Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-30052

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 16 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the remit is of the Scottish Tourism Recovery Task Force; who its members are; on what dates it will meet, and when it will publish its initial recommendations.

The Scottish Tourism Recovery Task Force was set up to have advise on and have strategic oversight of recovery plans in response to the Covid-19 impact on Scottish tourism and hospitality. The Taskforce will look to ensure that the tourism recovery plan is fully coordinated with wider Scottish Government and other relevant sectoral recovery plans, and with our tourism strategy Scotland Outlook 2030. I intend that the Taskforce will have a report ready to be published in early September.

The group has had two plenary sessions, on 25th June and 10th July. Papers and minutes from those meetings, along with a list of the taskforce members, will be published on the Scottish Government website very shortly.

Question reference: S5W-29799

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 10 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport will next meet with the Chief Executive of NHS Highland.

Ministers and Scottish Government officials regularly meet with representatives of all Health Boards, including NHS Highland.

I joined a weekly virtual meeting of health board CEOs on the 5th of June.

At this present time the Scottish Government are in frequent contact with all NHS Boards on their planning and preparations to safely and gradually resume some paused services, while continuing to maintain Covid-19 capacity and resilience.

Question reference: S5W-29800

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 10 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when it was last given an update from NHS Highland regarding the development of the North of Scotland Elective Care Centre.

The National Elective Centre Programme received a report update on 2 nd June regarding the NHS Highland Elective Centre Project. This followed a discussion with the NHS Highland Elective Centre Senior Responsible Owner on 28 th May and a follow-up discussion took place on Monday 15 th June.

The National Elective Centre Programme is regularly updated on the development of the North of Scotland Elective Care Centre.

Construction is due to commence in June 2020 with a Construction Completion Date of August 2022.

Question reference: S5W-30053

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 8 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what funding will be made available to repair the Cairngorm funicular railway, in light of planning approval being received from the Cairngorms National Park Authority.

Question reference: S5W-29797

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 26 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport has given to NHS boards regarding the roadmap to recovery from the COVID-19 outbreak, and when the cabinet secretary will review each board's roadmap.

On 31 May, the Scottish Government published Re-mobilise, Recover, Re-design: The Framework for NHS Scotland . This sets out the guiding principles that will underpin the approach to the next phase for the NHS; and how we will make critical decisions guided by clinical prioritisation. The document sets the broad direction not only for re-mobilising and recovering the NHS, but recognises that there have been some very positive innovations (e.g. how patients can access more services digitally) that we want to retain. The aim is to set out a clear and evidence-based methodology that promotes as much robust and informed decision making as possible; recognising that we are not be able to resume everything at the same time. The Framework recognises that local circumstances will be a key determinant for how and when services can be resumed, alongside clinical prioritisation. The Framework has been informed by on-going engagement with key stakeholders including Royal Colleges, Academies, unions and others. This will continue, with patient representation, under a Recovery Group to be set up by the Health Secretary.

NHS Boards submitted their plans to end July 2020 and these have been subject reviewed by the Scottish Government. We are working with Health Boards to get to a position where all mobilisation plans are ready to be formally signed off and fully implemented. In the meantime certain key services are being commenced where it is clinically safe to do so. Boards will be asked to keep their plans under constant review, and to continue to review the clinical prioritisation of services. This work will be cognisant of national guidance/policy frameworks.

A further phase of mobilisation planning, to the end of March 2021, will be commissioned in the near future.

Question reference: S5W-29844

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 24 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether there will be a limit on the number of families that will be allowed to stay in self-catering accommodation when they become available to access on 15 July 2020.

Question reference: S5W-29801

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 22 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government which schools in The Highland Council area have received Pupil Equity Funding for 2019-20, broken down by the amount allocated to each.

The information requested is in the public domain, including detailed information for schools in 2020-21 and 2021-22, and is available on here:- https://www.gov.scot/policies/schools/pupil-attainment/

A table containing Pupil Equity Funding allocations for schools in The Highland Council area for 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 is provided below. For schools where revealing the allocation level may be disclosive to individuals, their results have been redacted and replaced with a *.

