Ash Regan

28 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the (a) First Minister (b) Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs and (c) Lord Advocate, and any other ministers, and their officials, last met with the (i) Chief Constable and (ii) Deputy Chief Constables at Police Scotland, and what was discussed.

Answer · Angela Constance: The First Minister last met with the Chief Constable on 16 May 2024. Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs was also in attendance. The agenda covered:IntroductionMental health and policingCriminal justice systemWorkforce and operating modelPolice (Ethics, Conduc…

28 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of when the (a) Lord Advocate and (b) Solicitor General attended meetings of the Cabinet since August 2023, and the reason for their attendance at any such meetings.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Between 1 August 2023 and 4 June 2024 Cabinet has met 37 times. A Law Officer attended 24 of these meetings: the Lord Advocate on 17 occasions and the Solicitor General on behalf of the Lord Advocate on seven occasions. Law Officers attend Cabinet as principa…

28 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to (a) local authorities and (b) community organisations for the provision of allotments, in light of the reported waiting times in Edinburgh and across Scotland.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: Allotments and their provision are the responsibility of local authorities, as set out in the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 Part 9. Whilst the Scottish Government is not required to collect information on waiting lists, we are aware of long lists…

28 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much the Edinburgh Eastern constituency has received from the CashBack for Communities fund since it was established, and what projects this funding has supported.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: Edinburgh Eastern has received £1,903,792 from the Cashback for Communities fund since 2008. Eight CashBack Partners have delivered projects within Edinburgh Eastern Constituency from 2008 to 2024. They are: Boxing Scotland; Edinburgh Young Carers; Scottish …

28 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support has been provided to businesses in the Edinburgh Eastern constituency through the Young Person's Guarantee, and how this compares to other areas across Edinburgh.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Young Person’s Guarantee was introduced in response to the Covid-19 pandemic as a measure to prevent long-term adverse impacts for young people in the labour market. It contained a number of aspects, covering skills, education, and employability. Employa…

28 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it plans to allow patients to access their medical records digitally, and whether it plans to roll this out across Scotland.

Answer · Neil Gray: As stated in the answer to question S6W-27820 on 11 June 2024, I can confirm the Digitisation of records is an operational responsibility of individual Health Boards GP practices and Local Authorities, and their partner organisations commissioned to deliver c…

28 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much the potential designation of a new national park has cost to date.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government has received nominations from five areas which wish to be considered for designation as a new National Park. The delivery costs to date, excluding staffing costs and expenses, are £331,409.05. These costs are broken down as follows: …

28 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to retain the commitment to active travel spending by 2024-25, as outlined in the Bute House Agreement.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Since 2021, we have seen year on year increases confirming record breaking funding in Active Travel. However, the significant pressures on public finances, including the failure of the outgoing UK government to provide more capital funding for Scotland in its…

28 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to have a national integrated ticketing system for public transport in place and operational before the end of the current parliamentary session.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has already introduced a national smartcard that can be used across all modes of public transport. The National Entitlement Card ( saltire card) is available to any Scottish resident and, since 2019, can be used across Scotland for any…

28 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-24385 by Shona Robison on 22 January 2024, whether it will provide an updated list of any current (a) ministerial taskforces, (b) Cabinet committees, (c) Cabinet sub-committees, (d) ministerial working groups and (e) other ministerial committees.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Kate Forbes: Information on Cabinet and Cabinet Sub-Committees is available on the Scottish Government website here; any change to these structures would be updated on these pages: Cabinet and Ministers - gov.scot ( www.gov.scot ) Cabinet sub-committees: …

28 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has met with representatives of (a) the Scottish Solicitors Bar Association, (b) the Law Society of Scotland, (c) the Faculty of Advocates, (d) legal firms and (e) judicial officeholders since the stage 1 debate on the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill on …

Answer · Angela Constance: Angela Constance: The Scottish Government meets regularly with representatives of the bodies mentioned to discuss a range of issues. On the specific topic of the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill the Scottish Government continues to enga…

28 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last reviewed the rate of Education Maintenance Allowance, and whether it will consider an inflationary increase in advance of the next Scottish Budget.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Education Maintenance Allowance is vital in supporting young people from lower-income households to overcome financial barriers and to stay in education. It is a central component of this government’s support for young people from economically disadvantag…

28 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Ministerial Taskforce on Population last met, and what was discussed.

Answer · Kaukab Stewart: The Ministerial Population Taskforce meets quarterly to oversee delivery of Scotland’s Population Strategy and it last met on 20 March 2024. Items discussed included: Scotland’s Migration Service, in advance of its launch on 27 March; the linkages between hou…

28 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to update the Parliament on its work to bring forward and implement a minimum income guarantee, and what it currently estimates the financial cost of such a policy to be.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The work to define a Minimum Income Guarantee for Scotland continues to be led by an independent Expert Group who are due to publish a full report, which will include consideration of costs, later this year. The Scottish Government will respond to the recomme…

28 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with Crown Estate Scotland, and what was discussed.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Scottish Government and Crown Estate Scotland representatives meet regularly to discuss actions CES are taking forward which directly benefit Scotland’s communities. CES is a revenue-raising public corporation. Many of these conversations include commercially…

28 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has engaged with (a) universities, (b) Universities Scotland, (c) the Scottish Funding Council, (d) the Department for Education and (e) any other part of the UK Government regarding contingency planning in the event that a university in Scotland becomes bankrupt, and whether …

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government are in regular discussions with the Scottish Funding Council about the financial sustainability of the university sector. These discussions consider sector risks and plans and seek to strengthen our collective approach. Additionally, …

28 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will outline its infrastructure investment priorities to the Parliament, in light of the UK General Election.

