Stephen Kerr

11 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any previously planned elements of the R100 programme have been discontinued.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The three strands of activity which form the Reaching 100% (R100) programme – the over-£600 million R100 contracts, the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (SBVS) and ongoing commercial build - continue to deliver faster broadband connections a…

11 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any additional funding has been provided to the R100 programme beyond the original £600 million announced in December 2017.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: In addition to the £600 million announced in December 2017, the Scottish Government has invested an additional £20 million with the UK Government's Project Gigabit programme contributing a further £31 million. This further investment has bee…

11 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the number of properties still to be connected within the Falkirk Council area under the R100 project.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Latest assured figure (from 31 July 2024) showed that around 1,000 premises were still expected to be connected through the R100 Central contract in the Falkirk Council area.Latest coverage figures, including premises connected that were beyond the scope of t…

11 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects the R100 programme to conclude.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Reaching 100% (R100) programme met its original aim of ensuring everyone could access a superfast broadband connection by the end of 2021. However, as per previous statements, the R100 contracts – which are now providing full-fibre and gigabit-capab…

11 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received any funding directly from the UK Government to be spent on the R100 project, and, if so, where this funding was utilised.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has received a total of £52 million from the UK Government for deployment via the R100 contracts.£17 million of UK Government funding is being deployed via the R100 North contact, £7 million via the Central contract a…

11 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the number of properties still to be connected under the R100 Central contract.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Latest assured figure (from 31 July 2024) showed that around 14,000 premises were still expected to be connected through the R100 Central contract.Latest coverage figures, including premises connected that were beyond the scope of the initial R100 contracts, …

9 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many unique views there have been of the website, Mind Yer Time, in each of the last 12 months.

Answer · Maree Todd: The number of unique views to the Scottish Youth Parliament/Children’s Parliament Mind Yer Time website in each of the last 12 months are as follows:Date rangeActive usersNew users10th September - 30th September 20231601511st October - 4th November 2023…

9 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the cost was of developing the website, Mind Yer Time.

Answer · Maree Todd: Scottish Government funding for the development and maintenance of the Scottish Youth Parliament/Children’s Parliament Mind Yer Time website is as follows:Year£2020-2153,4002021-2239,6002022-235,0002023-2440,1872024-2540,000Total178,187Mind Yer Ti…

9 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the latest developments in relation to the Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme.

Answer · Gillian Martin: At the request of the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, Miri McAllan MSP, Scottish Government officials are engaging with Falkirk Council officials on a taskforce to deliver improved flood resilience for Falkirk and Grangemouth. There have been three…

9 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many vacancies there currently are for midwives, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Neil Gray: The information requested on how many vacancies there currently are for midwives, broken down by NHS board can be found on the TURAS NHS Education for Scotland workforce statistics site at: NHS Scotland workforce | Turas Data Intelligence (Vacancy tab).

9 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many midwives are currently employed on temporary contracts, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Neil Gray: The information requested on how many midwives are currently employed on temporary contracts, broken down by NHS board can be found on the TURAS NHS Education for Scotland workforce statistics site at:NHS Scotland workforce | Turas Data Intelligence (Employme…

9 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many midwives are currently employed on permanent contracts, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Neil Gray: The information requested on how many midwives are currently employed on permanent contracts, broken down by NHS board can be found on the TURAS NHS Education for Scotland workforce statistics site at: NHS Scotland workforce | Turas Data Intelligence (Employm…

9 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what mechanisms it has to prevent local authorities from reducing the number of hours in the school week.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is keen to come to a voluntary agreement with local government on protecting learning hours, but if no agreement is reached we will consider options including use of regulations. We continue to engage with local government on this matt…

9 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had in response to reports that local authorities are considering a reduction in the school week.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I am concerned at suggestions of cuts to learning hours in any local authority. I wrote to all local authorities in February this year make clear that this would not be acceptable to Scottish Government.We are continuing to engage with COSLA to work towards a…

9 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre paper recently considered by the Grangemouth Future Industry Board will have on discussions regarding the future of the Grangemouth Refinery.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The paper shared by the Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre at the last Grangemouth Future Industry Board was not specific to the Grangemouth Refinery.

9 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will next update the Parliament on its just transition plan for Grangemouth.

Answer · Gillian Martin: We remain committed to delivering a Just Transition Plan that reflects the needs of the industrial site operators, workforce and the wider community and anticipate the launch of a draft plan for consultation in the coming months.We will update the Parliament …

9 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which company has been contracted to undertake the economic impact assessment for the Grangemouth Refinery.

