Scottish Government

Wednesday 14 March 2018

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT

Crown Office

Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) it and (b) the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) collects any data regarding the length of time that bodies are retained between death and burial/cremation due to an ongoing criminal investigation. (S5W-15065)

James Wolffe QC: The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service is responsible for the investigation of deaths where there is an ongoing criminal investigation. COPFS does not collect data regarding the length of time that bodies are retained between the death and burial/cremation. Since September 2016 COPFS has recorded the date when the body is released to the nearest relative in deaths where there is an ongoing criminal investigation.

Economy

Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Scottish Green Party): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-03736 by Keith Brown on 31 October 2016, whether it will provide the information for 2016-17, and what information it can provide regarding which companies received funding, how much they received and the purpose of the award. (S5W-11258)

Keith Brown: Neither Highlands and Islands Enterprise or Scottish Enterprise provide assistance directly to the arms trade. As part of the broad range of support provided some firms in receipt of that support may be engaged in activities such as research and development/ components or products which may be applicable to defence related use. I am unable to provide details of the individual amounts or purposes of the awards received by companies due to commercial sensitivity.

Financial support provided by SE and HIE to businesses where the activities may be applicable to defence related use in 2016-17 is shown in the following table:

Year SE (£) HIE (£)Total (£) 2016-17457,35661,238 518,594 Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-13901 by Keith Brown on 31 January 2018, what work ministers are planning to increase the number of suppliers that have signed the Business Pledge. (S5W-14640)

Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has written to each Scottish Government supplier, who is not already signed up to the Scottish Business Pledge, encouraging them to consider it further.

Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-13901 by Keith Brown on 31 January 2018, what consideration it gives to whether a company has signed the Business Pledge when awarding contracts to suppliers, and whether it has considered making this a mandatory requirement. (S5W-14641)

Keith Brown: The Scottish Government highlights the values promoted by the Scottish Business Pledge by including a standard question in the invitation to tender, requesting that potential suppliers confirm whether they have made a commitment to the Pledge.

By signing up to the pledge and making such a commitment to deliver elements through current actions and future plans, a supplier can also demonstrate a positive and progressive approach to meet Fair Work criteria.

Emma Harper (South Scotland) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government how many animals were exported from Scotland for (a) slaughter, (b) breeding and (c) production purposes in 2017. (S5W-14961)

Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-14474 on 13 March 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

Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how it defines "inclusive growth", and how it ensures that all its agencies use the same definition. (S5W-15066) Keith Brown: Inclusive Growth is growth that combines increased prosperity with greater equity; that creates opportunities for all and distributes the dividends of increased prosperity fairly.

Promoting a shared inclusive growth agenda across Scotland is a key objective of this Government – evidenced, for example, by the inclusive growth conference we hosted in Glasgow last year and by the announcement of the Centre for Regional Inclusive Growth – which will work to drive improvements in inclusive growth outcomes across Scotland’s communities.

It is vitally important that all our agencies are aligned in terms of promoting inclusive growth – indeed this is why the Enterprise and Skills Strategic Board aims to ensure the whole Enterprise and Skills system delivers Scotland’s Economic Strategy, of which inclusive growth is a central priority, and is looking specifically at creating the conditions that are conducive to delivering inclusive and sustainable growth.

Education, Communities and Justice

Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of the IT that will be used by the British Transport Police (BTP) D Division following the merger between BTP and Police Scotland; when this will be integrated fully with Police Scotland IT systems, and what the costs are of engaging consultants/project managers to deliver this. (S5W-14859)

Humza Yousaf: Under the auspices of the Joint Programme Board (JPB), Police Scotland and BTPA have established a joint project to deliver the operational aspects of the programme. On 20 February, the JPB was advised that further time is needed to deliver integration most effectively and safely for railway passengers, staff and officers. Their assessment is that the current scheduled integration date of

‎ 1 April 2019 will not be achieved. Ministers have accepted this advice and a detailed re-planning exercise will now take place over the coming months to ensure robust delivery plans are in place for all of the key elements of the programme, including ICT, and to establish a new delivery date. Resourcing will also feature as part of the re-planning exercise.

Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of consultants involved in the British Transport Police merger with Police Scotland and what (a) their remit is and (b) fees they are being paid, and from which budget those fees will be drawn. (S5W-14860)

Humza Yousaf: Further to the meeting of the Joint Programme Board on 20 February a detailed re-planning exercise is now underway to ensure robust delivery plans are in place for all of the key elements of the programme and to establish a new delivery date. Resourcing will also feature as part of the re- planning exercise. Transitional costs for the Authority and Police Scotland are being funded from the police reform budget and will not be an additional burden on the operational policing budget or rail operators.

Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to (a) allow parliamentary scrutiny of its new financial estimates in relation to the merger between British Transport Police and Police Scotland and (b) review the costs that it provided in the Financial Memorandum that accompanied the Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill. (S5W-14861)

Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is committed to providing regular reports to Parliament on the status of the programme. The approach to scrutiny of those reports is a matter for the Parliament.

Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5O-01779 by Michael Matheson on 8 February 2018, whether it will set out the outcome of the Cabinet Secretary for Justice's discussion with the Lord President regarding transparency in sentencing. (S5W-14955)

Michael Matheson: In exchanges in Parliament on 8 February, I agreed to ensure that the issues raised were highlighted to the Lord President to see whether any further progress could be made on improving how transparency in the system of sentencing could be made. I can confirm I have brought the official report of those Parliamentary exchanges to the attention of the Lord President and will raise the matter when I meet with him next.

