- Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 March 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 5 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how much long Covid support funding was allocated to each NHS board in 2022-23.
Answer
Information on the level of funding made available to NHS Boards through the long COVID Support Fund for 2022-23 can be found on page 2 of the Scottish Government’s 20 December 2022 letter to the Scottish Parliament’s COVID-19 Recovery Committee. This is accessible on the Scottish Parliament website at: https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/covid19-recovery-committee/correspondence/2022/letter-from-cabinet-secretary-for-health-and-social-care--long-covid.pdf .
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 5 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of any potential impact of local authorities decreasing relief on non-domestic rates for empty, listed properties.
Answer
Empty Property Relief was devolved to councils on 1 April 2023, including non-domestic rates exemptions for unoccupied listed buildings. Listed buildings were specifically included following discussion with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities in 2019, as set out in a letter from the then Minister for Public Finance and Digital Economy to the Local Government and Communities Committee dated 7 October 2019.
The Scottish Budget 2023-24 confirmed a financial transfer of £105m to local authorities to spend at their discretion, concurrent to this devolution. This allows local authorities to tailor any support for unoccupied property, including listed buildings, to best support their local needs.
The Scottish Government will collect data from local authorities on any local relief awarded to unoccupied properties, including listed buildings, which will inform an early evaluation of the impact of the devolution of EPR in advance of the next revaluation.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 5 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what financial support it is providing to any GP practices in NHS (a) Lanarkshire and (b) Forth Valley that are at risk of closure.
Answer
I refer the member to our response to S6W-14599 on 28 February 2023. It is for individual Health Boards to decide if additional support is needed. The General Practice Access Group principles are currently being consulted on with publication anticipated for late Spring. 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: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 5 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what provisions it has introduced to address train delays between Tweedbank and Edinburgh.
Answer
The Borders railway line between Tweedbank and Edinburgh has been affected by ongoing issues with poor performance and the availability of diesel trains in ScotRail’s fleet. Scottish Rail Holdings and ScotRail are working to address this via an Improvement Plan. The reliability of ScotRail trains on this route has also been impacted by the poor performance of UK Government-managed train operating companies, which interact with Tweedbank services on the East Coast Mainline closer to Edinburgh.
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 27 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 5 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what measures Transport Scotland has in place to monitor the success rates of the tree planting that it carried out along the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.
Answer
The Aberdeen Western Peripheral Road/Balmedie-Tipperty (AWPR/B-T) section of the A90 is managed on behalf of Scottish Ministers/Transport Scotland by the Design Build Finance and Operate (DBFO) company Aberdeen Roads Limited (ARL). The associated landscaping areas are included in the Agreement with ARL. Around 1.5 million trees were planted. The project is in year 4 of the 5 year Establishment Period. As the name suggests the Establishment Period is designed to closely monitor plant development and take action if appropriate to address tree plant establishment failures.
During the Establishment Period ARL’s appointed specialist landscape architect is required to undertake inspections of the tree planting 6 times in year one, 4 times in year 2, and 3 times for each of years 3, 4 and 5. On completion of the Establishment Period the landscaping enters the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) phase when annual inspections are required. The O&M period ends in 2047.
Following each inspection the landscape architect makes recommendations which are carried out by ARL and which could include tree tube/guard removal as the trees develop as well as identifying opportunities to enhance biodiversity and reduce pesticide application. Other work carried out over the last 4 to 5 years includes weed control, grass cutting in amongst those trees, pruning of damaged branches and re-staking of trees.
The appointed Contracting Authority (Jacobs consultants) receive annual reports and undertake joint inspections to ensure the contractual requirements are being fulfilled. Jacobs subsequently advise Transport Scotland of progress and discuss any matters as necessary.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 5 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12940 by Jenny Gilruth on 22 December 2022, whether it will provide an update on the service continuity plan for the transfer and timetabling of services from Troon.
Answer
The service continuity plans for the Ardrossan-Brodick/Campbeltown route are currently being reviewed by CalMac following the recent announcement of the delivery date and deployment of the MV Glen Sannox to the route. CalMac are engaging with relevant partners including the Isle of Arran Ferry Committee on the Troon timetables and are expected to publish the Timetable Consultation Report (as part of a public consultation exercise undertaken in August and September 2022) in the coming weeks.
