Oliver Mundell

12 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last discussed bus services with Dumfries and Galloway Council.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Transport Scotland officials have regular engagement with local transport authorities regarding bus services. These have included discussions with SWestrans officials in October 2021 and June 2022 regarding bus services and concessionary bus schemes as well a…

12 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government, Scottish Forestry and NatureScot have worked with a range of partners to support and develop the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project, including Scottish Land & Estates, RSPB Scotland, and The Southern Uplands Partnership and Scotti…

12 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what urgent action it is taking to ensure the continuation of a bus service between Dumfries and Edinburgh. 

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Transport Scotland has corresponded with relevant local transport authorities in respect of the 101/102 bus service between Dumfries and Edinburgh. I am pleased that those authorities have now reached an agreement to continue a service until 31 March 2023 and…

12 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on exploring a potential extension of the Waverley railway line to Carlisle via Langholm. 

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Potential extension of the Waverley line, to Carlisle via Langholm, and other route variations, was appraised as part of the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2). Whilst the outcome was that the extension of the line was not included within the …

16 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that the Farm Advisory Service works in partnership with local agricultural agents and businesses.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Since launching the Farm Advisory Service in 2016, which has seen over £20 million worth of support, we have ensured the service has worked in partnership with local agricultural agents and businesses through: regular stakeholder meetings, quarterly stakehold…

16 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of it progressing the recommendation to appoint a Patient Safety Commissioner, when it plans to publish details of its plans and the timescales for the implementation of the remaining recommendations in the report of the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review, …

Answer · Humza Yousaf: There have been a number of points of progress in implementing the recommendations of the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review as they relate to devolved matters, in addition to steps taken to establish a Patient Safety Commissioner, since …

15 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the reported concerns of former employees of East Ayrshire Council regarding the culture and employment practices in its children and families services.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: We expect all Councils to take appropriate action in response to any complaint from an employee through their policies and practices. Councils are independent corporate bodies responsible for the management of their employees and the Scottish Government has …

15 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support the restoration of pre-COVID-19 bus timetables.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government continues to provide financial support to protect the bus network and passengers. On 22 June I announced that an additional £25.7 million will be provided to extend the Network Support Grant Plus until October of this year. In return, …

13 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of NHS boards have a fully effective patient care pathway for the early detection of liver disease.

Answer · Maree Todd: Data on the proportion of NHS boards that have an effective patient care pathway for the early detection of liver disease is not available. However, we understand there is variability in liver disease management across Scotland. The Scottish Government has i…

13 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve the early detection and diagnosis of (a) non-alcohol-related fatty liver disease and (b) alcohol-related liver disease.

Answer · Maree Todd: Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that everyone with liver disease is able to access the best possible care and support and benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and person-centred. We are working with the UK Government and oth…

8 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on planned maintenance and road surface repairs on the A75.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Transport Scotland currently has a planned investment in routine maintenance of £7.2m for the A75 for 2022-23.

1 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to require windfarm developers and operators to provide reduced price electricity to local residents.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Energy pricing and retail market regulation are reserved to the UK Government so it is not within the powers of the Scottish Government to require windfarm developers to provide cheaper electricity to local communities. However, we do encourage them to provi…

16 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-08362 by Kate Forbes on 10 May 2022, what the policy reason was for grouping all land-based industries together.

Answer · Kate Forbes: South of Scotland Enterprise sought to attract applicants with a wide range of interests relating to ‘land-based industries’. Grouping these together was designed to attract applicants with experience of working or advising in industries such as agriculture, …

16 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-08000 by Kate Forbes on 25 April 2022, what constitutes "knowledge of agricultural matters".

Answer · Kate Forbes: As this relates to knowledge held by existing members of South of Scotland’s Board, I have asked Professor Russel Griggs, Chair of South of Scotland Enterprise to respond to you directly.

9 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact on traffic and visitor numbers along the A7 of the reported decision by VisitScotland not to advertise Longtown as the start of the route.