As I indicated in Parliament in answer to S5O-01779, sentencing in any given case, including whether to publish a sentencing statement, is a matter for the court. Separate to that, the independent Scottish Sentencing Council has as one of its objectives the promotion of greater awareness and understanding of sentencing policy and practice. Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what data it collects on the number of victims of crimes who have registered with the Victim Notification Scheme and what this represents as a percentage of those eligible. (S5W-14995)

Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government do not hold the data requested.

The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) have advised that as of 5 March 2018, 2418 victims have joined the Victim Notification Scheme. The SPS estimate that this represents around 20 – 30% of the total number of victims who were eligible to join the Scheme.

Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Victim Notification Scheme only provides details of an offenders release date, date of death within prison, transfer outwith Scotland, eligibility for temporary release, escape and return to prison, where the sentence is for 18 months or more, and what legislation prescribes this. (S5W-14996)

Michael Matheson: The Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 prescribed the Victim Notification Scheme (VNS), which provided victims of certain prescribed offences with the rights to receive information about an offenders’ progression within prison and eventual release. At this time, the VNS applied to offenders who were sentenced to 4 years or more.

The Victim Notification Scheme (Scotland) Order 2008, then extended these rights to victims of offenders who had been sentenced to 18 months or more and the Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2014, removed the list of prescribed offences so that victims of all offences were potentially eligible.

Extending the full VNS to all victims, irrespective of sentence length, was considered during the development of the 2014 Act. It was concluded that doing so would create significant practical difficulties, particularly in cases involving a very short custodial sentence or where the offender was released early due to time spent on remand prior to sentencing.

However the Victims’ Rights (Scotland) Regulations 2015, now extend the right to receive certain information to victims of offenders sentenced to less than 18 months. Such victims can contact the Scottish Prison Service and ask to receive information on the date of release of the offender or if they have escaped from custody. Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that the Victims' Code for Scotland is communicated to and shared with victims of crime. (S5W-14997)

Michael Matheson: The Victims Code is available online and in hard copy in a range of languages and formats, with additional languages also available on request. We are also developing an easy read version, which will be available by Summer 2018.

As required by section 3C of the Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2014, Police Scotland are responsible for informing victims of how to access the Victims' Code. Where the victim does not have access to the internet, the victim may request a copy of the Code. This is reflected in Police Scotland’s published Standards of Service for Victims and Witnesses which state ‘We will ensure that you receive a Victims’ Care Card if you are a victim of crime which provides you with the details of your enquiry officer, the crime you report and information on how you can access victim support and the Scottish Government’s Victims Code’.

Scottish Ministers, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service, the Scottish Prison Service and the Parole Board Scotland are also required under the same legislation to provide access to the Code on request. These organisations will also routinely draw victims’ attention to the Code if it appears they are not already aware of it.

Victim support organisations, such as Victim Support Scotland, also play an important role in ensuring victims are aware of the Code and its contents.

Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what data it collects on the number of victims who have provided statements ahead of sentencing, and what this represents as a percentage of the overall number of cases. (S5W-14998)

Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government do not hold the data requested. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) manage the process of informing victims if they are eligible to make a Victim Impact Statement (VIS). COPFS do not collect data on the number of victims who have provided a VIS ahead of sentencing as their case management database does not enable such data to be collected automatically and the time taken to complete this task manually is considered to be prohibitive.

Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government for what reason prisoners with domestic abuse convictions are not automatically excluded from the Home Detention Curfew Scheme, and whether it plans to amend the law in this regard. (S5W-15006)

Michael Matheson: The Home Detention Curfew (HDC) scheme came into force in July 2006 through provisions contained in the Management of Offenders etc (Scotland) Act 2005. The Act requires that the decision to release a prisoner on HDC must be taken having regard to considerations of:

• Protecting the public at large • Preventing reoffending by the prisoner • Securing successful reintegration into the community

HDC offers the opportunity to aid prisoner reintegration back into the community while maintaining an appropriate element of control. The list of statutory exclusions is tightly drawn to ensure that the individual circumstances of each prisoner's case can be considered in determining whether to grant HDC. Where it appears that a prisoner may qualify for release on HDC the proposed curfew address requires to be assessed for suitability by criminal justice social work services. The Scottish Prison Service conducts a thorough risk assessment of suitability for release and guidance requires that this must have regard to a number of factors including whether the prisoner’s conviction includes an element of domestic violence.

Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government for what reason prisoners who have failed to comply with a home detention curfew release licence are not automatically excluded from being considered for another, and whether it plans to amend the law in this regard. (S5W-15007)

Michael Matheson: In December 2016 the Scottish Parliament made the Home Detention Curfew Licence (Amendment) (Scotland) Order 2016 (SSI 2016/416) to specifically remove the existing prohibition on prisoners who had previously been released on licence and recalled to custody for non- compliance with their licence conditions or for committing a new crime from being considered for HDC. This was in response to a recommendation to do so made by the Electronic Monitoring in Scotland Expert Working Group in October 2016.

Allowing these prisoners to be considered for HDC provides an opportunity to recognise an individual’s progress in terms of their rehabilitation and improvements in compliance and motivation to desist from reoffending.

Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government by what means home detention curfew orders are communicated to the families of victims where the offender has received a sentence of four years or less. (S5W-15008)

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

All victims who are registered with the Victim Notification Scheme are entitled to know the date of release of an offender. This includes the date of release on Home Detention Curfew. Those victims of offenders sentenced to 18 months or more are entitled to make representations to the Scottish Prison Service when the offender is being considered for release. These representations will inform licence conditions and where a licence condition is included which relates to the victim, or their family, the victim is informed of the licence condition. The communication of the decision and any licence conditions is in writing.

