Alexander Burnett

20 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it provided to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation in (a) 2022-23 and (b) 2023-24.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government has not provided any funding to Asthma and Allergy Foundation in (a) 2022-23 and (b) 2023-24.

18 Sep 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last engaged with the four nations steering group on the review of noise guidance for onshore wind turbines as it applies to Scotland.

11 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any farm subsidies that it plans to introduce will include Scottish Outdoor Access Code compliance obligations.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 (LRSA) there is a right of responsible non-motorised access to land throughout Scotland with few exceptions. The rights and responsibilities of land managers and those exercising access rights are set out in the Scott…

10 Sep 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had any discussions with organisations in the arts and culture sector since the publication of the Programme for Government 2024-25.

5 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-28979 by Fiona Hyslop on 4 September 2024, how much of the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB 2) for the installation of wheelchair space in vehicles has been taken up by operators.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Funding for the installation of wheelchair space in vehicles has not been required as the new zero emission buses ordered through ScotZEB 2 comply with Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000.

23 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when Scotland's Mental Health First Aid: Young People (SMHFA: YP) courses will be available, following the reported pausing of the programme in 2020.

Answer · Maree Todd: The mental health and wellbeing of children and young people is an absolute priority for the Scottish Government.Public Health Scotland (PHS) holds the national licence for Scotland’s Mental Health First Aid: Young People- (SMHFA:YP). Following COVID, P…

6 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it has provided to private transport operators to provide transport for disabled people.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This is a matter for local authorities. The information requested is not held centrally.

6 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what requirement there is for private car hire firms to provide transport for disabled people.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Accessibility obligations for taxi and private hire car drivers and Local Licencing Authorities are reserved to the UK Government under the Equality Act 2010.However, the taxi licensing system is devolved under the Civic Government Act 1982 and is implemented…

6 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it has provided to public transport operators to provide transport for disabled people.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government through its subsidy, has funded publicly owned ScotRail Trains Ltd., Caledonian Sleeper Ltd and ferry operators, namely CalMac and Serco, in Scotland. This includes meeting their obligations to provide accessible transport as set out i…

1 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Place Based Investment Programme.

Answer · Tom Arthur: As set out in the Scottish Budget, the financial position for 2024-25 is extremely challenging and we continue to operate in a volatile period, with difficult decisions being made and robust spending controls in place. In light of the potential financial risk…

1 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many applicants that had previously been approved by local authorities for the Place Based Investment Programme will now no longer receive funding, and what options are now available to them.

Answer · Tom Arthur: Given the nature of Place Based Investment Programme (PBIP) funding, it is the responsibility of local authorities to administer and manage their respective PBIP allocations. As such, the Scottish Government does not hold that level of information on local au…

29 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many of the 1,000 inquiries received by the Scottish Land Matching service have been matched. 

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Of the 1,050 enquiries now received by the Scottish Land Matching Service (SLMS) since 2019, a total of 35 have been formally matched by the service. In addition to these matches, the service has supported, and continues to actively support, the exploration …

24 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the accessibility of streets across Scotland, and what plans it has to develop consistent and enforceable national standards.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government does not undertake assessment of the accessibility of streets nationally. National Performance Framework (NPF) 4 policy 14, highlights the six qualities of successful places which development proposals should demonstrate. The qualitie…

24 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who is responsible for ensuring that hydrogen production sites are decommissioned at the end of their lease.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The regulatory regime for hydrogen in Scotland is a mixture of reserved and devolved powers and we continue to routinely engage with UK Government on a range of hydrogen policy matters including the regulation of and responsibility for the decommissioning of …

23 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to improve Wide Area Network coverage for smart meters across Aberdeenshire.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: Energy policy, including smart meter policy, is mostly reserved to the UK Government and telecommunications is wholly reserved. Despite the limitations imposed by these reservations, the Scottish Government has taken the lead in addressing poor coverage by a…

24 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-28046 by Neil Gray on 14 June 2024, whether it will provide a breakdown of the £190 million Primary Care Improvement Fund spend in 2023-24.

