Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-10899

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what correspondence it has had with the UK Government regarding the impact in Scotland of the £400 energy bill discount.

The £400 Energy Bills Discount Scheme will provide important relief for consumers. However, the Scottish Government believes that much more action is required at UK Government level to help mitigate the impact of the energy price crisis, especially for those most vulnerable. The First Minister wrote to the Prime Minister ahead of her statement in the House of Commons on 8 September, making it clear that the UK Government must target additional financial support to those most in need, over and above measures already announced. We will continue to argue this case.

Question reference: S6W-10900

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce a supplementary subsidy to the UK Government’s £400 energy bill discount.

Our Programme for Government this year committed to use our Emergency Budget Review to double our Fuel Insecurity Fund to £20 million in 2022-23, to help households at risk of self-disconnection or self-rationing of energy use. This Fund is delivered through third sector partner organisations, specifically the Fuel Bank Foundation, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations and Advice Direct Scotland, and supports people struggling with their energy bills to the point that they are at risk of self-rationing their energy use, or self-disconnecting entirely. It includes provision for households on any tariff type and using any type of fuel.

Question reference: S6W-10800

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 02 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many individuals currently serve on the boards of two or more public bodies, and whether it will provide a list of those individuals and the positions that they hold.

The Scottish Government public appointments team in line with the Ethical Standards Commissioner Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies in Scotland publishes information on those holding board member and Chair positions on the boards of regulated public bodies. This information is published on the Public Appointments website on the Scottish Government Website. [ Full list of public appointments by public body - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) ].

Currently there are 57 individuals who serve on two or more Boards of public bodies.

An extract is attached below highlighting those individuals who currently serve on the boards of two or more public bodies.

