Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-26258

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 March 2024
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 5 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider establishing a short-life working group with representation from local authorities, private developers and community representatives to undertake a comprehensive review of the repowering process.

Repowering existing and operational wind generating stations will, in most cases, involve the full or partial replacement of a constructed generating station. This requires extensive construction works, such that a new development consent will be required. The process to consider these applications is already well established.

The recently signed Onshore Wind Sector Deal has a number of commitments that support the streamlining and speeding up of the consents process, as well as commitments from industry to collaborate with communities, engage at all stages of the project life cycle and offer impactful community benefits. These commitments all apply to repowering applications.

Question reference: S6W-26391

Asked by: John Swinney, MSP for Perthshire North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 5 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether consideration is being given, as part of the review of the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer, to risk factors such as family history and ethnicity in improving the early detection of prostate cancer.

A wealth of evidence is being collated and analysed as part of the 2024 Clinical Review of the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer, including from key partners Cancer Research UK and Healthcare Improvement Scotland. All factors that are relevant in the context of symptoms suspicious of cancer based on available evidence, that could support primary care decision-making, will be considered in the Guideline review. The prostate peer review session (PRS), as part of the Review, is scheduled for May 2024.

Question reference: S6W-26279

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 5 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when all GP surgeries across Scotland will be able to use electronic signatures to authorise prescriptions.

Question reference: S6W-26675

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6W-26190

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 4 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its work to support the enhancement of Channel 4's operations in Scotland, what its position is on Channel 4’s reported proposals to Ofcom for it to retain its 91% production quota for England and introduce a 65% London quota, and what representation it has made to (a) Channel 4 and (b) Ofcom regarding these proposals.

While the Scottish Government welcomes Channel 4’s progress to enhance its operations in Scotland, in particular with the creation of a creative hub in Glasgow in 2019, it has been our long-held view that Channel 4 should have a higher quota for network production commissioned from Scotland and our position remains that the quota should be based on population share, in terms of both hours and spend.

The Scottish Government’s view is that Ofcom’s current proposals to retain Channel 4’s 91% production quota for England and introduce a 65% London quota are unacceptable and we have made that clear in our response to Ofcom’s consultation. At a recent meeting with Ofcom’s Chief Executive, I restated that view and strongly urged a rethink of the current proposals. I also intend to meet with Channel 4 Chief Executive in the coming weeks to set out our expectation that Channel 4 makes considerable progress towards increasing its level of network production outside of London and from the nations, on a fairer basis.

The Scottish Government considers it vital that more productions are devised and produced in Scotland to support the creative economy and so that Scotland’s diverse communities see themselves reflected in its output. We strongly believe that broadcasting media should deliver for each part of the UK, with fair investment in our creative industries, and an appropriately authentic representation for Scottish audiences, and we will continue to make those views clear in our engagement with broadcasters, Ofcom and the UK Government.

Question reference: S6W-26202

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 15 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 4 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-25890 by Siobhian Brown on 11 March 2024, when it will report back to the Parliament on its discussions with Police Scotland, local authorities and animal welfare organisations regarding the identification of XL Bully-type dogs.

I provided an update to the Scottish Parliament on this issue when I appeared before the Parliament’s Criminal Justice Committee on 27 March 2024 to give evidence to the Committee on The Dangerous Dogs (Compensation and Exemption Schemes) (Scotland) Order 2024 .

The Scottish Government is continuing to engage with Police Scotland, local authorities and animal welfare organisations in relation to the new safeguards and this includes in relation to how XL Bully dogs can be identified.

The conformation standard guidance document XL Bully dogs: applying the conformation standard - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) on the Scottish Government website is intended to be used to assist all those involved in the operation of the safeguards relating to XL Bully dogs in Scotland. This includes law enforcement, local authorities, animal welfare organisations and owners of dogs that may be XL Bully dogs.

The conformation standard guidance document also includes a video from ‘Blue Cross UK’ to show how to measure a dogs height.