Answer · Ivan McKee: No assessment has been undertaken by the Scottish Government or VisitScotland. VisitScotland does not create driving routes but rather, promotes successful ones on its website. Its website outlines that the route begins over the Border. VisitScotland is not …

9 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to a national screening programme in schools to identify dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia and other learning difficulties.  

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Education Authorities have duties under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) Act 2004 (as amended) to identify, provide for and review the additional support needs of their pupils. Under the Act, a formal diagnosis is not required for a child or yo…

9 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to address any situations where dental practices have reportedly used NHS contracts to build up their business and are now only offering private dental services to patients. 

Answer · Maree Todd: We are determined to ensure that NHS dental services emerge well-placed to care for the oral health of the whole population and we are now moving forward with NHS dental recovery. We have seen in April that the revised payment arrangements combined with the …

9 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure continued access to NHS dentistry in rural areas.

Answer · Maree Todd: Scottish Government funds a Scottish Dental Access Initiative Grant for Health Boards to provide capital funding to dental practices looking to set up or increase their facilities in areas where NHS dental provision is less available. Qualifying areas include…

9 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that young people are offered the vaccination for HPV, and in which NHS boards HPV and any other boosters for teenagers have restarted.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government and Public Health Scotland (PHS) continue to work with Health Boards to support their planning and the safe delivery of immunisation services. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, HPV and teenage booster programmes were delayed due to school…

3 May 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to increase subject choice for secondary pupils.

28 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of schools reportedly reducing subject choice as a result of budget pressures, and whether this was a policy intention when it set local authority budgets.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: This Government has delivered the highest spending, and more teachers, per pupil than any other UK nation. It is the responsibility of individual local authorities to manage their own budgets and to allocate the total financial resources available to them, on…

28 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the average salary for a college principal in Scotland has been in each of the last five years, and what steps are taken to ensure that pay to senior management provides value for money.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. Principals' salaries are for individual colleges to determine. Whilst Public Sector Pay Policy does not apply directly to colleges, the SFC’s Financial Memorandum states that colleges must have regard t…

28 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the average reading age of a young person leaving school in Scotland has been in each of the last five years.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence Levels publication provides information on the number of publicly funded school children in Primary 1, Primary 4, Primary 7 and Secondary 3 who have achieved the expected Curriculum for Excellence level in the li…

28 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the use of synthetic phonics in the teaching of literacy.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Curriculum for Excellence does not prescribe specific approaches or pedagogies for any aspect of the curriculum including learning to read but in practice, systematic synthetic phonics and other phonics approaches are widely implemented across Scotland's clas…

28 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Education Scotland provides advice on the purchase of programmes and resources to support literacy.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Decisions about the use of particular literacy resources and programmes are informed by purpose, context and the specific needs of learners. Consequently, such decisions are taken at a local level by schools and teachers themselves. Education Scotland offers…

28 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what role educational research plays in relation to informing approaches to literacy in schools.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish education system is set up in such a way that decision making is devolved to the most appropriate level, enabling local education authorities to make choices that meet their local circumstances and needs. As a result schools, supported by their l…

28 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what training teachers receive in synthetic phonics.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) accredit all Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes leading to the award of the Standard for Provisional Registration in Scotland. The GTCS will agree content with the relevant ITE provider to ensure that t…

28 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-08000 by Kate Forbes on 25 April 2022, how many candidates with agricultural experience applied for the recently advertised vacancies.

Answer · Kate Forbes: South of Scotland Enterprise advertised for four new Board members in Autumn 2021. Applicants were asked to demonstrate evidence of their skills, knowledge and experience in one of three areas: land based industries; governance/strategic management; or digita…

28 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support the provision of and access to allotments.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Allotments and their provision are the responsibility of local authorities. That is set out in the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015. However, since 2012, the Scottish Government has allocated more than £1.6 million to directly support and increase th…

28 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of no ScotRail services calling at Lockerbie Station, what steps it is taking to ensure that passengers seeking to travel to and from Lockerbie have access to the same promotions and incentives to travel by rail as other passengers across the country.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Avanti West Coast and TransPennine Express call at Lockerbie railway station and they are managed by the Department for Transport. The Scottish Government has no direct role in terms of the ticketing/promotions that these operators can offer.