Parliamentary questions
Martin Whitfield
543 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
11 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) average time for a child to be seen for an initial hearing following a referral to the children's hearings system and (b) the total number of children referred to the system has been in each year since 2012.
Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: This information is not held by the Scottish Government as it relates to an operational matter for the children’s hearings system.The Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA) publish their annual statistics, which sets out a measure on t…
11 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average time is for a child to be seen for an initial hearing following a referral to the children’s hearings system.
Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: This information is not held by the Scottish Government as it relates to an operational matter for the children’s hearings system.The Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA) publish their annual statistics, which sets out a measure on t…
11 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of play parks received a rating of (a) excellent, (b) good, (c) satisfactory, and (d) poor in each year since 2012, also broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. Scotland’s local authorities are responsible for the maintenance and management of play parks within their estates.
5 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-25927 by Natalie Don on 14 March 2024, whether it will provide an updated table regarding how much Disclosure Scotland has spent on employing temporary staff, based on the latest information available.
Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: I have asked Gerard Hart, Chief Executive of Disclosure Scotland, to respond. His response is as follows:The spend on employing temporary staff in the 9 month period of January to September 2024 was £7,504,000. The spend on employing temporary staff fro…
5 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of nurseries received a rating of (a) excellent, (b) good, (c) satisfactory and (d) poor from inspections conducted by (i) the Care Inspectorate and (ii) Education Scotland in each year since 2012, also broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested as it relates to inspection activities undertaken by the Care Inspectorate and Education Scotland, who will be able to provide analysis of inspection grades on request.
5 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-25674 by Patrick Harvie on 7 March 2024, whether it will provide an updated table regarding the number of children who have undertaken cycling proficiency training, based on the latest information available.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Further to question S6W-25674, the latest Bikeability Scotland participation statistics are as follows:LOCAL AUTHORITY2010-112011-122012-132013-142014-152015-162016-172017-182018-192019-202020-212021-222022-232023-24 Aberdeen City21%25%31%57%68%62%68%42%…
5 Nov 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that approximately 1,200 applications for places in special schools were refused, whether it will increase funding and resources to ensure that all children requiring specialised support can access appropriate education without placing any additional pressure on fami…
25 Sep 2024 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it is supporting childcare providers.
19 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish what direct engagement the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills had with young people, in light of the comments made in her ministerial statement on 19 September 2024 on the Scottish Government's response to the recommendations from the Independent Review of…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I routinely discuss the development of education policy, including in respect of qualifications and assessment, with young people through frequent visits to schools and a range of other events and meetings. The Scottish Government does not intend to publish d…
19 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it addresses any disparities in access to digital resources and support for young people participating in the Young Person’s Guarantee.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government is committed to increasing digital participation and ensuring that all of Scotland is able to enjoy the social, cultural and economic benefits of the internet. Connecting Scotland is a Scottish Government programme, delivered in partne…
19 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what collaboration exists between the Young Person’s Guarantee and other youth support programmes to ensure comprehensive and equitable support for all young people.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government continues to provide funding to a wide range of organisations and third sector partners to improve support for young people; this includes more specialist support for young people furthest from positive destinations through third secto…
19 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what data it collects on the participation rates of different demographic groups in the Young Person’s Guarantee, and how any such data is used to address any disparities.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government collect data on all 16-19 year olds through the Skills Development Scotland’s Annual Participation Measure and publish Labour Market Statistics for 16-24 year olds.From April 2023 the Young Person’s Guarantee has been mains…
19 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many young people with additional support needs have been supported through the Young Person's Guarantee in each of the last three years.
Answer · Graeme Dey: From April 2023 the Young Person’s Guarantee has been mainstreamed across Government, with activity across education, skills and employability supporting young people into opportunities. We do not hold data on the number of young people with additional …
19 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what partnerships are involved in delivering the Young Person's Guarantee, and how these partnerships are monitored for effectiveness.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Young Person’s Guarantee was delivered in partnership with Developing the Young Workforce, local government, Local Employability Partnerships, services from Skills Development Scotland, employers, universities and colleges.The Scottish Government pu…
19 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what data is available on the retention rates of young people in (a) employment and (b) education after completing the Young Person's Guarantee.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Young Person’s Guarantee Implementation Progress Report (July 2021) and Update Report (March 2023) both highlight progress made over the 2 years. The links for these reports can be found below.Young Person's Guarantee - implementation: progress repo…
19 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the current budget allocation is for the Young Person's Guarantee in 2024-25, and how this compares with each year since its introduction.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government committed £60 million to the Young Person’s Guarantee in 2020/21, £70 million in 2021-22, and £45 million in 2022-23.Funding for 2020-21 and 2021-22 came from UK Government Consequentials. From April 2023 the Yo…
19 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the success of the Young Person's Guarantee is evaluated, and what criteria are used to measure its effectiveness.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Young Person’s Guarantee Measurement and Evaluation Framework was published in February 2022. This set out the approach envisaged at the time to monitor and evaluate the progress with the Guarantee, including Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and a …
19 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much of the Young Person's Guarantee budget is currently allocated to rural and remote areas, and what strategies are in place to ensure equitable access in these areas.
