Thursday 21 August 2014 Communities Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government how many applications it received for the Welfare Reform Resilience Fund 2014- 15. (S4W-22207) Margaret Burgess: The Welfare Reform Resilience Fund received 33 applications from 29 local authorities. These applications were considered by a panel of representatives from the Scottish Government, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Improvement Service, with 11 projects selected for funding in 2014-15. A list of the successful projects can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/welfarereform/WRRF2014-15Update

John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Independent): To ask the Scottish Government what liaison it has with local authorities regarding the number of sites available for the Gypsy/Traveller community. (S4W-22268) Margaret Burgess: Local authorities are responsible for decisions regarding the provision of Gypsy/Traveller sites in their area. Need is identified through a Housing Need and Demand Assessment and is considered by the local authority as part of developing its local housing strategy and development plan. Local housing strategies go through a review process, with input from Scottish Government officials. Feedback from the review process is provided to the local authority, and where required this feedback will cover Gypsy/Traveller site provision (for example where the accommodation needs of Gypsy/Travellers have not been sufficiently taken into account). The Scottish Government has also recently collected data on the number of Gypsy/Traveller sites local authorities provide.

John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Independent): To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that the closure of a Gypsy/Traveller site by a local authority does not unduly impact on the way of life of the Gypsy/Traveller community. (S4W-22269) Margaret Burgess: Local authorities are responsible for decisions regarding the provision of Gypsy/Traveller sites in their area, including any decision to close a Gypsy/Traveller site. The Scottish Government is not directly involved in assessing the impact of such a closure. However, a local authority has to consider the accommodation needs of Gypsy/Travellers as part of a Housing Need and Demand Assessment and when developing its local housing strategy and development plan. Each local housing strategy goes through a review process, with input from Scottish Government officials, and comments are provided as appropriate. These comments can cover Gypsy/Traveller site provision.

John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Independent): To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on introducing legislation that will require local authorities to advise it of any plans to close Gypsy/Traveller sites or facilities. (S4W-22270) Margaret Burgess: The Scottish Government has no plans to introduce such legislation.

John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Independent): To ask the Scottish Government how it assesses the accommodation needs of the Gypsy/Traveller community. (S4W-22271) Margaret Burgess: Accommodation needs for Gypsy/Travellers are assessed at a local level. A local authority has to consider the accommodation needs of Gypsy/Travellers as part of its Housing Need and Demand Assessment and when developing its local housing strategy and development plan. Each local housing strategy goes through a review process, with input from Scottish Government officials, and comments are provided. These comments would cover Gypsy/Traveller site provision, as necessary.

John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Independent): To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on introducing legislation that will allow amenity blocks on Gypsy/Traveller sites to be recorded in local authority housing revenue accounts. (S4W-22274) Margaret Burgess: The Scottish Government has no plans to amend the rules governing housing revenue accounts to include the recording of amenity blocks on local authority owned Gypsy/Traveller sites.

John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Independent): To ask the Scottish Government what plans ministers have to visit Gypsy/Traveller sites in The Highland Council area. (S4W-22275) Margaret Burgess: There are currently no plans for Scottish Government Ministers to visit Gypsy/Traveller sites in the Highland council area. Enterprise and Environment Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what quantity of (a) antibacterials, (b) sea lice treatments, (c) anthelmintics, (d) fungicides and (e) anaesthetics has been used in the salmon farming industry in each year since 2003. (S4W-22200) : The following tables provide the information requested. The categories are as defined by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency who collect the data. Both disinfectants and antimicrobials can contain fungicides and antibacterials. Information regarding chemical usage on salmon farms is publically available on the Scotland’s Aquaculture website http://aquaculture.scotland.gov.uk/default.aspx and also on the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory website:http://apps.sepa.org.uk/spripa/Search/Options.aspx Antifoulant Anaesthetic Tricaine Copper Ethyl- Methyl Oxide aminobenzoate 2-Phenoxyethanol Sulphonate 2-Propanone Year (grams) (grams) (litres) (grams) (litres) 2003 25883650 21701.7 28.0 9402.0 127.4 2004 40094390 25360.5 6.9 22796.4 374.2 2005 61088790 11966.0 7.1 22697.7 182.3 2006 62297280 7015.0 0.0 41824.3 120.3 2007 64873980 0.0 55.0 60141.7 0.0 2008 91546860 0.0 0.0 48583.5 0.0 2009 101524315 239050.0 7.7 70787.0 23.0 2010 90987640 129.0 4.2 78775.1 1011.8

