Tuesday 06 August 2019
SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT
Economy
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to consult on a new sectoral marine plan to identify locations for future large-scale offshore wind developments. (S5W-24328) Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government expects to consult on the draft Sectoral Marine Plan for offshore wind and associated Sustainability Appraisal later this year. The consultation will last for 12 weeks and will include a number of consultation events across Scotland. The details of the locations and timings of these events will be made available in advance to help maximise participation.
Alasdair Allan (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-21386 by Fergus Ewing on 6 March 2019, whether it will provide an update on what action it has taken to assist the workforce at Talk Talk in Stornoway ahead of the expected redundancies on 31 July. (S5W-24336) Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government have been working in partnership with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and Partnership Action for Continuing Employment(PACE) to assist staff who have faced redundancy due to the closure of the TalkTalk Stornoway office on 31 July.
Support for employees continues to be provided following the closure to ensure all employment opportunities are explored and PACE assistance provided as appropriate.
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has taken to support the work of the Scottish Land Commission since September 2018. (S5W-24358) Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Land Commission is key to the Scottish Government’s long-term programme of land reform.
Scottish Government officials meet with Land Commission staff regularly on a range of policy issues and to provide sponsorship support. The Scottish Government works closely with the Land Commission to ensure delivery of its Strategic Plan, which reflects Scottish Government priorities for land reform, as set out in the Programmes for Government (2017 – 2018 and 2018 – 2019).
Since September 2018 the Land Commission has published two major reports which made a number of recommendations to Scottish Ministers. In November 2018 it published a review of community ownership mechanisms, including Community Right to Buy legislation. We are now working with the Land Commission to implement the recommendations, and have established a multi-agency group to provide strategic oversight of this process. Officials are also working closely with the Land Commission and other stakeholders to develop detailed options to progress its recommendations on scale and concentration of land ownership in rural Scotland, which were published in March 2019. These recommendations were supported by the Scottish Parliament in a motion agreed by the Scottish Parliament following a land reform debate on 21 March.
The Land Commission has developed a protocol to support the Scottish Government’s Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement and Guidance on Engaging Communities in Decisions Relating to Land, and is promoting this throughout Scotland. The Scottish Government has endorsed this work, as well as the Land Commission’s work in advising land owners on how to follow the principles set out in the Statement.
The Scottish Government provides ongoing sponsorship support to the Land Commission. This includes supporting it to be an accountable, high- performing organisation with effective governance structures that delivers its objectives in line with Ministerial priorities. For 2018-19 the grant-in-aid provided to the Commission was £1.4 million and for 2019-20 this increased to £1.5 million.
The Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform meets formally with the Land Commission twice a year.
Education, Communities and Justice
Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Planning (Scotland) Bill legislating to merge Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) into the National Planning Framework 4, when the next SPP review will commence, and what the timescale will be for consultation, consideration and implementation. (S5W-24340) Kevin Stewart: Revised national planning policies will be incorporated into National Planning Framework (NPF) 4 and be reviewed as an integral part of the NPF preparation process. We are committed to doing this in an open and collaborative way and will be providing more information about the proposed timescales and consultation arrangements later in the summer. Richard Lyle (Uddingston and Bellshill) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to create a level playing field for the promotion of micro renewables within the planning system. (S5W-24404) Kevin Stewart: All planning applications are determined in accordance with the relevant local development plan unless there are material considerations that would justify a departure from the plan.
There are extensive permitted development rights for the installation of both domestic and non-domestic micro-renewables. As part of the ongoing review of the planning system we propose to consult on whether any changes or additions to permitted development rights, including those for micro- renewables, should be made in due course.
Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government by what date will the online application service will open for Best Start Foods. (S5W-24430) Joe FitzPatrick: Scottish Government laid The Welfare Foods (Best Start Foods) (Scotland) Regulations 2019, in Parliament on 31 May 2019 and these will come into force on 12 August 2019. The online application system for Best Start Foods will be available from that date.