Board Members Holding Two or More Public Appointments

Name	Board	Position
Ailsa Raeburn	Crown Estate Scotland	Member
Ailsa Raeburn	Highlands and Islands Enterprise	Member
Albert Donald	Grampian NHS Board	Member - Whistleblowing Champion
Albert Donald	Highland NHS Board	Member - Whistleblowing Champion
Amanda Bryan	Crown Estate Scotland	Chair
Amanda Bryan	Highlands and Islands Enterprise	Member
Andrew Thin	Crofting Commission	Commissioner
Andrew Thin	Scottish Land Commission	Chair
Angiolina Foster CBE	Public Health Scotland	Chair
Angiolina Foster CBE	Scottish Fire and Rescue Service	Member
Ann Allen MBE	Architecture and Design Scotland	Chair
Ann Allen MBE	National Museums of Scotland	Member
Ann Allen MBE	Scottish Futures Trust	Member
Ann Allen MBE	Water Industry Commission for Scotland	Member
Anne-Marie Monaghan	Greater Glasgow & Clyde NHS Board	Lay Member
Anne-Marie Monaghan	Independent Living Fund Scotland	Member
Bill Matthews	Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission	Chair
Bill Matthews	Scottish Futures Trust	Member
Brian Baverstock	Scottish Fire and Rescue Service	Member
Brian Baverstock	Scottish Legal Aid Board	Member
Brian Moore	Lanarkshire NHS Board	Lay Member
Brian Moore	The State Hospitals Board for Scotland	Chair
Carole Wilkinson	Care Inspectorate	Member (in capacity as Chair of HIS)
Carole Wilkinson	Healthcare Improvement Scotland	Chair
Caroline Stuart	Regional Colleges and Regional Boards (Dumfries and Galloway)	Chair
Caroline Stuart	Scottish Funding Council	Member
Caroline Stuart	Scottish Police Authority	Member
Christine Lester	Accounts Commission for Scotland	Member
Christine Lester	Healthcare Improvement Scotland	Lay Member
Douglas Moodie	Care Inspectorate	Chair
Douglas Moodie	Healthcare Improvement Scotland	Member (in capacity as Chair of Care Inspectorate)
Douglas Moodie	Scottish Social Services Council	Member (in capacity as Chair of Care Inspectorate)
Dr Carol Evans	Food Standards Scotland	Member
Dr Carol Evans	Skills Development Scotland	Member
Dr Gaener Rodger	Highland NHS Board	Lay Member
Dr Gaenor Rodger	Cairngorms National Park Authority	Member
Dr Heather Reid	Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority	Member
Dr Heather Reid	NatureScot	Member
Dr Keith Nicholson	Highlands and Islands Enterprise	Member
Dr Keith Nicholson	VisitScotland	Member
Dr Kirsty Darwent	Scottish Fire and Rescue Service	Chair
Dr Kirsty Darwent	Scottish Agricultural Wages Board	Chair
Dr Mike Cantlay OBE	Scottish Funding Council	Chair
Dr Mike Cantlay OBE	NatureScot	Chair
Dr Paul Stollard	Historic Environment Scotland	Member
Dr Paul Stollard	Scottish Fire and Rescue Service	Member
Dr Poonam Malik	Scottish Enterprise	Member
Dr Poonam Malik	Skills Development Scotland	Member
Dr Susan Walker	Food Standards Scotland	Member
Dr Susan Walker	Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland	Member
Dr William Maxwell	Care Inspectorate	Lay Member
Dr William Maxwell	Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator	Member
Elizabeth Humphreys	Independent Living Fund Scotland	Member
Elizabeth Humphreys	Public Health Scotland	Member - Whistleblowing Champion
Elizabeth Humphreys	Scottish Ambulance Service	Member - Whistleblowing Champion
George Walker	Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator	Interim Chair
George Walker	Scottish Housing Regulator	Chair
Gillian Mawdsley	NHS Education for Scotland	Member - Whistleblowing Champion
Gillian Mawdsley	Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission	Legal Member
