Seòmar agus comataidhean

Connecting Scotland was planned to run till the end of 2021. However, the depth of the challenges of digital exclusion that the pandemic has revealed mean we are extending the programme till the end of this Parliament in 2026, as set out in the Programme for Government.

The current phase is open for applications from organisations working to remove barriers related to digital exclusion for unemployed young people and adults until‎ 27 September 2021. From 28 September the programme will be accepting fast track applications from organisations that can identify users who are digitally excluded, on a low income, and at risk of social isolation and loneliness (particularly older people, people with disabilities, and single parents).

The Glasgow School of Art (GSA) is an autonomous Higher Education Institution (HEI), and as such has responsibility for its own strategic and operational decision making, including those related to the rebuilding of the Mackintosh building. The GSA has made clear its intention to rebuild the Mackintosh as a fully functioning art school, engaging fully with the local community in taking this forward.

All category A listed buildings, including the Mackintosh, are of significant cultural and historic importance to Scotland and are defined in Historic Environment Scotland (HES) guidance as buildings of “outstanding special architectural or historic interest”. HES, as the lead public body for investigating, caring for and promoting Scotland's historic environment, will continue to work with the GSA, Glasgow City Council and other interested parties on the complex issues surrounding the rebuild of the Mackintosh building.

All Scottish HEIs in receipt of public funding must comply with the terms of their Financial Memorandum with the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), and the principles of good governance set out in the Scottish Code of Good HE Governance.

The SFC continues to engage regularly with the GSA at senior management and board level on a range of issues, such as institutional governance, its plans for the delivery of high quality education, and the use of its estates for this purpose. This includes the Mackintosh and the approach the GSA is taking to inform decisions around its rebuilding.

The GSA will shortly publish the first stage of this process, the Strategic Outline Business Case (OBC), which was developed in accordance with UK and Scottish Government guidance and includes input from a range of internal and external stakeholders.

The Scottish Government is committed to strengthening compulsory purchase powers for local authorities and introducing new compulsory sale orders. We are developing these proposals in the context of policies set out in the Housing to 2040 route map (see Housing to 2040 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) ) to tackle empty homes and vacant and derelict land.

Scottish Ministers became the managing agent for Ferguson Marine Engineering Limited on 16 August 2019.

A court case regarding the HCC International Insurance Company bond is ongoing in the English Courts. I am unable to publish or say anything further at this stage.

No. The Scottish Government do not routinely publish contracts and their accompanying correspondence.

Due to the pandemic, the work to address the recommendations published by the Parliamentary Working Group was postponed. In January this year a revised timetable was published on the Scottish Government website and the revised timetable can be accessed via this link Tenement Maintenance Timetable .

The Scottish Government has had significant engagement with the Glasgow City Region partners, including Glasgow City Council (GCC) on the concept of a Glasgow Metro.

Transport Scotland are appraising case for investment in a Metro for Glasgow, through the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2). GCC are engaged in STPR2 through the Regional Transport Working Group for the Glasgow City Region. Transport Scotland are also committed to working with Glasgow City Council's Metro Feasibility Project and have regular routine meetings between officials. Furthermore, Scottish Government officials are part of the Metro Strategic Advisory Group. With regard to the Glasgow City Region Growth Deal Cabinet, Transport Scotland participate in the Growth Deal’s Transport & Connectivity Portfolio Group. Senior officials of Transport Scotland, Glasgow City Council and SPT meet approximately quarterly, co-chairing the Glasgow Strategic Transport Group.

In addition, Michael Matheson, in his capacity as Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, met with the leader of Glasgow City Council in March 2021, to discuss the Glasgow Metro following the publication of STPR2 Phase 1 in February, which restated the case for a Metro system for Glasgow.

Transport Scotland has recently attended a meeting with Glasgow City Council on 26 May to discuss the maintenance and financing of the repairs for the Clyde Tunnel. At this meeting, the structural integrity and planned strengthening works to the A739 Shieldhall overpass were discussed. My officials are willing to continue to engage with the Council on this matter in order to aid them in trying to find a solution, however maintenance of the local road network is the responsibility of local authorities.

The vast majority of funding to local authorities from the Scottish Government is provided via a block grant and we do not stipulate how local authorities should utilise their individual allocations. It is therefore the responsibility of each local authority to manage their own budget and to allocate the financial resources available to them on the basis of local needs and priorities, having first fulfilled their statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities.

Glasgow City Council will receive a total funding package of almost £1.5 billion in 2021-22 to support local services, which includes an extra £29.8 million to support vital day to day services, equivalent to an increase of 2.2 per cent compared to 2020-21.

To date, the council has been allocated an additional £221.7 million to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, through the local government settlement - over and above their regular grant payments.

The following table provides the information held on the number of closures due to roadworks and incidents on the M8 between junctions 13 and 26 between July 2017 and July 2021. We have been advised by our operating Company that figures for 2016/17 are currently unavailable. However, these are being sourced and will be forwarded to you once received.