School	Stage	2019-20 Allocations	2020-21 Allocations	2021-22 Allocations
	Total	£4,039,560	£4,007,948	£4,179,892
Abernethy Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Acharacle Primary	Primary	£6,480	*	£6,126
Achiltibuie Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Aldourie Primary	Primary	£7,200	*	*
Alvie Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Applecross Primary	Primary	£0	£0	*
Ardersier Primary	Primary	£38,400	£37,594	£39,206
Ardgour Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Ardross Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Arisaig Primary	Primary	*	*	£6,126
Auchtertyre Primary	Primary	£9,600	£9,398	£9,802
Auldearn Primary	Primary	£13,200	£15,272	£15,928
Aviemore Primary	Primary	£39,600	£36,419	£37,981
Avoch Primary	Primary	£16,800	£17,622	£18,378
Badcaul Primary	Primary	£0	£0	*
Ballachulish Primary	Primary	£12,000	£10,573	£11,027
Balloch Primary	Primary	£10,800	£9,516	£9,924
Balnain Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Banavie Primary	Primary	£8,400	£9,398	£9,802
Beauly Primary	Primary	£24,000	£21,146	£22,054
Ben Wyvis Primary	Primary	£40,800	£38,768	£40,432
Bishop Eden Primary	Primary	£15,120	£10,573	£11,027
Bonar Bridge Primary	Primary	£8,400	£9,398	£9,802
Bower Primary	Primary	£0	£0	*
Bridgend Primary	Primary	£50,760	£54,041	£56,359
Broadford Primary	Primary	£8,400	£17,622	£18,378
Brora Primary	Primary	£22,680	£19,972	£20,828
Bualnaluib Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Bun-sgoil Ghaidhlig Inbhir Nis	Primary	£9,600	£17,622	£18,378
Bun-Sgoil Ghidhlig Loch Abar	Primary	£18,360	£12,923	£13,477
Bun-Sgoil Ghaidhlig Phort Righ	Primary	£22,800	£20,089	£20,951
Bun-Sgoil Shlèite	Primary	*	*	*
Canisbay Primary	Primary	£9,600	£8,459	£8,821
Cannich Bridge Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Caol Primary	Primary	£39,600	£42,293	£44,107
Carbost Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Carrbridge Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Castletown Primary	Primary	£19,200	£16,917	£17,643
Cauldeen Primary	Primary	£66,000	£61,090	£63,710
Cawdor Primary	Primary	£11,880	£12,923	£13,477
Central Primary	Primary	£50,400	£44,642	£46,558
Coulhill Primary	Primary	£69,120	£71,663	£74,737
Cradlehall Primary	Primary	£28,800	£29,370	£30,630
Craighill Primary	Primary	£43,200	£38,064	£39,696
Cromarty Primary	Primary	£10,800	£9,516	£9,924
Crossroads Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Crown Primary	Primary	£27,600	£25,846	£26,954
Croy Primary	Primary	£14,400	£12,688	£13,232
Culbokie Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Dalneigh Primary	Primary	£93,600	£89,285	£93,115
Daviot Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Deshar Primary	Primary	*	£7,049	£7,351
Dingwall Primary	Primary	£67,200	£63,439	£66,161
Dochgarroch Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Dornoch Primary	Primary	£20,400	£17,974	£18,746
Drakies Primary	Primary	£21,600	£24,671	£25,729
Dunbeath Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Duncan Forbes Primary	Primary	£31,200	£34,069	£35,531
Dunvegan Primary	Primary	£6,000	£7,049	£7,351
Durness Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Duror Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Edderton Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Edinbane Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Eigg Primary	Primary	£0	£0	*
Elgol Primary	Primary	£0	£0	*
Farr Primary (Inv)	Primary	*	*	*
Farr Primary (Suth)	Primary	*	*	*
Ferintosh Primary	Primary	£0	£0	*
Foyers Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Gairloch Primary	Primary	*	£7,049	£7,351
Gergask Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Gledfield Primary	Primary	£6,000	*	£6,126
Glencoe Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Glenelg Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Glenurquhart Primary	Primary	£20,400	£17,974	£18,746
Golspie Primary	Primary	£13,200	£16,447	£17,153
Grantown Primary	Primary	£27,600	£25,846	£26,954
Halkirk Primary	Primary	£17,280	£17,622	£18,378
Helmsdale Primary	Primary	£12,000	£11,748	£12,252
Hill of Fearn Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Hilton of Cadboll Primary	Primary	£35,640	£48,167	£50,233
Hilton Primary	Primary	£77,760	£71,663	£74,737
Holm Primary	Primary	£21,600	£22,321	£23,279
Inshes Primary	Primary	£20,400	£29,370	£30,630
Inver Primary	Primary	£7,200	£7,049	£7,351
Invergarry Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Inverie Primary	Primary	£0	£0	*
Inverlochy Primary	Primary	£23,760	£22,321	£23,279
Keiss Primary	Primary	£6,000	*	£6,126
Kilchoan Primary	Primary	£0	£0	*
Kilchuimen Primary	Primary	*	*	£6,126
Kilmuir Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Kiltearn Primary	Primary	£21,600	£19,032	£19,848
Kingussie Primary	Primary	£6,000	*	£6,126
Kinlochbervie Primary	Primary	£12,960	*	£8,821
Kinlochewe Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Kinlochleven Primary	Primary	£20,400	£18,797	£19,603
Kinmylies Primary	Primary	£60,480	£61,090	£63,710
Kirkhill Primary	Primary	£19,200	£17,622	£18,378
Knockbreck Primary (Dunvegan)	Primary	*	*	*
Knockbreck Primary (Tain)	Primary	£35,640	£32,894	£34,306
Kyle Primary	Primary	£16,200	£12,688	£13,232
