Oliver Mundell

27 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is the case that the Warmer Homes Scotland scheme does not fund ceiling insulation in flats, and, if so, what the reason is for this.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: Dwelling types including flats are covered by the Warmer Homes Scotland scheme. Domestic Energy Assessors will carry out a survey of the home and recommend suitable improvements which can include insulation measures such as loft insulation, wall insulation an…

27 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-18534 by Natalie Don on 21 June 2023, how much funding it provides for free school breakfasts.

Answer · Natalie Don: The Scottish Government is not providing specific ring-fenced funding for breakfasts in schools in this financial year. However, a number of local authorities have used Scottish Government funding flexibly to support breakfast provision in their local area in…

27 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on delivering on the action points identified in its suicide prevention action plan, Every Life Matters.

Answer · Maree Todd: The National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group (NSPLG) has made very strong progress in delivering the suicide prevention action plan, Every Life Matters . NSPLG’s final annual report published in October 2022 and can be found here . Delivery has been m…

27 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to prevent the destruction and disturbance of peatland during new woodland creation.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Woodland expansion alongside protecting and restoring peatlands are critical elements of our plans to address climate change and help achieve net zero. Public funding of woodland creation requires high standards of forest practice in line with the UK Forestry…

27 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been allocated to teachers undertaking (a) Into Headship, (b) Excellence in Headship and (c) master's-level qualifications in each of the last three years, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: a) Into Headship The Scottish Government provided grant funding to Higher Education Institutions to deliver the Into Headship programme, as set out in the following table. This funding was not allocated to local authorities, therefore we do not hold a breakd…

26 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action is being taken to reduce reported backlogs at the Office of the Public Guardian regarding processing power of attorney applications.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) is part of the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service (SCTS). SCTS is an independent body corporate and does not answer directly to the Scottish Government (SG). Instead, it is directly answerable to its board, chaired by…

15 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the reported planned NHS Scotland pilot of delivering community-based audiology services using the primary care model.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government remains committed to its aim of providing an integrated community hearing service, as highlighted in the 2021 Manifesto. As set out in the 2022-23 Emergency Budget Review, ongoing impacts of the cost crisis - as well as the need to con…

15 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered using community providers, such as primary care optometrists, to perform wax removal to deal with the reported large number of people who cannot currently access NHS wax removal services.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government remains committed to the provision of ear wax removal within community NHS services. The new GP contract, introduced in 2018, committed Health Boards to set up Community Treatment and Care (CTAC) services to provide ear wax removal in …

14 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason any age limits are put in place for NHS weight loss interventions.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The national standards for the delivery of adult tier 2 and tier 3 weight management services require that weight management services should be provided to those above 18 years of age. There should be no upper age limit for people accessing these services. I…

14 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding has been given to Gresham House to facilitate new woodland creation.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Since the introduction of the Forestry Grant Scheme in 2016, 7 woodland creation projects with a value of £1.9M have been agreed directly with Gresham House.

7 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of the potential cost of providing free adult assessments for dyslexia, and whether it has considered a pilot scheme on the matter.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government does not currently fund adult assessments for dyslexia and has therefore made no economic assessment of the cost. We are not presently considering a pilot scheme. Free support and assessment for dyslexia is provided to children and yo…

7 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent consideration it has given to a national screening programme for (a) dyslexia and (b) other learning difficulties.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: In Scotland, a formal identification of dyslexia or a learning difficulty is not required before appropriate support is provided, although I recognise that a diagnosis can be helpful for children and young people and their families. We want all children and …

7 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of any costs of (a) late diagnosis of and (b) failure to diagnose dyslexia to (i) individuals and (ii) society as a whole.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government has not made any specific economic assessment of the costs of late diagnosis or failure to diagnose dyslexia in individuals or across society as a whole. Our emphasis is on the provision of free, effective support in educational setti…

7 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it provides to support individuals diagnosed with dyslexia.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is taking a range of actions to support people with dyslexia. This includes the provision of support for dyslexic learners from nursery through school and into further and higher education, and access to support when entering employmen…

7 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of prisoners in Scotland have been identified as having dyslexia.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Prison Service.

1 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which department or body has responsibility for ensuring the proper functioning of the Loch Awe Improvement Association and the Loch Awe and Associated Waters Protection Order 1992.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government does not have responsibility for overseeing the functioning of the Loch Awe Improvement Association. As a community lead organisation, who holds a number of fishing rights within the Loch Awe area, the Association administers the Loch …

25 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many free school breakfasts it has funded in the past year.