Answer · Shona Robison: The publication of the Infrastructure Investment Plan Annual Report and Pipeline Reset has had to be postponed due to the timing of the UK General Election. Scottish Ministers will now consider a revised publication date, and will inform Parliament in due cou…

28 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has met with (a) Kidzcare, (b) the City of Edinburgh Council and (c) Education Scotland regarding the reported closure of Haystax Nursery in Niddrie, and what support it can offer to ensure that the nursery remains open for parents, families and staff.

Answer · Natalie Don: All three and four year olds, as well as eligible two year olds, have a statutory entitlement of up to 1140 hours per year of funded ELC. Local authorities have a duty to make this available to all eligible children within their area, which is delivered acros…

28 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) NHS Lothian, (b) the City of Edinburgh Council and (c) other relevant authorities regarding the reports of non-surgical Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) procedures taking place in the city, which led to the local authority issuing a public warning on 25 Apri…

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government was approached by NHS Lothian, the City of Edinburgh Council and Public Health Scotland to make it aware of issues regarding Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) procedures taking place in Edinburgh. The Scottish Government invited an environmen…

28 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to publish a housing emergency action plan, backed by regulatory and financial resources, before the end of 2024.

Answer · Paul McLennan: In declaring a national housing emergency, the Scottish Government recognises that there are major challenges within the housing sector in Scotland. To address these challenges, joined up action across Scottish Government, UK Government, local government, reg…

28 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates that it will publish the next paper in the Building a New Scotland series; what the topic of the paper will be, and what consultation has taken place in advance of it being published.

Answer · Angus Robertson: The Permanent Secretary wrote to the First Minister on 27 May outlining the impact of the UK general election guidance on the Scottish Government’s planned business. In this letter, in line with normal practice, the Permanent Secretary advised on the deferral…

28 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates that it will publish the findings of its most recent consultation on restricting promotions of food and drink high in fat, sugar or salt.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The consultation on the detail of proposed regulations to restrict promotions of food and drink high in fat, sugar or salt closed on 21 May 2024. Work is underway to procure an independent analysis of the consultation feedback. The feedback received will be …

28 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to update the Parliament on its work to split the role of the Lord Advocate, and whether this work remains one of its priorities.

Answer · Angela Constance: I refer the member to the answer to question PQ S6W-27235 on 17 May 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at - https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-commit…

28 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of any financial support that it has provided to (a) small, (b) medium-sized, (c) large and (d) start-up businesses in the Edinburgh Eastern constituency in each of the last five financial years.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government is keen to promote a culture of entrepreneurship. Scottish Government business support is provided by our enterprise agencies, utilising a range of support mechanisms. Scottish Enterprise provide business support in the area which inc…

28 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of any funding that it has provided to (a) the City of Edinburgh Council and (b) (i) other public sector organisations, (ii) charities, (iii) other voluntary organisations and (iv) social enterprises in the Edinburgh Eastern constituency, in each of th…

Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested on the funding provided to City of Edinburgh Council in each of the last 3 financial years is set out in the following table. The Scottish Government does not hold information on funding to other public sector organisations, chariti…

28 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with (a) the City of Edinburgh Council and (b) other partners to discuss the housing emergency, and whether it discussed the provision of additional (i) financial, (ii) regulatory and (iii) planning support to alleviate the impact on residents.

Answer · Paul McLennan: Since taking up post last year, I have met regularly with Councillor Jane Meagher, the City of Edinburgh Council Housing Convener, with our last meeting taking place on 18 April. The housing emergency has been raised in my discussions with other Housing Conve…

28 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it anticipates the economic impact of the upcoming Taylor Swift concert will be on the (a) Edinburgh and (b) Scottish economy, and what discussions (i) ministers and (ii) their officials have had with stakeholders regarding this.

Answer · Angus Robertson: Given the commercial nature of these events the Scottish Government has not undertaken an assessment of the likely economic impact of the Taylor Swift concerts in Edinburgh. There have been no specific discussions with stakeholders, by either Ministers or O…

28 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to ensure that the public has confidence in organisations that receive public funding, by ensuring that its funding processes operate at the highest level of governance accountability and transparency.

Answer · Shona Robison: There is a robust framework for the stewardship of public funds by the Scottish Government, its public bodies and recipients of public sector grants. The Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM) sets out statutory, parliamentary, and administrative requirements …

28 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-27515 by Ivan McKee on 23 May 2024, whether it will provide a breakdown of the work undertaken by the consultancies that were awarded funding in the 2022-23 financial year.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Following on from the answer to S6W-27515 where a list of 132 Scottish Government consultancy suppliers total annual spend was provided. Due to the high volume of transactional data that provides the breakdown of this spend (1,199 in total) and the work that …

28 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-27611 by Ivan McKee on 23 May 2024, what further steps it is considering to unlock developments for economic growth and housebuilding, in light of any lengthy planning delays.

Answer · Ivan McKee: We are taking forward a range of actions to ensure that the planning system supports economic growth and house building. We remain committed to working collaboratively with all those with an interest in planning and housing to deliver good quality homes in t…