,056 per annum
Albert Donald	Grampian NHS Board	Member - Whistleblowing Champion	£8,930 per annum
Albert Donald	Highland NHS Board	Member - Whistleblowing Champion	£8,930 per annum
Amanda Bryan	Crown Estate Scotland	Chair	£361 per day
Amanda Bryan	Highlands and Islands Enterprise	Member	£10,056 per annum
Andrew Thin	Crofting Commission	Commissioner	£178.23 per day
Andrew Thin	Scottish Land Commission	Chair	£273.60 per day
Angiolina Foster CBE	Public Health Scotland	Chair	£27,830 per annum
Angiolina Foster CBE	Scottish Fire and Rescue Service	Member	£297.95 per day
Ann Allen MBE	Architecture and Design Scotland	Chair	£200 per day
Ann Allen MBE	National Museums of Scotland	Member	Nil
Ann Allen MBE	Scottish Futures Trust	Member	£325 per day
Ann Allen MBE	Water Industry Commission for Scotland	Member	£13,780 per annum
Anne-Marie Monaghan	Greater Glasgow & Clyde NHS Board	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Anne-Marie Monaghan	Independent Living Fund Scotland	Member	£182.56 per day
Bill Matthews	Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission	Chair	£425 per day
Bill Matthews	Scottish Futures Trust	Member	£325 per day
Brian Baverstock	Scottish Fire and Rescue Service	Member	£297.95 per day
Brian Baverstock	Scottish Legal Aid Board	Member	£238.92 per day
Brian Moore	Lanarkshire NHS Board	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Brian Moore	The State Hospitals Board for Scotland	Chair	£27,830 per annum
Carole Wilkinson	Care Inspectorate	Member (in capacity as Chair of HIS)	Nil - paid as Chair of Healthcare Improvement Scotland
Carole Wilkinson	Healthcare Improvement Scotland	Chair	£178.39 per day
Caroline Stuart	Regional Colleges and Regional Boards (Dumfries and Galloway)	Chair	£211 per day
Caroline Stuart	Scottish Funding Council	Member	£350.73 per day
Caroline Stuart	Scottish Police Authority	Member	£378 per day
Christine Lester	Accounts Commission for Scotland	Member	£296.23 per day
Christine Lester	Healthcare Improvement Scotland	Lay Member	£171.74 per day
Douglas Moodie	Care Inspectorate	Chair	£272.50 per day
Douglas Moodie	Healthcare Improvement Scotland	Member (in capacity as Chair of Care Inspectorate)	Nil - paid as Chair of Care Inspectorate
Douglas Moodie	Scottish Social Services Council	Member (in capacity as Chair of Care Inspectorate)	Nil - paid as Convenor of Care Inspectorate
Dr Carol Evans	Food Standards Scotland	Member	£227 per day
Dr Carol Evans	Skills Development Scotland	Member	£8,136 per annum
Dr Gaener Rodger	Highland NHS Board	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Dr Gaenor Rodger	Cairngorms National Park Authority	Member	£226.75 per day
Dr Heather Reid	Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority	Member	£199.35 per day
Dr Heather Reid	NatureScot	Member	£317.22 per day
Dr Keith Nicholson	Highlands and Islands Enterprise	Member	£10,056 per annum
Dr Keith Nicholson	VisitScotland	Member	£8,235 per annum
Dr Kirsty Darwent	Scottish Fire and Rescue Service	Chair	£444 per day
Dr Kirsty Darwent	Scottish Agricultural Wages Board	Chair	£250.50 per day
Dr Mike Cantlay OBE	Scottish Funding Council	Chair	£485.17 per day
Dr Mike Cantlay OBE	NatureScot	Chair	£361.43 per day
Dr Paul Stollard	Historic Environment Scotland	Member	Nil
Dr Paul Stollard	Scottish Fire and Rescue Service	Member	£297.95 per day
Dr Poonam Malik	Scottish Enterprise	Member	£13,260 per annum
Dr Poonam Malik	Skills Development Scotland	Member	£8,136 per annum
Dr Susan Walker	Food Standards Scotland	Member	£227 per day
Dr Susan Walker	Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland	Member	£219 per day
Dr William Maxwell	Care Inspectorate	Lay Member	£174.50 per day
Dr William Maxwell	Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator	Member	£212 per day
Elizabeth Humphreys	Independent Living Fund Scotland	Member	£182.56 per day
Elizabeth Humphreys	Public Health Scotland	Member - Whistleblowing Champion	£8,930 per annum
Elizabeth Humphreys	Scottish Ambulance Service	Member - Whistleblowing Champion	£8,930 per annum
George Walker	Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator	Interim Chair	£283 per day
George Walker	Scottish Housing Regulator	Chair	£216.14 per day
Gillian Mawdsley	NHS Education for Scotland	Member - Whistleblowing Champion	£8,930 per annum
Gillian Mawdsley	Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission	Legal Member	£12,192 per annum
Gordon Johnston	Forth Valley NHS Board	Member - Whistleblowing Champion	£8,930 per annum
Gordon Johnston	Mental Welfare Commission	Lay Member	£220 per day
Graham MacNeil Bell OBE	Community Justice Scotland	Member	£4,000 per annum
