- Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 November 2021
-
Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 3 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03267 by Michael Matheson on 11 October 2021, while decarbonisation projects of any size can progress through the Marine Scotland Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) decarbonisation plan, whether innovation projects in Scotland that are not part of the oil and gas decarbonisation programme are subject to a 100MW cap; if so, what its position is on whether this curtails such projects in Scottish waters; what specific consideration it will give to raising the cap for these Scottish innovation projects through INTOG from 100MW to 300MW, to enable such projects in Scottish waters to compete with any similar pre-commercial projects in the English and Welsh waters of the Celtic Sea that are up to 300MW in size, and what its position is on whether this would provide an opportunity for innovative Scottish stepping-stone projects to be brought forward.
Answer
As per the previous answer to question S6W-03267 highlighted, a consultation has taken place on the Planning Specification and Context Report for the Sectoral Marine Plan for Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas Decarbonisation (INTOG). That consultation closed on 20 October 2021 and the Scottish Government is aiming to publish the results of that consultation alongside the Initial Plan Framework, which sets out all parameters and spatial components, shortly. This document will include definitions for both Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas components. It is, of course, the intention to ensure that projects delivered under INTOG are competitive.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 November 2021
-
Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 3 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of reports that NHS Lanarkshire has a backlog of chronic pain injections dating back to 2018, with some patients requiring these treatments every six months, and what action is being taken to improve treatment, care and outcomes for chronic pain patients in Lanarkshire, in light of the reported pre-pandemic delays and ongoing impacts of COVID-19.
Answer
I appreciate how difficult postponement of treatment has been for people with chronic pain, including those who may have had their normal treatment paused as a result of the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many factors determine the suitability and availability of specialist pain procedures, including clinical prioritisation and the availability of staffing, theatre capacity and the ongoing implications of COVID-related pathways.
In September 2020, the Scottish Government published the Framework for recovery of NHS pain management services to support the rapid and safe re-mobilisation of specialist pain management services. We remain committed to ensuring that Health Boards, including NHS Lanarkshire, resume specialist pain services as quickly as it is safe to do so.
We will shortly be launching a public consultation on a new Framework for Pain Management Service Delivery which includes an aim to deliver more timely access to care and improved health outcomes for people with chronic pain.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 November 2021
-
Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 3 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the advice it has issued to local authorities regarding the distribution of the Tenant Hardship Loan Fund.
Answer
The Tenant Hardship Loan Fund has not been administered by local authorities so I have assumed that you are referring to the £10m Tenant Grant Fund announced in June and have responded to your question on that basis.
Local authorities were issued with non-statutory guidance to support them in their administration of the Tenant Grant Fund on 17 September 2021. A copy of this guidance can be found at: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Tenant Grant Fund: guidance for local authorities - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 November 2021
-
Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 3 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how many schools in (a) South Lanarkshire, (b) North Lanarkshire and (c) Falkirk have charging points for electric vehicles.
Answer
Over the past decade the Scottish Government has invested over £50 million in ChargePlace Scotland, investing ahead of need to create a publicly available network of EV charging infrastructure, which now consists of over 2000 charge points across Scotland.
It is for Local Authorities to determine local priorities and demand for charging infrastructure. Encompassing decisions such as required locations of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and the most appropriate charger type, when requesting funding support.
Through Transport Scotland funding initiatives, we have supported the following list of EV chargers for Falkirk Council.
- Bo’ness Academy (x1, commissioned)
- Denny High School (x1, commissioned)
- Falkirk High School (x1, commissioned)
- Grangemouth High School (x1, commissioned)
- Braes High School (x1, commissioned)
- Carron Grange High School (x2, commissioned)
- St Mungo’s High School (x1, commissioned)
Whilst Local Authorities have access to request funding from the Scottish Government to support the development of charging infrastructure; this is not a sole source of charge point provision, therefore other charge point installations could exist, which would be outside of our records.
To date North and South Lanarkshire have not requested funding from Transport Scotland for charging infrastructure to be installed at schools in their respective areas’.
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 November 2021
-
Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 3 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03499 by Kate Forbes on 27 October 2021, whether the Short Life Working Group on Ventilation has since determined that community halls are also eligible for financial support, in light of the recent announcement of a £25 million funding package.
Answer
The list of premises that are eligible for financial support through the Business Ventilation Fund has now been published on the Scottish Government website. I can confirm that community halls are included in the list of eligible businesses.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Business Ventilation Fund - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 November 2021
-
Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 3 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will create a support mechanism for the wave and tidal energy industry to work alongside the UK Government’s revenue stabilisation mechanism, as recommended in the Scottish Renewables publication, Beyond COP26: Next steps for Scotland’s clean energy revolution.
Answer
The Scottish Government will set out a strengthened framework of support in the forthcoming Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan in 2022, to support the growth of the marine renewables and offshore wind sectors, focused on funding for the infrastructure these sectors need, such as port upgrades.
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 November 2021
-
Current Status:
Answered by Ben Macpherson on 3 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the proposed changes to the assessment process for adult disability payment (ADP), how many people in receipt of personal independence payment (PIP) it expects will request the rate of the mobility support that they receive to be reviewed following transfer to ADP, and what modelling and analysis it has used to determine this.
Answer
Forecasts relating to future requests for award reviews and reassessments are set out by the Scottish Fiscal Commission (SFC). The most recently published forecast of 26 August 2021 stated that 8,700 additional people could request that their award be reviewed due to their circumstances changing over the course of case transfer.
On the assumption that around 72% of these individuals could request their mobility award is reviewed, based on the current share of PIP award types, such requests could therefore be around 6,300 people following transfer to ADP from PIP.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 November 2021
-
Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 3 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will establish an energy skills and services export target, as recommended in the Scottish Renewables publication, Beyond COP26: Next steps for Scotland’s clean energy revolution.
Answer
The Scottish Government committed in the Programme for Government to develop an Export Plan for Renewables . This Plan will be developed in partnership with the industry and stakeholders, including Scottish Renewables. Consideration of an energy skills and services export target will be included as part of this process.
- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Monday, 22 November 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
-
Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 3 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) regarding the procurement of hydrogen-powered ferries and infrastructure on publicly subsidised contracts for lifeline ferry services.
Answer
Transport Scotland maintain regular engagement with Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) and other partners regarding future vessel projects. These discussions include appropriate consideration of design and operating options, including alternative fuels. CMAL also continues to work as part of the HySeas III consortium in its role as concept designer for potential hydrogen fuelled vessels.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Friday, 19 November 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
-
Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 3 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what the timeline is for the Ending Homelessness Together updated plan, and by what date all of the outcomes will be achieved.
Answer
Our Ending Homelessness Together action plan sets out actions we are taking in the short to medium term to end homelessness. Some actions have timescales associated with them while others involve system-wide reforms. There are timescales for the funding that supports the action plan, however. The £50 million Ending Homelessness Together Fund announced in 2017 is for five years (2018-23) and the new £50 million announced in Programme for Government 2021 to end homelessness is for this parliamentary term (2021-26).