Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-08075

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 10 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that foster carers in Glasgow have not received a pay increase since 2009; what its position is on whether this can be considered fair pay, and, if it considers this is not the case, what steps it can take to address the matter.

Responsibility for providing financial support to foster carers registered with Glasgow City Council is a matter for Glasgow City Council. Any concerns about levels of foster carer fees or foster care allowances should be addressed directly to them.

The Scottish Government is working with COSLA to find a way forward on the introduction of the Scottish Recommended Allowance for both foster and kinship carers across Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-08076

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 10 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will encourage Glasgow City Council to consider an uplift in foster carers allowance to bring it in line with inflation.

Question reference: S6W-07991

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 10 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of landfill sites by (a) area covered and (b) active status.

The following table provides a full breakdown of landfill sites with a pollution prevention and control (PPC) permit with their locations and current operational status.

It is not possible to specify the area covered by each landfill given it is a commercial decision for landfill operators where they accept waste from. The local authority that each site is located in is provided in the following table, but it is possible that waste will travel between local authority areas prior to being landfilled.

Site Name	Status/Phase	Site location
A & M Smith, Bankhead, Portlethen	Closure	Aberdeenshire Council
Crows Nest L/F,Raemoir Rd,Banchory,Aberdeen	Closure	Aberdeenshire Council
Brandon Howe L/F Site, Inverboyndie, Banff	Closure	Aberdeenshire Council
Park Quarry, Kincluny Farm, Durris	Operational	Aberdeenshire Council
Easter Hatton Environment, Balmedie, Aberdeen	Operational	Aberdeenshire Council
Loch Hills Quarry, Parkhill, Dyce, Aberdeen	Operational	Aberdeenshire Council
Savoch Quarry Landfill Site, Peterhead	Operational	Aberdeenshire Council
Howe of Byth, Cowbog, New Pitsligo	Closure	Aberdeenshire Council
Stoneyhill Environ Pk, Peterhead, Aberdeen	Operational	Aberdeenshire Council
Hill of Tramaud Landfill, Harehill, Aberdeen	Closure	Aberdeenshire Council
Wester Hatton L/F Site, Balmedie, Aberdeen	Operational	Aberdeenshire Council
Restenneth Landfill Site, Montrose Rd, Forfar	Operational	Angus Council
D Geddes Ltd, Border Quarry LF, Friockheim	Operational	Angus Council
D Geddes Ltd, Ardownie Landfill, Monifieth	Operational	Angus Council
D Geddes (Con) Ltd, Prettycur Landfill,Forfar	Operational	Angus Council
Hatton Mill Landfill site	Operational	Angus Council
Tayside Contrcts,Bolshan Quarry LF,Friockheim	Operational	Angus, Dundee & Perth & Kinross Councils
Gott Bay LFS, Isle of Tiree, Argyll	Operational	Argyll & Bute Council
Glengorm Landfill Site, Glengorm Rd, Tobermor	Operational	Argyll & Bute Council
Gartbreck Landfill Site, Bowmore, Islay	Operational	Argyll & Bute Council
Dalinlongart L/F & Compost, Sandbank, Dunoon	Operational	Argyll & Bute Council
Lingerton Landfill Site	Operational	Argyll & Bute Council
Bennadrove L/F Site, Marybank, Isle of Lewis	Operational	Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Auchenlosh Landfill Site	Closure	Dumfries and Galloway Council
Galdenoch Waste Disp Site, Leswalt, Stranraer	Closure	Dumfries and Galloway Council
Aucheniness Waste Disposal Site, Dalbeatie	Closure	Dumfries and Galloway Council
Barr Environ, Garlaff L/F, Skares Rd, Cumnock	Operational	East Ayrshire
Cockenzie Ash Lagoons, Musselburgh	Closure	East Lothian
Viridor Waste,Dunbar L/F,Oxwell Mains,Dunbar	Operational	East Lothian
JM Murdoch, East Capellie Farm L/F, Neilston	Closure	East Renfrewshire Council
West Fortune Transfer Station & Landfill	Closure	Edinburgh, Lothian and Borders
Avondale Non-Hazardous Landfill, Polmont	Operational	Falkirk Council
Avondale Environmental, Polmont, Falkirk (Haz)	Operational	Falkirk Council
West Carron Landfill, Stenhouse Rd, Falkirk	Operational	Falkirk Council
Scottish Water, Broadside Landfill, Denny	Closure	Falkirk Council
Fife Council, Lochhead L/F, By Wellwood, Fife	Operational	Fife Council
Fife Council, Lower Melville Woods, Fife	Operational	Fife Council
Scottish Power, Valleyfield Ash Lagoons	Closure	Fife Council
Greenoakhill L/F Site, Hamilton Rd, Glasgow	Operational	Glasgow City Council
Skitten Quarry, Skitten, Wick	Operational	Highland Council
Duisky Landfill Site, Fort William (Site 5)	Operational	Highland Council
Oatslie Sandpit L/F, Cleugh Rd, Midlothian	Closure	Midlothian Council
Drummond Moor (No2) L/F, Rosewell, Midlothian	Operational	Midlothian Council
Middleton Quarry, Middleton, Gorebridge	Operational	Midlothian Council
Nether Dallachy Landfill Site, Spey Bay	Operational	Moray Council
Shewalton Landfill Area 2 & 4/5, Irvine	Closure	North Ayrshire Council
Auchinlea L/F Site, Bellside, Cleland, M/well	Closure	North Ayrshire Council
Knowes Farm IV Landfill Site, Beith	Operational	North Ayrshire Council
Loanhead Quarry, Boydstone Road, Beith	Operational	North Ayrshire Council
Greengairs L/F, Meikle Drumgray Rd, Airdrie	Operational	North Lanarkshire Council
Levenseat Waste Management Site, Lanarkshire	Operational	North Lanarkshire Council
Mossband Farm High Street Newhouse Motherwell	Closure	North Lanarkshire Council
Kingsdale LFS, Firth, Orkney	Closure	Orkney Islands Council
OIC Bossack Landfill, Bossack, Orkney	Operational	Orkney Islands Council
Aberfeldy Groundworks Ltd, Mains of Taymouth	Closure	Perth & Kinross Council
SITA, Binn Landfill, Binn Farm, Glenfarg	Closure	Perth & Kinross Council
Bishopton Landfill, Royal Ordnance Site	Operational	Renfrewshire Council
Kilbarchan Landfill, Branscroft, Kilbarchan	Operational	Renfrewshire Council
WH Malcolm Ltd, Reilly Quarry, Houston	Closure	Renfrewshire Council
James Fairbairn, Lamberton Inert Waste L/F	Closure	Scottish Borders Council
Easter Langlee Landfill Site, Galashiels	Closure	Scottish Borders Council
Gremista Landfill, Lerwick, Shetland	Operational	Shetland Islands Council
Shetland Gas Plant Peat Store, Sullom Voe	Closure	Shetland Islands Council
Straid Farm Landfill Site, Lendalfoot, Girvan	Operational	South Ayrshire Council
Tarbolton Moss Landfill Site, South Ayrshire	Closure	South Ayrshire Council
GCC, Cathkin L/F, Cairnmuir Rd, East Kilbride	Closure	South Lanarkshire Council
Carscallan Farm Landfill, Quarter, Hamilton	Operational	South Lanarkshire Council
Rigmuir Landfill Site, East Kilbride	Closure	South Lanarkshire Council
W Hamilton & Sons, Dovesdale Farm LF,Stonehse	Operational	South Lanarkshire Council
Muirhouse LF, Muirhouse Quarry, Strathblane	Closure	Stirling Council
Highland Coun,Granish L/F,Aviemore,Inverness	Operational	The Highland Council
Highland Council,Seater L/F,Bower,Caithness	Operational	The Highland Council
Barr Environ, Auchencarroch L/F, Jamestown	Operational	West Dumbartonshire Council
Rigangower L/F, Off A82, Milton, Dumbarton	Operational	West Dumbartonshire Council
Torphin Quarry, Harburn, West Calder	Operational	West Lothian Council

