Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-04926

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the development of a new gas-fired power station at Peterhead.

The Scottish Government supports the development of new electricity power stations with Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) such as the proposal for a new station at Peterhead. This has the potential to ensure that a net zero electricity system in Scottish remains resilient and secure.

The Scottish Government is supportive of CCUS, an industrial scale decarbonisation system with the potential to make a big impact on achieving Scotland’s emissions targets. The advice from the Climate Change Committee describes CCUS as a “necessity, not an option” to achieve net zero emissions.

Question reference: S6W-04681

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 22 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how the impact and effectiveness of the Business Ventilation Fund will be evaluated; whether the full minutes and evidence from its expert advice group on ventilation will be made publicly available, and, once the fund closes, what assessment the Scottish Government will undertake of the fund's effectiveness and reach, including by sector and size of business.

The First Minister announced funding to support small and medium-sized businesses to improve their ventilation. The Business Ventilation Fund opened for applications on Tuesday 23rd November 2021.

The impact and effectiveness of the fund is being carried out in early January to consider take up and a full evaluation will be conducted on closure of the Fund in April. This will include reach by sectors and size of business.

A webpage is being set up for the Covid Ventilation Short Life Working Group, and the minutes will be available on there in due course.

Question reference: S6W-04890

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 22 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how much it will spend in the current financial year (a) on welfare, (b) on telecoms and (c) in total in order to mitigate any impact of decisions taken by the UK Government.

Estimated spend on the specified areas is detailed in the following table (this doesn't include the circa £3.5 billion of Social Security benefits which while devolved supports and supplements UK welfare benefits):-