Gordon Johnston	Forth Valley NHS Board	Member - Whistleblowing Champion
Gordon Johnston	Mental Welfare Commission	Lay Member
Graham MacNeil Bell OBE	Community Justice Scotland	Member
Graham MacNeil Bell OBE	Highland NHS Board	Lay Member
Grant Macrae	David MacBrayne Ltd	Non-Executive Director
Grant Macrae	Scottish Police Authority	Member
Ian Russell CBE	National Museums of Scotland	Chair
Ian Russell CBE	Scottish Futures Trust	Chair
James Martin	Scottish Legal Complaints Commission	Chair
James Martin	Environmental Standards Scotland	Chair
Janie McCusker	Forth Valley NHS Board	Chair
Janie McCusker	Regional Colleges and Regional Boards (Glasgow)	Chair
Jean Ford	Ayrshire & Arran NHS Board	Lay Member
Jean Ford	NHS Education for Scotland	Lay Member
Jean Lindsay	Crown Estate Scotland	Member
Jean Lindsay	Revenue Scotland	Member
Katharina Kasper	Children’s Hearing Scotland	Chair
Katharina Kasper	Lothian NHS Board	Member - Whistleblowing Champion
Katharina Kasper	Scottish Police Authority	Member
Keith Redpath	Care Inspectorate	Lay Member
Keith Redpath	NHS National Services Scotland	Chair
Linda Bamford	Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland	Chair (Convener)
Linda Bamford	Poverty and Inequality Commission	Member
Linda Semple	Ayrshire & Arran NHS Board	Lay Member
Linda Semple	NHS Golden Jubilee Board	Lay Member (Vice Chair)
Lorna Jack	Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd	Chair
Lorna Jack	Scottish Funding Council	Member
Marieke Dwarshuis	NHS 24	Lay Member
Marieke Dwarshuis	Scottish Housing Regulator	Member
Marieke Dwarshuis	Scottish Legal Aid Board	Member
Martin Hill	Lanarkshire NHS Board	Chair
Martin Hill	Scottish Environment Protection Agency	Member
Michelle Miller	Scottish Children's Reporter Administration (SCRA)	Chair
Michelle Miller	Scottish Police Authority	Member
Naghat Ahmed	Care Inspectorate	Lay Member
Naghat Ahmed	Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland	Member
Peter Murray	Lothian NHS Board	Lay Member
Peter Murray	Scottish Social Services Council	Member
Prof Donald MacRae OBE	Highlands and Islands Enterprise	Member
Prof Donald MacRae OBE	Water Industry Commission for Scotland	Chair
Raymond McMenamin	Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission	Legal Member
Raymond McMenamin	Scottish Legal Aid Board	Member
Sandra Campbell	Care Inspectorate	Member (in capacity as Convener of SSSC)
Sandra Campbell	Scottish Social Services Council	Chair (Convener)
Sandy Riddell	Grampian NHS Board	Lay Member
Sandy Riddell	Mental Welfare Commission	Chair
Sharon O'Connor	Accounts Commission for Scotland	Member
Sharon O'Connor	David MacBrayne Ltd	Non-Executive Director
Siobhan White	Lanarkshire NHS Board	Lay Member
Siobhan White	Scottish Housing Regulator	Member
Stephen McAllister	Forth Valley NHS Board	Lay Member
Stephen McAllister	NHS Golden Jubilee Board	Lay Member
Stephen McAllister	Risk Management Authority	Member
Steve Barron	Public Health Scotland	Member
Steve Barron	Scottish Fire and Rescue Service	Member
Stuart Currie	The State Hospitals Board for Scotland	Lay Member
Stuart Currie	Scottish Ambulance Service	Lay Member
Susan Douglas-Scott	Independent Living Fund Scotland	Chair
Susan Douglas-Scott	NHS Golden Jubilee Board	Chair
Tim Ingram	David MacBrayne Ltd	Non-Executive Director
Tim Ingram	Western Isles NHS Board	Member
Tim McKay	Accounts Commission for Scotland	Member
Tim McKay	Scottish Legal Aid Board	Member
Willie Watt	National Galleries of Scotland	Member
Willie Watt	Scottish National Investment Bank	Chair

