- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 March 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 26 March 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle the prejudice and stigma that disabled musicians might face.
Answer
There is no place for prejudice or stigma of any kind in Scotland. Culture contributes to the development of a fairer and more diverse Scotland and as a Government we are committed to tackling inequality and making Scotland a stronger, fairer, more inclusive society, including within the culture sector. The initial engagement phase of Scotland’s Culture Strategy demonstrates a strong desire for tackling inequalities to be a central part of its vision and priorities.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 March 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 26 March 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what funding it makes available at a (a) community and (b) national level to promote disabled musicians, and what action it can take to protect this.
Answer
This Government recognises the pivotal role that culture, creativity and music plays in people’s lives across Scotland which is why the 2018-19 Budget includes an increase in culture funding of almost 10%, despite the continued UK Government real terms cuts to Scotland’s resource budget. In 2018/19 the Scottish Government is investing £9million in the Youth Music Initiative ensuring every school pupil in Scotland is offered a year of free music tuition by the time they leave primary school and enabling access to music making opportunities for thousands of young people across Scotland who otherwise might not have the opportunity.
The Scottish Government also supports Sistema Scotland which has Big Noise Centres in Raploch, Govanhill, Torry and Douglas. The £2.5m four-year funding package is enabling the youth orchestra programme to sustain and build on its work to enhance the health, wellbeing and prospects of young people in the communities of Stirling, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee.
All of the five Scottish Government-funded National Performing Companies also have initiatives to encourage cultural activity and participation, with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra providing programmes that connect to disabled musicians, often in collaboration with partners such as Drake Music Scotland, universities and hospitals.
Creative Scotland works with a range of partners to ensure people have the opportunity to engage in music which is crucial for building people's confidence, self-esteem and personal skills. Its funding delivers three main types of support, consisting of Regular Funding for organisations for three years, open Project Funding for individuals and organisations and targeted funds. The recently announced 2018-21 Creative Scotland Regular Funding Network consists of 121 organisations supported by £101.6m. Equalities, diversity and inclusion are embedded through the music network being supported by Creative Scotland, from the sector-leading work of Drake Music Scotland and Paragon Ensemble , to the dynamic Tinderbox Collective working with disabled musicians.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 March 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 20 March 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5O-01803 by Fergus Ewing on 22 February 2018, what percentage of premises in the Scottish Borders will have access to superfast broadband by 31 December 2018.
Answer
As of the end of Q2 2017-18, 82.7% of all premises in the Scottish Borders are now able to access fibre broadband, and 79.7% are able to access speeds of 24Mbps and above. Without the investment made through the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme, it was predicted that only 39.3% of premises would have been able to access fibre broadband.
Figures for the end of 2017 are being assured at present and should be available in the near future.
Extended build through the DSSB programme is planned throughout 2018, thanks to Gainshare funding. However, at this time, we cannot confirm how many additional premises in the Scottish Borders may benefit from this extended build.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 March 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 20 March 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve access to music venues for disabled (a) performers and (b) people wishing to attend events.
Answer
The Disability Action Plan A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People is removing barriers that stop disabled people from participating fully in communities. We are ensuring barriers to accessing and participating in Scotland's culture are removed. We are currently developing a culture strategy with and for the people of Scotland which will set out a vision and priorities for the future development of culture which enables everyone to have an equal opportunity to take part in and contribute to culture throughout the country.
Creative Scotland's future plans and revised Equalities Outcomes wereinformed by their review of equality, diversity and inclusion in the arts, screen and creative industries. Creative Scotland undertook a major Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Review both in Creative Scotland and in the sectors they support. They now require all their funded organisations to have Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plans in place as a condition of funding, and they are supporting organisations to be ambitious in the delivery of EDI. The EDI Review has been a comprehensive process resulting in revised EDI Outcomes 2017-21 being published including a focus on four revised outcomes and key actions being taken to support them along with a plan on measuring progress against them.One of those outcomes is widening attendance and participation in the arts, screen and creative industries. Creative Scotland are working with a range of partners, including other cultural partners, local authorities, health boards and others, to increase opportunities for engagement throughout the country, and support artists and organisations to understand their audiences better and address any barriers to engagement and participation to help tackle inequalities, deliver social justice and transform communities. Creative Scotland's EDI Report sets out the progress Creative Scotland are making to mainstream equalities and deliver their Equality Outcomes to 2017. This may be found here:- http://www.creativescotland.com/resources/our-publications/policies/equalities-in-creative-Scotland
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 March 2018
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 21 March 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what support it offers to people from lower income backgrounds to tackle inequality.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 21 March 2018
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 26 February 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 8 March 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to mark the centenary of the Forestry Commission in 2019.
Answer
During 2019 the Scottish Government will support a range of activities celebrating achievements in the one hundred years since the introduction of the UK Forestry Act in 1919 – including the establishment of the Forestry Commission .
Plans are currently being developed, involving the wider forestry sector and in collaboration with colleagues across the UK. Detailed plans are not yet available, but are expected to include activities to celebrate Scotland’s Trees, Woods and Forests and their contribution to our people, economy and environment. The celebrations will concentrate on recognising past achievements in public and private forestry, and on the opportunities presented by new Scottish forestry legislation to build on that legacy and encourage further significant growth in forestry in Scotland for the next one hundred years.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 March 2018
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 14 March 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle health inequalities, and what role having access to arts and culture can play in this.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 14 March 2018
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 22 February 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 March 2018
To ask the Scottish Government how many criminal trials in each of the last 10 years have been abandoned with the presumption that they could be heard at a later date (deserted pro loco et tempore), and how many were subsequently held later, also expressed as a percentage.
Answer
This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who reply in writing within 20 days.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 January 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 27 February 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what the process is for applying for a temporary Blue Badge, and how long this takes.
Answer
The rules are the same for people with permanent and substantial disabilities or temporary and substantial disabilities however, any temporary and substantial disability must be expected to last at least 12 months in order for a Badge to be issued. The application process is the same: online at www.mygov.scot or using a paper form obtainable from the local authority. The Blue Badge scheme is administered by local authorities, therefore the time it will take to make a decision on an application will vary.
Officials in Transport Scotland continue to review the operation of the Blue Badge scheme in Scotland. This involves engagement with disabled people, local authorities, health and social care professionals and others. It includes assessing whether the Blue Badge eligibility criteria for people with temporary and substantial disabilities are appropriate to facilitate independent living.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 26 February 2018
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 1 March 2018
To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to train and recruit more nurses.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 1 March 2018