Question reference: S6W-26365

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 4 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of (a) how and (b) where the budget allocated for active travel was spent, in each financial year from 2020-21 to 2023-24.

The Active Travel Budget is an annually set allocation from the overall Scottish Transport Budget. The Active Travel Programme contains a blend of Grants awarded in accordance with the Scottish public Finance Manual, contracts drawn down from Scottish Government procurement frameworks, and budget transfers to support investments managed in other areas of the portfolio. A breakdown of years 2020-21 to 2023-24 is set out in the following table;

Financial Year 2020-21- £100,500,000.00
Investment	Amount	Mechanism	Delivery Partners
Infrastructure and place making projects	£84,506,198.00	Paid through Grant Awards	All Local Authorities, Sustrans
Regional Transport Partnership Grants	£1,315,600.00	Paid through Grant Awards	Regional Transport Partnerships
Independent Review of Grants	£5,014.66	Framework Call of Contract	MacRoberts LLP
Research Programme on Presumed Liability	£7,470.00	Through budget transfer as part of the Spring and Autumn budget reviews	UK Government DfT, Transport Scotland
Behaviour Change Interventions	£14,665,717.00	Paid through Grant Awards	Cycling Scotland, CyclingUK, Forth Environment Link, Cycling Without Age, Scottish National Heritage, The Bike Station, Sustrans
Active Nation Commissioner	£50,648.00	Public Appointment	Active Nation Commissioner

Financial Year 2021-22 - £116,171,826.69
Investment	Amount	Mechanism	Delivery Partners
Free Bikes for school age children Commitment	£ 2,133,459.29	Paid through Grant Awards	Scottish Cycling, FreeWheel North, Sustrans, Cycling Scotland, Shetland Council, Forth Environment Link, St Paul’s Youth Forum, Angus Bike Hub, Bike for Good, Research Scotland
The development of a replacement strategy for the Cycling Action Plan - the Cycle Framework	£50,000.40	Framework Call of Contract	AECOM
Active Travel Infrastructure Investments	£90,638,802.70 (£51,256,912 of which was managed to projects through Sustrans)	Paid through Grant Awards	All Scottish Local Authorities, Regional Transport Partnerships, Sustrans
Interventions to support people and communities to make Active Travel Choices	£20,984,564.00	Paid through Grant Awards	Paths for All, Cycling Scotland, CyclingUK, Living Streets, Sestrans, Sustrans
Active Travel Contributions to wider Transport and Government Investments includes capital and resource reviews	£2,290,000.00	Through budget transfer as part of the Spring and Autumn budget reviews	Transport Scotland
Active Nation Commissioner	£75,000.00	Public Appointment	Active Nation Commissioner

Financial Year 2022-23 - £149,683,003.69
Investment	Amount	Mechanism	Delivery Partners
Active Travel Infrastructure Investments	£108,472,925.00 (£65,901,425 of which was managed to project through Sustrans)	Paid through Grant Awards	All Scottish Local Authorities, All Scottish Regional Transport Partnerships, Sustrans, Paths for All,
Active Travel Contributions to wider Transport and Government Investments includes capital and resource reviews	£13,374,000.00 (£3,300,000 of which supported road safety projects)	Through budget transfer as part of the Spring and Autumn budget reviews	Transport Scotland
Free Bikes for school age children Commitment	£2,328,868.90	Paid through Grant Awards	Sustrans, Shetland Council, Scottish Cycling, St Paul’s Youth Forum, Forth Environment Link, Cycling Scotland, Bike for Good, Angus Cycle Hub. YoungScot
Access to Bikes and cycling priority interventions	£13,150,907.75	Paid through Grant Awards	Cycling Scotland, CyclingUK, Energy Savings Trust, Bike for Good, UCI Major Events Team
Behaviour Change Interventions	£11,782,502.54	Paid through Grant Awards	Paths for All, COMOUK, Sustrans, Living Streets
Active Nation Commissions	£75,000.00	Public Appointment	Active Nation Commissioner
The Active Travel Transformation Programme	£496,898.75	Framework Call off Contact and administration/facilitation costs	SWECO, Systra,
The development of a replacement strategy for the Cycling Action Plan - the Cycle Framework	£1,900.75	Framework Contract	APS