Graham MacNeil Bell OBE	Highland NHS Board	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Grant Macrae	David MacBrayne Ltd	Non-Executive Director	£320 per day
Grant Macrae	Scottish Police Authority	Member	£378 per day
Ian Russell CBE	National Museums of Scotland	Chair	Nil
Ian Russell CBE	Scottish Futures Trust	Chair	£18,432 per annum (not taken)
James Martin	Scottish Legal Complaints Commission	Chair	£313 per day
James Martin	Environmental Standards Scotland	Chair	£300 per day
Janie McCusker	Forth Valley NHS Board	Chair	£33,052 per annum
Janie McCusker	Regional Colleges and Regional Boards (Glasgow)	Chair	£330 per day
Jean Ford	Ayrshire & Arran NHS Board	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Jean Ford	NHS Education for Scotland	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Jean Lindsay	Crown Estate Scotland	Member	£219.50 per day
Jean Lindsay	Revenue Scotland	Member	£275 per day
Katharina Kasper	Children’s Hearing Scotland	Chair	£21,120 per annum
Katharina Kasper	Lothian NHS Board	Member - Whistleblowing Champion	£8,930 per annum
Katharina Kasper	Scottish Police Authority	Member	£378 per day
Keith Redpath	Care Inspectorate	Lay Member	£174.50 per day
Keith Redpath	NHS National Services Scotland	Chair	£27,830 per annum
Linda Bamford	Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland	Chair (Convener)	£200 per day
Linda Bamford	Poverty and Inequality Commission	Member	£225 per day
Linda Semple	Ayrshire & Arran NHS Board	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Linda Semple	NHS Golden Jubilee Board	Lay Member (Vice Chair)	£8,930 per annum
Lorna Jack	Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd	Chair	£330 per day
Lorna Jack	Scottish Funding Council	Member	£350.73 per day
Marieke Dwarshuis	NHS 24	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Marieke Dwarshuis	Scottish Housing Regulator	Member	£179.78 per day
Marieke Dwarshuis	Scottish Legal Aid Board	Member	£238.92 per day
Martin Hill	Lanarkshire NHS Board	Chair	£35,489 per annum
Martin Hill	Scottish Environment Protection Agency	Member	£293.29 per day
Michelle Miller	Scottish Children's Reporter Administration (SCRA)	Chair	£22,880 per annum
Michelle Miller	Scottish Police Authority	Member	£378 per day
Naghat Ahmed	Care Inspectorate	Lay Member	£174.50 per day
Naghat Ahmed	Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland	Member	£150 per day
Peter Murray	Lothian NHS Board	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Peter Murray	Scottish Social Services Council	Member	£154.13 per day
Prof Donald MacRae OBE	Highlands and Islands Enterprise	Member	£10,056 per annum
Prof Donald MacRae OBE	Water Industry Commission for Scotland	Chair	£36,400 per annum
Raymond McMenamin	Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission	Legal Member	£12,192 per annum
Raymond McMenamin	Scottish Legal Aid Board	Member	£238.92 per day
Sandra Campbell	Care Inspectorate	Member (in capacity as Convener of SSSC)	Nil - paid as Convenor of Scottish Social Services Council
Sandra Campbell	Scottish Social Services Council	Chair (Convener)	£25168 per annum
Sandy Riddell	Grampian NHS Board	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Sandy Riddell	Mental Welfare Commission	Chair	£338 per day
Sharon O'Connor	Accounts Commission for Scotland	Member	£296.23 per day
Sharon O'Connor	David MacBrayne Ltd	Non-Executive Director	£320 per day
Siobhan White	Lanarkshire NHS Board	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Siobhan White	Scottish Housing Regulator	Member	£179.78 per day
Stephen McAllister	Forth Valley NHS Board	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Stephen McAllister	NHS Golden Jubilee Board	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Stephen McAllister	Risk Management Authority	Member	£5,880 per annum
Steve Barron	Public Health Scotland	Member	£8,930 per annum
Steve Barron	Scottish Fire and Rescue Service	Member	£297.95 per day
Stuart Currie	The State Hospitals Board for Scotland	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Stuart Currie	Scottish Ambulance Service	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Susan Douglas-Scott	Independent Living Fund Scotland	Chair	£217.54 per day
Susan Douglas-Scott	NHS Golden Jubilee Board	Chair	£27,830 per annum
Tim Ingram	David MacBrayne Ltd	Non-Executive Director	£320 per day
Tim Ingram	Western Isles NHS Board	Member	£8,176 per annum
Tim McKay	Accounts Commission for Scotland	Member	£296.23 per day
Tim McKay	Scottish Legal Aid Board	Member	£238.92 per day
Willie Watt	National Galleries of Scotland	Member	Nil
Willie Watt	Scottish National Investment Bank	Chair	£1,250 per day

