Tuesday 04 September 2018

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT

Constitution and External Affairs

Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Scottish Green Party): To ask the how many meetings of the Joint Ministerial Committee there have been to discuss trade matters since the EU referendum. (S5W-18202) Michael Russell: There have been three meetings of the Joint Ministerial Committee in Plenary since the EU referendum. Trade and Investment was on the agenda for the meeting on 30 January 2017, and trade has been discussed in each of these in the context of the future relationship with the EU. There have been seven meetings of the JMC for Europe however trade has not been an agenda item. There have been ten meetings of the JMC on EU Negotiations since the EU Referendum and trade has been discussed at each of them in the context of the future relationship with the EU. There have also been three meetings of the Ministerial Forum on EU Negotiations since it was established in May 2018, and the future economic relationship with the EU has been part of the discussion in each of those meetings.

Throughout our engagement with the UK Government we continue to highlight the real costs of Brexit to our economy and reiterate Scotland’s clear position that membership of the single market and the customs union would be the least damaging future relationship with the European Union.

Economy

John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Green Party): To ask the Scottish Government under what circumstances adverse effects from a development proposal on a Ramsar site might be deemed acceptable. (S5W-17891) Roseanna Cunningham: It is SG policy to apply the same level of protection for Ramsar sites as that afforded to designated Natura sites. Adverse effects from development proposals on Natura sites are considered against the tests set out in regulation 49 of The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 .

John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Green Party): To ask the Scottish Government what assessment the decision-maker should carry out for proposed developments with likely significant effects on the listed habitat features of a Ramsar site. (S5W-17892) Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-17309 answered on 11 July 2018. 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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Green Party): To ask the Scottish Government whether an assessment of the impacts of development proposals on a Ramsar site has to include consideration of alternative solutions. (S5W-17893) Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-17891 on 4 September 2018. 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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (): To ask the Scottish Government what it considers the relevant collective agreements are in the engineering construction industry. Holding answer issued: 04 September 2018 (S5W-18031) Jamie Hepburn: A holding answer was provided.

Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether industry-wide applicable collective agreements are essential throughout the construction phase in the delivery of large industrial infrastructure projects. (S5W-18084) Jamie Hepburn: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-18086 on 30 August 2018. 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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government how many litres of water have been lost through pipe leaks in each year since 2007. (S5W-18114) Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Water publishes statistics on leakage in its annual reports. The latest report for 2017-18 is available here http://www.scottishwater.co.uk/assets/about%20us/files/key %20publications/annualreport201718.pdf with leakage management reported on page 29.

Since 2006 Scottish Water has reduced leakage by 51% - see following table.

2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 Leakage 1004 924 816 738 699 629 575 566 544 500 495 492 (Ml/d)

Shona Robison (Dundee City East) (): To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Tay City Deal, and when it expects the Heads of Terms to be signed. (S5W-18168) Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government remains committed to achieving a Heads of Terms agreement as soon as possible. We are in a position to proceed and are waiting for the UK Government to confirm its position.

Gordon Lindhurst (Lothian) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to figures showing that the sign-up rate for The City of Edinburgh Council's £25-a-year garden waste collection service is between 15% and 17% in some parts of the city, and what the implications of these figures are for the environment. (S5W-18212) Roseanna Cunningham: It is for individual councils to decide if a garden waste collection service is required in their area and if a collection charge is necessary.

Dean Lockhart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Homebase following reports that it is planning to close 10 of its stores in Scotland. (S5W-18269) Jamie Hepburn: I have written to Homebase outlining my concerns about the closure of the Homebase stores in Scotland and seeking reassurances that staff will have access to the full range of support services for those facing redundancy.

The Scottish Government's PACE team have already been in touch with Homebase to offer its full support to staff in all affected areas. We continue to monitor the situation very closely and in the unfortunate event of any employees facing redundancy, we will provide support for the affected individuals through our PACE initiative. By providing skills development and employability support, PACE aims to minimise the time individuals affected by redundancy are out of work.

Dean Lockhart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to support staff following reports that Homebase is planning to close 10 of its stores in Scotland. (S5W-18270) Jamie Hepburn: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-18269 on 4 September 2018. 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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government when it will bring forward legislation based on the outcome of its consultation on crofting legislation, which concluded in 2017. (S5W-18332) : Programme for Government 2017-18 includes a commitment to consult and develop proposals to reform crofting law during this parliamentary session. A decision on the timing of a Bill will be taken by Cabinet in the context of the Scottish Government’s other legislative priorities. Meantime, Scottish Government officials are working closely with stakeholders to consider the issues to be taken forward that will deliver change quickly and easily; to provide clarity in law and have a positive outcome for crofters and crofting communities, while avoiding unintended consequences.

