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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S6W-03709

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 29 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what research it is undertaking to assess levels of vitamin D deficiency in (a) general and (b) relation to levels of deprivation, in light of the most recent survey on this issue reportedly being undertaken in 2010-12.

Question reference: S6W-03708

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 29 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address vitamin D deficiency in (a) general and (b) relation to levels of deprivation, in light of reports that nearly half the population in the most deprived areas had suboptimal vitamin D levels compared with a quarter of the population in the least deprived areas.

The Scottish Government continues to work closely with Food Standards Scotland and other partners to raise awareness of the importance of vitamin D, particularly amongst those at highest risk of deficiency.

On 11 October, Food Standards Scotland (FSS) launched a new national campaign to raise awareness of vitamin D and encourage people in Scotland to take a daily 10 microgram supplement throughout the winter months. The campaign will run between October 2021 and February 2022 and follows on from previous promotional activity undertaken by FSS earlier this year. Action to target specific population groups at higher risk of vitamin D deficiency is being considered and will be integrated throughout the campaign.

Leaflets highlighting the importance of vitamin D and supplements are available in a range of languages and formats. Healthy Start vitamins, which contain Vitamin D, are provided free to all pregnant women in Scotland throughout their pregnancy and have been since April 2017. Vitamin D supplements are also available free of charge for breastfeeding women and all babies up to the age of one.

Question reference: S6O-00321

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 October 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the proposed £500,000 fund for local organisations in international development partner countries to take forward work to ensure women and girls are safe, equal and respected.

Question reference: S6W-03575

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 27 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what correspondence it has had with local authorities and COSLA in relation to raising awareness about claiming pension credit and supporting people to do so.

Pension Credit is reserved to the UK Government and, therefore, the Scottish Government has not corresponded with local authorities or COSLA in relation to raising awareness about claiming pension credit or supporting people to do so.

The Scottish Government funds the Citizens Advice Network in Scotland to deliver the Money Talk Team Income Maximisation Service. This is a money advice service that includes advice about all benefits, including pension credit. We have undertaken three national marketing campaigns to make people aware of the service.

Question reference: S6W-03577

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 26 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been supported through its training schemes to train as (a) HGV and (b) bus drivers in each month since the start of 2019.

There are a number of subsidised training schemes provided by Scottish Government in regards to HGV and Bus Driver training including: Employability Fund, Modern Apprenticeships, National Transition Training Fund and Individual Training Accounts

A summary table has been provided, showing the number of people supported through the various schemes in relation to HGV and Bus driver training. To ensure consistency, we have provided figures based on financial years 2019-20, 2020-21 and Quarter 1 of 2021-22.

Intervention

Timescale

Numbers

Employability Fund

Bus and Coach Drivers

HGV/LGV Drivers

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22 Q1

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22 Q1

216

Modern Apprenticeship

(HGV)

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22 Q1

1100

987

290

National Transition Training Fund (NTTF) – Part of Year One delivery extended until June 2021

(Driver CPC / LGV with CPC / PCV with CPC)

October 2020 - June 2021

Individual Training Account

(HGV and Bus Driving courses combined)

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22 Q1

537

292

195

Note: Disclosure control (*) has been applied where figures are less than 5 or where such small numbers can be identified through differencing

Question reference: S6W-03576

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 26 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what subsidised training schemes are in place for people seeking to train as (a) HGV and (b) bus drivers.

There are a number of subsidised training schemes provided by Scottish Government in regards to HGV and Bus Driver training:

Employability Fund - offers employability and skills training for unemployed individuals across Scotland. HGV driver training is available to eligible individuals through this fund.
Modern Apprenticeships – learn on the job to gain the experience you need and work towards a recognised qualification. The Freight Logistics framework applies to HGV/LGV. As part of this framework apprentices will be offered the opportunity to study SVQ Driving Goods Vehicles at SCQF Level 6.
Individual Training Account – to help people develop the skills they need for work. Up to £200 contribution towards a training course, which can include HGV and Bus driver training.

Question reference: S6W-03574

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 25 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has access to Scotland and sub-Scotland level data on current pension credit take-up.

Question reference: S6W-03578

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 25 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what information Social Security Scotland holds on current pension credit uptake, and how many people who are currently entitled to pension credit do not claim it.

Question reference: S6W-03579

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 22 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to Year One of the National Training Transition Fund, how many applications for training in the transport sector (a) have been (i) approved and (ii) rejected and (b) are yet to be processed, and whether it will provide an update on when the final delivery figures will be published.

The National Transition Training Fund (NTTF) is being delivered through various sector-based projects which will have different application procedures. The data below sets out information on course participants in Year One as far as it is currently available.

In Year One of the NTTF, support for the Aviation sector was provided through Scottish Union Learning. Unite the Union developed a programme which continues this year to enable Aviation workers – many of whom were furloughed - to upskill to help support job retention. This provided a variety of training opportunities for ground and air crew.

In addition, Strand One of NTTF, which was managed by Skills Development Scotland, supported driver training, including Driver CPC, LGV with CPC and PCV with CPC.

In terms of NTTF college delivery, The college figures for 2020-21 are yet to be finalised as collection of college data only concluded on 12 October 2021 and still require to be quality assured before publication as Official Statistics in January 2022.

I have previously advised that a final report on NTTF Year One will be made available this year. As the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) will not publish data until January 2022, I intend to issue a report immediately after the SFC publication is released. I do however, intend to update Parliament in November on anticipated outturns.

Question reference: S6W-03130

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 24 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ash Denham on 7 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what communication it has had with the UK Government regarding the decision by the European Court of Human Rights in February 2021 on the case, VCL and AN v UK.