Financial Year 2023-24 – £183,640,579 allocated for Spend
Investment	Amount	Mechanism	Delivery Partners
Active Travel Infrastructure Investments	£76,899,949.00	Paid through Grant Awards	All Scottish Local Authorities, All Scottish Regional Transport Partnerships, Sustrans, Paths for All,
Active Travel Contributions to wider Transport and Government Investments includes capital and resource reviews	£53,700,000.00	Through budget transfer as part of the Spring and Autumn budget reviews	Transport Scotland
Access to Bikes and cycling priority interventions	£17,403,189.00	Paid through Grant Awards	Cycling Scotland, Energy Savings Trust, Bike for Good, Bike Station, CyclingUK, Scotrail
Contribution to the UCI Cycling World Championships	£1,010,000.00	Through budget transfer as part of the Spring and Autumn budget reviews	UCI Major Events Team
Behaviour Change Interventions	£14,681,896.00	Paid through Grant Awards	Paths for All, Sustrans, Living Streets, Active Travel Ambassador
The Active Travel Transformation Programme, including the Active Travel Transformation Fund	£19,949,045.00	Paid through Grant Awards and a framework call of contract	Scottish Local Authorities, Systra, MacRoberts LLP,

Question reference: S6W-26364

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 4 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the budget investment allocated for active travel was spent, in each financial year from 2020-21 to 2023-24.

The Active Travel Budget is an allocation set within the overall Transport Budget for Scotland. There has been an annual increase to the Active Travel budget each year from 2020 to 2023. This reflects our commitment to increase walking, cycling, or wheeling for everyday journeys.

Active Travel investments encounter challenges such as planning, geographical issues, and supply chain availability that can result in an underspend or a programme being adjusted midterm. Planning, forecasting, and grant management processes are utilised to mitigate the risk of underspend whenever possible. The Active Travel programme, as with many Government investments, was significantly impacted with restrictions under the COVID19 response, adaptations to projects has to be made to allow for continued delivery, and in some cases work was paused. The breakdown of allocations and spend for the years 2020-21 to 2022-23 is as follows;

Year	Allocated Budget	Allocated from Budget	Spend Achieved
2020-21	£100,500,000.00	£100,500,000.00	£75,145,156.46
2021-22	£116,761,432.82	£116,171,826.69	£88,744,213.02
2022-23	£149,977,000.00	£149,683,003.69	£139,918,607.50

2023-24 as a financial year is not complete. The following is therefore indicative and may adjust once the year end process completes.

Year	Allocated Budget	Allocated from Budget	Spend Forecast
2023-24	£189,210,000	£183,644,079.00	£173,782,079

Question reference: S6W-26366

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 4 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what evaluation process is in place to assess the spending that was allocated to active travel in each financial year between 2020-21 and 2023-24.

The Active Travel Programme is a collection of interventions aimed at people and place, and Infrastructure investments to develop safe and accessible active travel routes. Each project is subject to a disciplined Governance approach that includes quarterly and annual reporting. It is a condition of each grant that an evaluation for each project is conducted on completion.

All interventions and investments reflect the Active Travel Framework and where related to cycling, the cycling framework for Active Travel. Both are accessible on the Transport Scotland website.

Progress against Active Travel Outcomes are measured and published through a number of sources, these include;

The Walking and Cycling Index (WACI), published at a City level with Local Authorities.
The Cycling Scotland monitoring report, which is published on an annual basis.
The Scottish Household Survey, an annual cross-sectional survey.

Question reference: S6W-26647

Asked by: Willie Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 April 2024
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Paul McLennan on 3 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase private investment in housing.

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