- Asked by: Roz McCall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 27 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 5 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received a progress report from NHS Forth Valley regarding its improvement plan, including any additional (a) culture, (b) leadership and (c) integration actions, following its escalation to stage 4 of the NHS Scotland performance escalation framework on 23 November 2022.
Answer
NHS Forth Valley provide a full progress update against their published Improvement Plan to the Assurance Board on a monthly basis. Material relating to the escalation is proactively published by both the Scottish Government and NHS Forth Valley.
NHS Forth Valley recently published the latest iteration of their Improvement Plan, which included a progress update and incorporated additional actions in governance, leadership, culture and integration. A Measurement Framework has also been developed and published by NHS Forth Valley to allow them to demonstrate and evidence tangible progress. These documents can be found on NHS Forth Valley’s website: NHS Forth Valley – Escalation and HIS
The onus remains on NHS Forth Valley to deliver and evidence the required improvements in governance, leadership and culture; and, in turn, on performance. The Assurance Board will continue to monitor and scrutinise NHS Forth Valley’s progress.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 20 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 5 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its announcement in June 2022 that £30 million would be spent “this financial year” to “accelerate the shift to zero emission transport”, how much of this funding it has spent to date, broken down by what it has been spent on; which geographical areas it has been spent in, and whether it has been allocated to (a) the corporate sector, (b) charitable organisations, (c) individuals and (d) others.
Answer
Of the £30 million support that was announced in June 2022, £28 million was allocated to the Low Carbon Transport Loan and the remaining £2 million was allocated to the Plugged-In Communities Schemes. Both have been fully allocated and are pending final claims being received.
Table 1 below gives a breakdown of loans paid under of the Low Carbon Transport loan by local authority area and type of recipient, reflecting payments up to 28 February 2023.
Table 1: Low Carbon Transport Loan – paid loans in financial year 22-23 to 28 February 2023 |
Local Authority Area | New Business Loan | Switched on Taxis Loan | Used Domestic Loan | Used Business Loan | Grand Total (to 28-02-23) |
Argyll and Bute | £0.00 | £0.00 | £193,983.50 | £46,800.00 | £240,783.50 |
Highland | £130,000.00 | £0.00 | £325,320.98 | £39,194.00 | £494,514.98 |
Na h-Eileanan Siar | £29,495.00 | £0.00 | £38,744.00 | £0.00 | £68,239.00 |
Orkney Islands | £0.00 | £0.00 | £59,093.00 | £27,600.00 | £86,693.00 |
Aberdeen City | £58,499.00 | £150,000.00 | £521,317.56 | £109,394.00 | £839,210.56 |
Aberdeenshire | £30,000.00 | £30,000.00 | £794,529.23 | £121,936.50 | £976,465.73 |
Angus | £30,000.00 | £0.00 | £250,730.00 | £59,398.00 | £340,128.00 |
Dundee City | £53,684.56 | £28,195.00 | £513,198.20 | £28,295.00 | £623,372.76 |
Moray | £0.00 | £0.00 | £147,881.00 | £0.00 | £147,881.00 |
Perth and Kinross | £34,999.00 | £0.00 | £641,044.60 | £92,617.00 | £768,660.60 |
City of Edinburgh | £90,979.00 | £831,821.44 | £1,697,763.01 | £123,612.00 | £2,744,175.45 |
East Lothian | £0.00 | £34,093.00 | £587,197.00 | £0.00 | £621,290.00 |
Fife | £35,000.00 | £63,805.00 | £800,616.00 | £0.00 | £899,421.00 |
Midlothian | £0.00 | £121,898.20 | £432,242.00 | £0.00 | £554,140.20 |
Scottish Borders | £0.00 | £0.00 | £377,066.00 | £23,500.00 | £400,566.00 |
West Lothian | £70,000.00 | £128,473.00 | £475,531.81 | £0.00 | £674,004.81 |
Dumfries and Galloway | £0.00 | £0.00 | £285,852.00 | £11,499.00 | £297,351.00 |
East Ayrshire | £0.00 | £0.00 | £134,602.21 | £111,834.00 | £246,436.21 |