Question reference: S6W-10818

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 02 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to contribute international aid to Pakistan following reports of extreme flooding in the south of the country, and in light of the UK Government’s commitment to contribute £1.5 million of humanitarian aid.

We are all shocked by the devastating effects of the floods in Pakistan, with children reported to be the most vulnerable; UNICEF has reported that some 17,566 schools nationwide have been damaged or destroyed. The Scottish Government has made £500,000 in funds available to be split between the Disasters Emergency Committee and the Humanitarian Emergency Fund. This is a clear example of loss and damage caused by climate change, speaking to the importance of Scotland’s leadership in this area. It is important that we stand in solidarity with Pakistan, its people, and the diaspora community during this crisis. I met with the Pakistan Consul General in Glasgow on 7 September to hear first-hand the situation on the ground, and to offer Scotland’s support. We are working with the Pakistani community to ensure that we provide consistent messaging on how they might best assist the people of Pakistan during this time.

Question reference: S6W-10821

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 02 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider introducing a statutory right to time off work for people undergoing fertility treatment.

Question reference: S6W-10800

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 02 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many individuals currently serve on the boards of two or more public bodies, and whether it will provide a list of those individuals and the positions that they hold.

The Scottish Government public appointments team in line with the Ethical Standards Commissioner Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies in Scotland publishes information on those holding board member and Chair positions on the boards of regulated public bodies. This information is published on the Public Appointments website on the Scottish Government Website. [ Full list of public appointments by public body - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) ].

Currently there are 57 individuals who serve on two or more Boards of public bodies.

An extract is attached below highlighting those individuals who currently serve on the boards of two or more public bodies.

