Parliamentary questions
Oliver Mundell
1,091 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
23 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of the primary school performance and attainment data that was published by The Times on 18 August 2021.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The performance and attainment data published by The Times was obtained from the Scottish Government and is publicly available via the School Information Dashboard Profile | Tableau Public . The Scottish Government does not produce school league tables and …
23 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the EIS and what was discussed.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government met with the EIS on 8 September for their bi-annual meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills. Education recovery, Staffing and COP26 were discussed. The Scottish Government has regular meetings with the EIS to discu…
12 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve the availability of respite care services in the community for people with dementia and their carers.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Last year we added an additional £1.1 million to the annual £3 million voluntary sector Short Breaks Fund and have committed a further £570,000 this year, enabling more families/carers and young carers to take a break from caring, including families of loved …
10 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-01931 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 9 August 2021, who identified which schools would receive virtual school visits by the OECD, and who determined focus group attendees.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: I refer Mr Mundell to the answer to S6W-01932 on 25 August 2021. The OECD’s Independent Review of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) was conducted using their Implementing Policies: Supporting Change in Education Framework. The OECD had responsibility for its …
10 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-01931 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 9 August 2021, what opportunity was given to individuals and groups to highlight concerns or topics that were not included on the agenda for the planned OECD engagement.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The published remit for the OECD’s Independent Review of Curriculum for Excellence, sets out the approach taken to the review. This can be accessed at: Independent+Review+of+Curriculum+for+Excellence+-+Remit.pdf (www.gov.scot) The OECD established a team o…
9 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason funding that it provided to support organisations responsible for building social housing, which have incurred additional costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has reportedly not been received by some organisations, in light of reports that sub-contractors of Cunninghame Ho…
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government published guidance in August 2020 setting out the circumstances under which additional grant support requests would be considered for projects contractually awarded prior to the March 2020 lockdown and which were as a direct result of …
9 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider allowing additional providers to administer COVID-19 tests for people travelling internationally.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government currently only allows travellers returning from green and amber list countries to use NHS tests, reserved through the CTM booking portal. These PCR tests are the highest quality with established data flows into NHS boards and samples a…
9 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to reopen Eastriggs railway station.
Answer · Graeme Dey: As concluded in the South West Scotland Transport Study, a new station at Eastriggs was one of the interventions recommended for the next stage of appraisal. This option is one of 58 potential new stations across Scotland that are being appraised as part of t…
2 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated cost per pupil is of providing primary school education, broken down by (a) local authority and (b) Scottish Parliament constituency.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The following table provides information on gross revenue expenditure in Scotland per primary school pupil. Table 1: Gross revenue expenditure per primary school pupil across Scottish Local Authorities in 2019-20 Gross revenue expenditure per primary school…
2 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated average salary is for its staff, broken down by (a) local authority and (b) Scottish Parliament constituency.
Answer · Tom Arthur: At 31 March 2021 there were 7816 directly employed staff within the core Scottish Government, however all staff continued to work from home where possible during this time. The average salary for staff normally based in each Local Authority is in the followi…
2 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to reopen Thornhill railway station.
Answer · Graeme Dey: As concluded in the South West Scotland Transport Study, a new station at Thornhill was one of the interventions recommended for the next stage of appraisal. This option is one of 58 potential new stations across Scotland that are being appraised as part of t…
29 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-01002 by Michael Matheson on 21 July 2021, how it monitors the quality of customer service, specialist expertise and willingness to undertake and quote for work in relation to Scottish Government-funded schemes, particularly in relation to domestic …
Answer · Michael Matheson: In relation to how the Scottish Government monitors the quality of customer service, specialist expertise and willingness to undertake and quote for work for Warmer Homes Scotland and Area-Based Schemes, I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-01002 …
27 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many of its staff are normally based in each (a) local authority area and (b) Scottish Parliament constituency.
Answer · Tom Arthur: At 31 March 2021 there were 7816 directly employed staff within the core Scottish Government, however all staff continued to work from home where possible during this time. The headcount of staff normally based in each Local Authority is in the table below. …
27 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support the Borderlands region's bid to be the UK City of Culture.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is pleased that three Scottish areas are involved in the expression of interest phase of the UK City of Culture 2025 competition. Scottish Government officials have attended the dedicated information session for potential Scottish bidd…
27 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when ministers last met the Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland, and what was discussed.
