Stephen Kerr

25 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its vision and proposal for a new system of rural support, in conjunction with a detailed net zero roadmap for the transition of farming businesses and practices, in order to provide certainty in relation to the support and payments that will be put in place to achie…

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government will publish its vision shortly. The vision outlines our aim to transform how we support farming and food production in Scotland to become a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture. The Scottish Government is requir…

25 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to ensuring that private sector solutions incubators for low-carbon and net zero projects will be fully resourced and mandated by the end of 2022.

Answer · Ivan McKee: In CivTech, the Scottish Government is already resourcing an outstanding accelerator/incubator programme that is delivering in the low-carbon and net zero areas. The Scottish Government’s CivTech programme is the world’s first successful public sector focuse…

25 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times it has met the Scotch Whisky Association since June 2021.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Scottish Ministers have met with the Scotch Whisky Association four times since June 2021. On occasion, Scotch Whisky Association staff also attend meetings such as the Scottish Government’s Ministerial Trade Board, where various industry stakeholders and the…

25 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the average GP-to-patient ratio has been in each of the last 10 years.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: It is for Health Boards and GP practices to determine appropriate staffing levels in line with local population needs. GP - patient ratios will vary across practices depending on geography, population density and staff availability. Patient and GP population…

25 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the recommended GP-to-patient ratio is, and how many GP practices are currently exceeding this recommended ratio.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government does not recommend a GP-patient ratio. It is for Health Boards and GP practices to determine appropriate staffing levels. There are more GPs per 100,000 population in Scotland than the rest of the UK, with 95 for every 100,000 people …

25 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have received funding through Individual Training Accounts in each year since their inception.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Individual Training Accounts (ITAs) replaced the Individual Learning Accounts (ILAs) and were launched in October 2017. Since their launch in 2017 the following numbers of individuals have received funding and training through the scheme: Financial year:…

25 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many employees have been trained or retrained through the North East Economic Recovery and Skills Fund.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The North East Economic Recovery and Skills Fund (NEERSF) launched in August 2021. Projects will continue to September 2022 and following this, we will provide a report on the full period. The first interim performance reporting from the delivery partnership…

24 Jan 2022 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what steps the Scottish Government is taking to encourage rail travel in Scotland.

19 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its ministers responsible for energy and planning have conducted a review into the energy consenting process.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government continuously reviews energy consenting frameworks, and looks for opportunities for further efficiencies and improvements while ensuring protection of our natural resources. In line with an existing Programme for Government commitment, …

19 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work is underway with local authorities to develop the necessary capacity building and training to ensure a planning system fit for net zero is established by 2022.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government is engaging closely with COSLA and Heads of Planning Scotland to understand the pressures faced by the planning service and to promote a highly performing system which can deliver on the ambitions for planning set out in the emerging N…

19 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has sent a letter to all local authorities to emphasise the importance of addressing the climate emergency in all planning decisions, including in major developments.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government has not sent such a letter. The draft National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) proposes radically improved and significant new policies aimed at addressing the climate emergency, including a proposed new policy which states: ‘When consider…

19 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether infrastructure spending within its 2022-23 draft Budget and the Infrastructure Investment Plan will be informed by its guidance on active carbon management.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Budget 2022-23 sets out almost £2 billion of low carbon capital investment in Scotland’s public infrastructure, including almost £350 million to drive forward our commitment to decarbonise the heating of 1 million homes and £124 million capital i…

19 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when its guidance on active carbon management will include alignment with adaptation plans, particularly in relation to the choice and design of City Region and Growth Deal projects and their role in helping the country adapt to climate impacts in the future.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The focus of the Scottish City Region and Growth Deals carbon management guidance is the minimisation of greenhouse gas emissions, in support of Scotland’s national target to reach net zero by 2045. The guidance is already fully aligned with the Environmental…

18 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is on track to apply its guidance on active carbon management to each City Region and Growth Deal.

