- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 May 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 13 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to imposing limitations on any reductions to allied health professional (AHP) budgets by NHS boards, in light of its priority of preventative healthcare.
Answer
While the Scottish Government provides the policies, frameworks and resources for high quality healthcare, it is for each individual NHS Board to decide best how to utilise funding, facilities and staff while taking account of national and local priorities to meet local health needs. We expect NHS Boards to plan their facilities and workforce to deliver these services, ensuring the provision of safe, effective and high quality patient care, delivered by the right professional at the right time.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Falkirk West, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 May 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it is engaging with the UK Government to expedite progress on amending regulations and legislation to (a) support hydrogen blending and (b) accelerate decisions on the role of 100% hydrogen in the gas grid, as set out in its Hydrogen Action Plan.
Answer
In December 2023, UK Ministers confirmed their positive strategic policy decision to support blending of up to 20% hydrogen into GB gas distribution networks. We welcomed this announcement and now continue to urge UK Government to make progress and provide a timetable for future decisions on blending and the role of 100% hydrogen in the gas grid to provide clarity for us and for stakeholders.
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 May 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 13 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce a long-term public campaign to attract people into nursing.
Answer
The Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce has been established to build on efforts to make Scotland the best place for nurses and midwives to come and work by developing plans for the retention of the existing nursing workforce, as well as looking at recruitment. The Taskforce is making good progress with the development of its recommended actions and will continue to work until members have agreed a comprehensive action plan. We anticipate the publication of a report later in 2024.
- Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 26 April 2024
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 13 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to tackle any inequalities that affect outcomes after an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, specifically to (a) overcome the reportedly low intervention rate where a woman is having a cardiac arrest and (b) improve outcomes for those from (i) deprived and (ii) ethnic minority backgrounds.
Answer
The Scottish Government is a member of the Save a Life for Scotland (SALFS) Partnership. The partnership’s actions to tackle inequalities that affect outcomes after an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest are laid out in the Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Strategy 2021 to 2026 .
Work to date includes:
- SALFS development of vest-with-breast attachments for use on CPR mannequins which can be used by those delivering training sessions to address some of the barriers to CPR intervention in women.
- Targeted work by delivery partners in communities affected by inequalities in OHCA outcomes across Scotland to promote awareness of cardiac arrest and provide CPR and defibrillator training.
- Delivery of the 'Play you Part' campaign and the development of accessible CPR training resources
- Asked by: Marie McNair, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 12 April 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 13 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with COSLA
regarding the presence of asbestos in schools and other public buildings.
Answer
The Scottish Government continue to meet with COSLA and individual local authorities on a regular basis to discuss the issues affecting local government. Moreover, we have increased funding to local government by £574.6 million - or 4.3% - in 2024-25.
However, health and safety regulations are not devolved to the Scottish Government, and the Health and Safety Executive has UK wide responsibility for enforcement of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 May 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 13 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide the dates on which the Young Islanders Network has met since its establishment.
Answer
To date, the Young Islanders Network has held online sessions on:
10-03-2022
31-03-2022
28-04-2022
12-05-2022
26-05-2022
09-06-2022
23-06-2022
11-08-2022
29-09-2022
17-11-2022
08-12-2022
18-01-2023
09-02-2023
02-03-2023
23-03-2023
20-04-2023
08-06-2023
28-06-2023
20-07-2023
07-09-2023
19-10-2023
09-11-2023
30-11-2023
18-12-2023
25-01-2024
29-02-2024
21-03-2024
22-04-2024
25-04-2024
Further on-line activities involving Young Islander Network members took place on:
01-11-2022
08-11-2022
15-11-2022
02-02-2023
08-02-2023
15-03-2023
23-11-2023
09-01-2024
Residential in-person events took place on:
30-07-2022 - 02-08-2022
26-01-2023 - 30-01-2023
Further in-person activities involving Young Islander Network members took place on:
13-06-2022 - 17-06-2022
26-08-2022 - 29-08-2022
30-08-2022 - 01-09-2022
06-02-2023
10-03-2023 - 12-03-2023
20-03-2023 - 21-03-2023
07-05-2023
05-07-2023
12-07-2023 - 15-07-2023
12-08-2023 - 14-08-2023
24-08-2023 - 29-08-2023
31-08-2023 - 02-09-2023
18-09-2023
20-09-2023
03-10-2023
01-11-2023 - 03-11-2023
18-01-2024
22-02-2024 - 23-02-2024
26-02-2024
02-04-2024 - 08-04-2024
17-04-2024
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Falkirk West, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 May 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in building the evidence base and support for international cooperation on the development of infrastructure, transport routes and international supply chains in relation to hydrogen projects, as set out in its Hydrogen Action Plan.