Question reference: S6W-10799

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 02 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the amount of remuneration for each individual currently serving on two or more boards of public bodies, and whether it will provide a list showing the amount for each position held.

The Scottish Government public appointments team, in line with the Ethical Standards Commissioner Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies in Scotland, publishes information including the rate of remuneration on those holding board member and Chair positions on the boards of regulated public bodies. This information is published on the Public Appointments website on the Scottish Government Website. [ Full list of public appointments by public body - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) ].

An extract is attached highlighting the remuneration received by those individuals who currently serve on the boards of two or more public bodies.

Board Members Holding Two or More Public Appointments

Name	Board	Position	Remuneration
Ailsa Raeburn	Crown Estate Scotland	Member	£219.50 per day
Ailsa Raeburn	Highlands and Islands Enterprise	Member	£10,056 per annum
Albert Donald	Grampian NHS Board	Member - Whistleblowing Champion	£8,930 per annum
Albert Donald	Highland NHS Board	Member - Whistleblowing Champion	£8,930 per annum
Amanda Bryan	Crown Estate Scotland	Chair	£361 per day
Amanda Bryan	Highlands and Islands Enterprise	Member	£10,056 per annum
Andrew Thin	Crofting Commission	Commissioner	£178.23 per day
Andrew Thin	Scottish Land Commission	Chair	£273.60 per day
Angiolina Foster CBE	Public Health Scotland	Chair	£27,830 per annum
Angiolina Foster CBE	Scottish Fire and Rescue Service	Member	£297.95 per day
Ann Allen MBE	Architecture and Design Scotland	Chair	£200 per day
Ann Allen MBE	National Museums of Scotland	Member	Nil
Ann Allen MBE	Scottish Futures Trust	Member	£325 per day
Ann Allen MBE	Water Industry Commission for Scotland	Member	£13,780 per annum
Anne-Marie Monaghan	Greater Glasgow & Clyde NHS Board	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Anne-Marie Monaghan	Independent Living Fund Scotland	Member	£182.56 per day
Bill Matthews	Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission	Chair	£425 per day
Bill Matthews	Scottish Futures Trust	Member	£325 per day
Brian Baverstock	Scottish Fire and Rescue Service	Member	£297.95 per day
Brian Baverstock	Scottish Legal Aid Board	Member	£238.92 per day
Brian Moore	Lanarkshire NHS Board	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Brian Moore	The State Hospitals Board for Scotland	Chair	£27,830 per annum
Carole Wilkinson	Care Inspectorate	Member (in capacity as Chair of HIS)	Nil - paid as Chair of Healthcare Improvement Scotland
Carole Wilkinson	Healthcare Improvement Scotland	Chair	£178.39 per day
Caroline Stuart	Regional Colleges and Regional Boards (Dumfries and Galloway)	Chair	£211 per day
Caroline Stuart	Scottish Funding Council	Member	£350.73 per day
Caroline Stuart	Scottish Police Authority	Member	£378 per day
Christine Lester	Accounts Commission for Scotland	Member	£296.23 per day
Christine Lester	Healthcare Improvement Scotland	Lay Member	£171.74 per day
Douglas Moodie	Care Inspectorate	Chair	£272.50 per day
Douglas Moodie	Healthcare Improvement Scotland	Member (in capacity as Chair of Care Inspectorate)	Nil - paid as Chair of Care Inspectorate
Douglas Moodie	Scottish Social Services Council	Member (in capacity as Chair of Care Inspectorate)	Nil - paid as Convenor of Care Inspectorate
Dr Carol Evans	Food Standards Scotland	Member	£227 per day
Dr Carol Evans	Skills Development Scotland	Member	£8,136 per annum
Dr Gaener Rodger	Highland NHS Board	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Dr Gaenor Rodger	Cairngorms National Park Authority	Member	£226.75 per day
Dr Heather Reid	Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority	Member	£199.35 per day
Dr Heather Reid	NatureScot	Member	£317.22 per day
Dr Keith Nicholson	Highlands and Islands Enterprise	Member	£10,056 per annum
Dr Keith Nicholson	VisitScotland	Member	£8,235 per annum
Dr Kirsty Darwent	Scottish Fire and Rescue Service	Chair	£444 per day
Dr Kirsty Darwent	Scottish Agricultural Wages Board	Chair	£250.50 per day
Dr Mike Cantlay OBE	Scottish Funding Council	Chair	£485.17 per day
Dr Mike Cantlay OBE	NatureScot	Chair	£361.43 per day
Dr Paul Stollard	Historic Environment Scotland	Member	Nil
Dr Paul Stollard	Scottish Fire and Rescue Service	Member	£297.95 per day
Dr Poonam Malik	Scottish Enterprise	Member	£13,260 per annum
Dr Poonam Malik	Skills Development Scotland	Member	£8,136 per annum
Dr Susan Walker	Food Standards Scotland	Member	£227 per day
Dr Susan Walker	Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland	Member	£219 per day
Dr William Maxwell	Care Inspectorate	Lay Member	£174.50 per day
Dr William Maxwell	Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator	Member	£212 per day
Elizabeth Humphreys	Independent Living Fund Scotland	Member	£182.56 per day
Elizabeth Humphreys	Public Health Scotland	Member - Whistleblowing Champion	£8,930 per annum
Elizabeth Humphreys	Scottish Ambulance Service	Member - Whistleblowing Champion	£8,930 per annum