Kyleakin Primary	Primary	£6,480	£7,049	£7,351
Lady Lovat Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Lairg Primary	Primary	£20,520	£17,622	£18,378
Loch Duich Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Lochaline Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Lochardil Primary	Primary	£15,600	£15,272	£15,928
Lochcarron Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Lochinver Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Lundavra Primary	Primary	£42,120	£35,244	£36,756
Lybster Primary	Primary	£20,520	£16,917	£17,643
Macdiarmid Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Mallaig Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Marybank Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Melvich Primary	Primary	£0	*	*
Merkinch Primary	Primary	£164,400	£149,200	£155,600
Millbank Primary	Primary	£57,600	£51,691	£53,909
Miller Academy Primary	Primary	£42,000	£41,118	£42,882
Milton of Leys Primary	Primary	£27,600	£28,195	£29,405
Milton Primary	Primary	£25,200	£29,370	£30,630
Mount Pleasant Primary	Primary	£44,280	£48,167	£50,233
Muck Primary	Primary	£0	*	*
Muirtown Primary	Primary	£28,800	£25,846	£26,954
Mulbuie Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Munlochy Primary	Primary	£9,720	£14,098	£14,702
Newmore Primary	Primary	£11,880	*	*
Newton Park Primary	Primary	£96,000	£98,683	£102,917
Newtonmore Primary	Primary	£16,200	£11,748	£12,252
North Kessock Primary	Primary	£15,600	£14,098	£14,702
Noss Primary	Primary	£84,000	£95,159	£99,241
Obsdale Primary	Primary	£40,800	£39,943	£41,657
Park Primary School	Primary	£44,400	£39,943	£41,657
Pennyland Primary	Primary	£39,600	£37,594	£39,206
Plockton Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Poolewe Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Portree Primary	Primary	£43,200	£28,195	£29,405
Raasay Primary	Primary	£0	£0	*
Raigmore Primary	Primary	£35,640	£44,642	£46,558
Reay Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Resolis Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Rogart Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Rosebank Primary	Primary	£44,400	£48,167	£50,233
Rosehall Primary	Primary	£1,080	£0	*
Rum Primary	Primary	£0	£0	*
Scoraig School	Primary	*	*	*
Scourie Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Shieldaig Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Smithton Primary	Primary	£97,200	£92,809	£96,791
South Lodge Primary	Primary	£66,000	£66,964	£69,836
Spean Bridge Primary	Primary	£13,200	£11,748	£12,252
St Bride's Primary	Primary	£0	£0	*
St Columba's Roman Catholic Primary	Primary	£12,000	£12,923	£13,477
St Joseph's RC Primary	Primary	£31,200	£29,370	£30,630
Staffin Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Strathconon Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Strathdearn Primary	Primary	£0	£0	*
Stratherrick Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Strathgarve Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Strathpeffer Primary	Primary	£33,480	£27,490	£28,670
Strontian Primary	Primary	£1,080	*	*
Struan Primary	Primary	£0	£0	*
Tarbat Old Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Tarradale Primary	Primary	£30,000	£55,216	£57,584
Teanassie Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Thrumster Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Tomnacross Primary	Primary	£18,000	£19,972	£20,828
Tongue Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Tore Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Ullapool Primary	Primary	£13,200	£11,748	£12,252
Watten Primary	Primary	*	*	*
Alness Academy	Secondary	£52,800	£48,167	£50,233
Ardnamurchan High School	Secondary	£9,720	£7,049	£7,351
Charleston Academy	Secondary	£50,400	£46,992	£49,008
Culloden Academy	Secondary	£64,800	£61,090	£63,710
Dingwall Academy	Secondary	£74,400	£79,886	£83,314
Dornoch Academy	Secondary	£14,400	£12,923	£13,477
Farr High School	Secondary	*	*	*
Fortrose Academy	Secondary	£25,200	£22,204	£23,156
Gairloch High School	Secondary	£9,720	£8,224	£8,576
Glen Urquhart High School	Secondary	£10,800	£9,516	£9,924
Golspie High School	Secondary	£22,800	£23,496	£24,504
Grantown Grammar School	Secondary	£18,000	£16,447	£17,153
Invergordon Academy	Secondary	£48,000	£57,565	£60,035
Inverness High School	Secondary	£114,000	£106,907	£111,493
Inverness Royal Academy	Secondary	£74,400	£84,586	£88,214
Kilchuimen Academy	Secondary	*	*	£6,126
Kingussie High School	Secondary	£28,800	£25,846	£26,954
Kinlochbervie High School	Secondary	*	*	*
Kinlochleven High School	Secondary	£12,000	£10,573	£11,027
Lochaber High School	Secondary	£49,200	£44,642	£46,558
Mallaig High School	Secondary	*	*	*
Millburn Academy	Secondary	£62,400	£61,090	£63,710
Nairn Academy	Secondary	£44,280	£43,468	£45,332
Plockton High School	Secondary	£24,000	£21,146	£22,054
Portree High School	Secondary	£28,800	£25,376	£26,464
Tain Royal Academy	Secondary	£49,200	£50,516	£52,684
Thurso High School	Secondary	£56,400	£55,216	£57,584
Ullapool High School	Secondary	£6,000	£7,049	£7,351
Wick High School	Secondary	£66,960	£68,138	£71,062
Drummond School	Special	£18,000	£30,545	£31,855
St Clement's School	Special	*	£15,272	£15,928
St Duthus School	Special	*	£11,748	£12,252