Health and Social Care
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government how it encourages the NHS to increase the use of technology in care systems to improve services, and what resources and funding it provides. (S5W-24310) Jeane Freeman: Scotland's Digital Health and Care Strategy recognises the benefits that technology can have in supporting the NHS to improve services. The Scottish Government invests around £89m each year to implement a range of improvements including; provision of national GP IT systems to replace ageing local systems, a modern replacement for the Community Health Index and Child Health Systems and a national contract with Microsoft which will ensure that all boards have access to the latest technologies to support modern working practices and ensure they maintain cyber resilience.
As part of that, the Scottish Government's Technology Enabled Care Programme has also seen significant success in implementing technology to support more person-centred care. This includes for example the implementation of the Attend Anywhere Video Consultation Platform (also known as NHS Near Me) as well as the scale up in the use of the Home and Mobile Health Monitoring system FLORENCE which supports self- management of conditions such as high blood pressure using SMS Text Messaging.
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to tackle the reported 10-fold increase in HIV infection among drug users in Glasgow. (S5W-24370) Joe FitzPatrick: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is leading the response to the HIV outbreak amongst people who inject drugs in Glasgow. This is an important issue; I take a keen interest in the response to this outbreak and note that a great deal of work is going into supporting this vulnerable group.
We are providing £2.13m over three years to third sector organisations to support innovative work to tackle poor sexual health and reduce blood borne virus transmissions. This includes funding for Scottish Drugs Forum to work with people who inject drugs to help them reduce risk behaviours connected with HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported concerns, whether any NHS boards have waiting lists for access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). (S5W-24371) Joe FitzPatrick: NHS Lothian and NHS Highland have reported that they currently have waiting lists for access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with academics at Glasgow Caledonian University following its research indicating a 10-fold increase in HIV infection among drug users in Glasgow. (S5W-24372) Joe FitzPatrick: I note that the research referred to examined the causes of the outbreak of HIV amongst people who inject drugs in Glasgow, which was identified in 2015. It was the product of collaboration between Glasgow Caledonian University, Health Protection Scotland, and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Scottish Government officials have well-established working relationships with several authors of the paper, including colleagues from each of the above organisations.
I visited the Brownlee clinic, which is leading the medical response to this outbreak, in November 2018 and visited Waverley Care’s street support team, which works to provide treatment support and testing, in July 2019. Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government how many needles were distributed to drug users in Glasgow in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17, (c) 2017-18 and (d) 2018-19. (S5W-24373) Joe FitzPatrick: The number of needles distributed to drugs users in Glasgow in; (a) 2015-16 can be found at https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Drugs-and-Alcohol- Misuse/Publications/2017-06-13/2017-06-13-IEP-Report.pdf ;
(b) 2016-17 can be found at https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Drugs-and-Alcohol- Misuse/Publications/2018-08-07/2018-08-07-IEP-Report.pdf .
The data for 2017-18 and 2018-19 will be published by Information Services Division in due course.
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government how many of the 25 drug users with HIV in Glasgow identified in 2018 have received support and treatment. (S5W-24374) Joe FitzPatrick: We understand from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde that there were 18 new diagnoses in the 2018 calendar year in people who inject drugs in Glasgow. Of those, two have moved to other health boards. All of the 16 still resident in Glasgow have started HIV treatment.
Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how much it has allocated to alcohol and drugs partnerships in each of the last 10 years. (S5W-24392) Joe FitzPatrick: Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) direct funding allocations are published at https://www.gov.scot/publications/alcohol-and-drug-partnerships-funding- allocations/
Since 2017-18 ADP funding has been provided to NHS Boards as part of their baseline budget for onward delegation and decision making to Integration Authorities and ADPs.
The total financial resource available in any given year is higher than the direct contribution provided from the Scottish Government budget and includes contributions from the NHS and other statutory partners. In financial year 2018-19, £17 million was allocated directly to ADPs through the Local Improvement Fund. The same is available to Integration Authorities and ADPs in 2019-20.
