Wednesday 24 October 2018
SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT
Economy
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how much it has received in Barnett consequentials from the UK Apprenticeship Levy (a) in 2017-18 and (b) since April 2018, and how this has been allocated. (S5W-19021) Jamie Hepburn: As announced by UK Government Treasury on 14 November 2016 the Scottish Government's settlement from the Barnett consequentials of the Apprenticeship Levy is (a) 2017-2018 - £221 million; and (b) 2018-2019 - £230 million.
As the public sector is liable to pay the levy, the overall net effect is a reduction in public sector spending power in Scotland. A similar impact has been experienced in the other devolved nations.
All of the monies nationally allocated to the Block Grant as a consequence of the UK Government’s Apprenticeship Levy has been invested in skills, training and employability services.
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how much each sector in Scotland is contributing to the UK Apprenticeship Levy. (S5W-19022) Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government is not responsible for collecting the Apprenticeship Levy, which is a UK Government measure.
The Scottish Government requested access to data relevant to Scotland from HMRC some time ago. This was only provided in late September 2018 and analysis of it is currently being undertaken.
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how much it expects to receive in Barnett consequentials from the UK Apprenticeship Levy in each of the next three years. (S5W-19023) Jamie Hepburn: On 14 November 2016 the UK Government announced the Scottish Government's three year settlement from the Barnett consequentials of the Apprenticeship Levy: 2017-2018 - £221 million; 2018-2019 - £230 million; and 2019-2020 - £239 million. Beyond 2019-20 discussions with UK Government are yet to commence on Scotland’s Barnett consequentials for future years.
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government when it will issue contracts to training providers for the delivery of Employability Fund programmes. (S5W-19052) Jamie Hepburn: Skills Development Scotland are responsible for issuing contracts to training providers.
The Scottish Government will outline our budget later in the year following confirmation from the UK Government of the financial settlement to Scotland. Budget allocations for SDS and other NDPBs for 2019-20 will be determined by that process.
Following the completion of the budget process Skills Development Scotland will issue contracts to Providers.
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how many public sector construction projects in each of the last five years have used locally-sourced stone, and how much this represented as a percentage of the overall cost of each project. (S5W-19055) Derek Mackay: This information is not held centrally.
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it only provides one-year contracts for the delivery of Employability Fund programmes, which is in contrast to the three- year contracts for the delivery of Fair Start Scotland programmes, and whether it will provide three-year contracts for Employability Fund programmes. Holding answer issued: 24 October 2018 (S5W-19058) Jamie Hepburn: A holding answer was provided.
Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-18698 by Derek Mackay on 25 September 2018, what information it has on how much revenue has accrued to the Treasury from alcohol duty on Scotch whisky, at today’s prices, over the last 10 years for which figures are available. (S5W-19062) Derek Mackay: As set out in response to S5W-18698, there are no official statistics showing the extent of revenue raised from the Scotch whisky industry. Over the last 10 years, the UK government has collected £32 billion in revenue from alcohol duty levied on spirits (in 2017-18 prices). Revenue is not recorded for individual types of spirits, however, over this period 22% of spirits charged with duty were UK produced whisky, as measured by the volume of alcohol.
Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how many performance-related fees have been paid to Fair Start Scotland providers based on the (a) 13- and (b) 26-week employment milestones, and what the value of these fees is. (S5W-19085) Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government will publish national level spend detail on Fair Start Scotland in due course. The first release of statistics, reporting on the first six months of Fair Start Scotland, will be published on 28 November 2018.
Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported recent calls by the industry, what plans it has to upgrade the electricity distribution infrastructure to deal with the growth in electric vehicles. (S5W-19147) Paul Wheelhouse: Electricity network policy and regulation are reserved matters, and the responsibility of the UK Government and Ofgem respectively. However, the Scottish Government works closely with each of these to ensure that Scottish policies, priorities and circumstances, such as our Energy Strategy and Climate Change plan are fully reflected in the relevant decision making processes.
We know how important it is to ensure that the electricity distribution infrastructure in Scotland is able to support the anticipated growth in electric vehicles, as well as the wider decarbonisation of the whole energy system in Scotland. The Scottish Government is working closely with Scotland’s distribution network owners, given their vital role in helping to fulfil the Scottish Government's ambition – set out in the 2017-18 Programme for Government – to phase out the need for petrol and diesel vehicles by 2032.
This will include collaborating on modelling work to help identify where distribution network upgrades may be required, which may affect determination a number of applications for which we are responsible under section 37 of the Electricity Act, and to inform the nature of the investment and regulatory decisions which the network companies will need to ask of Ofgem as part of the price control process. Our Networks Vision Statement, which we committed to produce within our Energy Strategy and which aim to publish before the end of this year, will set out more detail on how we expect Scotland’s electricity and gas networks to develop and to support the transition to a low carbon economy over the coming decades.
