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All correspondence received by the Scottish Government, addressed to Ministers, is processed via the Ministerial and Corporate Correspondence System (MACCS). MACCS records the type of response required, and directs responses to the relevant team within SG to answer. MACCS has limited functionality as a management information tool; therefore we are unable to provide detailed information on subjects raised by correspondents.

Information on local authority pre-primary education capital expenditure is provided to Scottish Government by local authorities. This includes, but is not limited to, nursery provision. The most up to date data is for 2015-16 and is shown in the following table.

The Scottish Government has instructed no external legal advice in relation to the Children and Young People (Information Sharing) (Scotland) Bill.

As part of the Planning Review, we established a pilot programme of Simplified Planning Zones, funding 3 housing pilot projects which will support innovative housing delivery, including self and custom build. The pilots include projects on an island context, and in rural locations, including looking at how a plot passport approach can simplify planning for those wanting to build a new home in rural areas.

The following Ministers have met with Dumfries and Galloway Council in the last 12 months: Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills; Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work; Cabinet Secretary for Justice; Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Connectivity; Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy; Minister for Local Government and Housing.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-12455 on
16 November 2017. 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

This is an operational matter for Police Scotland. Information about Police Scotland's Gaelic Language Plan is available on the Police Scotland website: http://www.scotland.police.uk/about-us/police-scotland/strategic-planning/gaelic-language-plan

Our investment through the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme has been a major success, extending fibre broadband access to over 800,000 premises across Scotland. This includes 25,000 premises in the constituency of Dumfriesshire, with over 22,000 of these capable of accessing speeds of 24Mbps and above.

The programme was never intended to deliver 100% coverage or to upgrade every BT exchange, but to maximise coverage with the funding available. As a result, some areas will miss out and, unfortunately, the Marrburn exchange is within one of those areas.

The Scottish Government is committed to building on the success of the DSSB programme by extending superfast access to 100% of premises by 2021. The Marrburn exchange will be included in the intervention area for the R100 programme.

£206k has been spent on Ground Investigation work on the A76 at Enterkinfoot. This figures includes:

• Geotechnical Statement of Intent including Desk Study

• Design of Ground Investigation

• Compilation of tender documents

• Ground Investigation, laboratory tests and factual reporting

• Geotechnical Interpretative Report

We have just concluded a consultation on proposals to replace the current guarantee period of 2 years for shallow excavations, and 3 years for deep excavations, with a single guarantee period of 6 years regardless of the depth of excavation. The consultation closed on 12 November 2017. We are currently analysing responses to the consultation and will carefully consider the views given. We will publish that analysis and our response outlining next steps as soon as we can.