Board Members Holding Two or More Public Appointments

Name	Board	Position
Ailsa Raeburn	Crown Estate Scotland	Member
Ailsa Raeburn	Highlands and Islands Enterprise	Member
Albert Donald	Grampian NHS Board	Member - Whistleblowing Champion
Albert Donald	Highland NHS Board	Member - Whistleblowing Champion
Amanda Bryan	Crown Estate Scotland	Chair
Amanda Bryan	Highlands and Islands Enterprise	Member
Andrew Thin	Crofting Commission	Commissioner
Andrew Thin	Scottish Land Commission	Chair
Angiolina Foster CBE	Public Health Scotland	Chair
Angiolina Foster CBE	Scottish Fire and Rescue Service	Member
Ann Allen MBE	Architecture and Design Scotland	Chair
Ann Allen MBE	National Museums of Scotland	Member
Ann Allen MBE	Scottish Futures Trust	Member
Ann Allen MBE	Water Industry Commission for Scotland	Member
Anne-Marie Monaghan	Greater Glasgow & Clyde NHS Board	Lay Member
Anne-Marie Monaghan	Independent Living Fund Scotland	Member
Bill Matthews	Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission	Chair
Bill Matthews	Scottish Futures Trust	Member
Brian Baverstock	Scottish Fire and Rescue Service	Member
Brian Baverstock	Scottish Legal Aid Board	Member
Brian Moore	Lanarkshire NHS Board	Lay Member
Brian Moore	The State Hospitals Board for Scotland	Chair
Carole Wilkinson	Care Inspectorate	Member (in capacity as Chair of HIS)
Carole Wilkinson	Healthcare Improvement Scotland	Chair
Caroline Stuart	Regional Colleges and Regional Boards (Dumfries and Galloway)	Chair
Caroline Stuart	Scottish Funding Council	Member
Caroline Stuart	Scottish Police Authority	Member
Christine Lester	Accounts Commission for Scotland	Member
Christine Lester	Healthcare Improvement Scotland	Lay Member
Douglas Moodie	Care Inspectorate	Chair
Douglas Moodie	Healthcare Improvement Scotland	Member (in capacity as Chair of Care Inspectorate)
Douglas Moodie	Scottish Social Services Council	Member (in capacity as Chair of Care Inspectorate)
Dr Carol Evans	Food Standards Scotland	Member
Dr Carol Evans	Skills Development Scotland	Member
Dr Gaener Rodger	Highland NHS Board	Lay Member
Dr Gaenor Rodger	Cairngorms National Park Authority	Member
Dr Heather Reid	Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority	Member
Dr Heather Reid	NatureScot	Member
Dr Keith Nicholson	Highlands and Islands Enterprise	Member
Dr Keith Nicholson	VisitScotland	Member
Dr Kirsty Darwent	Scottish Fire and Rescue Service	Chair
Dr Kirsty Darwent	Scottish Agricultural Wages Board	Chair
Dr Mike Cantlay OBE	Scottish Funding Council	Chair
Dr Mike Cantlay OBE	NatureScot	Chair
Dr Paul Stollard	Historic Environment Scotland	Member
Dr Paul Stollard	Scottish Fire and Rescue Service	Member
Dr Poonam Malik	Scottish Enterprise	Member
Dr Poonam Malik	Skills Development Scotland	Member
Dr Susan Walker	Food Standards Scotland	Member
Dr Susan Walker	Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland	Member
Dr William Maxwell	Care Inspectorate	Lay Member
Dr William Maxwell	Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator	Member
Elizabeth Humphreys	Independent Living Fund Scotland	Member
Elizabeth Humphreys	Public Health Scotland	Member - Whistleblowing Champion
Elizabeth Humphreys	Scottish Ambulance Service	Member - Whistleblowing Champion
George Walker	Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator	Interim Chair
George Walker	Scottish Housing Regulator	Chair
Gillian Mawdsley	NHS Education for Scotland	Member - Whistleblowing Champion
Gillian Mawdsley	Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission	Legal Member
Gordon Johnston	Forth Valley NHS Board	Member - Whistleblowing Champion
Gordon Johnston	Mental Welfare Commission	Lay Member