Answer · Clare Haughey: I met with the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland on 10 June 2021. At this introductory meeting we discussed matters of mutual interest, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill and children and yo…
27 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated cost per pupil is of providing secondary school education, broken down by (a) local authority and (b) Scottish Parliament constituency.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The following table provides information on gross revenue expenditure in Scotland per secondary school pupil. Table 1: Gross revenue expenditure per secondary school pupil across Scottish Local Authorities in 2019-20 Gross revenue expenditure per secondary …
27 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what payments are made to Autolink in relation to the M74, and how these are calculated.
Answer · Graeme Dey: Contractual monthly payments are made by Transport Scotland to the A74(M) concessionaire Autolink. The payments are based on a shadow toll. Provisional monthly payments are made based on historic traffic numbers using the A74(M) project road. A reconciliation…
27 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support the retention of connectivity and direct routes at Scotland’s airports, in light of recent decisions by airlines to suspend flights.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government continue to work closely with Scotland’s airports and airlines to help restore connectivity. Transport Scotland, working in partnership with VisitScotland and Scottish Development International, has a well-established process in place…
27 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure there is access to COVID-19 testing for international travellers in (a) rural areas and (b) Dumfries and Galloway, and what consideration it has given to allowing charged access to surplus NHS testing.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government currently only allows travellers returning from green and amber list countries to use NHS tests, which are reserved and paid for through the booking portal, CTM. These PCR tests are sent to individuals’ home addresses anywhere in Scotl…
27 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many additional secondary school teaching posts it plans to provide additional funding for, broken down by subject.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government will fully fund the manifesto commitment to 3,500 additional teachers and classroom assistants over the Parliamentary term. As part of this commitment the Scottish Government has already allocated funding of £50 million in 2021-22 to l…
27 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what contact it has had with the Scottish Youth Parliament regarding education reform.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: As announced by myself, Professor Ken Muir has been appointed to act as the Independent Advisor to the Scottish Government on the reform of the Scottish Qualifications Authority and Education Scotland. In his role as Advisor, Professor Muir will provide advic…
27 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what additional support it is providing to travel agents (a) in general and (b) that have town centre premises, in light of statements by the First Minister advising against non-essential overseas travel.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Throughout the pandemic the Scottish Government has, where possible, stepped in to help businesses and premises based travel-agents have benefited from a range of support packages including:Small Business Support Grant or Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Suppo…
27 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the correspondence of 8 April 2020 that it received from the OECD regarding the review of the Curriculum for Excellence, whether it will provide a list of the non-governmental academics who were suggested as potential contacts during its subsequent discussions on 9 April 202…
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The OECD had responsibility for stakeholder engagement. The OECD’s Independent Review of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) was conducted using their Implementing Policies: Supporting Change in Education Framework. Details of how the OECD conducted their indep…
27 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on dualling the A75 between Dumfries and the A74(M) motorway.
Answer · Graeme Dey: Recommendations for future transport investment will emerge from the ongoing second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) which is considering potential improvements to the trunk road network (and all other modes) across Scotland. The South West Scotlan…
27 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what immediate action it will take in response to reports of continued difficulties in accessing NHS dentistry appointments.
Answer · Maree Todd: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-01856 on 6 August 2021. 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-committee…
27 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of all (a) calls, (b) emails and (c) other correspondence between its (i) special advisers, (ii) officials and (iii) ministers and the OECD since 28 June 2021.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: My officials will conduct a trawl for the information requested and I will write to Mr Mundell when their findings are complete.
27 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many school inspections are planned for the next 12 months.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: HM Inspectors of Education will restart scrutiny activity of schools soon and an announcement will follow shortly. The annual scrutiny programme outlining the range of scrutiny activity, including school inspections which will be carried out by HM Inspectors …
27 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to create a children and young people's education council.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills announced that the government will create a children and young people’s education council as part of her Parliamentary statement on Scotland’s curriculum on 22 June. Following that announcement, a meeting was he…
27 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what date ministers were first made aware that the OECD was not accepting written submissions to its review of the Curriculum for Excellence.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The OECD did not take formal written submissions for their independent Review of Curriculum for Excellence. This was the OECD’s position from the outset of the review and conforms with their ‘Implementing Policies: Supporting Change in Education Framework’. T…
27 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to reopen Beattock railway station.
Answer · Graeme Dey: As concluded in the South West Scotland Transport Study, a new station at Beattock was one of the interventions recommended for the next stage of appraisal. This option is one of 58 potential new stations across Scotland that are being appraised as part of th…