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It is not our policy to provide interview feedback to job applicants as a matter of course. We do however provide feedback if applicants request it and this includes those with a disability.

“Remote Rural Settlement” is defined in the Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification document as:

Areas with a population of less than 3,000 people, and with a drive time of over 30 minutes to a settlement of 10,000 or more

However, this definition is primarily used for statistical purposes and this would not be the sole planning factor when considering an area 'remote'.

I welcome the feedback from the pupils of St Mungo Primary School which raises the importance of broadband provisions in the Kettleholm area, for the perspective of young people in a region that, for obvious reasons is close to my heart.

Regulation and legislative competence in the area of telecommunications is the responsibility of UK Government Ministers. The Scottish Government shares the concern of local communities at the poor coverage that resulted in rural areas and the Scottish Government has choose to step in to accelerate the roll out.

To date, the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme has delivered fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) connectivity to around 60 premises in the Kettleholm area, including St. Mungo Primary School and the school house. Further deployment in the area is planned, with around 70 more premises due to be connected via the DSSB programme by March 2019. Site survey and planning work has still to be completed, however, so these timescales are subject to change.

Any premises in the area which remain unable to access superfast broadband services will be included in the intervention area for the Reaching 100% (R100) programme, which will deliver the Scottish Government's commitment to extend superfast broadband access to every home and business across Scotland. We are investing £600 million in the initial phase of the programme. Despite repeated requests, the UK Government's contribution to this investment remains just £20.99 million (3.5% of the total).

Procurement for this initial phase is well underway, and we will announce further plans in 2019, once contracts have been awarded.

We want all children and young people to receive the support needed to reach their full learning potential.

We will continue to work closely with local authorities to secure more positive experiences for pupils with autism.

We will do this by improving consistency of support, career pathways and professional development for support for learning teachers, and building further capacity.

I will also be meeting with third sector organisations involved in the publication of ‘Not Included, Not engaged, Not involved’ to determine what further action may be needed to strengthen support for pupils with autism in schools.

A table providing details of closures on the A7 from 1 August 2017 to 30 August 2018 has been placed in SPICE, (BIB number 60059). This includes closures due to roadworks and maintenance activities carried out by our Operating Company and other 3 rd parties, and closures implemented by Police Scotland to attend to road traffic accidents and any subsequent follow up actions required.

Jeane Freeman : Operational standards are the responsibility of the LA providing the service and there are no regulatory requirements. The Scottish Government have always promoted standards bodies (of which there are several) so around a third of organisations are signed up to these (Such as The Technology Enabled Care Services Association - TSA) and are assessed on these processes, however this is voluntary.

Where telecare is provided as part of a care service registered with the Care Inspectorate, the whole care service is regulated by the Care Inspectorate and evaluated through their normal inspections of care services.

The Scottish Government is committed to improving the quality of care in Scotland and wants to ensure that everyone who requires care has access to the highest standards of care in every setting, whether in their own home or in residential accommodation. Although the Scottish Government has overall responsibility for health and social care policy in Scotland, the statutory responsibility for delivering, commissioning or monitoring care call services (also known as telecare) at a local level lies with local authorities.

Each Telecare organisation will perform a yearly survey for citizens in receipt of services, however, results are kept internally. The Scottish Government's Technology Enabled Care Programme continue to work closely with Local Authorities in driving forward the uptake of telecare services and continue to closely monitor the number of people known to have benefitted from telecare services.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-18135 on 29 August 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

I met with MSPs, representatives of interest groups, transport operators and members of the public in Stranraer on 24 August to hear first-hand their views on the A75 trunk road.

Transport investment has to be supported by robust evidence and that is why the Scottish Government is undertaking the South West Scotland Transport study. This study is considering the rationale for improvements to road, rail, public transport and active travel on the key strategic corridors including the A75 and A77 as well as the railway corridors to Stranraer and Carlisle via Kilmarnock and Dumfries, with a particular focus on access to the ports at Cairnryan.

This study will provide recommendations setting out options for transport interventions which will be considered through the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2).

Since 2007 the Scottish Government has invested £75 million in road maintenance along the A75 and £13 million on the A701. Approximately £11 million has also been invested in the A75 Hardgrove to Kinmount project to improve overtaking opportunities and remove known pinch points. Transport investment has to be supported by robust evidence and that is why the Scottish Government is undertaking the South West Scotland Transport study. This study is considering the rationale for improvements to road, rail, public transport and active travel on the key strategic corridors including the A75 and A77 as well as the railway corridors to Stranraer and Carlisle via Kilmarnock and Dumfries, with a particular focus on access to the ports at Cairnryan and will also consider the rationale for improving how Dumfries is connected to the M74.

This study will provide recommendations setting out options for transport interventions which will be considered through the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2).