Portfolio	Level 4	2021-22 Budget Amount (£m)	Associated Reserve Power	Assumption for inclusion
Safer Communities	Scottish Veterans Fund and the administration of the fund by Veterans Scotland, Capacity Building Grant for Veterans Scotland and supports Ministerial input to Commemorations.	0.5	Defence	Provides support for those in armed forces which links to defence
CEAC	International Development Fund	10.0	Foreign policy	Supports development programmes delivered by a range of organisations in Scotland. In line with Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998, and underpinning agreement from the UK Government giving Scottish Ministers the necessary powers to undertake International Development work.
CEAC	Humanitarian Aid	1.0	Foreign policy	Budget for Humanitarian Emergency Fund. In line with Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998.
F&E	Capital costs relating to improving digital connectivity infrastructure across Scotland.	98.2	Telecomms	Telecoms is a reserved policy area.
F&E	Resource costs relating to improving digital connectivity infrastructure across Scotland.	4.1	Telecomms	Telecoms is a reserved policy area.
Justice	Support for the armed forces and veterans community in Scotland.	1.5	Defence	Provides support for those in armed forces which links to defence
F&E	Employability - Fair Start Scotland	34.1	Employment	Funds employment support services for those most in need of support. Job search and support is reserved (except education, vocational and careers services)
F&E	Employability & workforce skills	22.0	Employment	Funds a range of employability services included for disadvantaged, disabled, care-experienced. Job search and support is reserved.
SJH&LG	Equalities	30.5	Equal opportunities	Promoting Equality and Human Rights which links to Equal opportunities
F&E	Consumer Scotland Policy and Advice	4.6	Consumer Protection	The consumer policy and advice budget is to allow the delivery of advice to citizens across Scotland by the Citizens Advice Network on consumer matters and to ensure consumer interests are represented to government, regulators and decision-makers. It will also support the establishment of a new public body Consumer Scotland to represent consumer interests.
F&E	Accountant in Bankruptcy	2.5	Insolvency	Linked to insolvency which is reserved. The budget continues to allow Accountant in Bankruptcy to ensure access to fair and just processes of debt relief and debt management for the people of Scotland, which takes account of the rights and interests of those involved.
F&E	Business Economic Network Support	2.0	Business Associations	This could be linked to business associations spend which is reserved. This budget covers the costs (principally in relation to accommodation, catering, travel and subsistence) involved in the biannual meetings of the Convention of the Highlands and Islands, a range of minor costs associated with sponsorship of SE and HIE.
F&E	Innovation and Industries (Aerospace Research & Development)	1.0	Outer Space	New capital funding to support Aerospace Research & Development, therefore could be linked to outer space which is reserved.
F&E	International Trade and Investment	18.0	International Relations	Link to international relations which is reserved. The Budget reflects Scottish Government’s increased ambition for internationalisation of the economy and will support delivery of the actions outlined in our three international economy plans for Inward Investment, Trade and Capital - all underpinned by our soon to be published values led Trade Vision.
F&E	Enterprise Zones	39.0	Industrial Development	NMIS and AMCF support manufacturing section which could be linked to industrial development. ‎ Support for the manufacturing sector and continued business engagement, it includes funding to progress the new National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) with the aim to develop and enhance skills, accelerate innovation and improve productivity.
F&E	Low Carbon Economy (Green Jobs Fund)	4.9	Employment ‎ Industrial Development ‎ Energy	Links to 3 reserved areas. This budget line has a focus on supporting our low carbon economy ambitions. Includes Green Jobs Fund (Supply Chain Development) ), Low Carbon Manufacturing Fund (£26m over 5 years) and Clyde Mission Low Carbon Heating (£25m over 5 years). Link to employment, Industrial development and energy.
NZ,E&T	Sustainable Action Fund (Climate Justice Fund)	1.7	International Relations	Climate Justice Fund purpose is to help fight global climate change therefore is linked to international relations which is reserved (note there is a separate FOI request about this fund specifically, following FM's announcement to treble the funding - 202100252499)
NZ,E&T	Sustainable Action Fund (Climate Challenge Programme Malawi)	0.8	International Relations	Link to international relations which is reserved
NZ,E&T	Climate Change Policy (International)	1.5	International Relations	Link to international relations which is reserved
NZ,E&T	Energy Efficiency and Industries	108.5	Energy	Energy is reserved. ‎ This budget supports the promotion of energy efficiency, the continual development of Energy Efficient Scotland and supporting heat decarbonisation. It includes funding to support major capital funding programmes to decarbonise the buildings in the non-domestic and public sectors; projects supporting the transition phase of Energy Efficient Scotland; development of district heating regulations and legislation; provision of programmes of advice and support to encourage the continued uptake of home renewables and non-domestic energy efficiency measures.
NZ,E&T	Renewable and Community Energy	38.8	Energy	Energy is reserved. ‎ In recognition of the potential of wind, hydro, wave and tidal energy to curb global emissions, this budget supports renewable energy projects, including support for the Scottish Government's Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES). It also helps increase community ownership of renewable energy developments and supports renewables workforce development.
NZ,E&T	Low Carbon Economy	50.9	Energy	Energy is reserved. ‎ The low carbon economy budget is aimed at supporting the development of low carbon infrastructure projects including heat networks and the development of innovative financial mechanisms to encourage investment in low carbon infrastructure.
NZ,E&T	Energy Consents, Strategy and Operations	2.4	Energy	Energy is reserved. ‎ Energy Consents Unit processes applications for onshore wind farms, battery storage and other energy related projects. The bulk of spend is on staffing and related costs.
SJ,H&LG	Discretionary Housing Payments	83.1	Social Security (non-devolved social security schemes)	Funding for Discretionary Housing Payments to fully mitigate losses as a result of the "bedroom tax". Of the total, £71m is anticipated to be spent on bedroom tax mitigation. Also allows Local Authorities to provide support to qualifying individuals in housing crisis, including support for those affected by Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates and benefit cap. These benefits are reserved.
SJ,H&LG	Promoting Equality and Human Rights	32.3	Equal Opportunities	Equal opportunities is reserved. This budget supports the equality and human rights infrastructure across Scotland. Investing in the capacity of equality organisations; Strategic Interventions to support key equality outcomes; and specific funds to support frontline activity to address violence against women and to support activities to promote equality and human rights.
	TOTAL	593.9

Question reference: S6W-04886

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 22 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what volume of wood has been imported into Scotland in each of the last five years, also broken down by the country it was imported from.

Question reference: S6W-04893

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 22 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what the average daily traffic flow volumes have been on the A96 Trunk Road between Aberdeen and Inverness in each year since 2017.

Question reference: S6W-04950

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 22 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what the value of the underspend is in (a) each portfolio and (b) total arising from its 2021-22 Budget; whether any of the underspend is in the health budget, and how much of any underspend has been carried forward.