Answer · Gillian Martin: PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP were commissioned by Scottish Ministers to carry out this independent assessment. The findings of this assessment have been shared with the Economy and Fair Work Committee.The document has been published online: Economic Contributio…

9 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether children and young people are taught about their own gender identity in school.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Children and young people are not taught about their own gender identity in Scottish schools. That is a personal matter for any individual and, in the case of young people, their family.Relationships, sexual health and parenthood (RSHP) education is an integr…

9 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to make the process for nursing and midwifery graduates to find jobs in NHS Scotland easier.

Answer · Neil Gray: Recruitment is a matter for the employing Health Boards, and the Scottish Government has no direct role in newly qualified nurse recruitment plans and processes. However, officials have been engaging with Health Boards and it is our understanding that Boards …

9 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the reasons were for the reported 1,152 reduction in the number of nursing and midwifery jobs in the last year.

Answer · Neil Gray: The 1,152 reported is the Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) fall in the NHS Scotland Nursing and Midwifery establishment over the six months to 30 June 2024. Care should be taken when comparing workforce data over a six month period as it will be influenced by seas…

9 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to (a) complete and (b) fund its cladding remediation programme, in light of reports that some of the consequential funding that it received for this purpose has been allocated elsewhere.

Answer · Paul McLennan: The Scottish Government expects the cost of cladding remediation work to be met through a combination of responsible developers assessing and remediating their own buildings, consequential funding from the UK Government, and a devolved Building Safety Levy. T…

9 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the £97 million in consequential funding that it received in relation to fixing unsafe cladding has reportedly not all been spent on cladding remediation.

Answer · Paul McLennan: Scottish Ministers prioritise consequential funding in the financial year in which it is received to support public services in Scotland and a balanced budget.Scottish Ministers have said they will spend the equivalent value of the £97.1 m received in c…

9 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what training for senior administrators in the NHS will be reduced or stopped, in light of its fiscal statement on 3 September 2024.

Answer · Neil Gray: We have made a commitment, under the Nurture strand of the National Workforce Strategy to support leadership and talent management across NHS Scotland. We know that succession planning for senior roles is an urgent priority to ensure the continuity of service…

9 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact it anticipates that the reported £800,000 reduction to VisitScotland's advertising budget will have on tourism numbers.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The decision relates to uncommitted marketing spend, however, Visit Scotland will continue to maximise the impact of its £43.6 million budget through use of its own and partner channels, including relationships with travel intermediaries, to attract dom…

9 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a detailed breakdown of the proposed £115 million of savings in the Health and Social Care budget outlined in its fiscal statement on 3 September 2024.

Answer · Neil Gray: On the 3 September 2024, the Scottish Government pre-budget fiscal update outlined savings measures of £115.8m in the Health and Social Care budget, with funding redirected to support emerging pressures within Health and Social Care, not used for wider …

9 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which (a) organisations and (b) local authorities may have their funding reduced, in light of the reductions to active travel spending announced in its fiscal statement on 3 September 2024.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Transport Scotland has already allocated over £145 million of our 2024-25 budget to delivery partners across both Active Travel infrastructure and behaviour change. 2024-25 is the first year for a local authority and Regional Transport Partnerships led …

9 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which flood defence projects may be reduced or stopped, in light of its fiscal statement on 3 September 2024.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Within an extremely challenging financial context, the Scottish Government has made difficult funding decisions. Local authorities have received all the funding they have requested for flood protection in 2024-25 and, as such, £26 million from the Flood…

9 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether public health campaigns will be reduced or stopped as a result of the reported reductions to its marketing.

Answer · Shona Robison: A number of public health campaigns will continue to run. Public Health Scotland will continue to undertake targeted communications work for vaccine programmes, including Winter Flu, to ensure those who are eligible for vaccinations are aware and encouraged t…

9 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact it anticipates that the reported £19 million reduction to mental health services will have on mental health waiting times.

Answer · Maree Todd: Following the UK Chancellor's July statement, the Scottish Government continues to face the most challenging financial situation since devolution.Whilst any reduction is regrettable, we remain committed to taking forward our work across mental health, working…

9 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact it anticipates that reallocating a further £460 million from ScotWind revenue will have on investment in renewable energy.

Answer · Shona Robison: Successive Scottish budgets have demonstrated Scotland’s commitment to addressing the climate change crisis, using all resources at our disposal to accelerate the just transition to a net zero, climate-resilient and biodiverse Scotland. The 2024-25 Budg…