Education, Communities and Justice

Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment by the Minister of Community Safety and Legal Affairs when announcing the Review into the Regulation of Legal Services on 27 April 2017 that it "is intended that [the review] reports to Ministers within 15 months", for what reason it has not been published, and by what date it will do so. (S5W-18041) : A holding answer was provided. Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what additional financial support parents can apply for when deferring their child's entry to primary school. (S5W-18106) : The Education (Scotland) Act 1980 (section 31) states that children must start school by the August following their 5th birthday, so parents with children born from September to December are able to defer their child’s start date to the following year if they so wish.

For all children whose 5th birthday falls in September to December, the education authority has discretionary power to provide additional early learning and childcare to any child. Therefore where a parent chooses to defer their child, the education authority can use their discretion to provide additional early learning and childcare. This would be based on an assessment of wellbeing informed by appropriate professional assessment which could include educational psychologists, early years staff or teachers. This could be due to complex learning needs or social care issues.

Parents can contact their Local Authority for further information on this.

In terms of additional financial support for childcare parents can check on Gov.Uk to ascertain if they would qualify for Tax Credits/Universal Credit or Tax Free Childcare. Parents can also ask their employers if they participate in the Childcare Voucher Scheme. The Student Awards Agency Scotland also have a Childcare Fund that eligible lone parents can apply to.

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of its £6 million investment in Hearthstone Investments for social housing that was announced in June 2015. (S5W-18230) Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government investment has been provided to the Hearthstone Investment delivery partner, Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association and will be captured in wider analysis work on the impact of the More Homes Scotland approach, and the delivery of at least 50,000 affordable homes by March 2021.

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the (a) use and (b) value of properties renovated through the (i) Town Centre Housing Fund and (ii) Empty Homes Loan Fund; how many properties renovated through each fund (A) are and (B) are not classed as affordable, and what information it has on the subsequent rental and sales value of each property that received funding. (S5W-18273) Kevin Stewart: All 75 Town Centre Housing Fund units were for affordable housing. The proposed rent levels for these units were requested at application stage and considered during the assessment process, including assumed annual rent increases. No subsequent assessment has been made on the use or value of properties.

All homes renovated with the help of funding from the Empty Homes Loan Fund have been made available for affordable housing either as rentals or homes for sale. Rent levels vary depending on type; social rent, intermediate (mid-market) rent; and the private sector leasing scheme for homeless households. For intermediate rented homes, starting rents are below the current Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate for the area/property size. Sales values are capped at the Scottish Government’s Open Market Shared Equity thresholds for the relevant area.

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government how much has (a) been allocated to and (b) remained unspent from the Empty Homes Loan Fund in each year. (S5W-18276) Kevin Stewart: £4.4 million was allocated, as loan funding, to 17 Empty Homes Loan Fund projects in 2012 to help renovate empty homes and make them available as affordable housing. Beneficiaries have reported that approximately £1.5 million has been paid out to date.

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government how many loans have been provided to owners through the Empty Homes Loan Fund in each year to help them renovate empty properties, and what the (a) average, (b) highest and (c) total loan value has been in each year. (S5W-18277) Kevin Stewart: Empty Homes Loan Funding was provided by the Scottish Government to beneficiary organisations, mainly local authorities and housing association. They hold comprehensive information about individual owners.

Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what work it has carried out to evaluate its campaign of awareness-raising to increase the uptake of energy efficiency measures for (a) domestic and (b) residential buildings. (S5W-18313) Kevin Stewart: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-18140 on 30 August 2018. 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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

Health and Social Care

Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government whether there are any NHS training posts that include placements in homeopathy. (S5W-18308) Jeane Freeman: None of the GMC approved medical training programmes require placements in homeopathy, and there are currently no training rotations in any medical placements which include homeopathy attachments.

There are no homeopathy nurses or allied health professions (AHP’s). Homeopathy is an entirely different training and not directly related to any AHP or Nursing; it is not a skill which would be registered or annotated on the Health and Care Professions Council/Nursing and Midwifery Council (HCPC/ NWC) register.

