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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S5W-23606

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 June 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 11 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £700,000 Plugged-in Households Grant Fund has been allocated, and what future plans it has for the fund.

The total value of the award allocated was £515,956. The remaining unused budget was used to support other low carbon transport initiatives designed to encourage consumers and businesses to make the switch to ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs).

We launched phase two of the Grant Fund on 31 May 2019 which is due to close on 23 August 2019 with a budget of £500,000 to reflect our expenditure in 18-19.

As part of the Scottish Government’s engagement, officials have been speaking with the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) to promote and communicate this funding opportunity to their members. Delivery partners Energy Saving Trust have also been engaging with the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) to capture housing associations who did not apply for phase one funding.

Question reference: S5W-23604

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 June 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 11 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it had with the UK Government regarding the reduction of the Plug-in Car Grant in 2018, and what its position is regarding whether it is too early to scale back support for electric vehicle uptake.

The Scottish Government regularly engages with the UK Government on matters relating to low carbon transport. With regard to changes to the Plug-in Car Grant, we received a week’s notice from UK Government about their plans to scale back support for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles until they chose to make the announcement in October 2018.

It is disappointing that the UK Government has chosen to cut support to the PiCG, particularly as sales of alternatively fuelled vehicles have dropped across the UK since the UK Government removed this support.

This view was echoed by other stakeholder groups including the AA and RAC who have also commented that this cut represents a backward step and could well stall progress on targets to ban the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles.

Question reference: S5W-23479

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 May 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 5 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government under what circumstance volunteers who have been given Disclosure Scotland clearance might be made exempt from assisting in tidying gardens at NHS hospitals.

Health boards are required to comply with the national Safer Pre and Post Employment Checks Partnership Information Network (PIN) policy, which includes guidance on criminal record checks through Disclosure Scotland. This policy applies to all those who work within or apply to work within NHSScotland, including volunteers and those on work experience or training placements.

The PIN policy states that it is for boards to review each role to determine whether an individual is required to provide a disclosure regulated by the Police Act 1997 or by the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007. The type of disclosure required depends upon the nature and circumstances of the particular role. Staff or volunteers may, therefore, be required to provide a different form of disclosure when they move between roles.

Question reference: S5W-22975

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 May 2019
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 3 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that superfast broadband speeds will be available to every address by the end of 2021.

Despite the constraints of all regulatory and legislative powers over telecommunications being reserved to the UK Parliament and UK Ministers, the Scottish Government recognises the importance of broadband services for economic development and has stepped in to address the failings of the UK-wide market to deliver services to many premises across Scotland. Through our Reaching 100% programme (R100), the Scottish Government is determined to ensure that all premises have access to services at superfast speeds of 30 Megabits per second or better.

By maintaining a competitive dialogue throughout the £600 million R100 procurement for, we are maximising competition and driving value, innovation and coverage. This programme is 96.5% funded by the Scottish Government, despite the UK Government having responsibility for investing in broadband across the UK. The competitive nature of the procurement process has given us the best chance of optimising the cost effectiveness of public funding to deliver the greatest possible outcome for the people of Scotland.

We are seeking to work with UK Ministers to ensure alignment with existing UK Government voucher schemes, maximising opportunities for collective investment to deliver further benefits. This will help to ensure that premises in remote, rural and islands areas are not disadvantaged, due to their higher cost of installation.

Commercial coverage will play a vital role too, particularly in Scotland’s urban areas. I am greatly encouraged by existing, significant investment programmes as well as commitments and further emerging plans from commercial suppliers such as CityFibre and Virgin Media, in addition to investment being made by Openreach.

Question reference: S5W-22977

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 May 2019
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 29 May 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve trust in access to broadband services.

Question reference: S5W-22972

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 May 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 16 May 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether its funding is being used to subsidise any HGV training facilities.

Question reference: S5W-22976

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 May 2019
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 15 May 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to boost the digital skills that will required for businesses in the forthcoming years.

This is a critically important time for Scotland’s skills system. We know the nature of work is changing, as is the make-up of Scotland’s workforce, and our labour market faces potential disruption through a range of factors, including Brexit and technological advances.

We want to harness the opportunities this disruption will create, whilst ensuring we have the right skills in place to support individuals, employers and our economy and support governments overarching strategic ambitions of improving productivity and Inclusive Growth.

Digital skills development remains a key priority for the Scottish Government. In addition to the extensive training offered to individuals through our school, college and university systems and apprenticeship programme, we also offer additional support to business through CodeClan, DigitalBoost and the Digital Development Loan.

We continue to support Skills Development Scotland with funding to tackle tongoing sectoral challenges as set out in the Digital Skills Investment Plan, including attracting more women into the sector and increasing the number and variety of apprenticeships available.

Finally, our 2018 Programme for Government includes a commitment to develop a Future Skills Action Plan in 2019, and to establish a National Retraining Partnership.

Question reference: S5W-22971

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 May 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 14 May 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what funding is available to individuals to train as HGV operators.

Scottish Government policy is to provide a contribution towards Modern Apprenticeship training administered by Skills Development Scotland, with employers expected to make a contribution to additional costs of training.

The contribution rates for the Freight Logistics (Driving Goods Vehicle) Modern Apprenticeship framework for the current year 2019/20 are;

Individuals Aged 16-19: SCQF Level 5 £2,700, Level 6 £4,500
Individuals Aged 20-24: SCQF Level 5 £1,550, Level 6 £2,500
Individuals Aged 25+: SCQF Level 5 £1,000, Level 6 £2,000

Skills Development Scotland contract annually with training providers, colleges, universities and employers to deliver Modern Apprenticeship training. They have recently awarded the Road Haulage Association their first Modern Apprenticeship contract for Freight Logistics Apprenticeships. The Freight Logistics framework applies to both Long Goods Vehicles and Heavy Good Vehicles.

Question reference: S5O-03240

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 May 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 May 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that community payback orders are fully completed.

Question reference: S5W-22624

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 April 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 1 May 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to make trend analysis and usage data from government-funded (a) ULEV purchase schemes and (b) electric vehicle charging points publicly available.