- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 September 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 13 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what measures are being taken to find alternative sailing routes to the Western Isles, and to inform ticket holders whether their tickets will be valid on alternative routes, in light of reports that Caledonian MacBrayne has cancelled all its ferry sailings between Malaig and Lochboisdale from 31 August to 8 September 2021.
Answer
When disruptions occur CalMac Ferries Ltd will conduct a network wide review to minimise the impact on communities. This includes redeployment of vessels from elsewhere on the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) network, identification of an alternative ferry route when an island (or group of islands), has more than one port, and provision of additional sailings on these alternative routes.
In this instance, it included additional sailings on the Uig – Lochmaddy route allowing onward travel to Lochboisdale, with the MV Clansman redeployed to operate this service. Services on all affected routes resumed normal timetabled sailings from 10 September 2021.
CalMac Customer Operations teams moved impacted traffic from affected sailings, contacting customers advising them of suggested alternative sailing; or if the customer preferred, offer a full refund.
- Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 September 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 13 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to engage with stakeholders and communities in relation to the terms of the next Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract.
Answer
Preparatory work by Transport Scotland for the next Clyde and Hebrides Ferries Services contract has begun but remains at an early stage. We are committed to ensure that views and perspectives of key stakeholders and communities are considered, reflected upon and help shape the detail within the next CHFS contract.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 September 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Clare Haughey on 13 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the number of childcare settings that have signed up to the Scottish Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme.
Answer
We continue to promote registration so more children can benefit from milk and a healthy snack. We are working in close partnership with COSLA and Local Authorities via an Implementation Group. We will shortly be expanding the remit and membership of this Group to include wider stakeholders and to ensure the scheme is meeting the needs of children and settings as we look ahead to scheme Year 2 and beyond.
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 August 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 13 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to increase the provision of community mental health support.
Answer
In October 2020 the Scottish Government published the Mental Health Transition & Recovery Plan. The plan outlined our priorities for mental health, highlighting the importance of community based mental health and wellbeing support.
In February we announced an additional £120 million for a Recovery & Renewal Fund to ensure the delivery of the commitments set out in the Mental Health Transition & Recovery Plan. The Fund will support the development of an integrated culture of mental wellbeing and prevention within local communities and across Scotland, and promote the capacity and role of third sector organisations to deliver this.
We are committed to improving access to community mental health and wellbeing support. This year we have provided local authorities with an additional £15 Million to fund over 200 new and enhanced supports and services for children and young people. In addition the recently published Scottish Government and Scottish Green Party shared policy programme commits to doubling the budget for community based mental wellbeing services for children and young people to £30 million per annum. Ministers are currently considering options to take this forward and will be informed by the work of the Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Joint Delivery Board.
The NHS recovery plan published in August also highlighted the importance of community mental health support. The Plan commits to building on the success of our community link worker programme, to ensure the by 2026, every GP Practice will have access to a mental health and wellbeing service, creating 1,000 additional dedicated staff who can help grow community mental health resilience and direct social prescribing.
- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 September 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 13 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to build a case for making a direct award of the next Clyde and Hebrides ferry services contract to an in-house operator, as stated on page 28 of the Scottish Government Ferry Services Procurement Policy, Interim Report - Emerging Findings, published in December 2017.
Answer
The Scottish Ministers are committed to ensure the most efficient and best value arrangement to deliver our key lifeline ferry services. An independent review of the current legal structures and governance arrangements around the provision of ferry services is already underway. There is nothing ‘off limits’ to the appointed consultants when addressing the issues within the scope of the review, including the direct award option. The review remains on track and we hope to publish the provisional outcomes of the review around the end of the year.
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 September 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Clare Haughey on 13 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what actions it has taken to date to prepare for implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill.
Answer
In March 2021, the Scottish Parliament unanimously passed the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill (the “Bill”), which aims to incorporate the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into Scots law to the maximum extent possible within the powers of the Scottish Parliament. The UK Government challenged the legislative competence of certain provisions of the Bill in a reference to the UK Supreme Court. A hearing was held on 28 and 29 June 2021 and judgment is awaited.
The Scottish Government remains committed to the incorporation of the UNCRC to the maximum extent of the Parliament’s powers and to commencement of the Bill as soon as possible. Whilst the reference means that the Bill cannot receive Royal Assent at this stage, the majority of work in relation to implementation can and is continuing, consistent with the fact that the case is before the UK Supreme Court.
- We are investing in a £4 million programme over three years to help to ensure public services are consistently upholding children’s rights
- The UNCRC Strategic Implementation Board has been meeting monthly since 1 July 2021 to provide strategic vision and oversight of a comprehensive and joined-up implementation programme
- A UNCRC Implementation Guidance Reference Group has been established comprising of key partners, and has been meeting fortnightly since 17 May 2021 to assist Scottish Government in developing non-statutory guidance to assist public authorities and those undertaking functions of a public nature to fulfil the UNCRC
- To support the meaningful and inclusive participation of children and young people in the UNCRC Strategic Implementation Board and wider implementation programme, we are working to establish a consortium of organisations that have strong, trusting relationships with children and young people across Scotland
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 September 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 13 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its cooperation agreement with the Scottish Green Party, whether it will provide an update on the progress of the A90 Montrose link road and whether any changes will be made to the delivery of the project.
Answer
This is a matter for Angus Council as the A90 Montrose link road is a local road project being taken forward by the Council.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 September 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 13 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on how the recently announced Gresham House Forestry Fund (a) meets one of the tests of the Scottish National Investment Bank that projects supported cannot attract private investment, and (b) contributes to diversifications of forests and land ownership.
Answer
The Bank has been established to be administratively independent from Government. While Ministers set the Missions, the Bank’s Board determines its investment strategy and investment criteria. Any investment the Bank makes is assessed rigorously by the Bank’s experienced investment team and must deliver both commercial returns and mission impact returns that support at least one of the missions. It must also meet the Bank’s subsidy control permissions, including assessing whether the Bank is at risk of crowding-out private investment.
There is potential for a substantial and growing market for natural capital and nature-based solutions to climate change emerging in Scotland, and for these in turn to have positive benefits for local communities. The Bank’s investment supports Gresham House in a new sustainable forestry fund venture which is focused on new and diverse planting in Scotland. It represents a new investment proposition which mainstream investors have yet to fully embrace. The Bank’s cornerstone investment is designed to encourage other investors to follow the Bank into this new type of forestry fund.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 September 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 13 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-31723 by Jeane Freeman on 9 November 2020, whether it will clarify if data on the provision of free personal care for under-65s has continued to be collected throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and, if so, whether it will provide an update on when it expects to publish this data.
Answer
Data on the implementation of free personal care to under 65’s, in line with other non-Covid-19 data collections, was temporarily postponed due to the pandemic and redirection of the Scottish Government and Local Authority resources to the pandemic response. The Scottish Government recommenced the collection of data on the implementation of free personal care to under 65’s in August 2021. This data will be collected and quality assured ahead of publication of results in 2022.
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 September 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 13 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what plan it has to maintain the Gaelic Capital Fund throughout the current parliamentary session.
Answer
The Scottish Government has a range of manifesto commitments for Gaelic. It is essential that we maintain mechanisms, such as the Gaelic Capital Fund, as we maintain the growth and expansion in Gaelic education across Scotland.