Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-13796

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 19 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13038 by Kevin Stewart on 20 December 2022, what the timeline is for the announcement of further information relating to the funding for the construction of Changing Places toilets.

The Scottish Government will invest in Changing Places Toilets over this parliamentary term, in order to increase the number of these facilities across the country and to support mobile Changing Places Toilets to allow people easier access to events and outdoor venues.

This investment will be delivered in phases over the course of this parliamentary term. The Scottish Government is progressing the first phase of work to design an investment programme that ensures that the Changing Places Toilets which are built are fit for purpose. We have recently published our Changing Places Toilets: Planning Guide and an accompanying easy read for people who are planning to develop Changing Places Toilets now.

Further details will be available soon.

Question reference: S6W-13795

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 19 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13038 by Kevin Stewart on 20 December 2022, when it will announce its investment programme related to the construction of Changing Places toilets.

The Scottish Government will invest in Changing Places Toilets over this parliamentary term, in order to increase the number of these facilities across the country and to support mobile Changing Places Toilets to allow people easier access to events and outdoor venues.

This investment will be delivered in phases over the course of this parliamentary term. The Scottish Government is progressing the first phase of work to design an investment programme that ensures that the Changing Places Toilets which are built are fit for purpose.

Further details will be available soon.

Question reference: S6W-13809

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 19 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13498 by Kevin Stewart on 11 January 2023, where the 958.9 whole time equivalent mental health roles have been appointed, broken down by NHS board.

The breakdown of the 958.9 whole time equivalent (WTE) posts by NHS Health Board is as follows;

NHS Board	Whole Time Equivalent Posts
Ayrshire & Arran	96.3
Borders	14.4
Dumfries & Galloway	39.0
Fife	62.9
Forth Valley	34.8
Grampian	76.6
Greater Glasgow & Clyde	192.0
Highland	51.9
Lanarkshire	97.3
Lothian	125.3
Orkney	3.0
Shetland	3.3
Tayside	99.4
Western Isles	3.0

A further 59.8 WTE posts were recruited by NHS 24, Police Scotland and the Scottish Ambulance Service through the Enhanced Mental Health Pathway.

Question reference: S6W-13676

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 06 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 19 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much is allocated in the proposed Scottish Budget 2023-24 to (a) Warmer Homes Scotland, (b) its Area Based Schemes, (c) Home Energy Scotland loans and (d) the Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund and "fabric first" projects, and how each of these compares with the allocations in (i) 2021-22 and (ii) 2022-23.

Question reference: S6W-13659

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 06 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 19 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available for households in rural areas in Scotland that do not have a mobile or radio signal and cannot therefore install a smart meter and receive any benefits that come with it.

Question reference: S6W-13585

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 19 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of the Gateway Review into the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), what consideration it has given to the advice to pursue a "softer" approach to DRS implementation.

The Gateway Review was undertaken more than six months ago and has been superseded. A review carried out in October 2022 concluded that “the DRS Programme has gained increased momentum and is in a much improved position” and that go live in August 2023 is now “feasible”. This is testament to the efforts being made by industry, Circularity Scotland, and the Scottish Government, who are working together to ensure the scheme is implemented in full.

We are committed to a pragmatic approach to implementation. For example, in November 2022, we updated the return point exemptions guidance and in December the application forms to make it easier for retailers to apply for an exemption from acting as a return point, and streamlined the process for retailers and hospitality providers.

Also in December, I announced that we will bring forward amendments to the regulations so that initially only the largest grocery supermarkets will be obliged to provide an online takeback service; all other businesses will be exempt from online takeback obligations.

Question reference: S6O-01830

Asked by: Audrey Nicoll, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 January 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with stakeholders regarding retraining and upskilling the north east energy sector workforce.

Question reference: S6O-01833

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 January 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it will improve transport connectivity for Scotland’s islands.

Question reference: S6O-01829

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 January 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill, including the latest discussions it has had with the UK Government.

Question reference: S6O-01828

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 January 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what road improvements are being carried out on the A77 and A70 to address any challenges faced by road users.

	2021-22	2022-23	2023-24
Warmer Homes Scotland	£50m	£55m	£55m
Area Based Schemes	£64m	£64m	£64m
Home Energy Scotland Grants & Loans	£21m	£42m	£42m
Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund	£20m	£30m	£60m

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