Answer · Kate Forbes: We have been proactive in our approach to minimising carbon emissions associated with the City Region and Growth Deals programme, taking expert advice from industry on the latest national and international best practice. We have now rolled out our innovative …

18 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what mechanisms it is putting in place to ensure the robustness of public sector procurement in terms of the purchase of low-carbon, circular economy products and services.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government is committed to using public procurement to address the Climate Emergency. This work is framed in terms of the Sustainable Procurement Duty of the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014, which requires public bodies to consider how the…

18 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what new funding it is planning to bring forward to drive early adoption of best practice procurement standards.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government provides a range of centrally funded procurement best practice tools that are continually updated to reflect changes in legislation (such as VAT), introduction of new policy outcomes (such as Climate Change, Fair Work, Innovation and P…

18 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to enforce the incorporation of whole life carbon into the costing of all public sector investment and spending decisions.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government published new guidance, Public Sector Leadership on the Global Climate Emergency , on 29 October, to provide advice for public bodies on robust, consistent and comprehensive carbon management. The guidance says it is vital that public…

17 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how students are chosen to fill the 290 places available on the Saltire Scholarship scheme for EU students.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: This funding has been allocated to institutions through the Scottish Funding Council for the 2021-22 academic year. Scholarships will be considered by universities for citizens or permanent residents of an EU or EEA country, and have a conditional or uncondit…

14 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has provided to Sustainable Scotland Network in each year since 2014.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The following table sets out Scottish Government funding offered to the SSN Secretariat since 2018-19: Financial Year Amount £ 2018-2019 Contract payments £303,988.00 excluding VAT 2019-2020 Contract payments £267,072.11 excluding VAT 2020-2021 3 gra…

14 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what role Audit Scotland has in ensuring that the climate emergency is included as a corporate priority in public sector organisations, and what resources and funding are allocated for the purpose of carrying out any such role.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Audit Scotland operate independently from the Scottish Government. The Auditor General has highlighted seven themes in their Strategic Priorities and Future Work Programme, including Climate Change. For more information on Audit Scotland please visit Audit S…

14 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to local authorities to de-risk net zero projects.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: Local authorities are independent corporate bodies with their own powers and responsibilities and are entirely separate from the Scottish Government. As long as they act lawfully, it is up to each local authority how it manages its day-to-day business and dec…

14 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what finance rules will be put in place to support the requirement for local authorities to account for their carbon emissions.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: Local authorities are independent corporate bodies with their own powers and responsibilities and are entirely separate from the Scottish Government. As long as they act lawfully, it is up to each local authority how it manages its day-to-day business and dec…

14 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will produce, by September 2022, a joint net zero delivery framework with local authorities, which identifies roles, and the funding and resources required, to deliver net zero and create climate resilient places.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government does not have plans to produce a joint net zero delivery framework with local authorities. We continue to support public sector leadership on the climate emergency through ongoing engagement with key bodies such as the Sustainable Scot…

12 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to simplify and increase access to opportunities and tax incentives for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to (a) reskill and (b) upskill their workforce with green funding uplifts and diversity bursaries.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government recognises the important role upskilling and retraining interventions play in improving productivity and business competitiveness, and is committed to providing relevant support for businesses of all sizes in doing so. This is particul…

12 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been guaranteed a pipeline of low-carbon work.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Looking ahead, we don’t yet know all the products or technologies that will be needed to achieve our climate change targets. However, we are clear that we want a Just Transition, where Scottish-based businesses, their wider supply chains and our local communi…

12 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to make all apprenticeships include mandatory climate literacy skills.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Apprenticeships are a key way for all employers to invest in their workforce, providing the skills the economy needs both now and in the future. Published in December 2020, the Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan (CESAP) sets out the actions we need to take…

12 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has developed new climate-relevant standards and modules for apprenticeships, with incentives to choose green pathways and greater flexibility in access to learning opportunities.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Apprenticeships are a key way for all employers to invest in their workforce, providing the skills the economy needs both now and in the future. Published in December 2020, the Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan (CESAP) sets out the actions we need to take…

12 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what long-term funding programmes have been put in place to increase the number, diversity and flexibility of low-carbon work-based learning opportunities for (a) school leavers, (b) graduates and (c) the existing workforce.

Answer · Lorna Slater: In December 2020 the Scottish Government and Skills Development Scotland published the Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan (CESAP) setting out the actions required to ensure Scotland’s labour market is able to effectively support the transition to net zero. …

11 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what overseas offices it plans to establish over the next four years, and what funding has been allocated to the establishment and maintenance of such offices.

Answer · Angus Robertson: As was announced in the programme for government, this year we will open a Scottish Government office in Copenhagen to increase Scotland’s economic and cultural visibility in the Nordic region. During this parliamentary session, we will also open an office in…

11 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to freedom of information request reference FOI/2021/00261224, what the role of its "overseas office" is in London, England.

Answer · Angus Robertson: Scotland House London is clearly not an overseas office, but is a hub in a crucial city for Scotland. The facility provides a platform to develop trade and investment links, strengthen government to government relations and facilitate collaboration on economi…