Answer · Neil Gray: In May 2023, information on Primary Care Improvement Fund (PCIF) spend during 2023-24 was collected by Scottish Government alongside workforce numbers and access to NHS board provided services, which was published in June. Data is provided directly by Integra…

19 Jun 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the education secretary last met with Aberdeenshire Council, and what was discussed.

17 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19612 by Mairi Gougeon on 13 July 2023, what it is doing to reduce the number of red squirrel kits that are killed, and what its prediction is for the number of killed red squirrel kits in (a) 2024 and (b) 2025 based on the current felling and harve…

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Forestry and Land Scotland reduce impacts on red squirrel by scheduling operations to avoid the breeding season in areas that are thought to hold higher than average densities of red squirrels. Prior to any harvesting operation, a pre-operational survey is ca…

11 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it recognises the use of the value of prevented fatality (VPF) approach as a suitable calculation to quantify the impact of public policy, and, if so, whether it has used a VPF approach to assess the potential impact of the proposed overnight closure of the minor injury units in …

Answer · Neil Gray: Whilst the Government recognises the value of prevented fatality (VPF) as a methodological approach, it is not currently routinely used in our analysis. With regards to the closure of minor injury units, it is for Health and Social Care Partnerships to plan a…

11 Jun 2024 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support schools in rural communities.

10 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-27677 by Jenny Gilruth on 4 June 2024, whether it will clarify what the (a) format and (b) anticipated timing is of its consideration of the Teacher Induction Scheme.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: As indicated in the answer to S6W- 27677, we are currently considering how the Teacher Induction Scheme can better address challenges around probationer allocations in certain geographical areas and in certain subjects. This work is under development and furt…

4 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-24804 by Jenni Minto on 5 February 2024, how much of the £190 million of funding from the Primary Care Improvement Fund in 2023-24 was provided to each NHS board for the development of Community Treatment and Care (CTAC) services.

Answer · Neil Gray: While the Scottish Government are responsible for the strategic direction of the NHS, territorial Health Boards and Integration Authorities are responsible for delivering services in their areas, including the amount spent on each of the service areas deliver…

23 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration Scottish Forestry has given to allocating funds from the Strategic Timber Transport Fund to support the full reopening of Aboyne Bridge.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Scottish Forestry maintains very close working relationships with the relevant Local Authority and timber businesses in this region. Whilst we are aware of the closure of the Aboyne Bridge, and there have been discussions with local forest businesses around t…

21 May 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the health secretary has had with local health and social care partnerships regarding minor injuries units.

17 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to offer more training programmes in audiology to help tackle the reported workforce shortage.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The provision of education and training of audiologists is being considered as part of the National Audiology Improvement Programme. In addition, there is a review underway of Healthcare Science Education in Scotland to look at education and training provisio…

17 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it provides to each NHS board for audiology services.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government provides policies, frameworks and resources to NHS Boards to deliver services that meet the needs of their local population. We are providing an increased investment of half a billion for NHS boards in 2024-25, taking funding to over £…

17 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on what the current waiting times are for hearing aids, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government does not hold information on waiting times for hearing aids centrally. Statistics on audiology waiting times are included within Public Health Scotland’s (PHS) 18 weeks referral to treatment (RTT) publication but this does not incl…

16 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has plans to review the Teacher Induction Scheme to ensure that it is fully equipped to serve the needs of schools in rural areas.   

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is aware of the challenges around probationer allocations in certain geographical areas and in certain subjects. We are therefore currently considering how the Teacher Induction Scheme can better address these challenges.  

16 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work being carried out by the Strategic Board for Teacher Education. 

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Board agreed its workplan in September 2023. The most recently published version of the workplan can be found on the Scottish Government website. https://www.gov.scot/publications/strategic-board-teacher-education-meeting-27-thursday-1-february-2024-10-0…

16 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) intake targets are met, particularly in relation to STEM subjects. 

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Our Teaching Bursary Scheme offers a £20,000 payment to career changers who are looking to undertake teacher training in hard-to-fill STEM subjects – physics, maths, technical education, computing science, chemistry and home economics. The scheme was also ext…