Answer · Graeme Dey: Funding for the Young Person’s Guarantee was allocated through Further Education, Higher Education, the third sector and Developing the Young Workforce. For the employability element of the Young Person’s Guarantee, funding was allocated through L…
9 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met developers regarding the Bankton junction on the A1 in East Lothian.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Transport Scotland is in regular contact with Hargreaves, the developer for the Blindwells Development. The last meeting took place on 3 September 2024.
14 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what alternative financial support is available to young people under 17 who wish to continue their education but are not eligible for the Education Maintenance Allowance.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is available at school and college for eligible 16-19 year olds supporting them to remain and progress in learning. For those at school, and under 17 who are not eligible for EMA, they may receive Free School Meals and/or…
7 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review options for extending the provision of financial support for the Veterans Community Support Service, which is run under the auspices of Legion Scotland, beyond the current end point for grant funding in 2026.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government does not currently provide direct funding to Legion Scotland’s Veterans Community Support Service. The Service does, however, receive Scottish Government grant funding indirectly through the Unforgotten Forces consortium, which t…
1 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the full costs that it occurred in relation to the case of McMaster & Others and MacKay & Others (Gov ref LIT/11764/AT).
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: As with any litigation, the details of any settlement are confidential to the parties involved in that litigation. The Scottish Ministers however can confirm that the total costs incurred by the Scottish Ministers in relation to the cases of McMaster & Ot…
1 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its final settlement terms were for the case of McMaster & Others and MacKay & Others (Gov ref LIT/11764/AT).
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Scottish Ministers honoured the commitment to treat sympathetically the compensation claims of the tenant farmers in the court actions of McMaster & Others v Scottish Ministers and Mackay & Another v the Scottish Ministers. Settlement terms are confid…
25 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the effectiveness of the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund will be measured.
Answer · Natalie Don: Independent external evaluation of the Programme is a core component of delivery. A Year 1 process evaluation report of the programme was published on 31 January 2024: Whole Family Wellbeing Funding (WFWF) - year 1 process evaluation: final report - gov.scot …
25 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how its recent Budget supports its ambition that by 2030 at least 5% of all community-based health and social care spend will be on preventative whole family support measures.
Answer · Natalie Don: The Scottish Government remains committed to this ambition and has prioritised investment in supporting local areas to develop preventative whole family support measures through the Whole Family Wellbeing Funding, with £50m being allocated for the progr…
25 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund's budget has been adjusted for inflation since its establishment.
Answer · Natalie Don: The WFWF budget has not been adjusted for inflation. Rather, we are taking funding decisions based on evidence and engagement with our partners about need, and our collective understanding about how to support transformational change. We have continued to pri…
25 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide the total budget for the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund, in real terms, from its establishment to date.
Answer · Natalie Don: Since 2022 over £110m of Whole Family Wellbeing Funding was invested by the Scottish Government to deliver a transformational change in holistic family support so that families get the right support, in the right way and at the right time. The funding w…
25 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it addresses the needs of parents with disabilities, to ensure that they receive adequate support to care for their children.
Answer · Natalie Don: The Scottish Government recognises that all parents are entitled to support throughout their parenting journey, and parents with disabilities will have specific needs that should be met.This support begins in pregnancy and one of the key recommendations in Th…
25 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors and evaluates the effectiveness of parent support programmes to ensure that they are meeting the needs of families.
Answer · Natalie Don: The Scottish Government recognises that supporting parents is key to improving outcomes for children and young people and that monitoring and evaluating of our parenting support programmes is an essential component to ensure the effectiveness of these program…
25 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to provide targeted support for single parents, particularly those facing financial hardship.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: As set out in the Scottish Government’s second Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan, Best Start, Bright Futures, we remain fully committed to ensuring that all relevant action across government is focused on meeting the needs of the six priority familie…