Maureen Watt (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of the finding that, according to the Vibrant Economy Index that was published on 18 September 2018, Aberdeen City and Shire are ranked "very high" for economic vibrancy and "very high" for inclusion and equality. (S5W-19148) Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government welcomes the asset-based approach used in the Vibrant Economy Index. A range of evidence is used to inform policy development and implementation, and to assess the assets and needs of Scotland's people and places.
Monica Lennon (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what support is available for apprentices who have dyslexia. (S5W-19155) Jamie Hepburn: Skills Development Scotland is committed to improving the success of individuals with dyslexia as set out in out in their five year Equality Action Plan, published in December of 2015. The Equalities Action Plan Update Year 2 was published in August 2018:
The update can be viewed at: https://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/media/44830/apprenticeship- equality-action-plan.pdf
Skills Development Scotland has a specific focus on the promotion of apprenticeship opportunities to those who influence young people’s career ideas and aspirations, including our careers advisers, education practitioners and parents. This work will consider the differing needs of Skills Development Scotland's customers, including parents of individuals with learning disabilities.
A programme of capacity building for Skills Development Scotland contracted training providers has been developed to help support them in developing their knowledge and ability to recruit and support young people with learning difficulties on their Apprenticeship journey.
Skills Development Scotland has also committed to offer support for Apprentices who have more complex needs and this will include disability awareness training for the employers of these individuals which will be delivered by Open Doors Scotland.
Monica Lennon (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on continuing or ceasing funding to organisations that, subsequent to being awarded funding, are found by an employment tribunal to have discriminated against, harassed or victimised an employee due to their gender. (S5W-19188) Jamie Hepburn: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-18388 on 20 September 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14941 by Keith Brown on 8 March 2018, whether the figures for October 2017 to September 2018 are available and, if (a) so, whether it will publish them and (b) not, by what date they will be published. (S5W-19189) Jamie Hepburn: The figures for October 2017 to September 2018 will be included in the Office for National Statistics 'Regional Labour Market Statistics in the UK January 2019' publication, which is due for release on the 22nd of January 2019.
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government further to the answer to question S5W-14942 by Keith Brown on 8 March 2018, what the figure was for 2017. (S5W-19190) Jamie Hepburn: The 2017 business births figure is not currently published. The 2017 figure will be published in the Office for National Statistics 'Business demography: 2017' publication, which is scheduled for release on the 21st of November 2018.
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will publish Businesses in Scotland 2018. (S5W-19191) Jamie Hepburn: Businesses in Scotland 2018 will be published on 7 November 2018. Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding what proportion of people who register as self-employed each year do not start their own businesses. (S5W-19192) Jamie Hepburn: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-14943 on 8 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.
Dean Lockhart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what minimum building standards and requirements must be met for all proposed developments in the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. (S5W-19198) Kevin Stewart: Proposed development of buildings in the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park would be subject to requirements under national building regulations and under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 as per development elsewhere in Scotland. Additionally, national parks are subject to the requirements of the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000. The standards, guidance and processes that form the building standard system in Scotland are published at www.gov.scot/bsd.
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the current arrangements put in place by the Bankruptcy Act (Scotland) Act 1985 allows for a loophole whereby child maintenance and aliment debts are not protected debts and can therefore be written off. (S5W-19273) Jamie Hepburn: Under the current legislation arrears of child maintenance or aliment existing at the commencement of insolvency proceedings will rank with other equivalent debts and will be repaid from any available estate recovered by the trustee. Any balance remaining following the completion of the trustee’s administration is written off. This does not apply where child maintenance arrears or aliment are payable by virtue of a court order and in these circumstances the debt will survive the bankruptcy. An individual declared insolvent is required to meet their on-going liabilities for child maintenance or aliment.
The current arrangements on the treatment of maintenance in bankruptcy were covered in the consultation undertaken prior to the bankruptcy reforms that came into force in April 2015. The consultation responses received at that time supported a continuation of the existing arrangements in relation to the treatment of child maintenance debts. A forthcoming public consultation and policy review focusing on the impact of the 2015 bankruptcy reforms will seek further views on this issue.
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government how many people have had their child maintenance and aliment debts written off under the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985. (S5W-19274) Jamie Hepburn: The Accountant in Bankruptcy does not hold the information requested. The reason for this is that data held on debts discharged on the closure of proceedings under the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985 and the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 2016 do not distinguish between aliment and child maintenance arrears that are written off and those that survive bankruptcy.