Maurice Golden (West Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to develop metrics to differentiate between rural off-gas grid, rural on-gas grid and urban off-gas grid households for the purpose of delivering energy efficiency programmes. (S5W-15039)

Kevin Stewart: Our delivery projects aim is to ensure that everyone in fuel poverty gets support, no matter whether they live in urban or rural Scotland. Funding for our area based fuel poverty programmes on the basis of need and takes into account different levels of fuel poverty across Scotland’s local authority areas. This is based on data from the Scottish House Condition Survey and the Home Analytics Database. This means that remote areas, including all island communities, currently receive over three times more per head of population to tackle fuel poverty than the next highest area on the mainland. Urban/rural classifications do not influence this distribution, but are reflected higher in levels of household grant available in remote areas.

Further, our Warmer Homes Scotland scheme is being delivered on a regional basis, including a separate Islands region, to ensure all households, including those living in more remote parts of the country, get the same level of service as those in urban areas. As we develop our new Fuel Poverty Strategy and deliver this through Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme we will continue to prioritise households which need assistance most, including those most vulnerable to cold-related health impacts and low income households, targeting support to those most in need, no matter where they live in Scotland. Maurice Golden (West Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government how many rural homes in each local authority area have received support from the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland area-based schemes. (S5W-15040)

Kevin Stewart: We do not hold information on the urban/rural status of households assisted through our Area Based Schemes. We do publish a breakdown of installs by local authority to provide information on regional delivery.

The information for 2013-14 can be found at http://wwt gov.scot/Resource/0046/00466702.pdf

The information for 2014-15 can be found at http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/sites/default/files/HEEPS %2014-15%20report.pdf

The information for 2015-16 is not published but is shown in the following table:

Local Authority Measures completed Aberdeen City 2223 Aberdeenshire 299 Angus 223 Argyll and Bute 223 Clackmannanshire 117 Dumfries & Galloway 281 Dundee 1064 East Ayrshire 620 East Dunbartonshire 70 East Lothian 61 East Renfrewshire 95 Edinburgh 2123 Elian Siar 548 Falkirk 246 Fife 768 Glasgow 1929 Highland 345 Inverclyde 307 Midlothian 384 Moray 182 N Ayrshire 507 N Lanark 466 Orkney 160 Perth and Kinross 368 Renfrewshire 1297 Scottish Borders 311 Shetland 95 South Ayrshire 346 South Lanarkshire 865 Stirling 1004 West Dunbartonshire554 West Lothian 389 TOTAL 18470

This information includes all properties improved through the Area Based Schemes, including properties owned by social landlords which Scottish Government funding does not cover, but which is carried out at the same time in mixed tenure projects which use a blend of Scottish Government, social landlord and UK Government Energy Company Obligation funding.

Maurice Golden (West Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress it has made investigating possible reform of the energy performance certificate (EPC) rating system. (S5W-15041)

Kevin Stewart: As we develop Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme (SEEP), we will identify areas where review of the current EPC process is needed to support action under the Programme.

Work on the review is already underway. We have commissioned research to collate and report on EPC comments and concerns raised within last year’s three SEEP consultations.

This research, which will conclude in April 2018, will help establish where further investigation or review is needed.

Maurice Golden (West Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of enforcing a minimum energy performance certificate (EPC) rating on private sector home sales, and what consideration it has given to the financial costs associated with upgrading rural off-gas grid properties to a minimum energy efficiency rating as part of any assessment. (S5W-15042) Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government worked with stakeholders as part of the Regulation of Energy Efficiency in Private Sector housing group between 2013 and 2015. The working group considered proposals for enforcement of a minimum standard of energy efficiency in both the private rented and owner occupier sectors.

Following this the Scottish government consulted last year on a minimum energy efficiency standard in the private rented sector properties and committed to seek the views of owner-occupiers on improving the energy efficiency of their homes, including the role of standards and the use of financial and fiscal incentives. The forthcoming routemap on Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme will include details of the next steps for each of the housing sectors.

To support the group’s recommendations, modelling of housing stock was commissioned including rural properties off gas grid. This work was published on 5 November 2015 and is available here http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2015/11/4536 .

Maurice Golden (West Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on using a single definition of "rural community" for the purposes of delivering energy efficiency programmes. (S5W-15043)

Kevin Stewart: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-15039 on 14 March 2018 . Our delivery projects aim is to ensure that everyone in fuel poverty gets support, no matter whether they live in urban or rural Scotland. 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 .

Maurice Golden (West Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that smaller rural communities are not disadvantaged in accessing energy efficiency programmes due to settlements of up to 10,000 homes being categorised as rural. (S5W-15044)

Maurice Golden (West Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any diverging costs for rural and urban house builders as a result of low-carbon building standards. (S5W-15045)

Kevin Stewart: Research supporting review of energy standards within building regulations includes specific assessment of the cost and impact of change on remote or rural areas. This focusses on the comparative cost of delivering new homes off the mains gas grid. An example of research commissioned can be found at: http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0038/00386526.pdf .

An updated assessment of the impact of further change on remote, rural and island communities will be undertaken as part of the review of energy standards which commences shortly. We will seek views on this topic from developers as part of an initial ‘call for evidence’ on building to the current standards.

Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government for what reason regulation 7 of the Council Tax Reduction (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2018, which extends the backdate period for claiming council reduction to six months, applies only to working age claimants and not older people. (S5W-15073)

Derek Mackay: Regulation 7 of the Council Tax Reduction (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2018 has the effect of reverting the Scheme to the original provisions of regulation 85(8)(b) and (c) of SSI 303 of 2012. This is because there is evidence that difficulties associated with the Department for Work and Pensions’ roll out of Universal Credit full service result in some applicants for a Council Tax Reduction potentially having good cause for an application to be backdated by 6 months.

