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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S6W-04151

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 12 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 19 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications to the (a) Less Favoured Area Support Scheme and (b) Agri-Environment Climate Scheme there have been in each year since 2015, and how many (i) were approved and (ii) are awaiting a decision.

The following table summarises how many applications to the (a) Less Favoured Area Support Scheme there have been in each year since 2015, and how many (i) were approved and (ii) are awaiting a decision.

Please note the LFASS claims received in 2021 are still being assessed for approval.

Year	Total LFASS Claim Population Received	Eligible Population (Approved)	Awaiting Decision
2015	12,198	11,406	0
2016	12,092	11,334	0
2017	11,916	11,186	0
2018	11,790	11,058	<3
2019	11,644	10,920	5
2020	11,602	10,877	23

The following table summarises how many applications to the (b) Agri-Environment Climate Scheme there have been in each year since 2015, and how many (i) were approved and (ii) are awaiting a decision. The figures below exclude those applications that were submitted then subsequently withdrawn by the businesses concerned.

Please note the 2020 Round was not open to new applications, rather a one year’s extension was offered to all Management options that were due to end in 2020. Not all businesses accepted the offer.

Regards the 2021 Round, no approval decisions have been made as yet. However 72 applications have, so far, been deemed ineligible for approval.

Year	Received AECS Applications	Approved AECS Applications	Awaiting Decision
2015	927	594	0
2016	1,251	979	0
2017	989	807	0
2018	900	604	0
2019	709	506	0
2021	753	0	681

Question reference: S6W-04153

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 05 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03890 by John Swinney on 2 November 2021, whether it will publish (a) any modelling of a potential spike in COVID-19 cases following COP26, including the number of cases anticipated and (b) the details of any contingency plans that are in place for the NHS to respond to any rise in COVID-19 cases following COP26.

We continue to monitor and assess the pandemic closely and carefully. The Scottish Government develops a range of epidemic scenarios to provide the best public health advice to Ministers. These are presented in the Modelling the Epidemic report published by Scottish Government. These models consider a range of influences on the epidemic, of which COP26 is one. The Scottish Government will continue to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the NHS in the next few weeks in terms of estimated number of infections, hospital bed demand, and ICU bed demand. The scenarios within the Modelling the Epidemic report account for the start of the COP26 conference beginning in Glasgow on 31 October.

Based on current results, we do not have any concerns about COVID rates among Blue Zone passholders. As of 13 November, the cumulative test positivity for Blue Zone passholders, based on lateral flow tests, was 0.08%.

The Scottish Government continues to explore all options for how it will respond to the evolving pandemic and we will not hesitate to strengthen the protective measures in place if it proves necessary to do so. Given the uncertainty and risk we face as winter progresses, it would not be responsible to rule anything out at this stage.

Our Health and Social Care Winter Overview published in October outlines a package of over £300 million of investment in NHS and care services this winter to help address these pressures. This is shaped by our four key principles: maximising capacity; supporting staff wellbeing; supporting effective system flow, and improving outcomes.

Question reference: S6W-04183

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 05 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 19 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to announce the composition of the Green Heat Finance Taskforce.

The Scottish Government’s Heat in Buildings Strategy, published in October 2021, committed to establishing a Green Heat Finance Taskforce by the end of 2021. The purpose of the Taskforce is to develop a portfolio of innovative financial solutions involving the private, public and third sectors for building owners in Scotland to ensure that by 2045, our homes and buildings no longer contribute to climate change, as part of the wider just transition to net zero.

The Taskforce will forge a new partnership approach between the Scottish public sector, heat decarbonisation experts and the financial sector to explore potential new and value for money innovative financing mechanisms for individual and community level investment in zero emissions heat. The Taskforce has a crucial role in shaping how the transition to zero emissions heat in Scotland’s buildings is financed, therefore the membership of the Taskforce will be drawn from expertise including green finance, the heat and energy efficiency sector and consumer groups. Further details of the composition of the Taskforce will be provided by the end of 2021.

Question reference: S6W-04152

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 12 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 19 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications to the (a) Less Favoured Area Support Scheme and (b) Agri-Environment Climate Scheme in each year since 2015 that were not approved have been appealed, and how many appeals (i) have been upheld and (ii) are awaiting a decision.

