Friday 28 February 2020

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT

Economy

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow) (): To ask the Scottish Government what poverty-proofing assessment it has undertaken on each of its climate change policies. (S5W-27382) Roseanna Cunningham: A number of impact assessments which consider socioeconomic factors are undertaken for new Scottish Government policies and strategies, where appropriate. This includes the Fairer Scotland Duty, Equalities Impact Assessments and Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessments.

In particular, the Fairer Scotland Duty places a legal responsibility on the Scottish Government and other public bodies in Scotland to actively consider how they can reduce inequalities of outcome caused by socioeconomic disadvantage, when making strategic decisions.

The Scottish Government is committed to tackling the global climate emergency and reaching net-zero emissions in a way which is fair and just for all.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it is undertaking with the public regarding the impact of its climate change policies. (S5W-27383) Roseanna Cunningham: Scotland’s response to the global climate emergency must be a truly national endeavour. There is a significant role for the whole of Scottish society in supporting transformational change. For this reason, constructive dialogue with the Scottish public must be a central pillar of our approach.

Last summer, the Scottish Government ran a series of public engagement events called the Big Climate Conversation. Over 2,500 people across Scotland in rural, island, and urban areas participated. These events were an opportunity for people to voice their opinions and concerns about climate change, Scotland’s net-zero target, and the Scottish Government’s response to the global climate emergency. All the findings have been summarised in the Big Climate Conversation Report that was published on 30 January and is available on the gov.scot website.

The findings from the report will be used to inform the revision of our new climate change public engagement strategy, which is due to be published in Spring 2020. This strategy will set out our approach to engaging the Scottish public on climate change and encouraging public participation in the transition to net-zero emissions.

As we update our Climate Change Plan, three cross-cutting engagement events are being held this month in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen. Several hundred stakeholders, including a mix of public, private and third sector organisations, as well as community groups are invited to join the national dialogue. These events have been designed to gather views on Scottish Government policy proposals, and invite further constructive proposals, as well as offer advice and support for businesses, communities and the public sector on the collective action that’s required to end Scotland’s contribution to climate change.

Later this year a Climate Citizens’ Assembly for Scotland will meet. The Assembly will play an important role in informing decision making as we consider the far reaching changes across society that will be required to meet our ambitious targets.

COP 26 in Glasgow will be focused on addressing the global climate crisis and setting the world on course to transition to a net-zero world in a way that is fair and just for everyone. Our approach to tackling climate change is supported by the Just Transition principles, to help ensure that no one is left behind as we move to a net-zero economy. We established an independent Just Transition Commission which is conducting a wide range of engagement to ensure its recommendations will reflect the concerns and aspirations of people across the country.

Maurice Golden (West Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what financial or technical support will be provided to businesses to adapt premises to handle potential contaminants from deposit return scheme (DRS) materials, while maintaining statutory compliance with food hygiene regulations. (S5W-27505) Roseanna Cunningham: We recognise that retailers, particularly those who prepare food on their premises, will need to put in place controls in order to avoid risks around food safety and related issues arising from their obligation to operate a return point under Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS).

We will work with the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland to develop guidance for retailers, particularly smaller businesses, to support them in implementing DRS in a way that is consistent with their obligations.

Maurice Golden (West Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what provision will be made to provide exceptions from the deposit return scheme (DRS) for premises that must adhere to statutory food hygiene regulations. (S5W-27506) Roseanna Cunningham: The draft Deposit Return Scheme Regulations, published on 10 September 2019, allow the Scottish Ministers to exempt a retailer from the obligation to operate a return point where:

• An alternative return point located within reasonable proximity has agreed to take back containers on the retailer’s behalf, and • If the exemption is granted, this will still provide consumers with reasonable access to a return point.

We have been engaging with the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland to better understand potential risks around food safety and related issues associated with operating a return point in a retail setting and intend to share further information with the Environment, Climate Change, and Land Reform Committee in due course.

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect endangered native hedgehog populations from new housing developments. (S5W-27518) Roseanna Cunningham: Hedgehogs are listed on schedule 6 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981), which makes it illegal to kill or capture them with certain methods.

One of the principles in Scottish Planning Policy is that the planning system should seek benefits for biodiversity from new development where possible, including the restoration of degraded habitats and the avoidance of further fragmentation or isolation of habitats.

Planning authorities, and all public bodies, have a duty under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 to further the conservation of biodiversity. This duty must be reflected in development plans and development management decisions.

While there is some evidence of a decline in hedgehog numbers, the available information is not sufficient to suggest that the species is in danger of extinction in Scotland. Steps being taken to halt the decline of hedgehogs in our towns and cities include the promotion of green space and green networks, for example through the Green Infrastructure Strategic Intervention managed by Scottish Natural Heritage.