In addition a £1.25 million challenge fund is administered by the CORRA Foundation, and £1 million is provided through the National Development Project Fund. £750,000 has been allocated to support Housing First work for people with problematic substance use.
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government what questions are being asked in the (a) Scottish Health Survey and (b) Health and Wellbeing Census. (S5W-24396) Joe FitzPatrick: a) The Scottish Health Survey (SHeS) was established in 1995 and repeated in 1998 and 2003. It has been carried out annually since 2008.
There are two versions of the survey each year, version A and version B. Version A accounts for around 2/3 rd of the sample and includes a set of core questions and a set of modules on specific health conditions that rotate in and out of the survey. Version B accounts for the remaining 1/3 rd of the sample and includes the core questions and a biological measures module.
Full copies of the questionnaires used in SHeS are included in the appendix of the technical report for each corresponding year, available here: https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Health/scottish-health- survey/Publications
The 2018 Scottish Health Survey is due to be published in September 2019. A report on questionnaire changes that were made from 2018 onwards is available here: https://www2.gov.scot/Resource/0053/00537370.pdf b) The Health and Wellbeing (HWB) Census questionnaire is still in the process of being developed and will ask questions that cover the following topics/themes against the SHANARRI indicators (Safe, Healthy, Active, Nurtured, Achieving, Responsible, Respected and Included).
As the HWB Census is going to be asked of children from Primary 5 to Secondary 6 a number of questionnaires are in the process of being finalised, and each questionnaire is designed to include questions that are age/stage appropriate. For example, some topics/themes will only be asked of older children (e.g. mental health and substance use will only be asked of Secondary 2 pupils upwards, and sexual health questions will only be asked of Secondary 4 pupils and upwards). Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government whether it requires those arranging national sporting events, such as the Scottish Open, to provide access for disabled people who are attending as spectators. (S5W-24402) Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government believe that a fairer Scotland can only be realised when we secure equal rights for everyone: tackling inequality is one of the Scottish Government's three priorities. We are supporting the many ways people celebrate, express and enjoy national sporting events across Scotland.
The Equality Act 2010 protects the rights for disabled people, which includes having access to venues. Information on this can be found on the Equality and Human Rights Commission Scotland website. https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/advice-and-guidance . Organisations applying for EventScotland support are required to include information about accessibility for disabled people at the event on the application form.
In relation to the Scottish Open, accessibility is a priority of the European Tour who abide by their robust Accessibility Policy with a tailored approach for each event. For example the inaugural European Disabled Golf Championship were held at the Scottish Open in July 2019.
Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government how many deaths have been caused by drugs in each of the last five years for which figures are available, broken down by drug. (S5W-24417) Joe FitzPatrick: The National Records of Scotland report Drug Related Deaths in Scotland in 2018 was published on 16 th July 2019. It states there were a total of 1,187 drug related deaths in 2018.
The report provides extensive information on the drugs implicated in or probable cause of death. Most drug related deaths were people who took more than one substance. Of the 1,187 drug-related deaths in 2018, there were just 68 for which only one drug (and, perhaps alcohol) was found to be present in the body.
Table 3 of the report provides details of drug related deaths by selected drugs reported for the years 2008 – 2018.
Table Y of the report provides information about a larger range of drugs on the basis of the Office for National Statistics "wide" definition (this includes deaths caused by drugs which were not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act).
Additional data tables on the NRS website Tables SUB1 and SUB2 show how often the name of each drug (or other substance) was reported to NRS as being involved in deaths which were counted in NRS's standard definition of drug-related deaths and in the ONS "wide" definition, respectively.
The full report and supplementary tables can be accessed from the following link. https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by- theme/vital-events/deaths/drug-related-deaths-in-scotland/2018 )
Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government how many deaths in each of the last five years have been caused by drugs prescribed for insomnia or other sleep-related conditions. (S5W-24418) Joe FitzPatrick: The National Records of Scotland report Drug Related Deaths in Scotland in 2018 was published on 16 July 2019. It states there were a total of 1,187 drug related deaths in 2018.