AiB captures creditor information and the type of debt involved in each self- nominated bankruptcy awarded following a debtor application. In bankruptcies arising from court procedure following a creditor petition, the format of information provided to AiB does not enable specific creditor information to be extracted. In order to provide some context, debtor application bankruptcies awarded in financial years 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 include 136 cases where child maintenance debts have been recorded. Of these, the bankrupt person has been discharged in 113 cases (as of October 2018). This equates to 1.5% and 1.2% respectively of debtor application bankruptcies awarded during this period. Over the same period, two debtor application bankruptcies included aliment debts and neither the bankrupt person nor the trustee are discharged in these cases.
Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Scottish Green Party): To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been provided by Skills Development Scotland to companies involved in the arms trade in each of the last 10 years. (S5W-19290) Jamie Hepburn: As this is an operational matter for Skills Development Scotland I have asked their Chief Executive to respond to you directly.
Education, Communities and Justice
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government when it will complete the review of the Employability Fund. (S5W-19057) Jamie Hepburn: In “Delivering for Today, Investing for Tomorrow”, the 2018-19 Programme for Government, we committed to set out the conclusions of the review of Scottish Government employability investment by the end of 2018, with a view to strengthening relationships with local and regional partners and developing a new delivery model that builds on the principles underpinning Fair Start Scotland.
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the language used in the One Scotland campaign posters regarding religious hate crime risks undermining the campaign and alienating all faiths and could lead to people of any faith feeling hated. (S5W-19228) Aileen Campbell: Any form of hate crime or prejudice is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
The campaign aims to encourage witnesses to report hate crime using a series of letters addressed to perpetrators describing the experience of victims, stating that ‘your hate has no home here’. It is not targeting those of faith.
The campaign has been developed in partnership with a range of stakeholders, including faith organisations.
Hate crime has hugely damaging effects on victims, their families and communities and we all must play our part to challenge it.
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-18753 by Kevin Stewart on 27 September 2018, what happened to the £6 million repaid to Hearthstone by Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association. (S5W-19295) Kevin Stewart: The £6 million was grant funding provided by Scottish Government to Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association (CRE) to enable delivery of social rent homes. CRE also accessed loan funding for its proposal which it has subsequently repaid to Hearthstone. CRE continues to work with local authority partners to develop the originally planned social rent homes which will contribute to the Scottish Government’s 50,000 affordable homes target.
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-18753 by Kevin Stewart on 27 September 2018, whether any interest was levied prior to the loan being repaid to Hearthstone. (S5W-19296) Kevin Stewart: The loan arrangement between Hearthstone and Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association was a commercial arrangement which Scottish Government was not party to. We are unable to provide information on the terms of the loan.
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-18753 by Kevin Stewart on 27 September 2018, when the loan was paid by Hearthstone to Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association and when it was repaid by the housing association. (S5W-19297) Kevin Stewart: The loan arrangement between Hearthstone and Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association was a commercial arrangement which Scottish Government was not party to. We are unable to provide information on the terms of the loan.
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-18753 by Kevin Stewart on 27 September 2018, which local authorities are involved in the regular meetings to monitor funding to Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association. (S5W-19298) Kevin Stewart: Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association operates across a number of Local Authority areas in Scotland. In reference to the Hearthstone scheme, the relevant Local Authorities are Stirling, Clackmannanshire and Falkirk.
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-18753 by Kevin Stewart on 27 September 2018, when the most recent meeting between officials and local authorities to monitor funding to Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association took place. (S5W-19299) Kevin Stewart: Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association operates across a number of Local Authority areas in Scotland. In reference to the Hearthstone scheme, the relevant Local Authorities are Stirling, Clackmannanshire and Falkirk. The most recent meeting between Scottish Government officials and these local authorities were: Falkirk Council (11 October 2018), Clackmannanshire Council (15 August 2018) and Stirling Council (6 September 2018).
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-18754 by Kevin Stewart on 27 September 2018, whether Ministers received any report on the provision of funding to Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association before the loan was repaid to Hearthstone. (S5W-19300) Kevin Stewart: Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association and Hearthstone provided regular updates to Scottish Government Officials on the plans for the Hearthstone scheme and Scottish Ministers were kept informed on progress during the period in which the loan was repaid to Hearthstone.
Monica Lennon (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to update Planning Advice Note 2/2010: Affordable Housing and Housing Plan Audits. (S5W-19332) Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government will review the National Planning Framework (NPF), including the Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) after the Planning (Scotland) Bill has been considered by the Scottish Parliament. Our policy approach to planning for housing is expected to change as a result of the Bill. Our existing guidance - Planning Advice Note 2/2010 - Affordable Housing and Housing Land Audits, will be reviewed in relation to the new policy.
In the meantime, as confirmed in a letter from the Chief Planner issued in November 2017, the policy position on planning for housing is set out in Scottish Planning Policy (SPP), supported by Planning Advice Note (PAN) 2/2010.