Universal Credit is not available to people in receipt of Pension Credit, therefore the equivalent difficulties are not manifest for such cases and there is no evidence to suggest a change is required to the backdating provisions of the Council Tax Reduction (State Pension Credit) (Scotland) Regulations. Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the backdate period for older people claiming council tax reduction is three months. (S5W-15074)

Derek Mackay: Although the Council Tax Reduction Scheme is not a benefit, the entitlement criteria broadly replicate those for Council Tax Benefit prior to its abolition. This contributes to the fulfilment of the policy objective of ensuring nobody is worse off as a consequence of the UK Government's abolition of Council Tax Benefit in 2013.

Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on amending the Council Tax Reduction (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2018 to extend the backdate period for older people claiming council tax reduction to six months. (S5W-15075)

Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government will continue to proactively amend the Council Tax Reduction scheme where evidence indicates any element of its impact or operation is unsatisfactory.

Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government whether its Financial Health Check service for older people will be used to increase the take-up of the council tax reduction low income household exemption. (S5W-15112)

Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government ran a nationwide campaign in October 2017 to encourage older people to contact Citizens Advice Scotland and to take up benefits and reductions to help maximise their income. Further to that the Scottish Government commissioned Citizens Advice Scotland to run a pilot Financial Health Check service in November 2017, which gave advice to older people on a range of benefits and reductions, including the Council Tax Reduction Scheme. We are currently considering the next stage of work on the Financial Health Checks for older people.

Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase the take-up of the council tax reduction low income household exemption to support people, in light of council tax band changes. (S5W-15113) Derek Mackay: Local authorities promoted the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, including the extension to the Scheme, when council tax bills issued last year. In addition the Scottish Government ran a nationwide campaign in October 2017 to encourage older people to contact Citizens Advice Scotland and take up benefits and reductions to help maximise their income. We are exploring possible further work to promote the Council Tax Reduction Scheme in the future.

Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government which members of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are able to accept the recent offer of a 20% pay rise in exchange for performing additional roles. (S5W-15163)

Annabelle Ewing: The SFRS Chief Officer, Alasdair Hay and Board Chair, Dr Kirsty Darwent wrote to Scottish Fire and Rescue Service staff on 30 January with pay proposals for a transformed role for fire-fighters in Scotland. The proposal extended to all uniformed staff up to and including Area Manager level and on a pro-rata basis to Retained Duty Service personnel. This letter made clear that the 20% increase in pay rates was a proposal at this stage and any agreement would only be reached through established collective bargaining arrangements with unions and staff representatives.

Health and Social Care

Anas Sarwar (Glasgow) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Health and Social Care Staff Experience Report 2017. (S5O-01900)

Shona Robison: The Health and Social Care Staff Experience Report represents a new way to measure staff experience.

Through iMatter and the Dignity at Work Survey we have gathered more views in one year than any of the previous staff surveys. Almost three times as many compared to 2015.

In the 70th year of the NHS I’m pleased that the vast majority would recommend it as a good place to work.

It’s also encouraging to see that more staff are engaged and feel empowered to speak up. This reflects our focussed effort over the last few years on supporting and encouraging whistleblowing. This is contributing to an increasingly honest and open reporting culture within the NHS.

Edward Mountain (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government whether there are generic descriptions across all NHS boards of A&E departments, primary care emergency centres, urgent care centres and minor injury units. (S5O-01901)

Shona Robison: There are clear definitions in place which are widely used across NHSScotland.

Accident & Emergency Departments sometimes referred to as Emergency Departments, provide a 24 hour, 7 days a week, consultant led service. People should attend A&E when an illness or injury is serious or life- threatening.

Minor Injuries Units are GP or Nurse led. They may or may not be open 24 hours. People should attend MIU when they need urgent care for a minor injury, burn or fracture.

Primary Care Emergency Centres and Urgent Care Centres both provide Out of Hours Primary Care services for patients when their registered GP Practice is closed and they are too ill to wait until it re-opens. We are working towards consistency of the use of the term Urgent Care Centres going forward.

Urgent Care Resource Hubs are a proposed New Model of Care, intended for both service delivery and training purposes.

Bruce Crawford (Stirling) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with the building of a new health centre in Doune. (S5O-01902)

Shona Robison: In December 2017, the Scottish Government approved the Outline Business Case for the new Integrated Primary and Community Care Centre in Doune. NHS Forth Valley are currently developing the Full Business Case which I expect will be submitted in June to the NHS Capital Investment Group for review. The Scottish Government remain committed to this project and we look forward to reviewing the business case in due course.

Tom Arthur (Renfrewshire South) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to carers in the Renfrewshire South constituency. (S5O-01903)

Aileen Campbell: From 2007-08 to 2017-18 the Scottish Government has invested nearly £143 million towards a range of programmes and initiatives, and to the National Carer Organisations. This funding provides information, advice, and support to carers in communities across Scotland, including in Renfrewshire South.

The majority of social care support is delivered by local authorities and Integration Authorities. From next month the Carers (Scotland) Act will extend and enhance the rights of carers to support. This includes a duty for each local authority and health board to jointly prepare a local carer strategy, as a means of planning appropriate services and identification of carers in their local area.

In addition we are introducing the Carer’s Allowance Supplement this year, increasing payments to carers to the same level as Jobseeker’s Allowance. This is an investment of more than £30 million per year.

Clare Haughey (Rutherglen) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the roll-out of continuous glucose monitors across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Lanarkshire. (S5O-01904)

Shona Robison: As the Member will be aware the Scottish Government has committed to £10m additional funding to increase, over the term of this Parliament, the provision of Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) and Insulin Pump therapy for adults.