Question reference: S5W-29795

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 22 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many pupils with additional support needs (ASN) pupils have not had daily access to an ASN teacher during the COVID-19 lockdown, broken down by local authority.

The information requested is not held by the Scottish Government.

Local authorities are best placed to identify how best to meet the needs of the children and young people in their local area.

Children and young people with complex additional support needs can continue, where appropriate, to attend local hubs to secure continuity in their care and support. We working closely with local government partners to ensure that children and young people with additional support needs, and their families, are continuing to receive appropriate support.

Question reference: S5W-29796

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 19 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many educational key worker hubs have not had a daily additional support needs' teacher present during the COVID-19 lockdown, broken down by local authority.

The information requested is not held by the Scottish Government.

Children and young people with complex additional support needs can continue, where appropriate, to attend local hubs to secure continuity in their care and support. We are working closely with local government partners to ensure that children and young people with additional support needs, and their families, are continuing to receive appropriate support.

Daily information on the number of children and young people and staff in these settings is available on the Scottish Government’s website.

https://public.tableau.com/profile/sg.eas.learninganalysis#!
/vizhome/Covid19ELCandHubs/Introduction

Question reference: S5W-29792

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 19 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors how Pupil Equity Funding is spent by each school.

Pupil Equity Funding is additional funding to be invested at the discretion of Headteachers to close the poverty-related attainment gap. Headteachers work in partnership with each other, and their local authority, to agree the use of Pupil Equity Funding.

Working with partners, the Scottish Government has developed refreshed 2020 Pupil Equity Funding National Operational Guidance. This will help schools plan how to most effectively invest their PEF allocation to improve the educational outcomes of children affected by poverty. In addition to the guidance, schools can access ongoing support from Education Scotland’s Attainment Advisor team to maximise improved outcomes for children and young people.

Local authorities may issue complementary guidance about how the funding will operate locally. Schools report on the use of the funding in existing planning and reporting processes to their authority and Parent Council, including in their annual School Improvement Plans and Standards and Quality reports. These plans and reports should be made publicly available so that parents and others can understand what is happening in their school.

In recognition of the financial and other resource implications of maintaining critical provision for children and families at this time, the Scottish Government is providing Local Authorities and Headteachers with flexibility on the use of Attainment Scotland Funding, including Pupil Equity Funding, in order that Local Authorities and Headteachers can best support our most vulnerable children.

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