2011 130751740 1600.0 0.0 80653.4 2.0

2012 144357760 3800.0 0.0 90578.4 215.0

2013 117233920 500.0 0.0 88099.7 5.0

Antimicrobial Antihelminthic Disinfectant Amoxycillin Oxytetra- Hydrogen 1-Alkyl Sodium Trihydrate cycline Florfenicol Peroxide Fenbendazole Iodine Diazapentane Hypochlorite Year (grams) (grams) (grams) (litres) (grams) (grams) (litres) (litres) 2003 0.0 662840 0 19275 0.0 170137.0 10.1 290.7 2004 0.0 38000 6000 14600 13056 163721.2 6.5 575.3 2005 0.0 1686053 1857 0 400 113881.7 9.2 281.8 2006 55200 5282170 32000 0 0.0 105548.3 9.7 151.6 2007 0.0 1532286 21000 0 19593 100554.2 13.4 142.0 2008 0.0 753620 9000 28000 0.0 115805.1 11.8 267.4 2009 165000 1952100 1200 0 0.0 106572.5 9.6 308.2 2010 0.0 223250 0.0 78512 0.0 96078.5 15.8 227.2

2011 0.0 242000 0.0 420109 0.0 113907.0 9.8 294.0

2012 0.0 834733 2400 1877598 358 120245.0 15.8 400.0

2013 0.0 168382 32500 7134201 0.0 113629.0 15.4 517.0

Sea lice treatment Emamectin Cypermethrin Azamethiphos Teflubenzuron Benzoate Deltamethin Year (grams) (grams) (grams) (grams) (grams) 2003 10414.7 33400.0 36000 31907.2 0.0 2004 9800.1 11645.0 0.0 52679.9 0.0 2005 6598.0 0.0 0.0 36351.8 0.0 2006 10227.5 0.0 0.0 37265.5 0.0 2007 36819.2 0.0 95769 61787.5 0.0 2008 21453.4 100187.0 0.0 63540.9 2877.1 2009 11857.3 203934.6 61759 51831.7 13371.7 2010 2961.7 157615.0 75000 61399.6 13836.9 2011 979.0 211919.5 91555 70505.9 21045.3 2012 0.0 195420.3 224797 73362.5 21146.3 2013 0.0 153728.0 261955 59513.3 12362.6

John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Independent): To ask the Scottish Government how it will report on progress with the starter farm at Balrobert in Inverness throughout the duration of the scheme. (S4W-22302) Richard Lochhead: It was announced last week the successful applicant for the starter farm. There is no requirement to publicly report on progress but we will work closely with the tenant for the duration of the scheme.

Gavin Brown (Lothian) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings of the Fiscal Commission Working Group took place in (a) 2012 and (b) 2013 and have taken place in 2014 and at how many of the meetings all members were present. (S4W-22306) John Swinney: I refer the member to the minutes of the Fiscal Commission Working Group meetings. The minutes and a list of engagements with the Fiscal Commission Working Group can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Economy/Council-Economic-Advisers/FCWG.

Gavin Brown (Lothian) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government which ministers have attended meetings of the Fiscal Commission Working Group. (S4W-22308) John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22306 on 21 August 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

Gavin Brown (Lothian) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government for how long the currency of an independent Scotland has been discussed at each meeting of the Fiscal Commission Working Group. (S4W-22309) John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22306 on 21 August 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Gavin Brown (Lothian) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what (a) written and (b) oral evidence the Fiscal Commission Working Group has taken on the currency of an independent Scotland. (S4W-22310) John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22306 on 21 August 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Gavin Brown (Lothian) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government how many officials have attended each meeting of the Fiscal Commission Working Group. (S4W-22311) John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22306 on 21 August 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Angus MacDonald (Falkirk East) (): To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent publication of research into tail injuries in working dogs by the University of Glasgow, what progress it is making in considering whether to introduce exemptions to legislation on tail docking. (S4W-22426) Richard Lochhead: Following the publication of the Glasgow University research on tail injuries in working dogs in Scotland, the Scottish Government undertook a series of discussions with key stakeholders on the findings. I have now subsequently asked the Chief Veterinary Officer for Scotland to further analyse how the exemptions allowing tail docking of working dogs have worked in practice in other parts of the UK, and how any potential exemption could be genuinely restricted to working dogs if any change was to be proposed in Scotland. Once I have that advice, we will aim to make an announcement in autumn 2014 on whether we will formally consult on any exemption for working dogs.