Graham MacNeil Bell OBE	Community Justice Scotland	Member
Graham MacNeil Bell OBE	Highland NHS Board	Lay Member
Grant Macrae	David MacBrayne Ltd	Non-Executive Director
Grant Macrae	Scottish Police Authority	Member
Ian Russell CBE	National Museums of Scotland	Chair
Ian Russell CBE	Scottish Futures Trust	Chair
James Martin	Scottish Legal Complaints Commission	Chair
James Martin	Environmental Standards Scotland	Chair
Janie McCusker	Forth Valley NHS Board	Chair
Janie McCusker	Regional Colleges and Regional Boards (Glasgow)	Chair
Jean Ford	Ayrshire & Arran NHS Board	Lay Member
Jean Ford	NHS Education for Scotland	Lay Member
Jean Lindsay	Crown Estate Scotland	Member
Jean Lindsay	Revenue Scotland	Member
Katharina Kasper	Children’s Hearing Scotland	Chair
Katharina Kasper	Lothian NHS Board	Member - Whistleblowing Champion
Katharina Kasper	Scottish Police Authority	Member
Keith Redpath	Care Inspectorate	Lay Member
Keith Redpath	NHS National Services Scotland	Chair
Linda Bamford	Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland	Chair (Convener)
Linda Bamford	Poverty and Inequality Commission	Member
Linda Semple	Ayrshire & Arran NHS Board	Lay Member
Linda Semple	NHS Golden Jubilee Board	Lay Member (Vice Chair)
Lorna Jack	Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd	Chair
Lorna Jack	Scottish Funding Council	Member
Marieke Dwarshuis	NHS 24	Lay Member
Marieke Dwarshuis	Scottish Housing Regulator	Member
Marieke Dwarshuis	Scottish Legal Aid Board	Member
Martin Hill	Lanarkshire NHS Board	Chair
Martin Hill	Scottish Environment Protection Agency	Member
Michelle Miller	Scottish Children's Reporter Administration (SCRA)	Chair
Michelle Miller	Scottish Police Authority	Member
Naghat Ahmed	Care Inspectorate	Lay Member
Naghat Ahmed	Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland	Member
Peter Murray	Lothian NHS Board	Lay Member
Peter Murray	Scottish Social Services Council	Member
Prof Donald MacRae OBE	Highlands and Islands Enterprise	Member
Prof Donald MacRae OBE	Water Industry Commission for Scotland	Chair
Raymond McMenamin	Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission	Legal Member
Raymond McMenamin	Scottish Legal Aid Board	Member
Sandra Campbell	Care Inspectorate	Member (in capacity as Convener of SSSC)
Sandra Campbell	Scottish Social Services Council	Chair (Convener)
Sandy Riddell	Grampian NHS Board	Lay Member
Sandy Riddell	Mental Welfare Commission	Chair
Sharon O'Connor	Accounts Commission for Scotland	Member
Sharon O'Connor	David MacBrayne Ltd	Non-Executive Director
Siobhan White	Lanarkshire NHS Board	Lay Member
Siobhan White	Scottish Housing Regulator	Member
Stephen McAllister	Forth Valley NHS Board	Lay Member
Stephen McAllister	NHS Golden Jubilee Board	Lay Member
Stephen McAllister	Risk Management Authority	Member
Steve Barron	Public Health Scotland	Member
Steve Barron	Scottish Fire and Rescue Service	Member
Stuart Currie	The State Hospitals Board for Scotland	Lay Member
Stuart Currie	Scottish Ambulance Service	Lay Member
Susan Douglas-Scott	Independent Living Fund Scotland	Chair
Susan Douglas-Scott	NHS Golden Jubilee Board	Chair
Tim Ingram	David MacBrayne Ltd	Non-Executive Director
Tim Ingram	Western Isles NHS Board	Member
Tim McKay	Accounts Commission for Scotland	Member
Tim McKay	Scottish Legal Aid Board	Member
Willie Watt	National Galleries of Scotland	Member
Willie Watt	Scottish National Investment Bank	Chair

Question reference: S6W-10804

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Friday, 02 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set out its reasoning for its reported decision not to reopen the Scottish Clans & Historical Figures Events Fund.