Education, Communities and Justice (West Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how many prisoners have been classed as unlawfully at large in each month since July 2017, and how many are currently unlawfully at large. (S5W-27474) Humza Yousaf:

I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

Table 1 details the number of instances where a period of Unlawfully at Large (UAL) was started on SPS’ Prisoner Records System (PR2) in each month since July 2017.

An individual may assume UAL status in the following circumstances:

When not in custody, it will be when their licence has been revoked. Historically on most occasions this has been as a result of failure to comply with Home Detention Curfew (HDC) conditions;

• When a person has escaped from custody; • Where a person has failed to return on time from a period of temporary release; • Where a person has been liberated in error; or • Where a warrant has been granted to apprehend and imprison a person who is not immediately brought to custody

Month 2017 2018 2019 2020 January 28 7 3 February 16 4 1 March 27 4 April 24 5 May 29 1 June 28 1 July 27 29 4 August 31 28 1 September 26 30 1 October 27 17 0 November 19 13 2 December 17 8 0

Please note that on a number of the occasions identified in the table, the individuals were returned to custody on the same day that they were recorded as being UAL. In the main, these types of cases arise following a breach of Home Detention Curfew. Revised HDC guidance was issued in Autumn 2018 which had an impact on the number of individuals being released on Home Detention Curfew. The reduction in the number of UAL periods recorded on PR2 is as a direct result of the reduction in the number of individuals being released on Home Detention Curfew.

There are currently 2 individuals who are UAL from SPS custody. These are both historic cases with one from 1994 and the other in 2005, and neither of these are as result of breaching Home Detention Curfew conditions.

Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the flexibility provided by the Prisoners (Control of Release) (Scotland) Act 2015 to reduce the number of prisoners being released on a Friday is being used to its full potential. (S5W-27481) Humza Yousaf: The flexibility provided by the introduction of Act is there to create the opportunity for some individuals being released into the community to benefit from improved support for their reintegration, not to reduce the number of prisoners released on a Friday.

The Flexible Release regulations allow the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to release a prisoner up to two days early. SPS consider all applications they receive on a case by case basis, but require evidence of how the individual’s reintegration will be specifically improved if an early release is permitted. Not all individuals face the same problems upon release – so indiscriminate use of this provision would not be appropriate.

We are working with the Scottish Prison Service to examine the use of the Flexible Release process and will keep this under review. However, we note that it is as important to maximise the co-ordination and effectiveness of public services and throughcare services, in order to achieve good outcomes for prison leavers.

Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government whether the repeal of section 32 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 will impact the implementation of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016. (S5W-27484) Humza Yousaf: Following repeal of parts 4 and 5 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 on named person and child’s plan which had not been commenced, we will consider the implications of relevant parts of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016 which have also not been commenced in due course. Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made on the Scottish Prison Service Digital Strategy. (S5W-27485) Humza Yousaf: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

As part of its Digital Strategy, The Scottish Prison Service progressed a number of key projects during 2019 and work continues in 2020.

The SPS has approved capital funding for a number of digital projects including a replacement for the Prisoner Records System; VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) telephony; Wi-Fi development to support facilities management; a SharePoint Development review; and a WorkSmart programme which is providing flexible working options for staff to work remotely through smart laptop technology. Capital funding has also been provided to upgrade Windows desktops to Windows 10 across the estate.

Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government whether it will detail the protocols that are in place for making an arrest when children are present. (S5W-27487) Humza Yousaf: Police Scotland's arrest protocols are a matter for the Chief Constable. However, I have been advised that the general principles for making an arrest are covered in the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016 and in Police Scotland’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), which fall under the operational responsibilities of the Chief Constable. The Child Protection SOP is clear that all child protection concerns are a priority for Police Scotland and that the police will handle any matters relating to a child with professionalism and in consultation with partner agencies, where appropriate.

Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (): To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Barnardo’s Scotland report, Supervision in Education – Healthier Schools For All, and its recommendation for local and national government and education bodies to consider the development of supervision structures for education staff as part of the wider commitment in the recent pay deal to support and improve teacher health and wellbeing and agency. (S5W-27578) John Swinney: The health and wellbeing of teachers is a key concern of the Scottish Government. It is recognised that supporting the health and wellbeing of teachers is of paramount importance in enabling them to deliver high quality learning and teaching for children and young people.

We welcome the Barnardo's report and efforts to promote health and wellbeing for those working in our schools. I chaired a roundtable with Barnardo's and Place2Be on supervision last November. The outcomes of this roundtable, along with the findings in the Barnardo's report, will contribute to the work we are currently undertaking in partnership with local government and the teacher unions on the development of new professional learning opportunities for teachers focussed on their health and wellbeing. Opportunities to further explore the place of supervision structures for education staff are being discussed as part of this work.

Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential disruption to a child's education caused by having a parent in the armed forces. (S5W-27579) John Swinney: We fully recognise the potential disruption which Armed Forces children may face during their education.

The Additional Support for Learning Act places duties on education authorities to identify, provide for and review the additional support needs, long and short term, of pupils in their schools. The supporting statutory Code of Practice is clear that additional support needs encompass a wide range of barriers to learning, including those which might impact on children from forces families such as interrupted learning and parental deployment. The assessment of needs and the support required depends on individual circumstances and is a matter for the education authority, school and family.

The Scottish Government continues to work with a wide range of stakeholders to help understand and promote support for the education needs of children from military families.

Scottish Exchequer

Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the announcement in the UK Government Spending Round of an additional £700 million to provide support for children and young people with special educational needs, what Barnett consequentials it expects to receive for special educational needs, and how much of this funding will be allocated to spending on additional support needs in schools in its Budget for 2020-21. (S5W-27388) John Swinney: The Minister for Public Finance set out the Scottish Government’s spending plans for 2020-21 in the Scottish Budget on 6 February, which included an additional £15 million in the coming year to further improve the experiences of children and young people with additional support needs. This investment will further enhance capacity in education authorities and schools to respond effectively to the individual needs of children and young people.

Barnett consequentials accrue to the Scottish Government as a whole and it is for Scottish Ministers to decide how they should be allocated.

Transport Scotland

Jamie Halcro Johnston (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government how many additional miles of the (a) A9 and (b) A96 road have been dualled in each year since 2007. (S5W-27277) Michael Matheson: On the A9 between Perth and Inverness, a 3.2 km (2 miles) extension to the dual carriageway at Crubenmore opened to traffic in September 2011. In September 2017, the 7.5km (4.6 miles) A9 Dualling Kincraig to Dalraddy project opened to traffic. Construction is also progressing well on the A9 Dualling Luncarty to Pass of Birnam project. This section represents 9.5 km (5.9 miles) and is expected to open in spring 2021, subject to any unforeseen circumstances such as exceptional adverse weather. At the same time design work continues at pace with eight of the remaining nine dualling schemes now subject to the statutory process.

On the A96 Dualling Programme, design work is well underway. Construction of the schemes that make up the programme can only commence if each scheme is approved under the relevant statutory procedures and thereafter a timetable for their progress can be set.

Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £520 million rail franchise budget for 2020-21 is allocated to (a) Abellio ScotRail and (b) Serco Caledonian Sleeper. (S5W-27405) Michael Matheson: Figures for the financial year 2020-2021 are currently budget forecasts and as such are commercially sensitive. Figures for the financial year 2019-2020, once audited are due to be published in October 2020.

Figures for the financial year 2018-2019, as published in Transport Scotland’s Annual Accounts, confirm of the £415 million rail franchise programme expenditure (a) Abellio ScotRail was allocated £390 million including Fixed Track Access Charges of £260 million and (b) Serco Caledonian Sleeper was allocated £25 million.

Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how much compensation was paid to Abellio ScotRail by Network Rail in (a) 2017, (b) 2018 and (c) 2019 for claims relating to disruption during upgrade works at Glasgow Queen Street station. (S5W-27407) Michael Matheson: Levels of compensation for disruption associated with works undertaken at Queen Street station is a commercial matter between Abellio ScotRail and Network Rail.

Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of recruitment forecasts for air traffic controllers in airports operated by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited, and whether it has received any information and assurances about recruitment and retention under the new Air Traffic Management Strategy. (S5W-27428) Michael Matheson: HIAL continues to find recruitment of air traffic controllers challenging with a number of airports under complement. While HIAL are managing this situation in order to avoid, where possible, any impact on services, the lack of resilience this provides is not sustainable in the longer term. By moving to a Centralised Surveillance Centre under the Air Traffic Management 2030 Strategy, HIAL will be able to improve resilience through having a larger number of controllers to call upon to cover staff absences. A recruitment campaign for a minimum of nine controllers to help staff the first phase will be underway shortly.

Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has approved for the rollout of Highlands and Islands Airports Limited's Air Traffic Management Strategy. (S5W-27429) Michael Matheson: To date the Scottish Government has provided HIAL with £4.185 million in relation to its Air Traffic Management Strategy. Funding beyond ‎ 31 March 2020 is subject to the passage of the Budget Bill.

Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government when it expects Highlands and Islands Airports Limited to have (a) commenced and (b) completed the rollout of the Combined Surveillance Centre. (S5W-27430) Michael Matheson: The purchase of the Combined Surveillance Centre is expected to occur in March 2020. The building will undergo a significant remodelling process prior to equipment installation. The first operation is expected to go live in the final quarter of 2022 with the rollout completed by the middle of 2027.

Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government what the projected (a) annual and (b) total cost is for the infrastructure upgrades required for the Combined Surveillance Centre rollout by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited. (S5W-27431) Michael Matheson: The cost of infrastructure (building procurement and renovation, in addition to the connectivity implementation) is shown in the following table. These figures are high level estimates and may change as the Programme progresses.

Financial Year Cost (£m) 2019-20 2.89 2020-21 2.23 2021-22 2.35 2022-23 0.46 Total 7.93

Source: Highlands and Islands Airports Limited

Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government when it expects Highlands and Islands Airports Limited to have commenced infrastructure upgrades for the planned Combined Surveillance Centre. (S5W-27432) Michael Matheson: Upgrades to infrastructure are expected to commence in March 2020 with the procurement of the Combined Surveillance Centre building and the launch of a connectivity upgrading exercise at Sumburgh Airport.

Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how much it is allocating to bus priority infrastructure in its 2020-21 budget. (S5W-27433) Michael Matheson: As detailed in the Scottish Government's Draft Scottish Budget, funding of £10 million for bus priority infrastructure is included for 2020-21. Further funding for 2021-22 onwards will be prioritised through the capital spending review. The investment will take the form of a Bus Partnership Fund for local authorities and the roll out of infrastructure on the trunk road network to prioritise high occupancy vehicles such as buses. We will publish more details on the Bus Partnership Fund in the coming months.

Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the £70.5 million funding for Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) set out in its 2020-21 draft Budget, and what the reasons are for the increase from the £45.9 million allocated in 2019-20. (S5W-27451) Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government subsidises HIAL as none of the airports in the group generate sufficient commercial revenue to cover operating, maintenance and development costs. The £70.5 million funding for HIAL for 2020-21 is broken down as £24.2 million for revenue, £36.8 million for capital and £9.5 million for depreciation. HIAL’s budget allocation for capital has increased compared to the £16.1 million budget in 2019-20. This increase will ensure that HIAL can continue to maintain and improve its infrastructure in order to facilitate the safe and compliant operation of essential air services in the Highlands and Islands. This includes costs required to progress the Air Traffic Management 2030 Strategy Programme as well as a range of other infrastructure repairs and improvements across the HIAL estate.

Dean Lockhart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the economic impact of the recent closures of the Queensferry Crossing. (S5W-27514) Michael Matheson: No assessment has been made as this closure was short term.

Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making with its commitment to "consult on Scotland's ambition to make the transformative shift to zero or ultra-low emission city centres by 2030", and by what date this consultation will be (a) launched and (b) completed. (S5W-27543) Michael Matheson: A question seeking views on the shift to zero or ultra-low emission city centres by 2030 was included in the consultation on low emission zones (LEZ), which closed on 24 February. Over 300 responses have been received which are now being analysed. The analysis report will be published by the end of April.

Further engagement and consultation will follow with partners and key stakeholders to assess the broad range of system-wide opportunities and challenges. This will include workshops with city councils this Spring.

Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government (a) how much and (b) what proportion of the 2020-21 concessionary fares budget will cover the cost of expanding the scheme to (i) companion cards for disabled children under five and (ii) recipients of the Young Carers Grant. (S5W-27549) Michael Matheson: The draft budget for 2020-21 provides £229.8 million for concessionary fares. This includes estimated costs of £0.3 million in respect of companion cards for eligible disabled children under five and £0.2 million for recipients of the young carers grant. Together, these constitute just over 0.2% of the total concessionary fares figure. Actual costs will depend on when the new concessions are introduced as well as the extent to which they are taken up and used.

Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains committed to extending the National Concessionary Travel Scheme to modern apprentices and, if so, what the timeline for this is. (S5W-27550) Michael Matheson: We undertook a pilot of free bus travel for Modern Apprentices in Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen City and the Shetland Islands from 27 November 2019 to 29 February 2020. The results are being analysed and decisions on the next steps will be made once the analysis is complete.

Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to upgrade each control tower in the Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) network. (S5W-27568) Michael Matheson: As set out in the Air Traffic Management 2030 Strategy Programme Business Case, the estimated cost of deploying surveillance equipment at each airport is £19.8 million. This does not, however, include the cost of refurbishment / replacement of the existing towers, all of which are reaching the end of their economic life. It also does not include the cost of the significant increase in staff that would be required if this option had been pursued. These costs were not calculated as this option was, after careful consideration, discounted due to it failing to meet the overall requirements of the ATMS. This option would not address the staff recruitment and retention issue that HIAL is facing, in fact it would exacerbate it.