North Ayrshire | £0.00 | £0.00 | £144,256.06 | £28,437.60 | £172,693.66 |
South Ayrshire | £120,000.00 | £93,658.00 | £204,350.00 | £25,200.00 | £443,208.00 |
Clackmannanshire | £0.00 | £0.00 | £154,468.00 | £0.00 | £154,468.00 |
East Dunbartonshire | £60,000.00 | £252,771.40 | £324,659.03 | £25,198.80 | £662,629.23 |
East Renfrewshire | £0.00 | £185,751.80 | £436,581.00 | £89,498.00 | £711,830.80 |
Falkirk | £51,165.48 | £0.00 | £353,921.00 | £27,500.00 | £432,586.48 |
Glasgow City | £130,000.00 | £586,127.60 | £1,286,187.01 | £168,160.00 | £2,170,474.61 |
Inverclyde | £31,093.50 | £0.00 | £222,936.93 | £0.00 | £254,030.43 |
North Lanarkshire | £0.00 | £154,718.00 | £575,597.99 | £0.00 | £730,315.99 |
Renfrewshire | £0.00 | £148,558.00 | £273,222.00 | £67,507.30 | £489,287.30 |
South Lanarkshire | £152,629.00 | £152,001.10 | £815,437.47 | £100,186.60 | £1,220,254.17 |
Stirling | £97,000.00 | £0.00 | £790,167.00 | £22,700.00 | £909,867.00 |
West Dunbartonshire | £0.00 | £0.00 | £119,368.00 | £23,149.00 | £142,517.00 |
Grand Total | £1,204,544.54 | £2,961,871.54 | £13,977,863.59 | £1,373,216.80 | £19,517,496.47 |
Tables 2 and 3 below give a breakdown of payments under the Plugged-in Communities schemes, reflecting payments up to 28 February 2023. Table 2 reflects payments to Community Transport Organisations, and Table 3 reflects payments to car clubs.
Table 2: Plugged-in Communities, Grants to Community Transport Organisations, payments in financial year 22-23 to 28 February 2023 |
Local Authority Area | Amount Paid | Community Transport Organisation. |
Highland | £83,603.70 | Wheels in Nairnshire |
Orkney | £80,856.00 | Island of Hoy Development Trust |
Argyll and Bute | £66,638.00 | Ross of Mull and Iona Community Trust |
Highland | £67,371.40 | Transport for Tongue |
Aberdeen | £76,535.00 | Clan Cancer Support |
Dumfries and Galloway | £46,000.00 | Galloway Community Transport |
Aberdeen | £76,535.00 | Camphill School Aberdeen |
West Lothian | £41,979.80 | The Larder (West Lothian) |
Dumfries and Galloway | £71,040.00 | Annandale Community Transport |
Highland | £8,400.00 | Connect Assynt |
Total | £618,958.90 | |
Table 3: Plugged-in Communities, Grants to Car Clubs, payments in financial year 22-23 to 28 February 2023 |
Local Authority Area | Amount Paid | Car Club |
Aberdeen | £13,801.68 | Grampian Housing Association |
Renfrewshire | £3,375.00 | Linstone Housing Association |
Glasgow | £9,201.12 | Queens Cross Housing Association |
Glasgow | £15,335.14 | Glasgow Housing Association |
Aberdeen | £10,351.25 | Osprey Housing Association |
Fife | £19,584.00 | Ore Valley Housing Association |
City of Edinburgh | £39,168.00 | Blackwood Group |
Total | £110,816.19 | |
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 5 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.
Answer
Scottish Ministers and Transport Scotland officials meet regularly with CMAL. This includes Ministerial meetings with the Board and Senior Management Team as well as Transport Scotland participation in a range of CMAL led project working groups.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 5 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the number of fires attended to by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service that were caused by, or suspected to have been caused by, electric (a) scooters, (b) bikes and (c) cars, in each year since 2017.
Answer
This information is not held centrally. The Scottish Government and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) are working with key stakeholders and partners to understand the risks that lithium-ion batteries (LIB), contained within most electric vehicles, present to communities across Scotland. A bespoke working group is focused on these risks, and its findings will strengthen SFRS’s community safety work going forward. SFRS urges users of LIB technology to take the appropriate steps when disposing of spent battery units to ensure reduced risk of fire.