The Scottish Government works closely with the tourism sector to identify priorities to support the growth of the sector. These priorities, agreed with the sector, are articulated through Scotland Outlook 2030, Scotland’s national tourism strategy, and the Tourism Recovery Programme. The Scottish Clans & Historical Figures Events funding has not been identified as a strategic priority through this process.

Question reference: S6W-10681

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide the details of each (a) question raised and (b) answer given, at each of the Building Scotland (Amendment) Regulations 2022 - Online Q&A Sessions, which ran from 27 June to 3 August 2022.

The questions asked and the answers provided, during each of the Building Scotland (Amendment) Regulations 2022 - Online Q&A Sessions, were recorded and have now been collated and organised according to topic within a summary document.

This document is currently being finalised and will be published at: www.gov.scot/publications/building-standards-technical-handbooks-2022/ before the end of September.

Question reference: S6W-10720

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it expects to have published its new Disability Equality Plan.

Question reference: S6W-10667

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to create through its agencies a capital funding stream for arts and culture projects, which could support the building of new theatre spaces.

The recent targeted review of the Capital Spending Review does not include a new funding stream dedicated to supporting new theatre spaces. The Scottish Government currently considers any request for capital funding of cultural venues on a case by case basis, dependent on a robust Business Case. We have provided £5.5 million towards the Citizens Theatre refurbishment, including a recent £1.5 million of additional support through Regeneration Capital Grant Fund, and will provide £6.5 million to support the King’s Theatre Edinburgh redevelopment.

Question reference: S6W-10719

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring that every child leaves school with the ability to cycle safely.

Bikeability Scotland is a national cycle training programme for school children which supports the next generation of confident and responsible people travelling by bike. More than 41,000 children benefited from cycle training across all levels of the programme in 2020-21, and 37% of all primary schools delivered essential life skills through Level 2 on-road training.

The child poverty delivery plan 2018-2022 recognises transport as a key lever of poverty and child poverty through its impact on household income access to employment, education, goods and services. We have a commitment to provide free bikes to children who cannot afford one, and to date over 2,000 young people in Scotland have benefited from this commitment through our nine pilot projects.

Ensuring that every child leaves school with the ability to cycle safely, is not only about training. It’s also about providing a safe environment through the development of active travel infrastructure. We are committed to supporting many more people to walk, wheel or cycle for everyday journeys and are allocating record funding for that purpose.

The Active Travel budget for 2022-23 increased to a record £150 million; of which £137.7 million is capital investment. This includes the Cycling Walking Safer Routes grant of £35 million that goes directly to local authorities on a pro rata basis. We are investing in ambitious on and off-road segregated walking and cycling routes, safer junctions and improved design of place.

Question reference: S6W-10666

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what funding (a) has been provided since 2019 and (b) will be provided to local authorities in order to comply with the Burial Ground Memorial Safety Guidance for Scotland's Local Authorities it published in June 2019, in particular to support local authorities to follow the options set out under the "Methods of Making Safe" section, broken down by local authority.

Responsibility for the routine maintenance, upkeep and management of burial grounds in Scotland rests with the relevant burial authority. A burial authority may be a local authority or a private owner. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (as amended), owners must ensure any premises they are responsible for are maintained to a safe standard for both employees and visitors. The Burial ground memorial safety: local authority guidance was produced to assist local authorities meet their obligations to inspect and make safe memorials and headstones.

At this time the Scottish Government has no plans to provide financial support to local authorities for the maintenance of burial grounds.

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