- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 6 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how many mental health first aiders (a) have been trained in each of the last five years and (b) are currently being trained; how many people are currently employed to train mental health first aiders, and how much money it (i) has spent in each of the last five years and (ii) is currently spending on training mental health first aiders.
Answer
The following table shows the number of participants undertaking Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training over the last 5 years, including numbers to date in 2024, based on the latest available data, as well as the total number of MHFA trainers (active and inactive) since 2020 to date.
1 April – 31 March | Number of people who have participated in the SMHFA programme | Number of trainers (active and inactive)* | Number of active Trainers |
2019-2020 | 7906 | Data not available** | 176 |
2020-2021 | 443 | 290 | 167 |
2021-2022 | 828*** | 290 | 167 |
2022-2023 | 5133 | 324 | 201 (34 new trainers) |
2023-2024 | 4604**** | 324 | 201 |
TABLE NOTES :-
*total number of trainers who have completed the programme to become a trainer. Active trainers have completed the required number of training sessions in each year and have completed General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requirements. Inactive trainers might not have delivered the required training sessions or completed GDPR compliance
**work was undertaken during period to review all trainer accounts
***programme restarted course in November 2021 following a programme break due to COVID
**** up to January 2024
The following table shows the total spend on MHFA over the last 5 complete financial year.
This includes spend which is allocated by the Scottish Government to Public Health Scotland for this purpose and does not cover any training fees charged to participants by independent trainers to deliver the MHFA programme. Actual spend data is not available yet for the whole of financial year 2023-24, so an estimated figure is provided.
Financial Year | Amount |
2023-2024 | £43526 (estimated) |
2022-2023 | £42014 |
2021-2022 | £59740 |
2020-2021 | £28350 |
2019-2020 | £49000 |
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 6 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how many of the 357 stations that are managed by ScotRail, as at 31 March 2023, have access to Changing Places toilet facilities, and, of these, how many have restricted hours of access to the facilities based on the hours that the station is staffed.
Answer
This is an operational matter for ScotRail. The Member may wish to contact ScotRail directly.
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Lorna Slater on 6 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce legislation to reduce the amount of plastic produced by retailers at source.
Answer
The Scottish Government is working with the other UK governments to legislate to introduce extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging. Among other benefits, this will create a strong incentive for producers to reduce their use of packaging and drive more sustainable design choices.
The main legislation for packaging EPR will be a Westminster SI, with supporting legislation in Scotland where required. The draft text of this SI was made available for public consultation from 28 July 2023 to 9 October 2023 and is available online at the following link: Draft producer responsibility obligations (packaging and packaging waste) regulations - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Natalie Don on 6 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what objectives it set for any funding that it has provided to Counselling and Family Mediation - Western Isles since 2019.
Answer
The Scottish Government has not provided any funding directly to Counselling and Family Mediation Western Isles since 2019.
Relationships Scotland have received Scottish Government core funding since 2016 which will continue until March 2025 via the Children, Young People and Families Early Intervention and Adult Learning & Empowering Communities fund (CYPFEI & ALEC). Relationships Scotland operate a network of 21 Member Services across Scotland and Counselling and Family Mediation Western Isles is part of that network.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 6 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of the vessels in CalMac's fleet, broken down by the (a) age and (b) recommended timeline for the replacement of each vessel.
Answer
The following table provides the answer to :
1. age of each vessel was at the start of 2024
2. total length of service of each vessel has been with the CalMac fleet and any previous operators.
Vessel | Built | Entry into CFL Service | Current age (Years) | Time with CFL (Years) |
Ali Cat | 1-1-2000 | 10-1-2002 | 24.0 | 21.3 |
Argyle | 9-1-2006 | 5-1-2007 | 17.3 | 16.7 |
Argyll Flyer | 5-1-2001 | 6-1-2011 | 22.7 | 12.6 |
Bute | 2-1-2005 | 7-1-2005 | 18.9 | 18.5 |
Caledonian Isles | 5-1-1993 | 8-1-1993 | 30.7 | 30.4 |
Carvoria | 8-1-2017 | 9-1-2017 | 6.4 | 6.3 |
Catriona | 12-1-2015 | 8-1-2016 | 8.1 | 7.4 |
Chieftain | 3-1-2007 | 6-1-2020 | 16.8 | 3.6 |
Clansman | 3-1-1998 | 7-1-1998 | 25.9 | 25.5 |
Coruisk | 5-1-2003 | 8-1-2003 | 20.7 | 20.4 |
Finlaggan | 6-1-2010 | 6-1-2011 | 13.6 | 12.6 |
Hallaig | 12-1-2012 | 10-1-2013 | 11.1 | 10.3 |
Hebridean Isles | 7-1-1985 | 12-1-1985 | 38.5 | 38.1 |
Hebrides | 8-1-2000 | 3-1-2001 | 23.4 | 22.9 |
Isle of Arran | 12-1-1983 | 4-1-1984 | 40.1 | 39.8 |
Isle of Cumbrae | 12-1-1976 | 4-1-1977 | 47.1 | 46.8 |
Isle of Lewis | 4-1-1995 | 7-1-1995 | 28.8 | 28.5 |
Isle of Mull | 12-1-1987 | 4-1-1988 | 36.1 | 35.8 |
Loch Alainn | 4-1-1997 | 7-1-1997 | 26.8 | 26.5 |
Loch Bhrusda | 3-1-1996 | 6-1-1996 | 27.9 | 27.6 |
Loch Buie | 10-1-1991 | 7-1-1992 | 32.3 | 31.5 |
Loch Dunvegan | 3-1-1991 | 5-1-1991 | 32.9 | 32.7 |
Loch Frisa | 9-1-2015 | 5-1-2022 | 8.3 | 1.7 |
Loch Fyne | 6-1-1991 | 9-1-1991 | 32.6 | 32.4 |
Loch Linnhe | 5-1-1986 | 7-1-1986 | 37.7 | 37.5 |