Health and Social Care
Claudia Beamish (South Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the eight-minute target ambulance service response time. (S5O-02474) Jeane Freeman: The Ambulance Service has been trialling a new clinical response model since November 2016.
The new model is focussed on improving outcomes for patients with immediately life threatening conditions whilst ensuring patients with lower acuity conditions receive the best response to match their need.
An independent evaluation of this new model has been conducted by Stirling University and we will assess this in the coming weeks. The evidence and data from this evaluation may be used to look at ambulance service targets moving forward.
Clare Adamson (Motherwell and Wishaw) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government how it promotes women’s football. (S5O-02475) Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government is a strong supporter of women and girls’ football and recognises the strong contribution it makes to encouraging women and girls to participate as well as raising Scotland’s profile on the European and world stage.
We work closely with the Scottish FA and Scottish Women’s Football to promote the women’s game and provide support and investment through sport scotland .
Like everyone in the country, I was delighted our national team qualified for next year’s FIFA women’s World Cup for the first time. The First Minister, who is patron of the women’s national team, recently announced a bursary scheme to allow all members of the squad to train full-time ahead of the tournament.
We are nearing the climax of another exciting domestic season, including the crucial Glasgow City and Hibs fixture at the weekend. Glasgow City are also still in European competition, and I wish the club well in its tough return fixture against Barcelona in the UEFA women's Champions League.
Finally, I would like to congratulate Motherwell FC, from the members' constituency, for winning the Premier League 2 championship and reaching the final of the SSE Scottish Women’s Cup Final for the first time.
Mark McDonald (Aberdeen Donside) (Independent): To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it issues to NHS boards regarding end-of-life planning for people with MND. (S5O-02476) Jeane Freeman: We have worked with Healthcare Improvement Scotland to develop revised General Standards for Neurological Care and Support, to improve care for people with neurological conditions at all stages of their care journey.
The draft standards, which are currently out for consultation, emphasise the importance of having early end of life planning conversations to ensure that people living with neurological conditions, such as MND, receive the care and support that is right for them and their families. When published, these standards will apply to all health and social care services and organisations that support adults living with neurological conditions like MND
David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with ACAS about it becoming involved in investigating allegations of bullying and harassment at NHS Highland. (S5O-02477) Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government has offered external, independent support, to help NHS Highland understand and address the substance of the allegations and we are working to progress this.
Paul Gray, NHS Scotland Chief Executive has offered to meet the clinicians who made the allegations, to discuss their concerns. We have also offered to meet the GMB and other local trade unions, so they can share their views on the issues, in their role as staff representatives.
ACAS provide conciliation and arbitration services rather than the investigation of bullying and harassment concerns.
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Scottish Green Party): To ask the Scottish Government what impact Sir Lewis Ritchie’s review of out-of-hours primary care has had on the delivery of these services. (S5O-02478) Jeane Freeman: Sir Lewis’ review Pulling together: transforming urgent care for the people of Scotland published in 2015 has provided a focus for Boards and their delivery partners to help them develop and deliver out of hours services that are sustainable and resilient. As a result of Sir Lewis' report, across Scotland we have seen progress in the development of multi- disciplinary teams in out of hours services, the development of Urgent Care Resource Hubs and greater collaboration and innovative thinking between the out of hours services, NHS 24 and the Scottish Ambulance Service.
Anas Sarwar (Glasgow) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government which bacteria was identified during the incidents that were reported at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow in March 2018, and whether it is the same bacteria that was identified during similar incidents in November 2015. Holding answer issued: 24 October 2018 (S5W-19030) Jeane Freeman: A holding answer was provided. Anas Sarwar (Glasgow) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the incidents at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow that were reported in March 2018, how the bacteria got into the water, and which areas of the hospital were affected. Holding answer issued: 24 October 2018 (S5W-19031) Jeane Freeman: A holding answer was provided.
Anas Sarwar (Glasgow) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how many patients were affected by the incidents of bacteria in the water at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow that were reported in 2015, broken down by the ward they were on and its speciality. Holding answer issued: 24 October 2018 (S5W-19032) Jeane Freeman: A holding answer was provided.
Anas Sarwar (Glasgow) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the incidents at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow that were reported in 2015, what the consequences were for patients of the incidents of bacteria in the water; how many were prescribed prophylactic antibiotics; whether the water is now clear of bacteria in the areas that were affected; how long the water was contaminated for; whether the ward is a safe environment for patients; who was responsible for ensuring that the water was safe before the hospital opened, and who has been responsible for this since. Holding answer issued: 24 October 2018 (S5W-19033) Jeane Freeman: A holding answer was provided.