The following table summarises how many applications to the (a) Less Favoured Area Support Scheme in each year since 2015 that were not approved have been appealed, and how many appeals (i) have been upheld and (ii) are awaiting a decision.

Please note the LFASS claims received in 2021 are still being assessed for approval.

Year	Number of Appeals	Upheld (in favour of the applicant)	Awaiting Decision
2015	<3	<3	0
2016	0	0	0
2017	0	0	0
2018	<3	0	0
2019	0	0	0
2020	0	0	0

The following table summarises how many applications to the (b) Agri-Environment Climate Scheme in each year since 2015 that were not approved have been appealed, and how many appeals (i) have been upheld and (ii) are awaiting a decision.

Please note the 2020 Round was not open to new applications, rather a one year’s extension was offered to all Management options that were due to end in 2020. Not all businesses accepted the offer.

Regards the 2021 Round, no approval decisions have been made as yet.

Year	AECS Applications Reviewed	Review Upheld (in favour of the applicant)	Awaiting Decision
2015	66	13	0
2016	93	18	0
2017	54	14	0
2018	76	27	0
2019	63	17	0

Question reference: S6W-04134

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 05 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 19 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it intends to require the installation of evacuation alert systems in new buildings that are between 11 and 18 metres in height.

The Scottish Government has no plans to introduce a requirement for evacuation alert systems to be installed in new buildings between 11 and 18 metres in height. See answer to S6W-04133 on 19 November 2021.

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 .

Question reference: S6W-04150

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 19 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide the data that shows the efficacy of the Hawick flood defences that are soon to be completed.

Question reference: S6W-04325

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6O-00418

Asked by: James Dornan, MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maggie Chapman MSP (on behalf of the SPCB) on 18 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what consultation was conducted with MSPs ahead of changing the allowances system.

I would like to begin by stating up front that we had to replace the travel and expenses system. The contract for that system was coming to an end, and it could not be extended further as it had reached its contract limit. We were required, as with all public bodies, to follow Public Procurement Scotland regulations and replace the system by putting the opportunity out to tender.

Given the system at the time was over 10 years old and travel and expenses systems had moved on significantly it was recognised that any new system would be a significant change for Members and their staff.

Therefore, as part of the survey carried out on the review of the Reimbursement of Members’ Expenses Scheme in March 2019, and with the understanding that the system would need replaced, questions were included in relation to the submitting of claims and invoices, how this could be improved as well as seeking feedback on submitting claims through a new on-line travel and expenses system.

66.67% - two thirds - of those who completed the survey thought it would be more efficient to submit claims on-line rather than in hard copy. This feedback, as well as other views on what they would like to see in a new system, was built into the specification for a new system. Some of these suggestions included:

make it all electronic
being able to see invoices online
being able to submit online
see reports at any time not just once a month
an app where picture or receipt could be included and then submitted
be able to see progress of invoices/claims

We recognise that Members have experienced some difficulties during the roll out of the new system and the Allowances Office has worked with Members, their staff and our providers to rectify any issues experienced and to provide ongoing support and guidance as and when required.

Question reference: S6O-00405

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 18 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the number of drugs tests taking place in prisons has fallen considerably since 2018.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of providing a safe and secure environment for those who work in our prisons and individuals in custody.

The SPS carries out drug testing for a range of reasons which includes suspicion testing and the identification of drug trend information as part of wider efforts to detect and deter illicit substances. It is also used for risk assessment purposes to support and evidence a prisoner’s progression through to release.

The reduction in the number of drug tests throughout 2020 and 2021 is linked to the COVID pandemic, partly due to reduced movement across the prison estate lessening the demand for drug tests related to progression.

The SPS anticipates that the number of drug tests will begin to increase as we move through to recovery from the pandemic.

Question reference: S6W-02661

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 18 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-01641 by Graeme Dey on 16 August 2021, whether it can confirm that there is no opposition from Transport Scotland to the application from the Ferymuir Gait site developer to secure planning permission for the access arrangements to the Ferrymuir Gait housing development to be amended, to allow for unrestricted access.