Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-04826 on 13 December 2021. 26 Projects received recommendations of support totalling up to £24,145,384 as result the 2020 round of the fund. A list of all projects recommended to date can be found at https://www.gov.scot/publications/regeneration-capital-grant-fund-rcgf-recommended-projects-2014-2022/

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
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The ChargePlace Scotland Single Framework Agreement between Transport Scotland and SWARCO eVolt Ltd will be published by the end of March 2022. All personal data and commercially sensitive information will be removed prior to publication.

The Scottish Government is aware that Crown Estate Scotland have issued Mines Royal Options Agreements for gold and silver exploration in south west Scotland. The Scottish Government do not have direct involvement in this process, and do not hold details of Crown Estate Scotland Option Agreements or leases for mineral exploration. You may wish to contact Crown Estate Scotland directly at FreedomofInformation@crownestatescotland.com .

The Bank’s recruitment policies and procedures pre-dates development of its gender equality strategy, and please see the answer to question S6W-06789 on 8 March 2022. 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 .

I have also asked the Scottish National Investment Bank how it has utilised its gender equality strategy in Bank recruitment policies and processes, and the Bank has provided the following:

"Recruitment of the Scottish National Investment Bank has been ongoing since prior to the launch of the Bank in November 2020.

“The Bank has established a number of guiding principles within its recruitment policy and process to ensure Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Fair Work practices.

"With regards to gender equality specifically, the Bank worked closely with its Recruitment Partner to ensure all adverts reached the widest available candidate pools with flexibility at the heart of our attraction strategy. Gender balance was a key requirement for the Recruitment Partner to ensure balanced applicant pools (where possible and based on candidate availability).

“The Bank set a gender balance target for candidates shortlisted for interview of 50:50, with a minimum threshold of one third candidates being presented for interview being female. Where applicant pools did not meet the basic threshold, further search was undertaken.

“All interview panels are gender balanced, further helping to ensure that appointments are made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition.”

The eligibility criteria for the existing Business Ventilation Fund has been widened to include Day Care of children services operated by Private, Voluntary and Independent Sector Nurseries. PVI settings can claim up to £2,500 per eligible premises to support them to improve their ventilation, improve air quality, and help reduce the spread of COVID-19. The £25m Fund is open to applications and will remain open until 31 March 2022 or until funds are exhausted - whichever occurs first. Full details of the eligibility criteria for the Business Ventilation Fund, the costs which can be claimed back, and the application process can be found on the Scottish Government Website.

The Scottish Government is not aware of any staff reductions that would impact upon rail services in Scotland. The member may wish to contact the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) as the safety and economic regulator of Scotland’s railway.

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.

As was made clear in the letter to the Committee, an undercut of a door was only one element of an example set of remedial measures used to calculate the up-to-£5m fund.

The Scottish Government has not issued any guidance to local authorities recommending the use of door undercuts in specific spaces. Expert local authority teams fully understand that all remedial work undertaken should be in line with guidance on ventilation and based on expert assessment of the ventilation issues in a specific space.

The precise number of problematic spaces will be dependent on a range of factors over time, and many of the problematic spaces will already have been addressed. The Scottish Government has agreed formal reporting requirements regarding the number of remaining problematic spaces with local authorities.

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.

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.