Rob Gibson (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to address concerns regarding the status of the spring stocks of wild Scottish salmon. (S4W-22433)

Paul Wheelhouse: The conservation of spring stocks of wild Scottish salmon is an issue of growing concern and I consider it necessary to take proactive action in order to protect these stocks by placing on a statutory footing the good practice currently operated by many responsible anglers and netsmen across Scotland. I therefore intend to consult in early course on statutory conservation measures, to be effective for commencement in 2015 requiring mandatory catch and release until 1 April 2014, together with a delay in the start of the net fishing season, which broadly replicates the voluntary arrangements that have been in place prior to the 2014 season. The conservation measure would be for an initial five year period at which point it would be reviewed. Health and Social Care (Central Scotland) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking regarding the provision of a specialist centre for robot-assisted surgery for radical prostatectomies. (S4O-3490) Michael Matheson: The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing announced on Tuesday 19 August 2014 that Scottish men will soon be able to benefit from state of the art robotic surgery. The Scottish Government is investing up to £1 million to purchase a robot to assist surgery, initially for prostate cancer. We plan to see this service up and running by spring 2015 and thereafter to roll this out in the central belt.

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what criteria are used when determining whether a child’s cochlear implants should be replaced. (S4W-22288) : Each child receives at least an annual review. This review for each child assesses the performance of the sound processor, makes adjustments to the processor to maximise performance and assesses clinical benefit. Where insufficient clinical benefit is obtained a replacement processor will be offered and this will be an upgraded processor where available. All patients receive a replacement processor when the processor is lost or is damaged beyond repair outwith the assessment process. Learning and Justice Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Police Scotland regarding the Standing Firearms Authority. Holding answer issued: 8 August 2014 (S4W-22090) Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government is in regular contact with the Chief Constable and other senior officers from Police Scotland on a wide range of policing issues. I last met with the Chief Constable on 22 July 2014 and most recently met with Deputy Chief Constable Livingston on 13 August 2014 when the issue of Police Scotland’s Standing Firearms Authority was discussed. While the decision on the granting of a Standing Firearms Authority is an operational matter for the Chief Constable, I welcome the announcement made on 14 August 2014 by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority about their complementary reviews of the Standing Firearms Authority.

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government what limits there are to the Chief Constable’s power to issue a Standing Authority for the issue and carriage of firearms, and whether the Chief Constable could command that every police officer should be armed while undertaking routine duties. Holding answer issued: 8 August 2014 (S4W-22091) Kenny MacAskill: As I made clear during my statement to Parliament on 5 August 2014, it is not the Scottish Government’s policy to have a fully armed police force but we accept the need for a small number of specialist trained officers to support day to day police operations and respond to particular events. While the Chief Constable has operational independence, under the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012, there are a number of checks and balances in place to ensure that citizens rights are protected, including statutory scrutiny roles for the Scottish Police Authority (SPA), the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS). In addition, the Justice Sub-Committee on Policing is able to scrutinise all aspects of policing. Police Scotland carries out a review of the Standing Firearms Authority on a quarterly basis with the next review scheduled to take place in September 2014. The Chief Constable has confirmed that, as well as assessing the threat, risk and intelligence available to him, he will also take on board views and representations that have been made. I welcome the announcement made on 14 August 2014 by HMICS and the SPA about their complementary reviews of Police Scotland’s Standing Firearms Authority. This work follows a commitment from Police Scotland for independent assessment of the decision process around standing authorities and also my announcement during my statement on 5 August 2014 that the Chief Constable will, in future, inform the SPA, the Parliament’s Justice Sub-Committee on Policing and me if the number of officers with standing firearms authority routinely exceeds 2% of the total number of officers.

Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how much it will spend on its early learning and childcare advertising campaign. (S4W-22214) : It will not be known how much will be spent on the early learning and childcare public information campaign until the end of the campaign. We will publish campaign costs alongside results when we have them.

Jenny Marra (North East Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government when and for what reason it decided to refresh its youth employment strategy. (S4W-22292)

Angela Constance: In Parliament on 24 June 2014, I announced this government’s intention to refresh the youth employment strategy. The economy returned to pre-recession levels in the first quarter of this year with a general strengthening of the labour market. Against a backdrop of a more positive economic climate it is important that we continue to ensure that our resources are effectively targeted to support young people into sustainable employment. The refresh will allow us to take the view of employers, young people and stakeholders on the shape of that support and will allow us to reflect the ambitious agenda set by the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce.

