- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 July 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 13 August 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will request that the Scottish National
Investment Bank develop products to address any gap in private finance
available in Scotland, to support a “globally successful, innovative and
sustainable shipbuilding industry, particularly focussing on the construction
of high value, low carbon, complex vessels”, in light of the UK Government’s
refreshed National Shipbuilding Strategy, which was published in March 2022.
Answer
The Scottish National Investment Bank is guided by the missions set for it by Scottish Ministers but it is operationally independent and makes investment decisions in line with its own investment processes and strategy.
The Bank’s investments are also designed to fill gaps in the supply of capital available to businesses and at the same time to crowd in private capital to create a thriving ecosystem of investors active in Scotland.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 July 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Paul McLennan on 13 August 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what the resource planning allocation is for each local authority to plan their housing supply for (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26; how this compares with the assumed figures that were published on 15 July 2021; what the reasons are for any variance in each case, and on what date each local authority was advised of its allocation
Answer
The following table details the resource planning assumptions for each local authority for (a) 2024-2025 compared with the assumed figures that were published on 15 July 2021. These figures do not include the additional £40 million for 2024-2025, the allocations of for which are still being considered. No resource planning assumptions have yet been agreed for (b) 2025-2026.
Local Authority | Published 2024-2025 RPAs 15 July 2021 (£m) | Updated 2024-2025 RPAs May 2024 (£m) | Variance (%) |
Aberdeen City | 16.037 | 12.133 | -24% |
Aberdeenshire | 27.693 | 20.952 | -24% |
Angus | 9.049 | 6.846 | -24% |
Argyll and Bute | 18.328 | 13.867 | -24% |
City of Edinburgh | 45.211 | 34.207 | -24% |
Clackmannanshire | 5.750 | 4.350 | -24% |
Dumfries and Galloway | 20.524 | 15.529 | -24% |
Dundee City | 17.230 | 13.037 | -24% |
East Ayrshire | 12.860 | 9.730 | -24% |
East Dunbartonshire | 8.696 | 6.579 | -24% |
East Lothian | 11.774 | 8.908 | -24% |
East Renfrewshire | 7.250 | 5.486 | -24% |
Falkirk | 12.594 | 9.528 | -24% |
Fife | 34.677 | 26.237 | -24% |
Glasgow City | 104.001 | 78.687 | -24% |
Inverclyde | 9.629 | 7.285 | -24% |
Midlothian | 10.571 | 7.998 | -24% |
Moray | 8.933 | 6.758 | -24% |
na Eilean Siar | 8.372 | 6.334 | -24% |
North Ayrshire | 15.702 | 11.880 | -24% |
North Lanarkshire | 32.988 | 24.958 | -24% |
Orkney Islands | 3.433 | 2.597 | -24% |
Perth and Kinross | 16.645 | 12.594 | -24% |
Renfrewshire | 17.200 | 13.013 | -24% |
Scottish Borders | 16.010 | 12.113 | -24% |
Shetland Islands | 5.164 | 3.907 | -24% |
South Ayrshire | 12.760 | 9.654 | -24% |
South Lanarkshire | 30.180 | 22.834 | -24% |
Stirling | 10.323 | 7.810 | -24% |
The Highland Council | 46.428 | 35.127 | -24% |
West Dunbartonshire | 10.795 | 8.167 | -24% |
West Lothian | 15.430 | 11.674 | -24% |
Total (£m) | 622.237 | 470.782 | -24% |
The overall reduction of 24% reflects the reduction in available capital for 2024-2025 from that assumed back in 2021, and allocates the capital remaining once top-sliced national programme commitments had been accounted for. The reduction was applied equally across all 32 local authority areas in line with the Strategic Housing Investment Framework (SHIF) methodology for 30 local authorities and the particular approach to funding City of Edinburgh and Glasgow City through the Transfer of Management of Development Funding (TMDF) arrangements.
The following table details the date each local authority was formally advised of their updated 2024-2025 resource planning assumption. Local discussions with local authorities prior to these dates had indicated the likely level of reduction.
Local Authority | Date 2024-2025 RPA letter issued |
Aberdeen City | 22 May 2024 |
Aberdeenshire | 22 May 2024 |
Angus | 22 May 2024 |
Argyll and Bute | 28 May 2024 |
City of Edinburgh | 21 May 2024 |
Clackmannanshire | 22 May 2024 |
Dumfries and Galloway | 21 May 2024 |
Dundee City | 22 May 2024 |
East Ayrshire | 21 May 2024 |
East Dunbartonshire | 30 May 2024 |
East Lothian | 21 May 2024 |
East Renfrewshire | 28 May 2024 |
Falkirk | 22 May 2024 |
Fife | 21 May 2024 |
Glasgow City | 28 May 2024 |
Inverclyde | 30 May 2024 |
Midlothian | 21 May 2024 |
Moray | 22 May 2024 |
na Eilean Siar | 22 May 2024 |
North Ayrshire | 21 May 2024 |
North Lanarkshire | 21 May 2024 |
Orkney Islands | 22 May 2024 |
Perth and Kinross | 22 May 2024 |
Renfrewshire | 30 May 2024 |
Scottish Borders | 21 May 2024 |
Shetland Islands | 22 May 2024 |
South Ayrshire | 21 May 2024 |
South Lanarkshire | 21 May 2024 |
Stirling | 22 May 2024 |
The Highland Council | 22 May 2024 |
West Dunbartonshire | 30 May 2024 |
West Lothian | 21 May 2024 |
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 26 July 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 13 August 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on people in Scotland who are refugees, whether it has made representations to the UK Government to strengthen the Homes for Ukraine scheme in order to protect the safety and sustainability of sponsorship, as recommended by British Red Cross.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to supporting the safety and wellbeing of displaced people from Ukraine and to providing opportunities to integrate and thrive in our communities for as long as Scotland is their home. We will continue to engage with the UK Government on issues which impact people living in Scotland, including refugees, people seeking asylum and displaced people.
