- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 27 February 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to ensure that widening participation of the nursing and midwifery workforce will be responsive to remote and rural needs, as outlined in the Ministerial Scottish Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce recommendations.
Answer
As set out in answer to Parliamentary Question S6W-34995 on 27 February 2025, the implementation phase of the Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce has now begun, and two Implementation Delivery Groups are being established to oversee swift delivery of all 44 recommended actions. One group, chaired by the Interim Chief Nursing Officer, will meet at the end of February and then recurrently every 6 - 8 weeks. A further Implementation Delivery Group will be chaired by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and will meet in Spring and then every six months. These two Groups will ensure that priorities are clearly defined, progress is measurable, and key milestones are met. A detailed work plan and timeline to guide the delivery of the recommended actions will be agreed in Spring.
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
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 27 February 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to ensure that nurses and midwives can access sustainable and progressive opportunities to influence policy, practice, national and local strategy to achieve change, as it committed to in the recommended actions of the Ministerial Scottish Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce.
Answer
As set out in answer to Parliamentary Question S6W-34995 on 27 February 2025, the implementation phase of the Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce has now begun, and two Implementation Delivery Groups are being established to oversee swift delivery of all 44 recommended actions. One group, chaired by the Interim Chief Nursing Officer, will meet at the end of February and then recurrently every 6 - 8 weeks. A further Implementation Delivery Group will be chaired by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and will meet in Spring and then every six months. These two Groups will ensure that priorities are clearly defined, progress is measurable, and key milestones are met. A detailed work plan and timeline to guide the delivery of the recommended actions will be agreed in Spring.
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
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Paul McLennan on 27 February 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had any discussions with South Lanarkshire Council regarding the potential impact of any reduction in funding for housing support services and whether it will intervene to ensure the continuation of these services.
Answer
The Scottish Government has not had any recent discussions with South Lanarkshire Council regarding funding for housing support services. As I understand, South Lanarkshire Council have engaged directly with both RSLs to help them prepare for this proposed transition, and their engagement with both RSLs will continue beyond any savings proposals being approved by South Lanarkshire Council. It is for South Lanarkshire Council, along with South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership, to determine how much funding is allocated towards housing support services to meet the needs of their residents.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 27 February 2025
To ask the Scottish Government when the new entry routes into nursing and midwifery, as outlined in the Ministerial Scottish Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce recommendations, will be open to applicants.
Answer
As set out in answer to Parliamentary Question S6W-34995 on 27 February 2025, the implementation phase of the Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce has now begun, and two Implementation Delivery Groups are being established to oversee swift delivery of all 44 recommended actions. One group, chaired by the Interim Chief Nursing Officer, will meet at the end of February and then recurrently every 6 - 8 weeks. A further Implementation Delivery Group will be chaired by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and will meet in Spring and then every six months. These two Groups will ensure that priorities are clearly defined, progress is measurable, and key milestones are met. A detailed work plan and timeline to guide the delivery of the recommended actions will be agreed in Spring.
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
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 27 February 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how many signs located along the (a) A82, (b) A828, (c) A83, (d) A835, (e) A85, (f) A86, (g) A87, (h) A887, (i) A889, (j) A9, (k) A95, (l) A96 and (m) A99 that were categorised as having a Category 1 defect did not receive a temporary or permanent repair by 6.00 am on the day following identification, in each year since 2021.
Answer
Transport Scotland’s Operating Companies are required to either repair or make safe Category 1 sign defects within 24 hours of detection. The following table provides the number of Category 1 sign related defects that were not recorded as either repaired or made safe within 24 hours.
| | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
A82 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
A828 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A83 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
A835 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A85 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A86 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
A87 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
A887 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A889 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A9 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
A95 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
A96 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
A99 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 27 February 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-32276 by Siobhian Brown on 19 December 2024, whether the Independent Working Group on Antisocial Behaviour reported to ministers "by the end of 2024", as set out in its answer, and by what date (a) the report and (b) its response to it will be published.
Answer
A pre-publication version of the report of the Independent Working Group on Antisocial Behaviour was submitted to myself, COSLA and Police Scotland just before Christmas. The report has since been finalised and was published on Tuesday 25th February 2025. It is available at Report of the Independent Working Group on Antisocial Behaviour. Along with our lead partners, COSLA and Police Scotland, we are considering the recommendations and support for local community safety and multi-agency prevention work. We plan to provide a comprehensive response in the Summer with a progress update by Easter. I am grateful to the Group for their work and to all who contributed.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 27 February 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how many signs are located along the (a) A82, (b) A828, (c) A83, (d) A835, (e) A85, (f) A86, (g) A87, (h) A887, (i) A889, (j) A9, (k) A95, (l) A96 and (m) A99, and what proportion does not meet current standards for visibility and effectiveness, broken down by Category (i) 1 and (ii) 2 defects.
Answer
Category 1 defects are defined within the term maintenance contract as those that present, or could present, an immediate hazard to trunk road users. They are typically detected during the twice weekly driven safety related inspections. Category 2 defects are defined as those which do not present an immediate hazard to road users and are typically identified during walked annual inspections.
The following table contains the number of signs on the routes requested along with the number of signs with open defects of all types as at 12 February 2025.
| | Number of signs | Category 1 defects | Category 2 defects |
A82 | 5517 | 17 | 1600 |
A828 | 971 | 3 | 87 |
A83 | 2050 | 9 | 711 |
A835 | 1033 | 0 | 239 |
A85 | 3028 | 2 | 958 |
A86 | 1545 | 2 | 339 |
A87 | 2341 | 3 | 481 |
A887 | 188 | 0 | 67 |
A889 | 289 | 0 | 153 |
A9 | 6062 | 18 | 1374 |
A95 | 1157 | 0 | 84 |
A96 | 3064 | 18 | 274 |
A99 | 430 | 2 | 63 |
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 27 February 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that the Freight Facilities Grant (FFG) supports projects in both urban and rural areas equally.
Answer
Any company, in either a rural or urban area, which wants to move freight by rail or water rather than by road and which is proposing to invest in new freight handling facilities in Scotland or re-invest in existing facilities in Scotland may apply for Freight Facilities Grant. All applications are treated on their merits.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 27 February 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that projects funded through the Freight Facilities Grant (FFG) align with its (a) economic, (b) environmental and (c) transport strategy.
Answer
Taking freight off congested roads and moving it by rail or water can ensure that freight is moved in an efficient, flexible and sustainable manner. Freight Facilities Grant (FFG) can act as an enabler for companies investing in facilities that without FFG, would not happen as they would not be commercially viable
Heavy goods vehicles are a major contributor to emissions within the Scottish economy. Emissions from rail are considerably lower. Scottish Government policy to encourage the shift of freight from road to rail and other, more sustainable forms of transport aligns with the priority to “take climate action” in the National Transport Strategy 2 and supports the legislative target for Scotland to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.
The Scottish Government has set regulatory targets for rail freight growth. The target for the period 2024 to 2029 is 8.7% and, if achieved, is forecast to result in an additional 2,200 annual trains by 2029.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 27 February 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors the long-term efficacy of projects funded through the Freight Facilities Grant (FFG).
Answer
Traffic monitoring is undertaken after a facility funded under the grant scheme becomes operational.
Transport Scotland requires applicants to provide a return of traffic passing through the grant-aided facility. Transport Scotland will require verified tonnages reports from the applicant, in cases where the applicant is required to provide evidence to corroborate the traffic the documentation required will be agreed prior to the award of grant.
Monitoring will cover an agreed period of time to allow the required environmental benefits from the grant to be accrued by the applicant.