The first £2m additional funding was allocated to NHS Boards in financial year 2017-18.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Lanarkshire have exceeded the CGM delivery expectations set out in the Scottish Government's letter issued to all NHS Boards Directors on 12 June 2017.

Officials are currently consulting with NHS Boards with regard to the allocation of the £2m additional funding for 2018-19.

Alexander Burnett (Aberdeenshire West) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to maintain the legacy of the 2014 Ryder Cup tournament at Gleneagles. (S5O-01905) Aileen Campbell: As a direct legacy of our successful hosting of the Ryder Cup, in 2015 Scotland was chosen as the host for the Solheim Cup, also to be held at Gleneagles in 2019. Hosting the highest profile event in women’s golf will further enhance Scotland’s international profile as the Home of Golf and will inspire a new generation of children and, in particular, girls to take up the game and get involved in sport more generally.

As part of our support for the Solheim Cup we are co-funding, with the R&A, the post of Women and Young People Golf Development Manager, to help deliver on our legacy aims to increase participation and inspire future champions. This follows on from our support for ClubGolf, Scotland’s junior golf development programme, which has introduced more than 400,000 children to golf since it was launched.

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Scottish Green Party): To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported anti-abortion protests near hospitals, what action it is taking to ensure that women are able to access abortion services safely, in privacy and free from harassment. (S5O-01906)

Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government believes all women should have access to abortion services as part of routine care, and available free from stigma and harassment.

Whilst the right to public assembly is an important right, such rights must be balanced with the rights of communities affected by any protests to go about their business as undisturbed as possible and without fear for their safety. Any gatherings of this nature must be conducted outside hospital grounds in order to allow the hospital to function, and patients to attend, without disruption.

Police Scotland has powers available to them to deal with any disorder and to ensure that public safety is maintained. The Scottish Government fully supports Police Scotland to take appropriate and proportionate action where necessary to protect public safety.

Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how many qualified but non-practicing doctors from overseas who live in Scotland have (a) sought to return and (b) returned to practice in each of the last three years. (S5W-14779)

Shona Robison: The General Medical Council (GMC) is the statutory regulator of the medical profession in the UK. The Chief Executive of the GMC is the registrar for the medical profession. Further information can be sought from the GMC annual report: State of Medical Education and Practice in the UK: 2017 Report, accessible at the following link https://www.gmc- uk.org/publications/somep2017.asp .

Bill Bowman (North East Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what additional funds it anticipates it may need to make available to NHS Tayside in 2018-19 to cover any financial shortfalls in the board’s budget. (S5W-14878)

Shona Robison: As reported to Parliament on 7 March, and in response to information which has recently come to light regarding the recording of eHealth funds within its accounts, NHS Tayside is currently carrying out a formal internal review of its financial plans and projections for 2017-18 and 2018-19. The results of this review will not be known until 19 March.

NHS Tayside has received brokerage of £33.2 million to 2016-17 and plans were in place to provide an additional £4 million of brokerage in 2017-18, taking the total level of brokerage to £37.2m. A further deterioration in the year end position will therefore result in additional brokerage.

NHS Tayside will receive a resource budget uplift of 1.9% in 2018-19. This includes a £2.9 million share of additional NRAC parity funding and takes the Board’s annual resource budget to £734.8 million.

In common with the rest of NHS Scotland, we expect NHS Tayside to make best use of available resources to deliver better health, better care, and better value.

Bill Bowman (North East Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on NHS Tayside’s financial strategy, and when it expects the board to return to a sustainable financial position. (S5W-14880)

Shona Robison: NHS Tayside is continuing the implementation of its five year Transformation Plan, as set out in the second progress report from the Assurance and Advisory Group chaired by Professor Sir Lewis Ritchie, which was published on 23 February 2018. That report highlights the implementation of a Business Planning and Budgeting Programme which provides a structure for the Board to work towards achieving sustainable financial balance.

As noted in response to S5W-14878 on 14 March 2018, NHS Tayside is in the process of reviewing its financial plans and projections for 2017-18 and 2018-19. The results of the review will not be known until 19 March. NHS Tayside has received brokerage of £33.2 million to 2016-17 and plans were in place to provide an additional £4 million of brokerage in 2017-18, taking the total level of brokerage to £37.2m. A further deterioration in the year end position will therefore result in additional brokerage.

The Board will receive a resource budget uplift of 1.9% in 2018-19, taking the Board’s annual resource budget to £734.8 million. We expect NHS Tayside to make best use of these resources to deliver better health, better care, and better value.

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

Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government how many clinics a cleft surgeon attended as part of the multidisciplinary cleft team in NHS (a) Highland and (b) Fife in 2017, and how many in both plan to attend as part of the multidisciplinary cleft team in 2018. Holding answer issued: 14 March 2018 (S5W-14946)

Shona Robison: I shall reply to the member as soon as possible.

Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that all patients diagnosed with bowel cancer are tested for Lynch syndrome, in light of evidence suggesting that the condition can dramatically increase a person’s chance of developing bowel cancer by up to 80%. (S5W-15036)

Shona Robison: It is current protocol for all NHS Scotland Health Boards to ensure appropriate referral and testing for Lynch syndrome, for all patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer before the age of 60.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) have recommended extending referral and testing for Lynch syndrome to all patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer. The impacts of this recommendation are currently being reviewed by NHS Scotland’s Molecular Pathology Consortium (MPC).

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on people with type 1 diabetes being provided with a libre sensor, and which NHS boards provide these, also broken down by how many have been provided in each of the last five years. (S5W-15058)

Shona Robison: Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring device was added to the Scottish Drug Tariff from 1 November 2017.

