Parliamentary questions
Oliver Mundell
1,091 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
7 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to protecting agricultural land surrounding Langholm from aggressive development.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government published guidance in 2013 for landowners considering woodland creation on agricultural land. Landowners developing forestry proposals on agricultural land are expected to consider the potential impacts on the local agricultural econom…
7 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce a nationally-set rate for day nursery provision.
Answer · Maree Todd: Under the new Funding Follows the Child model, to be implemented from 2020, local authorities will continue to negotiate and agree rates locally with providers in the private and third sectors who want to deliver the funded entitlement and who meet the nation…
7 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of the average cost of day nursery provision.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Financial Review of Early Learning and Childcare (Scottish Government, 2016) estimated that the average unit cost (cost per hour per child) in local authority settings was £5.45 for 3 and 4 year olds and £7.74 for 2 year olds. In funded provider settings …
7 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of capital spending on new nursery provision in each of the last five years went to (a) private and (b) voluntary organisations.
Answer · Maree Todd: In September 2016, the Scottish Government published “The Financial Review of early learning and childcare in Scotland: the current landscape” (http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0050/00506148.pdf ). This shows (page 53) that over the financial years 2014-15 to 201…
7 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of capital spending on nursery provision in each of the last five years.
Answer · Maree Todd: Information on local authority pre-primary education capital expenditure is provided to Scottish Government by local authorities. This includes, but is not limited to, nursery provision. The most up to date data is for 2015-16 and is shown in the following ta…
7 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many two-year-olds have funded childcare, broken down by their local authority.
Answer · Maree Todd: The number of two-year olds registered for funded Early Learning and Childcare is published by local authority within the annual ‘Summary Statistics for Schools in Scotland’ report available on the Scottish Government website (http://www.gov.scot/stats/bullet…
7 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown by local authority of where it expects the 11,000 additional early learning and childcare workers will be required.
Answer · Maree Todd: The distribution of these additional workers across local authorities will reflect local plans for implementing the expanded entitlement. Local authorities have recently submitted ELC Expansion Plans, which provide initial estimates of the workforce required …
7 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many nursery places it expects there to be in each local authority by 2021.
Answer · Maree Todd: Under our new Funding Follows the Child approach, local authorities will retain the statutory responsibility for ensuring that funded early learning and childcare entitlement is available to all eligible children in their areas. We are working closely with au…
7 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many nursery places there are in each local authority.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government do not collect information on the number of nursery places available. Information on capacity is collected by the Care Inspectorate. They do not publish figures at local authority level but Scotland level figures are available on their…
7 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase the guarantee period for work carried out by utility companies on public roads.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: We have just concluded a consultation on proposals to replace the current guarantee period of 2 years for shallow excavations, and 3 years for deep excavations, with a single guarantee period of 6 years regardless of the depth of excavation. The consultation …
7 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many schools in Dumfries and Galloway were inspected in each of the last five years.
Answer · John Swinney: The total number of Education Scotland inspections carried out each academic year for the last five years for Dumfries and Galloway : Inspection Figures for Academic Years August 2012 to July 2017 Academic Years 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 …
7 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what protection there is for home owners whose property is damaged by overflow from defective sewerage and road drainage systems.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Any homeowner who claims that his or her property is damaged by overflow from defective sewerage and road drainage systems has to be able to demonstrate liability on the part of Scottish Water or the relevant roads authority on account of a breach of a common…
2 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many Gaelic language speakers there are in Dumfries and Galloway.
