- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 11 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether Transport Scotland used any international examples to inform its Market Assessment of ferry services on the Clyde and Hebrides network, and, if so, what the examples were.
Answer
Most recently services and ferry delivery structures in other countries have been reviewed include Norway, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. These examples will inform the development of ferries policy including in the consideration of relevant assessments and the decarbonisation of the Scottish Government ferry fleet.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Clare Haughey on 10 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to improve the financial wellbeing of young people leaving care.
Answer
The Scottish Government is working to deliver the Care Experience Grant which will provide young care experienced people age 16-25 with, additional financial support and security as they move into adulthood; and support their financial wellbeing. This £200 annual grant will benefit around 50,000 young people. Officials are currently engaging with stakeholders and potential partners to identity the best delivery mechanism for the Grant.
In 2021-22 the Scottish Government distributed over £12 million to support the provision of free welfare and debt advice. This vital funding ensures that people who are struggling the most can access the support they need in a way that works for them – be it face to face, online or over the phone. Care leavers and individuals with care experience can access this advice.
Additionally, eligible care leavers can request aftercare from the local authority who had responsibility for providing their care. Aftercare support can include: financial support to meet essential accommodation and maintenance costs, such as travel and other necessary living expenses; information or advice.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Clare Haughey on 10 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what funding it provides to local authorities to provide young people leaving care with suitable accommodation.
Answer
The Scottish Government provides funding to local authorities through the local government funding settlement for the provision of continuing care and aftercare services, which includes provision of accommodation for care leavers. Local authorities have a statutory responsibility to provide support to eligible care leavers and it is the responsibility of each authority to decide how funds are allocated to services within their area.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 March 2022
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 17 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that all apprentices are paid the real Living Wage.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 17 March 2022
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 8 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of any staff reductions by Network Rail on rail services in Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Government is not aware of any staff reductions that would impact upon rail services in Scotland. The member may wish to contact the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) as the safety and economic regulator of Scotland’s railway.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 8 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of any reductions to the maintenance budget by Network Rail on rail services in Scotland.
Answer
There has been no assessment of impact on services as there has been no reduction to Network Rail’s maintenance budget in Scotland.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 8 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Network Rail regarding any reductions to the maintenance budget in Scotland.
Answer
During the Covid pandemic Network Rail and Transport Scotland examined ways where efficiency savings could be made. There has been no reduction to the maintenance budget in Scotland.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 8 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Network Rail regarding any proposed staff reductions in Scotland.
Answer
Transport Scotland has not held any discussions with Network Rail on proposed staff reductions in Scotland.
Network Rail advise that UK wide it has undertaken two rounds of an industry special Voluntary Severance Scheme, focused on management grades where it could be verified there would be no impact on safety, performance or customer service. However, no representations have been made to Scottish Government on this matter.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 8 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how the recommendations of the Project Neptune review of ferry governance will inform the delivery of the (a) National Transport Strategy, (b) National Islands Plan, (c) Infrastructure Investment Plan, (d) Strategic Transport Projects Review and (e) Islands Connectivity Plan.
Answer
The outputs from Project Neptune will be considered alongside the suite of existing documents that support our ambitious vision for Scotland’s transport system for the next 20 years.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 8 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what changes, if any, have been made to the Routes and Services Methodology applied to Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service routes since it was first used to draw up the Ferries Plan (2013-22).
Answer
The Routes and Services Methodology (RSM) used in the Ferries Plan has been reviewed and updated to support the preparation of the Islands Connectivity Plan (ICP). In addition to refreshing data sources it will also consider: reliability and resilience; capacity and connectivity; and wider socio-economic needs and alignment with the National Transport Strategy and the National Islands Plan.