It is now for NHS Boards to consider inclusion on their local formulary and stipulate through guidance the sub-categories of patients for whom this product is recommended.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on the numbers of devices provided in each of the last 5 years.

Annie Wells (Glasgow) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14586 by Shona Robison on 28 February 2018, when the first periodic review of the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme will (a) begin and (b) report. (S5W-15072)

Shona Robison: Given that the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme (SIBSS) has been in operation for just under one year and the clinical review of the impacts of chronic hepatitis C (HCV) infection is expected to report soon and may result in changes to the scheme criteria and payments in 2018-19, the Scottish Government has no plans to undertake a further formal review process in the near future.

The UK Infected Blood Inquiry might also reflect on the current financial support arrangements across the UK and make recommendations. The Inquiry's Terms of Reference have not yet been established, but a consultation is underway on this. Therefore, if the Chairman decides to include SIBSS within the Inquiry Terms of Reference, the Scottish Government would need to await the conclusion and any recommendations from the Inquiry before considering any significant further changes to SIBSS.

In the meantime, the operational aspects of the scheme will remain under regular review by the SIBSS advisory group. Views on the operation and experience of the scheme will also be collected by SIBSS via periodic surveys of beneficiaries, with the first survey expected to be undertaken soon.

Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that it is common for the forced treatment of a patient detained on the basis of a short-term detention certificate to begin before that person has had an opportunity to appeal against being detained. (S5W-15078)

Maureen Watt: A short-term detention certificate (STDC) should be the usual route into hospital for someone who needs compulsory treatment. The STDC offers several safeguards for the person. Before granting the certificate, the doctor must consult a mental health officer (MHO) and get their agreement. In deciding whether to agree to the certificate, the MHO should speak to the patient in person, unless there is a good reason why they cannot do this.

A patient’s views and wishes about treatment should be taken into account by everyone involved in their care, including where these views and wishes are expressed in an advance statement. Additionally, people with a mental disorder have a legal right to access independent advocacy.

The patient or the patient’s named person can appeal to the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland to have the STDC revoked. This could be because the patient or named person do not think an STDC is needed, or because the patient or named person is of the view that the patient's condition has improved sufficiently that it is no longer necessary.

The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland is the independent body which monitors the use of Scottish mental health law, including compulsory treatment. The Commission has the power to intervene in particular cases if there is evidence of improper care, treatment or practices.

Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the assertion that it does not necessarily follow that a patient will be entirely lacking in legal capacity even though, because of a mental disorder, his or her ability to make decisions regarding the provision of medical treatment is significantly impaired and, in light of this, whether it considers that the Significantly Impaired Decision Making Ability (SIDMA) test is a valid test of legal capacity. (S5W-15082)

Maureen Watt: There is no test of capacity set out in the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003. In some circumstances different provisions and safeguards of the 2003 Act apply if the patient does not have capacity to make a certain decision in relation to treatment at a certain time.

A person has a Significantly Impaired Decision Making Ability (SIDMA) when a mental disorder affects the person’s ability to believe, understand and retain information, and to make and communicate decisions. All adults are assumed to have a decision-making ability or capacity as a starting point. A person with a mental disorder who retains unimpaired ability to take treatment decisions cannot be treated compulsorily under the 2003 Act.

The medical practitioner must believe there are sufficient grounds before deciding it necessary to grant an order for a patient who is refusing to accept treatment on a voluntary basis.

• The patient has a mental disorder. • The patient has significantly impaired decision-making ability with respect to medical treatment for mental disorder, as a result of his or her mental disorder. • Detention in hospital is necessary to determine what medical treatment is required and to provide that treatment. • Significant risk exists to the health, safety and welfare of the patient or to the safety of others if the patient is not detained.

Mental health law in Scotland is based on rights and principles and offers patients significant safeguards where compulsory treatment is necessary. These safeguards include an independent Mental Health Tribunal which grants and reviews orders for compulsory treatment. The patient or the patient’s named person can appeal to the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland to have an order allowing compulsory treatment revoked.

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the SCI Diabetes Database has reportedly had its staffing and funding reduced by 20% and 50% respectively. (S5W-15096)

Shona Robison: The support team for SCI-Diabetes is currently funded on a 3 year programme ending 31 March 2018. The funding level recognised a need to catch up on a development backlog due to a technology refresh. Moving forward, the same level of development is not anticipated and as such resources will need to be adjusted to take account of this. A final decision on resource levels and budget is still to be taken but it is envisaged that this will be a Business As Usual (BAM) model plus capacity for moderate development.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how many staff have been employed by the patient transport service exclusively for transporting patients in each year since 2010, broken down by NHS board area. (S5W-15107) Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what changes have been made by the Scottish Ambulance Service to the criteria for accessing patient transport; when the changes were made, and whether there was any consultation undertaken in advance. (S5W-15108)

Shona Robison: In April 2012 the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) introduced the Patient Needs Assessment (PNA), a tool which ensures they provide the most appropriate assistance and advice to callers requesting access to Patient Transport Services (PTS).

In December 2017 SAS made improvements to the PNA for both patients and Health Boards. This was to provide a better understanding of the patient’s needs, ensuring they get the most appropriate response.

These improvements followed a review which included feedback from both patients and staff about what changes they would like to see to improve patient experience and in appropriately identifying patient needs. Between March and October 2017 a number of change ideas were tested, involving 300 patients.