Answer · John Swinney: The 2011 census produced by the National Records Office Scotland provides detail of the number of users of the language by area and can be found at: http://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/analytical-reports
2 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consultation was carried out before spending funds in Dumfries and Galloway on dual language logos for police vehicles.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-12455 on 16 November 2017. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusines…
2 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent on Gaelic branding for Police Scotland in Dumfries and Galloway.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This is an operational matter for Police Scotland. Information about Police Scotland's Gaelic Language Plan is available on the Police Scotland website: http://www.scotland.police.uk/about-us/police-scotland/strategic-planning/gaelic-language-plan
1 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent on ground investigation work at Enterkinfoot.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: £206k has been spent on Ground Investigation work on the A76 at Enterkinfoot. This figures includes: Geotechnical Statement of Intent including Desk Study Design of Ground Investigation Compilation of tender documents Ground Investigation, laboratory test…
27 Oct 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported calls by residents in Langholm to improve and enhance the motorway and trunk road signage to the town.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The main route into the Borders for anyone coming from the south is via the A7, which is currently signed from junction 44 on the M6 at Carlisle. The approach to this junction also includes a brown tourist sign for ‘Borders Tourist Route to Edinburgh follow A…
26 Oct 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish a list of the groups with which it has discussed revisions to the illustrative draft code since the introduction of the Children and Young People (Information Sharing) (Scotland) Bill 2017, broken down by the date the discussions took place.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has continued stakeholder engagement since the introduction of the Children and Young People (Information Sharing) (Scotland) Bill 2017 in June. The meetings listed below were primarily about the about the Bill as introduced and discus…
25 Oct 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the locations on the (a) trunk road and (b) motorway network where temporary traffic lights have been in continuous operation for more than 24 months.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: There are two locations on the trunk road and motorway network where temporary lights have been in continuous operation for more than 24 months. These are A76 at Enterkinfoot and the A77 at Cairnryan.
24 Oct 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on using electronic signage on motorway and trunk roads to highlight visitor attractions.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Transport Scotland works closely with the organisers of all major events and support is also provided through Traffic Scotland. This support consists of mini sites on the Traffic Scotland web site, the use of Traffic Scotland social media and the use of varia…
24 Oct 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans its has to update signage on the M74 to highlight visitor attractions in Dumfries and Galloway.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: There are currently no plans to update signage on the M74 to specifically highlight visitor attractions in Dumfries and Galloway. Tourist signs, highlighting visitor attractions are introduced following application from the tourist attraction providing they m…
6 Oct 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the timescale for completion of the Whitesands Flood Scheme public inquiry and what the process will be.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The specification for the Public Local Inquiry is currently being finalised to allow the Scottish Government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) to make its arrangements. An independent reporter from DPEA will be appointed to consider the pro…
5 Oct 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-11557 by Humza Yousaf on 5 October 2017, whether it will provide an estimate of the cost associated with maintaining and operating electronic signs on the motorway and trunk road network.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-11557 on 5 October 2017 advising that the costs of operation and maintenance of electronic signs on the trunk road and motorway network are not recorded as a separate cost but included within the overall cost…
26 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what companies are owned by Scottish Enterprise.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: This information is available from the published 2016-17 Annual Report and Accounts of Scottish Enterprise.
26 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of Scottish Enterprise's (a) assets and (b) liabilities in each local authority area.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. As this is the case, I have passed your question to Dr Lena Wilson, Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise, who will provide an answer to you directly.
26 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it costs to maintain and operate the electronic signs on the motorway and trunk road network.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Variable message signs and gantry signage are used in the provision of the Traffic Scotland service, helping to ensure a safe and efficient trunk road and motorway network and to improve journey time reliability efficiency through the provision of travel info…
26 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce the use of records for netting returns similar to those that are used by the Environment Agency, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Under the requirements of The Salmon Carcass Tagging (Scotland) Regulations 2016, any person who takes salmon from inland waters by means of netting is already required to tag each fish retained and, at the end of each fishing season, to submit to Marine Scot…
26 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S5W-10755 and S5W-11223 by Humza Yousaf on 11 and 26 September 2017 respectively, whether it will provide an estimate of the costs associated with the deployment of traffic management at Enterkinfoot on the A76 in each of the last three years.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The approximate amounts spent on temporary lights at Enterkinfoot in each of the last three financial years are as follows: £19,000 in 2014-15 £49,725 in 2015-16 £49,725 in 2016-17
19 Sep 2017 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported concerns of teachers regarding the curriculum for excellence and, in light of this, whether ministers consider it fit for purpose.
Answer · John Swinney: Curriculum for Excellence was designed to be a liberating and empowering curriculum for the teaching profession in Scotland to transform the learning experiences of young people. It is doing that in every part of Scotland, it has been endorsed by the OECD and…
12 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-10755 by Humza Yousaf on 11 September 2017, for what reason the cost of the temporary traffic lights on the A76 is not recorded as a separate cost, and whether it will provide an estimate of the costs associated with their deployment in each of the …
Answer · Humza Yousaf: With regards to routine and planned maintenance / improvement works delivered by Scotland TranServ, typically the costs associated with temporary traffic lights are included as part of agreed contract rates to deliver schemes. As such these costs cannot be is…