- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 September 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 3 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when the next round of the Flexible Workforce Development Fund will be announced.
Answer
The Scottish Government will provide an update on FWDF in due course.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 September 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 3 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on whether it will reintroduce free COVID-19 lateral flow testing for (a) health and social care staff and (b) the general public.
Answer
Targeted testing is in place to support clinical decision making and surveillance. We are working closely with Public Health Scotland, our clinical advisors and the other UK nations to routinely review our position and the clinical advice on COVID-19 in light of new variants. Evidence to date does not support a return to widespread community testing however we will continue to monitor the situation closely.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 September 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 3 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its move towards parity of support for part-time students that it announced in its Programme for Government 2023-24, whether it plans to implement the recommendation contained in the report of the independent review of student financial support in Scotland that “the Scottish Government works in collaboration with other interested parties, to look at how the key principles of this Review should be best implemented for part-time students and those currently receiving Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)”.
Answer
We will consider the work already undertaken in this area as we look to implement this Programme for Government commitment. Any previous research will need to be considered in the context of the current financial situation, along with engagement with the sector, relevant stakeholders and with students.
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 September 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 3 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how many fines (a) it and (b) its agencies have issued to (i) publicly-owned and (ii) privately-owned water companies in each of the last five years, also broken down by the total value of fines issued in each year.
Answer
We are unaware of any fines issued by the Scottish Government to Scottish Water in the last five years; there are no privately-owned water companies in Scotland.
Following referral by relevant agencies to the Procurator Fiscal, fines issued in the period are set out below:
Referral by Scottish Environment Protection Agency:
2019 - £600
2020 - £19 000
2021 - £6 700
Referral by Health & Safety Executive:
2020 - £140 000
Additionally, there has been one enforcement undertaking of £53 800 accepted by SEPA in 2021 and a direct penalty of £10,000 to Scottish Road Works Commissioner in 2023.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 September 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 3 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government which partners in the college sector’s collective bargaining process have yet to provide a formal response to the report, Lessons Learned – resetting national collective bargaining in the colleges sector.
Answer
To date, formal responses have been received from College Employers Scotland and EIS-FELA.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 September 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 3 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on implementing a local inheritance tax.
Answer
This is not a proposal of the Scottish Government.
- Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Monday, 02 October 2023
-
Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 3 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the reported proposed rationalisation of the Police Scotland estate.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 3 October 2023
- Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 02 October 2023
-
Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 3 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether CMAL should still accept into service the Glen Sannox and 802 ferries, in light of reports that they no longer meet the original basic design criteria.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 3 October 2023
- Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 02 October 2023
-
Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 5 October 2023
To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government will take to tackle the reported rising rates of crime and antisocial behaviour at retail premises.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 5 October 2023
- Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 02 October 2023
-
Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 5 October 2023
Question to be taken in Chamber.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 5 October 2023