The changes to the PNA itself focussed primarily on amendments to the order of the questions asked, whilst also reducing the frequency in which SAS take a patient through a PNA from 24 hours to 6 weeks. The eligibility criteria for patients requesting PTS did not change following the review.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been transported by the Scottish Ambulance Service's patient transport in each year since 2010, broken down by NHS board area. (S5W-15109)

Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. You may wish to contact the Scottish Ambulance Service directly to request this data.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how many vehicles the patient transport service has had that have been used exclusively to transport patients in each year since 2010, broken down by NHS board area. (S5W-15110)

Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

Organisational Development and Operations

Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-13901 by Keith Brown on 31 January 2018, what target has been set to increase the number of its suppliers that have signed the Business Pledge. (S5W-14642)

Keith Brown: The Scottish Business Pledge is a voluntary commitment by business. There is no such target.

Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14350 by Jeane Freeman on 27 February 2018, whether it will publish a policy paper detailing the “once- for-Scotland” approach proposed. (S5W-15106)

Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-14350 on 27 February 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 . The Scottish Government does not intend to publish a policy paper on the ‘once- for-Scotland’ approach at this time.

Scottish Exchequer

Bill Bowman (North East Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S5W-14315 and S5W-14337 by Derek Mackay on 20 and 27 February 2018 respectively, in light of the first response stating that its income tax policy "will have no impact on the economy" and the latter stating that the policy would "not...have a significant impact", whether it will confirm what level of economic impact the policy will have, including on the retail sector. (S5W-14993)

Derek Mackay: As paragraph 2.152 of the Scottish Fiscal Commission’s report has stated, the Scottish Government’s policies “are not of a large enough magnitude to have a significant aggregate impact on the Scottish economy”. Next year, 70% of Scottish taxpayers will pay less income tax than they do this year, for a given income. The SFC's report can be found here: http://www.fiscalcommission.scot/media/1196/scotlands-economic-fiscal- forecasts-publication.pdf .

Transport Scotland

John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Green Party): To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on who was consulted on the plans by Caledonian Sleeper to end the standard class fare, which allowed people not travelling together to share a cabin. (S5W-14355)

Humza Yousaf: Prior to issuing the Invitation to Tender for the current ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper franchises, the Scottish Government conducted a comprehensive consultation exercise with its stakeholders. Caledonian Sleeper states that it has since conducted its own, ongoing consultation involving a wide range of stakeholders, including police, Transport Focus and user groups.

John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Green Party): To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on who was consulted regarding the decision by Caledonian Sleeper to postpone plans to end the standard class fare, which allowed people not travelling together to share a cabin, pending the introduction of the new fleet. (S5W-14356)

Humza Yousaf: The decision to postpone its plans to end the "share with a stranger" fare option was for Caledonian Sleeper to make. My understanding is that it was able to do so due to its greater confidence over the date of entry into service of the new trains.

James Kelly (Glasgow) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government by what date it first expected Class 385 trains would be introduced for service. (S5W-14809)

Humza Yousaf: The first four trains in the new c385 fleet should have entered service by the end of Autumn 2017.

Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government how many trains on the ScotRail network will reach the end of their lease by August 2018; how many carriages will be taken out of service because of this, and what contingency measures it will introduce to mitigate any capacity reductions. (S5W-14847)

Humza Yousaf: ScotRail is working to address all necessary technical issues to allow the introduction of class 385 Hitachi trains onto Edinburgh - Glasgow services in the coming months. In addition, four fully refurbished and longer High Speed Trains (HSTs) will gradually be introduced on the Aberdeen to Edinburgh inter-city route across the summer. This is part of the plan to expand the ScotRail fleet by more than 200 more carriages over the next 15 months.

Lease end dates of all rolling stock in the ScotRail fleet is contained within the publically available Franchise Agreement, and this is due to be updated through the regular Variation process to reflect revised lease end dates and newly acquired fleets. ScotRail continues to work hard to ensure that adequate capacity is provided between Edinburgh and Glasgow in light of Hitachi delays.

Ivan McKee (Glasgow Provan) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5T-00950 by Humza Yousaf on 27 February 2018 (Official Report, c. 7), what communication it has had with Hitachi regarding what ministers consider the importance to the railway network is of delivering the class 385 trains. (S5W-14925)

Humza Yousaf: The First Minister and I have met twice with senior management from the global Hitachi organisation to reiterate the importance of this new fleet to Scotland’s Railway and the wider Scottish Economy. I also visited the Hitachi factory at Newton Aycliffe last year to see progress with the new fleet and meet the staff there. I am also involved in regular calls and meetings with representatives of Hitachi and ScotRail on this matter.

Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5T-00950 by Humza Yousaf (Official Report, c. 7), what assessment it has made of ScotRail's contingency plans and risk analysis in the event that further carriages in its rolling stock reach the end of lease contracts while the delivery of replacement carriages is delayed; whether it is aware of any further leases that are coming to an end; what action it can take to replace the loss of any carriages with alternative rolling stock, and whether it will publish the contents of its spreadsheet, containing details of the end of contracts and leases on carriages. (S5W-14950)

Humza Yousaf: ScotRail is obliged to provide rolling stock to deliver its service provision and has already adjusted leases of existing rolling stock to mitigate against project slippage, it has also agreed leases for more trains during this franchise term and will continue to keep other options for more rolling stock under review. ScotRail also regularly reports on progress with introduction of new fleets. The lease end dates of all rolling stock is contained in the publically available Franchise Agreement, this is due to be updated through the regular Variation process to reflect revised lease end dates. ScotRail continues to work hard to ensure that adequate capacity is provided between Edinburgh and Glasgow in light of Hitachi delays.