George Walker	Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator	Interim Chair	£283 per day
George Walker	Scottish Housing Regulator	Chair	£216.14 per day
Gillian Mawdsley	NHS Education for Scotland	Member - Whistleblowing Champion	£8,930 per annum
Gillian Mawdsley	Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission	Legal Member	£12,192 per annum
Gordon Johnston	Forth Valley NHS Board	Member - Whistleblowing Champion	£8,930 per annum
Gordon Johnston	Mental Welfare Commission	Lay Member	£220 per day
Graham MacNeil Bell OBE	Community Justice Scotland	Member	£4,000 per annum
Graham MacNeil Bell OBE	Highland NHS Board	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Grant Macrae	David MacBrayne Ltd	Non-Executive Director	£320 per day
Grant Macrae	Scottish Police Authority	Member	£378 per day
Ian Russell CBE	National Museums of Scotland	Chair	Nil
Ian Russell CBE	Scottish Futures Trust	Chair	£18,432 per annum (not taken)
James Martin	Scottish Legal Complaints Commission	Chair	£313 per day
James Martin	Environmental Standards Scotland	Chair	£300 per day
Janie McCusker	Forth Valley NHS Board	Chair	£33,052 per annum
Janie McCusker	Regional Colleges and Regional Boards (Glasgow)	Chair	£330 per day
Jean Ford	Ayrshire & Arran NHS Board	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Jean Ford	NHS Education for Scotland	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Jean Lindsay	Crown Estate Scotland	Member	£219.50 per day
Jean Lindsay	Revenue Scotland	Member	£275 per day
Katharina Kasper	Children’s Hearing Scotland	Chair	£21,120 per annum
Katharina Kasper	Lothian NHS Board	Member - Whistleblowing Champion	£8,930 per annum
Katharina Kasper	Scottish Police Authority	Member	£378 per day
Keith Redpath	Care Inspectorate	Lay Member	£174.50 per day
Keith Redpath	NHS National Services Scotland	Chair	£27,830 per annum
Linda Bamford	Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland	Chair (Convener)	£200 per day
Linda Bamford	Poverty and Inequality Commission	Member	£225 per day
Linda Semple	Ayrshire & Arran NHS Board	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Linda Semple	NHS Golden Jubilee Board	Lay Member (Vice Chair)	£8,930 per annum
Lorna Jack	Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd	Chair	£330 per day
Lorna Jack	Scottish Funding Council	Member	£350.73 per day
Marieke Dwarshuis	NHS 24	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Marieke Dwarshuis	Scottish Housing Regulator	Member	£179.78 per day
Marieke Dwarshuis	Scottish Legal Aid Board	Member	£238.92 per day
Martin Hill	Lanarkshire NHS Board	Chair	£35,489 per annum
Martin Hill	Scottish Environment Protection Agency	Member	£293.29 per day
Michelle Miller	Scottish Children's Reporter Administration (SCRA)	Chair	£22,880 per annum
Michelle Miller	Scottish Police Authority	Member	£378 per day
Naghat Ahmed	Care Inspectorate	Lay Member	£174.50 per day
Naghat Ahmed	Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland	Member	£150 per day
Peter Murray	Lothian NHS Board	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Peter Murray	Scottish Social Services Council	Member	£154.13 per day
Prof Donald MacRae OBE	Highlands and Islands Enterprise	Member	£10,056 per annum
Prof Donald MacRae OBE	Water Industry Commission for Scotland	Chair	£36,400 per annum
Raymond McMenamin	Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission	Legal Member	£12,192 per annum
Raymond McMenamin	Scottish Legal Aid Board	Member	£238.92 per day
Sandra Campbell	Care Inspectorate	Member (in capacity as Convener of SSSC)	Nil - paid as Convenor of Scottish Social Services Council
Sandra Campbell	Scottish Social Services Council	Chair (Convener)	£25168 per annum
Sandy Riddell	Grampian NHS Board	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Sandy Riddell	Mental Welfare Commission	Chair	£338 per day
Sharon O'Connor	Accounts Commission for Scotland	Member	£296.23 per day
Sharon O'Connor	David MacBrayne Ltd	Non-Executive Director	£320 per day
Siobhan White	Lanarkshire NHS Board	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Siobhan White	Scottish Housing Regulator	Member	£179.78 per day
Stephen McAllister	Forth Valley NHS Board	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Stephen McAllister	NHS Golden Jubilee Board	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Stephen McAllister	Risk Management Authority	Member	£5,880 per annum
Steve Barron	Public Health Scotland	Member	£8,930 per annum
Steve Barron	Scottish Fire and Rescue Service	Member	£297.95 per day
Stuart Currie	The State Hospitals Board for Scotland	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Stuart Currie	Scottish Ambulance Service	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Susan Douglas-Scott	Independent Living Fund Scotland	Chair	£217.54 per day
Susan Douglas-Scott	NHS Golden Jubilee Board	Chair	£27,830 per annum
Tim Ingram	David MacBrayne Ltd	Non-Executive Director	£320 per day
Tim Ingram	Western Isles NHS Board	Member	£8,176 per annum
Tim McKay	Accounts Commission for Scotland	Member	£296.23 per day
Tim McKay	Scottish Legal Aid Board	Member	£238.92 per day
Willie Watt	National Galleries of Scotland	Member	Nil
Willie Watt	Scottish National Investment Bank	Chair	£1,250 per day