Loch Portain | 3-1-2003 | 6-1-2003 | 20.9 | 20.6 |
Loch Ranza | 12-1-1986 | 4-1-1987 | 37.1 | 36.8 |
Loch Riddon | 9-1-1986 | 10-1-1986 | 37.4 | 37.3 |
Loch Seaforth | 3-1-2014 | 2-1-2015 | 9.8 | 8.9 |
Loch Shira | 12-1-2006 | 6-1-2007 | 17.1 | 16.6 |
Loch Striven | 5-1-1986 | 7-1-1986 | 37.7 | 37.5 |
Loch Tarbert | 2-1-1992 | 7-1-1992 | 31.9 | 31.5 |
Lochinvar | 5-1-2013 | 5-1-2014 | 10.7 | 9.7 |
Lochnevis | 5-1-2000 | 11-1-2000 | 23.7 | 23.2 |
Lord of the Isles | 3-1-1989 | 5-1-1989 | 34.9 | 34.7 |
Regarding the timeline for vessel replacement, Transport Scotland issued on 1 February 2024 the Island Connectivity Plan consultation which includes details of the long-term replacement plan for CalMac vessels. This includes the proposed timing of the replacement for each vessel. The consultation will be open until 3 May 2024.
Please see the following link for the information:
Islands Connectivity Plan - Long-term plan for vessels and ports - Draft for consultation | Transport Scotland
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Lorna Slater on 6 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how many beaver licences were issued by NatureScot in the last five years, broken down by the (a) year issued, (b) category of the licence and (c) duration of the licence.
Answer
The following tables set out how many Beaver licences were issued in the last five years; broken down by the (a) year issued, (b) category of the licence and (c) duration of the licence:
Category of Licence | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
Preventing Serious Damage (PSD) Prime Agricultural Land (PAL) | 62 | 16 | 96 | 27 | 39 |
Preventing Serious Damage (PSD) (Other land) | | | 4 | | |
Conservation | 2 | 0 | | | |
Preserving Public Health or Safety (PPHS) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
PPHS/IROPI | | 5 | | | |
Science, Research, Education | 1 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 2 |
Conserving wild birds, plants, animals or introducing them to a particular area | 1 | | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Preserving public health or public safety or other imperative reasons of overriding public interest including those of a social or economic nature and beneficial consequences of primary importance for the environment | | | | 3 | 3 |
Preventing serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timber, property or fisheries | | | | 3 | 3 |
Total | 67 | 24 | 107 | 38 | 51 |
Duration of Licence (days) | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
1-200 days | 4 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
200-700 days | 12 | 5 | 46 | 15 | 36 |
>700 days | 51 | 13 | 58 | 20 | 8 |
Total | 67 | 24 | 107 | 38 | 51 |
Note: not all licences issued are for lethal control.
A further breakdown of the duration of licences days can be obtained from NatureScot.
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 6 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-24231 by Michael Matheson on 17 January 2024, on how many occasions the minimum level of one clinical supervisor for every five NHS 24 call handlers on shift has not been met, in each year since 2016.
Answer
The information that has been requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 6 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle the (a) sale and (b) consumption of drugs in rural communities.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to working collaboratively with partners on the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce to reduce the significant harm caused by the illicit drugs trade to communities across Scotland.
We are also rolling out the Medication Assisted Treatment standards, which is a key component of our National Mission to reduce drug deaths and harm. These set out what people should expect from services, improvements to accessing services, choices of treatment options and wrap-around support for the people most at risk from drug harm and drug-related death.
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 02 February 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 6 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that NHS Ayrshire and Arran will remove ICU beds from University Hospital Ayr and relocate them to Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock, citing significant workforce gaps.
Answer
Patient safety is of paramount concern and the Health Board has been clear that the interim ICU plans, first announced in February 2023, are to ensure adequate consultant medical cover; thereby maintaining the safety and sustainability of local critical care services.
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 6 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) meetings it has had with and (b) support it has offered to SkyeConnect regarding the development of a long-term tourism management plan for the Isle of Skye, in light of a reported increase in local tourism.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to growing and diversifying Scotland's visitor economy, and also to ensuring places across the country can develop, manage and benefit from tourism effectively and responsibly.
In August 2023, I met with SkyeConnect to discuss a range of issues related to the local visitor economy. SkyeConnect have received public sector financial support from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) for a range of destination development activities, including the development of a post-Covid recovery plan. HIE continue to offer practical support through their existing wide-range of client products and programmes.
In addition, the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill would give councils the power to introduce a visitor levy in all or part of their area to raise funding for local tourism facilities and services. Before a visitor levy could be introduced a local authority will be required to consult with local businesses, communities and tourism organisations.
The Scottish Government would welcome any local tourism management plan that is in line with Scotland Outlook 2030, the national tourism strategy.