John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Green Party): To ask the Scottish Government what regard there is in its existing rail contacts for the carriage of pedal cycles, and what assessment it has made of whether the existing and projected needs of cyclists are being met. (S5W-14959)

Humza Yousaf: The ScotRail Franchise Agreement requires that, so far as is reasonably practical and subject to the availability of appropriate space on trains, ScotRail ensure that reasonable facilities for the transport of bicycles is made available, to passengers. It is also a requirement of the ScotRail Franchise Agreement that staff are fully aware of cycle capacity and policies at stations and on trains, and that staff performance in this regard is monitored to ensure that cyclists are advised and accommodated appropriately. ScotRail are also required to ensure that their trains include a bicycle storage area with space for the storage of at least two bicycles in a dedicated area adjacent to an entrance vestibule.

Transport Scotland has reached agreement with ScotRail to increase the number of spaces available at intermediate stations from 2 to 4, with 6 spaces (3 per power car) available for end to end journeys on the HSTs which are planned to be introduced into service in the latter part of 2018.

The Caledonian Sleeper Franchise Agreement requires that, so far as is reasonably practical and subject to the availability of appropriate space on sleeper trains, Caledonian Sleeper ensure that reasonable facilities for the transport of bicycles on sleeper trains are made available, at no extra charge.

A study (Train2Ride), commissioned by HITRANS, and part funded by Transport Scotland, was conducted in July 2017 to establish the existing level of demand for on-train cycle carriage on ScotRail services on the West Highland line and on Serco Caledonian Sleeper services to Inverness and Fort William, and identify future trends and options for a managing the demand.

Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14146 by Keith Brown on 26 February 2018, how many of the Carillion employees working on Network Rail projects in Scotland, both directly or through a labour-only sub-contract through a Carillion subsidiary, have been made redundant as a result of the company's liquidation. (S5W-14972)

Keith Brown: Network Rail has advised that the transition process underway for Carillion’s rail projects in Scotland is expected to conclude in the forthcoming weeks. Network Rail has also advised that at the conclusion of the transition process, the impact on staff either directly employed with Carillion or through a labour only sub contract through a Carillion subsidiary will be known.

Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14146 by Keith Brown on 26 February 2018, how many of the Carillion employees working on the AWPR Aberdeen Roads Limited, both directly or through a labour-only sub- contract through a Carillion subsidiary, have been recruited by other contractors involved in the project. (S5W-14974)

Keith Brown: Aberdeen Roads Limited has confirmed that, of the 59 Carillion staff on the AWPR site offered a position, 57 individuals accepted positions with Balfour Beatty and Galliford Try who are the remaining contractors on the project.

Aberdeen Roads Limited has confirmed that the remaining contractors are continuing to explore the best option going forward to ensure the agency staff and operatives can remain on the project, with the least impact to both employees and the agencies supplying them.

We are continuing to work with the contractor and our stakeholders, with a view to delivering the benefits associated with opening areas of the project as soon as it is safe to do so.

Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14146 by Keith Brown on 26 February 2018, how many of the Carillion employees working on Network Rail projects in Scotland, both directly or through a labour-only sub-contract through a Carillion subsidiary, have been recruited by other contractors involved in the projects. (S5W-14976)

Mike Rumbles (North East Scotland) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government what impact the rollout of 385 HST stock will have on the capacity of other rail services, and whether it will provide details of capacity being created and reduced elsewhere. (S5W-15000)

Humza Yousaf: The new fleet of 70 C385s will enable 26% more seats to be provided when all Edinburgh-Glasgow services are operated by 7-car class 385 trains and this will rise to 44% more seats when 8-cars run on all peak time services compared to 6-car class 170s. The C385s will also be introduced across many other central belt routes on routes such as North Berwick, Dunblane/ Stirling/ Alloa and Edinburgh-Glasgow via Shotts allowing a cascade of existing refurbished fleets to provide more capacity on the busiest services on the network.

In addition the 26 HSTs to be gradually introduced over the next year which will serve the 7 main cities on the Scottish inter-city routes and help to provide an increase of more than 200 extra carriages across the ScotRail fleet.

Mike Rumbles (North East Scotland) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government what impact the delay to the opening of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) will have on roads in the area and those roads presently being used to divert traffic. (S5W-15001)

Keith Brown: The project contractor, Aberdeen Roads Limited (ARL), is required to keep any disruption throughout the delivery of the AWPR to a minimum. ARL is required to consult with key stakeholders including the relevant local roads authority and Police Scotland. We are continuing to work with the contractor and our stakeholders, with a view to delivering the benefits associated with opening areas of the project as soon as it is safe to do so.

Mike Rumbles (North East Scotland) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government, in light of delays to the construction of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Road (AWPR), whether it plans to compensate Aberdeenshire Council and Aberdeen City Council or help repair roads damaged due to higher than normal levels of traffic during the construction period and, if so, when. (S5W-15002)

Keith Brown: The AWPR/B-T project was promoted in partnership with Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils.

Each local road authority has a statutory duty to manage and maintain all local roads in their area. Other than specific larger roads the AWPR/B-T contractor must obtain the relevant local authority’s agreement prior to using the local road network for construction traffic. This gives local authorities the opportunity to directly manage traffic levels and to set any conditions with the AWPR/B-T contractor that they consider appropriate. including agreeing any liability for repairs which may be required as a result of increased traffic.

Mike Rumbles (North East Scotland) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the efforts of Transport Scotland to engage with local communities during the construction of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR), and following the delay to the project. (S5W-15004)

Keith Brown: The engagement process across the length of this 58km project continues to be extensive. There has been regular engagement with MSPs, MPs, Councillors and Community Councils, and bespoke meetings with Community Councils, business groups and professional organisations.

Additionally, a monthly ezine is published, which has over 7,800 subscribers. Quarterly newsletters are published in hard copies and on the project website. This is alongside the engagement undertaken by the contractor which includes letter drops, leaflet or one-on-one meetings, and speaking with local businesses and groups.