The report provides extensive information on the drugs implicated in or probable cause of death. Most drug-related deaths are people who took more than one substance. Of the 1,187 drug-related deaths in 2018, there were just 68 for which only one drug (and, perhaps alcohol) was found to be present in the body.
Specific analysis of drugs prescribed for insomnia or other sleep-related conditions is not included in the report. In addition the report does not link to prescribing data therefore it is not possible to determine if drugs were prescribed to the individual prior to death.
However, the report is accompanied by supplementary tables SUB1 and SUB2 which provide detailed information on drugs and other substances which were reported as being present in the body for drug-related. These tables include drugs which are known to be prescribed for insomnia.
The full report and supplementary tables can be found at the following link, https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by- theme/vital-events/deaths/drug-related-deaths-in-scotland/2018
Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government whether it records the cause of a drug death in the same way as the rest of the UK and, if not, what the differences are. (S5W-24419) Joe FitzPatrick: The National Records of Scotland (NRS) report Drug Related Deaths in Scotland in 2018 was published on 16 th July 2019. It states there were a total of 1,187 drug related deaths in 2018.
The NRS report records deaths as drug-related on the basis of its implementation of the ‘baseline’ definition for the UK Drugs Strategy. This is essentially the same as the definition of "drug misuse deaths" that is used by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for its statistics for England and Wales, and by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) for its figures.
There are a number of definitions of drug related deaths, details of some are given in Annexes A and B of the report.
The report also provides statistics based on the ONS ‘wide’ definition of 'drug poisoning' deaths, and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) ‘general mortality register’ definition. In both cases, NRS applies the same definitions as ONS and NISRA use to produce the corresponding figures for their areas. These are detailed in Annex G and Table X of the report.
In addition there are some technical differences between Scotland and other parts of the UK in some aspects of the collection of information about drug- related deaths, which may affect slightly the comparability of their statistics, these are outlined in Paragraph G10 of the report.
The full report can be accessed via the following link: https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by- theme/vital-events/deaths/drug-related-deaths-in-scotland/2018 .
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the impact of social prescribing that focuses on sport and physical activity and its link to technology. (S5W-24437) Joe FitzPatrick: The use of social prescribing is an emerging practice to complement healthcare provision, so that people can make informed choices about their care in line with their preferences.
The Scottish Government supports all efforts to support and encourage people to take part in sport and physical activity, and looks forward to seeing evidence as it develops on how social prescribing initiatives can contribute to this goal. Organisational Development and Operations
John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Green Party): To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of households in each local authority area have access to superfast broadband. Holding answer issued: 06 August 2019 (S5W-24272) Paul Wheelhouse: A holding answer was provided.
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how many workplace parking spaces there are in each of its 12 buildings. (S5W-24407) Derek Mackay: The workplace parking spaces at the 12 buildings of the Scottish Government estate covered by the Travel Survey in 2012 are as follows:
Building Parking spaces 5 Atlantic Quay (Glasgow) 65 Bothwell House (Hamilton) 5 * Denholm House (Livingston) 118 Europa Building (Glasgow) No longer part of the Scottish Government estate Highlander House (Glasgow) No longer part of the Scottish Government estate Marine Laboratory (Aberdeen) 128 St Andrew’s House (Edinburgh) 103 Saughton House (Edinburgh) 346 Strathearn House (Perth) 85 Thainstone Court (Inverurie) 53 Tweedbank (Galashiels) 43 Victoria Quay (Edinburgh) 672 Total 1618
*We are now a minor occupier of Bothwell House and have 5 spaces allocated under the terms of the lease.
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £25 million 4G Infill Programme has been spent. (S5W-24408) Paul Wheelhouse: As of 31 July this year, the Scottish 4G Infill Programme has invested £1,126,101. Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government how many sites have been targeted as part of the 4G Infill Programme. (S5W-24409) Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish 4G Infill Programme is currently progressing 45 potential mast sites. A map of these is available at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-4g-infill-programme-map/ .
