Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-05616

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 14 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-04648 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 3 December 2021, whether milk will be provided free of charge to pupils under the new scheme, or whether it will be subsidised by the Scottish Government.

Question reference: S6W-05213

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 13 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported challenges in sourcing some alarm products, whether it expects all homes to have interlinked fire alarms by February 2022.

We are aware that some manufacturers may be affected by difficulties with imported components. Other manufactures have stock availability and specialist retailers are also able to meet demand, subject to logistical challenges. However, I would emphasise that when the legislation comes into force, it says that work should be done within a reasonable period, which takes into account individual circumstances. No home owner will be penalised if they are unable to do the work by 1 February 2022.

Question reference: S6W-05214

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 13 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to helping communities which oppose wind farm developments to (a) access and (b) fund legal representation during the planning process.

The Scottish Government provides the policy and legislative framework for community engagement in the Scottish planning system. Whilst not providing an advocacy service for communities, the Scottish Government provides financial assistance to PAS (Planning Aid for Scotland), an independent charity, to provide a free advice service on planning and environmental matters for communities and the public at large, through its professional planner volunteers.

Question reference: S6F-00639

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 January 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 January 2022

To ask the First Minister what deadline the Scottish Government has set for making any further changes to this year's SQA examinations process.

Question reference: S6W-05212

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 10 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how frequently NHS patients should have an dental check-up.

Question reference: S6W-05204

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 7 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that there have been around 200 cases referred to the General Teaching Council for Scotland in the last three years that were concluded as "closed after initial consideration", whether it is confident that there are no safeguarding or child protection matters included as part of those cases.

The General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS), as the Independent Professional and Regulatory Body for teachers in Scotland, has a published Fitness to Teach Threshold Policy which sets out what GTCS will investigate under its fitness to teach procedures. It is available on the GTCS website and members of the public are encouraged to read it prior to submitting a referral to GTCS regarding a registered teacher.

The Scottish Government is aware of these issues and continues to have regular dialogue with GTCS on these matters.

Question reference: S6W-05201

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 7 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that people who have referred concerns to the General Teaching Council for Scotland about professional standards have received a response indicating that, unless the referral has been subject to an employer investigation, it is considered "frivolous".

The General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS), as the Independent Professional and Regulatory Body for teachers in Scotland, has a published Fitness to Teach Threshold Policy which sets out what GTCS will investigate under its fitness to teach procedures. It is available on the GTCS website and members of the public are encouraged to read it prior to submitting a referral to GTCS regarding a registered teacher.

The Scottish Government is aware of these issues and continues to have regular dialogue with GTCS on these matters.

Question reference: S6W-05205

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 5 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make commit to passing on in full any Barnett consequentials arising from the UK Government’s sector-specific funding announcements in response to COVID-19 to the relevant sector.

Question reference: S6W-04938

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 23 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its advice is for people who received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in England and their second dose in Scotland and are unable to access their COVID passport.

We have established a process for individuals who have received one of their first coronavirus vaccinations outwith Scotland which allows them to upload official proof of vaccination from that country to their Scottish Vaccination record through NHS Inform . This will allow those individuals to receive a combined fully vaccinated status to show for international travel and domestic purposes.

Individuals who have been vaccinated in England or Wales can provide confirmation that they are fully vaccinated through NHS COVID Pass for domestic purposes.

Question reference: S6W-04978

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 22 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support natural flood management.

Natural flood management measures reduce, slow or otherwise manage flood waters across catchments and along the coast; they include salt marsh creation, wetland restoration, floodplain reconnection and woodland planting.

The Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 recognises the important role of natural flood management and promotes and encourages the use of natural flood management techniques.

Natural flood management aims to reduce, but not necessarily replace, the need for traditional engineering, and is often used as part of a blended approach where natural flood management techniques are used alongside traditional engineering as part of a whole catchment approach.

The Scottish Government supports local authorities to take action to reduce the impacts of flooding through the flooding component of the general capital grant (currently £42m pa). 20% of this (£8.2m pa) is available for actions such as natural flood management. We have also increased the overall flooding budget by 70% from £210 to £360 million in the next 5 years. The distribution of this additional funding is currently under discussion with local authorities.

The Scottish Government is supporting the long term Eddleston Water research project which is developing an evidence base to improve our understanding of natural flood management . It shows that natural flood management can delay flood peaks, deliver multiple benefits and help mitigate climate change impacts.

We also recognise the important role natural features play in protecting the coastline from erosion and sea level rise. The Scottish Government funded Dynamic Coast 2 project helps us to identify where the greatest risks from coastal change erosion and sea level rise are, this decade and into the future. Output from this project indicates that natural coastal defences protect £14.5bn of assets.

Based on these research results we are taking an adaptive planning approach to building resilience to coastal change. We have introduced a new capital budget for £12m over 4 years for coastal change adaptation which will be available from 2022-23. Guidance on how to produce Coastal Change Adaptation Plans is also being developed to help local authorities.

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