Since the Homes for Ukraine scheme began, Scottish Government officials have been regularly meeting with their UK Government counterparts to share best practice and look at how we can strengthen the scheme in order to protect the safety and sustainability of sponsorship.
We will continue to engage with the new UK government to ensure a system that is effective and more humane.
- Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 July 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 13 August 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report in the Daily Record on 23 July 2024 that paediatric nursing graduates from Glasgow Caledonian University were interviewed recently for roles in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde but were told that no jobs were available.
Answer
The Scottish Government has been engaging with Health Boards regarding their current position in relation to job offers and supply. Health Boards remain committed to maximising opportunities for new qualified nurses to find employment.
Whilst it is hoped that all graduates are able to join the NHS within their trained field upon graduation, this is not always possible as vacancies can fluctuate across NHS Scotland boards and by specialism.
With regards to the recruitment of staff, the Scottish Government’s role is to set policies and frameworks at a national level broadly to ensure sufficient workforce supply. Health Boards are autonomous institutions and as such, are responsible for their own recruitment activity taking into account, retention, absence rates and budgets when making decisions.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 July 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 August 2024
To ask the Scottish Government when monitoring of outflows will be undertaken by Scottish Water, including in the Dumbarton constituency.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to S6W-26620 on 25 April 2024 for information on the progress of installing CSO monitors.
Overflow data is being published on Scottish Water’s website at https://www.scottishwater.co.uk/Your-Home/Your-Waste-Water/Overflow-Event-Data . As new monitors are installed, more information will become available in line with commitments under the Improving Urban Waters Routemap.
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: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 July 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 August 2024
To ask the Scottish Government who is responsible for ensuring that hydrogen production sites are decommissioned at the end of their lease.
Answer
The regulatory regime for hydrogen in Scotland is a mixture of reserved and devolved powers and we continue to routinely engage with UK Government on a range of hydrogen policy matters including the regulation of and responsibility for the decommissioning of hydrogen production sites.
To achieve our hydrogen production ambitions, we must ensure that the regulatory framework for renewable hydrogen developments supports the scale-up of hydrogen at pace, whist protecting the environment and communities.
This is why the Scottish Government is working with the Scottish Regulatory Steering Group, comprised of key regulators, to assess the regulatory requirements for the development of the hydrogen sector in Scotland. This work with UK and Scottish regulators is designed to ensure that action is taken to address any identified issues and create a clear regulatory framework for the full life cycle of hydrogen projects, including the decommissioning of assets.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 July 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 August 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it (a) is aware and (b) has agreed that Scottish Water can reportedly raise household bills by consumer price inflation (CPI) plus 2% in each of the next two financial years.
Answer
As the member is aware from previously submitted questions, most recently S6F-01607 on 8 December 2022, arrangements for setting water charges are set out in the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002, and the role of setting of annual price rises is primarily a matter for the Board of Scottish Water. During 2021-27, customers are protected by a cap on charges of CPI+2% as set out in the Water Industry Commission for Scotland’s Final Determination.
The answer to S6F-01607 is available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliament .
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 July 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 August 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to measure water quality.
Answer
Drinking water quality is regulated by the Drinking Water Quality Regulator. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency monitors the water environment by assessing water quality and quantity.
Both regulators publish information on their websites about the compliance of drinking water quality and environmental water quality on their websites at https://dwqr.scot/public-water-supply/national-water-quality/ and https://www.sepa.org.uk/environment/water/
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 July 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 August 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact of increasing water bills on households during the cost of living crisis, and specifically by consumer price inflation (CPI) plus 2%.
Answer
As the former First Minister reported to the member in answer to S6F-01607, the Scottish Government expects the Board of Scottish Water to take a proportionate position when setting charges; balancing affordability with critical investment needs to protect the quality of our drinking water and the environment.
The Scottish Government is committed to supporting people in light of the rising costs of living and has already taken action on affordability of water charges; from 1 April 2021 – the start of the current 6-year regulatory period for the water industry - we increased the maximum discount under the water charges reduction scheme from 25% to 35% to support those struggling to pay their bills.
The answer to S6F-01607 is available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliament .
- Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 July 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 13 August 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the implementation of the recommendations of the review into neonatal deaths in Scotland between April 2021 and March 2022, which was led by Dr Helen Mactier.
Answer
The Scottish Government commissioned Healthcare Improvement Scotland to undertake a review to determine underlying causes of an increase in neonatal mortality in Scotland in 2021-22 and make recommendations for improvements in care.
The report, published in February 2024, found no evidence of systemic failures of maternity or neonatal care, unusual factors, or a cluster of any one factor that would account for the significant increase in neonatal deaths in 2021-22.
Following the publication, we are working with Healthcare Improvement Scotland and other partners on the recommendations of the review.