The Programme is also exploring options to bring forward additional candidate sites in a range of locations. However, sites can only progress to build when we secure commitment from a mobile operators to use the mast for seven years.
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-23830 by Derek MacKay on 15 July 2019, what the average use of the car parking spaces at each of the buildings has been in each month since June 2016. (S5W-24426) Derek Mackay: This information is not held.
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-23833 by Derek MacKay 2 July 2019, in light of the changes to (a) the public attitude to transport use, including the consideration given by people to the modes of transportation that they use, and (b) transport legislation since 2012, what plans it has to carry out a new staff travel survey. (S5W-24427) Derek Mackay: We plan to carry out a staff travel survey in 2020.
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-23832 by Michael Matheson on 9 July 2019, when the most recent review of its car parking spaces took place and when the next review is scheduled. (S5W-24428) Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government keeps the use of its car parks under continual review to enable us to respond quickly to demand for provision for mobility issues and sustainable travel (cycle parking, electric charging points and car share spaces). Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-23833 by Derek MacKay 2 July 2019, in light of the findings of the staff travel survey, what action it is taking to reduce levels of car use in areas with the highest rates of use. (S5W-24429) Derek Mackay: We have a number of initiatives underway to encourage sustainable travel including:-
• We have increased the amount of cycle parking at Saughton House, Victoria Quay and St Andrews House by installing new double height racks. • We have showers, lockers, changing facilities and drying cabinets for cyclists in all of our main buildings. • We hold cycle friendly employer status. • We run annual sustainable travel roadshows for staff and offer free bike maintenance sessions. • We offer personal travel plans for staff which show them the most sustainable ways to commute to work. • We have dedicated lift share spaces at Saughton House and Victoria Quay. • We offer a public transport season ticket scheme to help staff spread the cost of a season ticket over 12 months. • We operate a cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme. Staff can buy a bike to cycle to work and spread the payments over 12 months which are exempt from tax and national insurance. • We promote sustainable travel to visitors with our “Green Welcome” signage • We have live screens in our main Edinburgh offices displaying public transport information.
Transport Scotland
Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether ScotRail is meeting the terms of its franchise agreement and remedial plan. (S5W-24332) Michael Matheson: My Officials at Transport Scotland monitor ScotRail’s progress against the obligations contained in the franchise agreement through a series of regular engagement and meetings including the monthly Franchise Performance meeting. Notes of this meeting are published on Transport Scotland’s website. Since implementation of the Performance Remedial Plan, Transport Scotland officials and it’s independent advisor have additionally met with ScotRail four weekly to review progress with delivering the commitments alongside assurance review close out sessions.
Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government, in response to the operator’s performance, whether it plans to initiate the break clause in the ScotRail franchise agreement and terminate the franchise in 2022. (S5W-24333) Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is giving due consideration to the franchise date options contained in the franchise contract, and, having regard to the franchisee’s overall performance, will make an appropriate decision within the timescales set out in that contract.
Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government how many electric vehicle charge points have been installed since September 2018. (S5W-24343) Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has supported the completed installation of 1369 electric vehicle charge points in homes, businesses and communities across Scotland, including 173 public charge points since September 2018, with a further 150 public charge points in the final process of being installed. In addition to the comprehensive ChargePlace Scotland network, we continue to work with industry including commercial public charge point providers to maximise investment in and increase the availability of public charging in Scotland.
Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government how many public charge points for electric vehicles have been installed since September 2018. (S5W-24344) Michael Matheson: A total number of 173 public charge points have been added to the ChargePlace Scotland network since September 2018, with a further 150 in the final process of being added to the network. In addition to the comprehensive ChargePlace Scotland network, we continue to work with industry including commercial public charge point providers to maximise investment in and increase the availability of public charging in Scotland..
Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what change there has been in the number of ultra-low emissions vehicles in the public sector fleet since September 2018. (S5W-24345) Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has, through Transport Scotland’s Switched on Fleets initiative, supported orders for over 700 ultra- low emission vehicles in the public sector since September 2018. This brings the total number of ultra-low emission vehicles supported by the Scottish Government since 2014 to over 1250, with plans to extend that number further this year.
Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what percentage change there has been in seating capacity on (a) eastern and (b) central ScotRail services since September 2018. (S5W-24347) Michael Matheson: Since September 2018 there has been a 33% increase in seating on Eastern services and 11% increase to services in Central Scotland.
As more of the new fleet of Hitachi Class 385’s and High Speed Trains are introduced this will allow existing, refurbished diesel trains to be cascaded onto other routes enabling more seats and services to be provided across the country during 2019-20.
Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government how many "electric towns" have been established since September 2018, and how many there will be by 31 December 2019. (S5W-24348) Michael Matheson: Transport Scotland’s Switched on Towns and Cities initiative was announced in June 2018. The challenge fund attracted a number of bids from Local Authorities and 5 successful applications received funding, averaging £2.4m each over 2 fiscal years. The successful bids were from Dundee, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Glasgow and Stirling.
With the programme expected to have further funding rounds, making up to 5 awards in each round, we will be on course to developing up to 10 electric towns and cities in Scotland by December 2019.
Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what change there has been in the number of green buses in the public fleet since September 2018. (S5W-24349) Michael Matheson: Between March 2018 and March 2019, the number of green buses operating in Scotland changed from 577 to 793, an increase of 216. Data is not available to detail the change in the number of green buses in Scotland since September 2018.
Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government how much of the Green Bus Fund has been distributed, broken down by (a) spend and (b) project type. (S5W-24350) Michael Matheson: There have been eight rounds of the Scottish Green Bus Fund (SGBF). Funding amounting to £17.2 million has seen the introduction of 475 low carbon vehicles to the fleet. SGBF award details are published on the Transport Scotland website at: https://www.transport.gov.scot/public-transport/buses/scottish-green-bus- fund/#45456 .
John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Green Party): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the letter by the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity to the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee of 1 July 2019, how it is encouraging the development of electric aircraft; when it anticipates this technology being used commercially, and what contribution it expects that this will make to emission reduction targets. (S5W-24356) Michael Matheson: The push to reduce emissions from aviation coupled with advances in electric motors, lightweight engineering and battery technology has the potential to transform the aviation sector. The impact on CO2 emissions will need to be monitored closely. Short haul flights are most suited to current advances in technology meaning Scotland, particularly in the region covered by HIAL (Highlands and Islands Airports Limited), is well placed to benefit from advances in low and zero emission aerospace technology.
As technology continues to develop we see Scotland as an ideal testing ground for hybrid and, ultimately, electric aircraft. We continue to monitor technological developments and are working with HIAL on the potential use of electric aircraft at their airports.
John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Green Party): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the letter by the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity to the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee of 1 July 2019, what estimate it has made of investment in walking and cycling infrastructure in the Netherlands and Denmark, and how this was calculated. (S5W-24357) Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has made no calculation of investment per capita in walking and cycling infrastructure in the Netherlands and Denmark. We have looked at data provided by Sustrans’ Research and Monitoring Unit and Cycling UK to make comparisons with the level of investment in Scotland.
Elaine Smith (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government whether it will allow ScotRail to directly pay charges arising as part of the proposed workplace parking levy or pass all or part of the levy on to employees. (S5W-24369) Michael Matheson: The Workplace Parking Levy, which was the subject of Green Party amendments to the Transport Bill, is a levy on premises, not employees. It is a matter for employers whether they pass on the levy to employees.
Elaine Smith (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government whether it will require ScotRail to directly fund any charges from local authorities resulting from the workplace parking levy or whether all or part of the charges will be passed onto ScotRail employees. (S5W-24401) Michael Matheson: It will be a matter for the employer whether they pass on to employees all, or part of, charges arising from the application of the workplace parking levy by a local authority.