Answer
The Scottish Government continues to build a strong evidence base in relation to the development of key infrastructure, transport routes and supply chains necessary to develop hydrogen export opportunities.
We are engaging with key European ports such as the Ports of Rotterdam and Hamburg which we expect to become major hydrogen hubs. This includes working with the Port of Rotterdam and other strategic partners on Phase 2 of the Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC) for Hydrogen Transport from Scotland Project (LHyTS), led by NZTC. The project is a feasibility assessment for a pilot trial for the shipment of LOHC from Scotland to the northern European mainland via Rotterdam, laying the foundations for establishing the viability of a strategic export route for hydrogen between Scotland and the EU.
We have also funded the Net Zero Technology Centre's Hydrogen Backbone Link project to assess the potential to connect Scotland to a European Hydrogen Backbone by either repurposing and optimising existing pipeline infrastructure or through the development of new infrastructure. Phase 1 of the study is now complete, with work on Phase 2 currently ongoing. A key focus of Phase 1 included the consideration of pipeline routing, identifying a preferred option connecting four production points (Sullom Voe, Flotta Terminal, St Fergus and Nigg Bay), with Emden in Germany.
In support of the development and publication of the Hydrogen Sector Export Plan, the Scottish Government has also commissioned several research studies. This includes the North Sea Hydrogen Alliance project led by NZTC in partnership with the German consultancy Cruh21, and the German umbrella organisation AquaVentus, focussing on investigating pipeline infrastructure between Scotland and Germany; and matching Scottish hydrogen production to German hydrogen demand. The project will help to strengthen existing ties between Scotland and Germany, building the case for hydrogen export from Scotland, and solidify the case for infrastructure investment in both Scottish and German Waters.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Falkirk West, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 May 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how it is (a) strengthening existing relationships and (b) developing new bilateral partnerships in relation to the potential of hydrogen, as set out in its Hydrogen Action Plan.
Answer
We are continuously working to strengthen and develop new relationships through our international hydrogen engagement programme.
Given the increased interest in hydrogen imports from across Europe, we continue to work with the UK Government to establish key strategic partnership with Scotland’s near northern neighbours that can assist the development of a North Sea hydrogen corridor for the production and export of hydrogen into the North of Europe and beyond.
We recognise that international co-operation will be key to developing future hydrogen markets and their supporting infrastructure and we will continue to seek out opportunities to collaborate through projects such as the Hydrogen Backbone Link and the Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers for Hydrogen Transport from Scotland to Rotterdam project .
We have already signed several key strategic hydrogen partnership agreements with Denmark, key German states including Hamburg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg and, Occitania in France and we continue to work to maximise their outputs. Scotland is also a member of Hydrogen Europe and the Vanguard initiative, allowing further collaboration with key strategic European partners.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Falkirk West, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 May 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its engagement with the UK Government regarding ensuring that Scotland's export interests are embedded in policy, trade and regulatory planning, as set out in its Hydrogen Action Plan.
Answer
The Scottish Government has ongoing engagement with the UK Government in relation to international hydrogen engagement and the development of the export opportunity.
We engage under the auspices of the UK-Germany Joint Declaration of Intent on Hydrogen, signed in September 2023, and the North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC) MOU signed between the EU and the UK providing a framework for cooperation between the UK and NSEC membership which comprises Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the European Commission.
Given the regulatory regime for hydrogen is a mixture of reserved and devolved powers, we continue to engage with the UK Government via our involvement in the UK Hydrogen Regulators Forum to ensure any GB or UK wide regulatory developments do not inhibit development of the hydrogen sector in Scotland.
We are also working with UKG to ensure that the Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard and Certification Scheme enables and does not create barriers to hydrogen export from Scotland to the EU.
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 April 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 10 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-26786 by Jenny Gilruth on 25 April 2024, what its position is on Glasgow City Council's reported plan to substantially reduce the number of teacher posts.
Answer
The Scottish Government has a longstanding commitment to protecting teacher numbers, and we are offering local authorities £145.5m in this year’s budget for that purpose. This funding will allow councils to protect teacher numbers in order to support children’s education.
We have informed councils that we will issue this funding in the form of grants and councils will be required to commit to maintaining teacher numbers as part of those grant conditions.