The Scottish Government currently forecasts a balanced resource budget position by the end of 2021-22.

The £200 million of additional Covid support for Business’s and for Self Isolation Support Grants announced by the First Minister on 14 December 2021 has been reprioritised from existing budgets.

The 2022-23 Scottish Budget assumes £179 million of capital and financial transactions will be made available for carry-forward in 2021-22 through the Scotland Reserve.

Question reference: S6W-04825

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 22 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has paid for its (a) active and (b) inactive website domain names in each year since 2016.

Scottish Government makes DNS changes to domains on a daily basis. Given the number of change requests that have been processed each day since renewals in 2016 and the way in which domains are managed it is not possible for us to provide an accurate breakdown of the “active” or “inactive” domains for any date or year other than the latest data we have for the current portfolio as it stands today. We can however provide a breakdown of annual costs for the renewal, management and enterprise DNS provision for the Scottish Government domains portfolio each year since 2016.

Date Total domains Total Ex Vat

2021-06-30 1039 £13,267.50

2020-06-30 1021 £12,530.00

2019-06-30 837 £10,455.00

2018-06-30 705 £8,493.00

2017-06-30 640 £7,612.00

2016-06-30 630 £7,186.00

We have defined “active” as a domain that has DNS configuration applied to it. Any domain that is currently parked with our Registrar Com Laude or has no DNS configuration has been defined as “inactive”.

Question reference: S6W-04820

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 December 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 22 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many further masts it plans to install as part of the Scottish 4G Infill Programme in (a) Argyll and Bute, (b) the Western Isles, (c) the Highlands, (d) Orkney, (e) Shetland and (f) Moray.

The Scottish 4G Infill Programme is investing £28.75M to build up to 55 mobile masts designed to bring 4G connectivity to rural and island communities around Scotland. Updates are published on a regular basis at Scottish 4G infill programme: progress update - gov.scot (www.gov.scot).

In the areas specified, the current breakdown offurther masts planned is:

(a) Argyll and Bute (7) – Ardlussa, Brecklate, Carrine, Craighouse, Crinan, Lochbuie, Kilchoman

(b) Western Isles (2) – Baymore, Manish

(c) Highland (9) – Applecross Forest, Balmacara, Elgol, Inverchoran, Skerray, The Craigs, Inverie, Kenmore, Achosnich

(d) Orkney (1) – Rackwick

(e) Shetland (2) – Bruray, Ham

(f) Moray (0)

Question reference: S6W-04821

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 22 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many communities are currently without 4G services in (a) Argyll and Bute, (b) the Western Isles, (c) the Highlands, (d) Orkney, (e) Shetland and (f) Moray.

The Scottish Government does not collate or hold data on commercial 4G coverage across Scotland.

However, Ofcom provides this data as part of the interactive report they produce alongside their Connected Nations updates. Their latest published information, including local authority area breakdown, can be found at https://www.ofcom.org.uk/research-and-data/multi-sector-research/infrastructure-research/connected-nations-update-summer-2021/interactive-report .

Question reference: S6W-05377

Asked by: Evelyn Tweed, MSP for Stirling, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 December 2021
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Humza Yousaf on 22 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its plans are to publish the National Workforce Strategy for Health and Social Care.

Significant work has already taken place to develop a National Workforce Strategy for Health and Social care, in partnership with CoSLA.

Pursuant to extensive consultation with stakeholders from across the health and social care landscape, the Strategy will outline our shared vision for the workforce, which supports a tripartite ambition of recovery, growth and transformation. It will also set out the actions we are taking in partnership with the workforce, to achieve that vision.

Unfortunately, the rapid emergence of the Omicron variant including the potential challenges this presents for maintenance of our Health and Social care services as we move through Winter, means that this is rightly our immediate focus. We will do all we can to ensure staff are protected and are rapidly increasing the rollout of our vaccinations programme to protect the public.

In light of these developments, the Strategy will now be published in early 2022 to allow us to focus our efforts on the essential business of responding to Covid-19, It is essential we do all we can to promote staff wellbeing, and we will reflect on this next phase of the pandemic as we move forward with publication of the Strategy as soon as is practicable.

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