- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 04 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 3 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what support will be given to young people to apply for an updated Young Scot National Entitlement Card (NEC) in cases where they do not have access to a passport or driving licence due to affordability.
Answer
We know some people may not be able to apply online, for example if they do not hold the required proofs. For this reason applications can be made in-person via local councils. Local councils determine the documents which are required for offline applications and accept a wider range of proofs such as interactions with other local authority departments. Many local councils also have dedicated staff on hand to help applicants who might have difficulty with the application process.
In some council areas, schools are coordinating applications on behalf of their pupils. Schools will contact parents or guardians and pupils directly if this arrangement is in place.
- Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 04 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 3 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether young people who have received an email confirmation that they will receive a travel card for free bus travel, but have not received it, are able to claim back their bus travel costs between 1 February 2022 and the date on which they received their card, and if this is the case, what the process is for them to do so.
Answer
To access the scheme, all those aged 5-21 must be carrying a new card. A valid card must be presented to obtain free travel. Until a valid card is received applicants are required to pay the fare of any journeys required. Transport Scotland will not provide refunds for journeys made without a valid card.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 3 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-01090 by Jamie Hepburn on 13 July 2021, how it has assessed how the existing Turing Scheme will better reflect the needs of Scotland.
Answer
We have been engaging closely with the UK Government to establish that Scottish stakeholders can provide feedback and ensure that the Turing Scheme better reflects their needs.
In Turing Scheme’s first round of application results, each nation within the UK received less funding than previously secured under Erasmus plus. This highlights the need for the Scottish Government to consider how best to offer staff and learners further opportunities for mobility exchange.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 3 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-00906 by Jamie Hepburn on 28 June 2021, whether it will provide an update on the proposed Scottish Education Exchange Programme.
Answer
The development of a Scottish Education Exchange Programme is a Programme for Government commitment and will help maintain Scotland’s place as an outward looking, internationally connected destination for work and study.
We are engaging with stakeholders from across the education spectrum including higher and further education, community learning and development, youth work and adult education, schools and sports and are developing the programme ensuring it is fit for Scotland.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 04 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 3 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to support trans young people to update their Young Scot National Entitlement Card (NEC), if their name differs from other identification documents that they hold.
Answer
It is not currently possible for someone to apply online for a card in a different name from that shown in their official identity documents, however an applicant can contact their local authority and request a different name is displayed on their card from that in their identity documents.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 11 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 3 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the planning and development of a replacement for HMP Barlinnie.
Answer
I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:
SPS is currently in the process of selecting a contractor to initially develop a design for HMP Glasgow and thereafter award a contract for the construction of the new prison.
It is anticipated that a contractor will be appointed later this year to develop the design stage of the project.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 3 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many libraries have closed in each year since 1999.
Answer
Public library services in Scotland are devolved to local authorities which have a statutory duty to secure the provision of adequate library facilities for all persons resident in their area.
The Scottish Library and Information Council has provided data on the number of libraries in Scotland, England and Wales, based on data compiled by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). The data covers the period 2010 to 2020; we do not hold information on the numbers of libraries dating back to 1999. In Scotland, no libraries permanently closed in 2020-21. We do not have figures for England and Wales for this year.
FINANCIAL YEAR | SCOTLAND | ENGLAND | WALES |
| | Increase/ Decrease | Remaining | Increase/ Decrease | Remaining | Increase/ Decrease | Remaining |
2009-10 | 0 | 627 | 0 | 3,501 | 0 | 358 |
2010-11 | -8 | 619 | -32 | 3469 | +20 | 378 |
2011-12 | -9 | 610 | -149 | 3320 | -51 | 327 |
2012-13 | -4 | 606 | -59 | 3261 | -3 | 324 |
2013-14 | 0 | 609 | -35 | 3226 | +1 | 325 |
2014-15 | -3 | 603 | -57 | 3169 | -36 | 288 |
2015-16 | -15 | 588 | -47 | 3,122 | -16 | 272 |
2016-17 | -30 | 558 | -65 | 3,057 | +2 | 274 |
2017-18 | -2 | 556 | -38 | 3,019 | -1 | 273 |
2018-19 | -13 | 543 | -14 | 3,005 | -1 | 272 |
2019-20 | +1 | 544 | -30 | 2,975 | -1 | 273 |
NET CHANGE | -83 | | -526 | | -92 | |
% change from 2010 | 13.2% | | 15% | | 25.7% | |
[source: Scottish Library and Information Council]
The data shows that Scotland has seen library closures over this period, but at a lower level than that seen in England and Wales. Between 2010 to 2020 13.2% of branches closed in Scotland compared with 16% across England and Wales. No libraries in Scotland permanently closed in 2020 or 2021; however, there were temporary closures due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Building closures in Scotland have largely bottomed out with significant investment in excess of £25 million taking place in the building and mobile infrastructure since 2015. 2016 was the exception to this, due to a reorganisation of library services in Fife.
- Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Lorna Slater on 3 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason glass has been included in its Deposit Return Scheme.
Answer
Including glass in our Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) will bring significant environmental and economic benefits. The inclusion of glass will save over 1.2 megatonnes CO 2 equivalent over 25 years. DRS will also reduce the amount of harmful glass litter in our environment.
In addition, DRS will significantly increase the quantity and quality of glass recyclate, creating an aggregated and high-quality feedstock for reprocessing. This will include clear glass which we understand to be in high demand.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Lorna Slater on 3 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the amount spent on initiatives to promote the re-use of electrical waste in each of the last 10 years.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold information which provides a breakdown of spending on initiatives to promote the re-use of electrical waste.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 3 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many hours of purposeful activity prisoners had, on average, per week in (a) 2019, (b) 2020 and (c) 2021, broken down by prison.
Answer
I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:
The following table details the average number of purposeful activity hours per week for convicted prisoners across the prison estate, in each financial year that incorporates 2019, 2020 and 2021: -
Year | April 2018 – March 2019 | April 2019 – March 2020 | April 2020 – March 2021 | April 2021 – January 2022 |
Establishment | Average PA hours | Average PA hours | Average PA hours | Average PA hours |
Barlinnie | 14 | 12 | 10 | 10 |
Cornton Vale | 19 | 20 | 20 | 26 |
Dumfries | 18 | 15 | 8 | 10 |
Edinburgh | 12 | 13 | 9 | 10 |
Glenochil | 17 | 16 | 11 | 11 |
Grampian | 25 | 25 | 19 | 16 |
Greenock | 20 | 22 | 19 | 22 |
Inverness | 25 | 25 | 24 | 27 |
Low Moss | 23 | 22 | 16 | 18 |
Castle Huntly | 22 | 21 | 20 | 22 |
Perth | 18 | 14 | 9 | 14 |
Polmont | 21 | 18 | 14 | 19 |
Shotts | 25 | 25 | 9 | 10 |
HMP Addiewell and Kilmarnock are privately operated prisons and are not required to provide PA hours on a monthly basis. The delivery of PA hours within these two establishments is monitored through contractual arrangements with SPS Controllers and Contract Managers to ensure compliance.
