Craig Hoy

2 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many full-time equivalent civil servants there were in 2023-24.

Answer · Ivan McKee: To answer this question both sets of data refer to the full time equivalents (FTE) at March 24 as the end point of FY2023-24.Data is provided from both the Scottish Government core workforce information and the devolved Scottish Civil Service employment infor…

2 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of how many full-time equivalent civil servants there will be in 2025-26.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The number of full time equivalent civil servants in 2025-26 across the core Scottish Government and the various Executive Agencies will be informed by the 2025-26 budget in December.Workforce numbers will be considered in the context of the recently announce…

2 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of how many full-time equivalent prison officers there will be in 2025-26.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:The forecasting that has been undertaken to produce SPS’ workforce plan projects that SPS will employ 3623 full time equivalent pr…

2 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of how many full-time equivalent operational staff there will be in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in 2025-26.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The estimated number of Full Time Equivalent operational staff for 2025/26 is a matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Workforce figures up to the year 2023/24 are available on the SFRS website at Statistics | Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (fires…

2 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of how many full-time equivalent nurses there will be in 2025-26.

Answer · Neil Gray: Scottish Government do not hold an estimate of the number of full-time equivalent nurses there will be in 2025-26.Student number targets are set after extensive engagement with key stakeholders to provide stability across partners including higher education i…

2 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of how many full-time equivalent police officers there will be in 2025-26.

Answer · Angela Constance: The recruitment of officers and staff is a matter for the Chief Constable, The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested.The Chief Constable confirmed that our investment will enable Police Scotland to recruit enough officers to increase num…

2 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of how many full-time equivalent teachers there will be in 2025-26.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The number of FTE teachers for the 2025-26 school year will be confirmed following publication of the 2025 teacher census results.

27 Aug 2024 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs last met with the Chief Constable of Police Scotland.

9 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to harmonise the provision of consultant doctor-led Emergency Medical Retrieval Services across NHS boards.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Ambulance Service is responsible for the harmonisation and provision of consultant doctor-led Emergency Medical Retrieval Services across NHS boards which are implemented through the Scottish Trauma Network. They work collaboratively with pre-hos…

9 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with NHS Lothian regarding the reported withdrawal of Medic 1 advanced, doctor-led, pre-hospital critical care capabilities within the NHS board area.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government is aware of the situation regarding the withdrawal of the advanced doctor-led Medic One prehospital critical care service (PHCC) within NHS Lothian, which forms part of the wider Scottish Trauma Network (STN) for the Southeast of Scotl…

9 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the Scottish Ambulance Service regarding advanced, doctor-led, pre-hospital critical care capabilities in NHS board areas, including NHS Lothian.

Answer · Neil Gray: Whilst the Scottish Government meets regularly with the Scottish Ambulance Service on operational matters, we have had no recent discussions with them regarding advanced, doctor-led, pre-hospital critical care capabilities in NHS board areas, including NHS Lo…

9 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of (a) any pressures being experienced by the Emergency Department at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and (b) the impact of any such pressures on the provision of pre-hospital critical care.

Answer · Neil Gray: The national Centre for Sustainable Delivery (nhscfsd.co.uk) has undertaken significant work over the past year to diagnose the key challenges within Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Along with each local board across Scotland, NHS Lothian has a set of bespoke…

9 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to review the system of student admission appeals. 

Answer · Graeme Dey: As autonomous institutions, universities are responsible for their own entry requirements and admissions policies. As such, the Scottish Government has no locus or plans to review the system of student admission appeals.

9 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what data it holds on the number of student admission appeals that were (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful in each of the last five years, broken down by university. 

Answer · Graeme Dey: As autonomous institutions, universities are responsible for their own entry requirements and admissions policies. Therefore, the Scottish Government does not collect or hold data on student admission appeals for universities in Scotland.

18 Jun 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the use of drones to fly illicit material into Scottish prisons.

4 Jun 2024 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Lothian and NHS Borders regarding financial stability in the 2024-25 financial year.

3 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to revise the rules governing political impartiality in schools.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: There are no current plans to revise the rules governing political impartiality in schools. This is a matter for local authorities who have the statutory responsibility for the delivery of education. It is important that our pupils understand the democratic …

3 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to revise any guidance on political activity in schools during a General Election period.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government has no plans to issue guidance on political activity in schools during a General Election period. This is a matter for local authorities who have the statutory responsibility for the delivery of education. It is important that our pup…

30 Apr 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what Forestry and Land Scotland is doing to deliver economic benefit from the land that it manages, including through supporting mountain bike tourism.

22 Apr 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what due diligence is conducted by Home Energy Scotland when selecting recommended suppliers to install energy efficiency improvements that are supported by Scottish Government funding.

18 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is reviewing the performance of the Young Persons’ (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel scheme.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Since the Under 22s Scheme launched in January 2022, over 130 million free bus journeys have been made by over 700,000 cardholders across Scotland. This landmark policy is already helping young people and families with children cut costs for everyday and leis…

15 Apr 2024 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to reports of significant financial pressures within NHS Lothian and NHS Borders.  

27 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made, based on any data that it has received from HMRC, of the total value of the contribution made by Scottish employers to the UK apprenticeship levy.

Answer · Graeme Dey: As announced by HM Treasury on 14 November 2016, the Scottish Government's population-based settlement from the UK Government's Apprenticeship Levy was £221 million in 2017/18, £230 million in 2018/19 and £239 million in 2019/20. This funding was allocated as…

27 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much total funding is made available to independent learning providers to deliver apprenticeships.

Answer · Graeme Dey: Skills Development Scotland provided funding for the delivery of Modern Apprenticeships of £57,133,317 to Independent Learning Providers in 2022-23. For delivery of Foundation Apprenticeships, Skills Development Scotland provided funding of £1,565,251 to Ind…

27 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much total funding is made available to colleges to deliver apprenticeships.

Answer · Graeme Dey: In 2022-23 Skills Development Scotland provided Colleges with funding of £11,927,213 for the delivery of Modern Apprenticeships. In addition, Colleges utilise credits to support the delivery of Modern Apprenticeships. Any credits used by colleges must comply…

27 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it next plans to review the amount paid, per apprentice, to (a) colleges and (b) independent learning providers to deliver apprenticeships.

Answer · Graeme Dey: Budgets for Modern and Foundation Apprenticeships for 2024-25 have been agreed and there are currently no plans to review the contribution rates.

26 Feb 2024 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it has provided an office-holder resettlement grant to the former Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care, following his resignation; whether it has been informed of any intention to decline or return such a grant, and, if this is not the case…

Answer · Jackson Carlaw (on behalf of the SPCB): The SPCB is required under the Scottish Parliamentary Pensions Act 2009, Schedule 2, to pay an Office Holder resettlement grant to an individual who – (a) stops being the holder of a pensionable office, and (b) is not appointed as the holder of a pensionabl…

5 Feb 2024 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the Scottish Information Commissioner’s intervention into its use and retention of informal communications, in light of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry.

11 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which external consulting firms are working or advising on preparations for a National Care Service, and what the cost of any such contracts (a) has been to date and (b) is projected to be in the 2024-25 financial year.

Answer · Maree Todd: a) A list of external consulting firms engaged to provide consultancy for research, co-design, engagement, and external support, and the cost of these contracts to date is provided in the following table. These figures are as of 15 January and are provisiona…

9 Jan 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the announcement by EDF that its ambition is to extend the life of Torness power station.