Question reference: S6W-10362

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 14 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what sanctions can be imposed on any pharmacy that does not deliver community pharmacy services for all hours and days that are specified in its contract.

Health boards can take a range of actions in response to any breach of terms by a pharmacy contractor as set out in the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2009 and the National Health Service (Discipline Committees) (Scotland) Regulations 2006. The Health Board may, having any regard to the Disciplinary Committees recommendations, take a number of actions as set out in the Regulations, including recovery of remuneration.

Question reference: S6W-10361

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 14 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that community pharmacies are not closed during agreed opening hours.

While pharmacy closures can occur, this on the whole represents a small proportion of the network and is often limited to a small proportion of the required model hours. The Scottish Government continue to work with all Health Boards and community pharmacy representatives who are responsible for the provision of local pharmaceutical care services to ensure that any challenges faced by community pharmacies in providing the safe and effective dispensing of treatments are discussed with the local Health Board to minimise impact and risk to patients. Health boards can take a range of actions in response to any breach of terms by a pharmacy contractor.

Question reference: S6W-10360

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 14 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether any pharmacies that do not meet required standards could be taken into special measures control, where the operation of such pharmacies is taken over by NHS Scotland.

The Scottish Government is not considering the introduction of special measures for community pharmacies that are struggling to meet required standards. Community pharmacies, along with other primary care contractors, are wholly independent private entities providing NHS services on behalf the Health Board. Any challenges faced by community pharmacy contractors in delivering existing pharmaceutical care services should be discussed with the Health Boards who will be able to consider actions to support service provision.

Question reference: S6O-01378

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 September 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will give an update on the work to upgrade Ardrossan Harbour.

Question reference: S6W-09502

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 17 August 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what data it holds on any teacher shortages in each local authority.

The Scottish Government does not hold this data.

The recruitment and employment of teachers in local authority schools are matters for individual councils, as they have the statutory duty for education expenditure and to deliver education.

Councils have the responsibility for providing a complement of teachers and other education staff which best meets the needs of their schools and pupils within the resources available. This includes providing a complement of teachers and headteachers which meets the needs of their schools and pupils in light of their local needs and circumstances.

With regard to teacher numbers, whilst the Scottish Government does not hold data on teacher employment, you may wish to note that the Teacher Workforce Planning Advisory Group (TWPAG) undertakes an annual exercise to forecast the likely requirement for new teachers which sets the target intakes for initial teacher education programmes in both primary and secondary by subject. COSLA are represented on the TWPAG which is jointly chaired by the Scottish Government and the Scottish Council of Deans of Education. The modelling outputs from the TWPAG use projections on pupil rolls and teacher census information. Whilst we now have more teachers than at any time since 2008, we are aware some LAs continue to find recruitment challenging in some subjects and in some geographical areas.

During the pandemic the Scottish Government provided £240 million of additional investment to local authorities to support the recruitment of additional education staff to support education recovery. We are also providing additional permanent funding of £145.5 million per year to support the recruitment of these extra teachers.

Question reference: S6W-09988

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 July 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 16 August 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-09572 by Kevin Stewart on 4 July 2022, whether the National Care Service will continue to work with the private sector in addition to (a) specialist charities and (b) third sector providers of care services, under the new ethical commissioning model.

The National Care Service Bill proposes to enable the National Care Service (NCS) to support Fair Work in the sector, by including Fair Work within the guiding principles of the NCS (section 1 of the Bill) and establishing it as an exemplar of Fair Work. The NCS ethical commissioning strategies will also need to reflect these principles, and will therefore be a key tool for ensuring Fair Work is embedded in the way services are planned and provided. Services commissioned by the NCS, of whatever ownership type, will have to ensure they meet Fair Work and ethical commissioning standards and requirements.

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