Jenny Marra (North East Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what its reasons were for choosing the type of survey it used to inform its youth employment strategy refresh and what other methods of consultation it considered. (S4W-22293) Angela Constance: This type of survey was chosen to ensure that employers had an early opportunity to input to the refresh of the strategy. The responses will supplement engagement with key stakeholders. In addition to the survey and engagement plan we have supported the development of an event for young people scheduled for 19 August 2014 and we are working with the Chambers of Commerce on an event for employers in September 2014.

Jenny Marra (North East Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government (a) how and (b) when it advertised its refreshed youth employment strategy on its website and what the reasons are for its position on this matter. (S4W-22294) Angela Constance: In Parliament on 24 June 2014, I announced the Scottish Government’s intention to refresh the youth employment strategy. It is not a formal publication and has not been advertised as such. A range of stakeholders and interested groups have been approached for their views. It was included in a news release on the Scottish Government website on 19 August 2014.

Jenny Marra (North East Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to publish the findings of its youth employment strategy refresh survey. (S4W-22295) Angela Constance: The findings will be used to inform discussions with young people, stakeholders and employers and to shape the refresh of the youth employment strategy to be published later this year. We will publish a summary of the findings in due course.

Jenny Marra (North East Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what consultation it will conduct in addition to the survey that it carried out as part of its youth employment strategy refresh. (S4W-22296) Angela Constance: We are working with a range of stakeholders on the refresh of the youth employment strategy. We supported an event for young people that took place on 19 August 2014. Employers, public bodies and the third sector will all have the chance to contribute to the refreshed strategy which is expected to be published later in 2014.

Jenny Marra (North East Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to publish its refreshed youth employment strategy. (S4W-22297) Angela Constance: The Scottish Government plans to publish a refreshed youth employment strategy later in 2014.

Jenny Marra (North East Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what it considers the reasons are for the youth unemployment rate in Scotland being higher than in the UK as a whole. (S4W-22298) Angela Constance: The Labour Force Survey figures for April to June 2014 demonstrate that youth unemployment rate in Scotland has decreased by 2.9% over the year to 16.2%, the same as in the UK.

Graeme Pearson (South Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government (a) how it defines and (b) what its position is on operational independence in relation to policing and what arrangements are in place to ensure that it is properly applied. (S4W-22304) Kenny MacAskill: The Chief Constable has operational responsibility for policing in Scotland, which ensures the police are able to impartially apply the law. The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 clearly sets out the responsibilities of the Chief Constable, which include the direction and control of the police service, the day to day administration of Police Scotland, the allocation and deployment of resources received from the Scottish Police Authority (SPA), and ensuring adequate arrangements for the policing of each local authority area are in place. This approach to the policing of Scotland must be undertaken with due regard to the policing principles, which set out that the main purpose of policing is to improve the safety and well-being of persons, localities and communities in Scotland. The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 makes clear that the Chief Constable is fully accountable to the SPA for the decisions that he and his officers make in the policing of Scotland. It is of course part of the authority’s governance and accountability role to scrutinise the implementation and impact of operational policing policy in Scotland, such as its scrutiny review on the use of the stop and search tactic which made a number of recommendations in May 2014. The Chief Constable must also have due regard to such recommendations made, or guidance issued by the SPA.

Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how many local authorities do not have enough places in their nurseries to cater for the increase in childcare hours for all eligible two, three and four-year-olds from the beginning of August 2014. (S4W-22351) Aileen Campbell: We expect all local authorities to have enough places available, either in council nurseries or with partner providers, to accommodate the estimated number of children who will take up their early learning and childcare entitlement in the new school term.

Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how many eligible (a) two, (b) three and (c) four-year-olds have not taken up their free childcare place under the policy that started in August 2014 and for what reason. (S4W-22352) Aileen Campbell: Information on the number of children registered with local authorities to receive their early learning and childcare entitlement is published annually in December. Transport Scotland Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what performance penalties have been payable each year under the public service contract with Argyll Ferries. (S4W-22331) Keith Brown: The performance deductions payable to the Scottish Government are as follows: Argyll Ferries Performance Limited – Deductions (£) Contract Year 2011-12 50,611.44 2012-13 5,223.27 2013-14 5,661.29

John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government when the electrification of the Whifflet-Central line will be completed. (S4W-22361) Keith Brown: Network Rail has advised that electrification of the Whifflet route will be completed before the end of September 2014, four years ahead of the original schedule.

John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government what costs have been associated with the electrification of the Whifflet-Central line. (S4W-22362) Keith Brown: The final costs for the electrification of the Whifflet route are still to be determined. The cost of work done as at 15 August 2014 was £28.1 million.

The following question received a holding answer: S4W-22196