Organisational Development and Operations

Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government when it will next publish the Scottish Universal Credit Choices management information, and for what reason this has not been updated since 23 January 2018. (S5W-18350) Shirley-Anne Somerville:

As Universal Credit is reserved to the UK Government, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) collects data on the Universal Credit Scottish choices on behalf of the Scottish Government. In line with good practice, the Scottish Government then carries out quality assurance on this data to minimise risk of error and ensure that it is suitable for publication.

The information published in January 2018 was initial management information, covering the period 11 November to 31 December 2017, to provide early indications of the take up of the Universal Credit Scottish choices. The Scottish Government will publish further management information covering the first six months of operation of the Universal Credit Scottish choices in October.

Transport Scotland (Lothian) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government how many additional charge points it plans to fund in the Lothian region in the next year as part of the ChargePlace Scotland network. (S5W-18102) Michael Matheson: In the financial year 2018-19 Transport Scotland, through the ChargePlace Scotland grant funding scheme, plan to enable the installation of approximately 38 additional charge points within the Lothian region.

Gordon Lindhurst (Lothian) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to concerns of drivers of electric vehicles in Edinburgh that there are not enough charging points in the city. (S5W-18103) Michael Matheson: Transport Scotland have provided funding to Scottish Local Authorities and the Energy Saving Trust since 2012 to establish the ChargePlace Scotland electric vehicle charge point network, and will continue to work with stakeholders such as the City of Edinburgh Council and other commercial businesses in the Edinburgh area to ensure that there is a sufficient coverage throughout the country.

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce stop-skipping on the Borders Railway; how it is monitoring the effectiveness of this approach, and what information it has regarding how many services on the line have skipped stations each year. (S5W-18111) Michael Matheson: Following engagement by the Scottish Government, ScotRail will now only deploy the practice of “skip-stopping” in exceptional circumstances. The effectiveness of this process is monitored by Transport Scotland.

On the Borders Railway: there were 27 reported instances of stations on the Borders Line being affected by skip-stopping since the start of this calendar year. However, since the change in policy from the end of March, there has been no skip-stopping of stations on the Borders Line.

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce overcrowding on trains (a) on commuter services between Waverley and Tweedbank and (b) overall. (S5W-18112) Michael Matheson:

Since the opening of the Borders railway we have gradually increased the number of peak services which have more carriages than the normal two. The following table shows the number of seats provided in the morning and evening peaks.

August 16 May 17 Dec 17 Edinburgh Arrival 0730-0930 816 922 984 Tweedbank Arrival 1700-1900 680 733 733

The Scottish Governent announced a ‘Revolution in Rail’ in March 2016. As part of these major improvements, more Class 170 units will be deployed on the Borders Railway. These 3 carriage trains with more seats will largely replace the 2 carriage class 158s units which currently operate on the Borders route and provide an additional 1,500 seats per day. The changeover of train fleets will take place during 2019.

The number of passenger carriages operated by ScotRail increases from 796 at the start of the franchise to 1,043 by the end of 2019 – an increase of over 30%. We will also operate more than 250 additional services compared to now, meaning that the number of seats provided each weekday will increase from just over 500,000 at the start of the franchise to more than 620,000 at the end of 2019.

Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to upgrade Ardrossan Harbour station. (S5W-18190) Michael Matheson: There are no plans at this time to upgrade the station. Ardrossan Harbour Station will be considered within the wider Ardrossan Harbour Masterplan project. Engagement with partners is ongoing on the aspirations of improving the connectivity between the Ferry Hub and Rail Station.

The Ardrossan Harbour Masterplan project will deliver a package of improvements at Ardrossan. The proposals by Peel Ports and North Ayrshire Council include significant marine and landside infrastructure upgrades at Ardrossan Harbour including aspirations to improve connectivity with public and active travel modes and strengthen links to Ardrossan town.

John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Green Party): To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Co-op regarding the use of rail infrastructure to service its new £6 million distribution depot at Dalcross Industrial Estate by Inverness Airport. (S5W-18210) Michael Matheson: Whilst the decision to use rail freight is a commercial matter for the freight service provider and customer, we welcome all interest in modal shift to rail and would be happy to discuss opportunities to move goods by rail with interested parties. To date the Scottish Government has not had any discussions with the Co-op regarding the use of rail infrastructure to service its distribution depot at Dalcross.