Answer · Natalie Don: We do not collect national-level data associated with this provision. Breakfasts are being provided across Scotland by a range of service providers including public, private and third sector. Some of this provision has been and continues to be supported throu…

25 May 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address reported financial and staffing pressures in NHS Dumfries and Galloway.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government continues to prioritise investment in frontline services, providing an increase of over £730 million to NHS Boards in 2023-24 – investing over £352 million in NHS Dumfries and Galloway. Under the SNP, staffing in NHS Dumfries & Gallo…

24 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who is responsible for reducing the flood risk in known flood areas.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Property owners and landowners have primary responsibility for protection of their land and property from flooding. A range of other bodies have responsibility for different aspects of flood risk management. These roles and responsibilities are clearly set ou…

3 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure access to NHS dentistry for the residents of Langholm, in light of reports that a dental practice in Langholm will be closing and NHS patients will be deregistered.

Answer · Jenni Minto: We are working closely with the Board and a Task Force has been set up to help the Board address local access issues. Unregistered patients will continue to be able to access emergency and urgent care via the Public Dental Service. Scottish Government has al…

3 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which of its teams is responsible for processing contract inflation claims in relation to housing developments, and how the decision-maker on such matters can be contacted.

Answer · Paul McLennan: Projects receiving funding through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme will be considered for additional grant in relation to unforeseeable and unavoidable cost over-runs which may be identified following tender approval as outlined in our Affordable Hou…

26 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) financial and (b) staff resource it currently provides to the Eskdalemuir Working Group.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government chair and provide secretariat support to the Eskdalemuir Working Group (EWG). This group was originally formed in 2012 and commissioned seismic study work that was co-funded by the Scottish Government, UK Government and Ministry of Def…

26 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of reports that Asda is no longer planning to deliver online grocery shopping from its Carlisle branch to addresses in Dumfriesshire due to the Deposit Return Scheme.

Answer · Lorna Slater: We continue to engage with retailers of all sizes regarding Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme, and have set up a new operational group with retailers to resolve any outstanding issues to allow the scheme to launch successfully on 1 March 2024. This obligation…

25 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how Transport Scotland decides which destinations to include on road signage.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Destinations signed on Scotland’s roads, including the strategic trunk road network managed by Transport Scotland, are determined in accordance with national guidance in ‘Local Transport Note 1/94 Design and Use of Directional Traffic Signs’. The guidance pre…

25 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action Transport Scotland is taking to improve road signage for Langholm, in light of reported concerns from the local community.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Transport Scotland is aware of concerns expressed by the local community in relation to signage on the A7 towards Langholm. Transport Scotland has reviewed the signing and is content that current signage is in accordance with national guidance document ‘Local…

25 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government where residents in Dumfries and Galloway can find information on dentists accepting NHS patients elsewhere in Scotland, in light of reports that there are currently no practices in the region accepting new NHS patients.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Residents in Dumfries and Galloway should continue to contact their Health Board for up-to-date information on dental practices that are registering new NHS patients. NHS Dumfries and Galloway can be contacted by email at: [email protected]. I appreciate, give…

18 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what role Digital Scotland has in investigating complex cases where members of the public are looking for additional information in relation to future broadband connections.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government can investigate complex cases in relation to future broadband connections delivered through Scottish Government funded programmes such as the Reaching 100% (R100) programme. Through our online checker at www.scotlandsuperfast.com , m…

18 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Social Security Scotland accepts constituency casework by email, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Social Security Scotland offers a range of secure communication channels for clients. These do not include email, as unencrypted email is not secure and could place clients’ sensitive personal information at risk or expose the agency’s network and data to mal…

18 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prevent the (a) promotion and (b) supply of vaping devices to young people.

Answer · Jenni Minto: We are greatly concerned by reports of children and under-age young people obtaining nicotine vaping products (NVPs). NVPs are an age restricted product and should not be sold to anyone under the age of 18. Laws are also in place which ban the purchase of vap…

17 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what progress it has made on providing all school pupils with a free laptop or tablet.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that every school aged child has access to a device by the end of this Parliament. In 2020/21, we provided £25 million to local authorities across Scotland to tackle digital exclusion, resulting in over 72,000…