Question reference: S6W-07990

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 10 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of landfill site locations that closed in each of the last five years, and, in each case, how long the site underwent monitoring prior to closure.

The following table provides a breakdown of all landfill sites with a pollution, prevention and control (PPC) permit that are currently in the ‘closure’ phase, in that they are not receiving waste for disposal .

Following the December 2020 cyber-attack on SEPA, it is not possible for SEPA to provide the dates at which sites moved from operational to closure status but in the last five years no PPC landfill sites have entered ‘Definite Closure’ meaning these sites could theoretically become operational again in the future.

All of these sites have been monitored, both by the operator and/or SEPA since before their permit was issued and will continue to be subject to monitoring until such time as an application to surrender the permit is approved by SEPA, i.e. throughout operational, closure, definite closure and after care phases.

Site Name	Status/Phase	Site location
A & M Smith, Bankhead, Portlethen	Closure	Aberdeenshire Council
Crows Nest L/F,Raemoir Rd,Banchory,Aberdeen	Closure	Aberdeenshire Council
Brandon Howe L/F Site, Inverboyndie, Banff	Closure	Aberdeenshire Council
Howe of Byth, Cowbog, New Pitsligo	Closure	Aberdeenshire Council
Hill of Tramaud Landfill, Harehill, Aberdeen	Closure	Aberdeenshire Council
Auchenlosh Landfill Site	Closure	Dumfries and Galloway Council
Galdenoch Waste Disp Site, Leswalt, Stranraer	Closure	Dumfries and Galloway Council
Aucheniness Waste Disposal Site, Dalbeatie	Closure	Dumfries and Galloway Council
Cockenzie Ash Lagoons, Musselburgh	Closure	East Lothian
JM Murdoch, East Capellie Farm L/F, Neilston	Closure	East Renfrewshire Council
West Fortune Transfer Station & Landfill	Closure	Edinburgh Lothian and Borders
Scottish Water, Broadside Landfill, Denny	Closure	Falkirk Council
Scottish Power, Valleyfield Ash Lagoons	Closure	Fife Council
Oatslie Sandpit L/F, Cleugh Rd, Midlothian	Closure	Midlothian Council
Shewalton Landfill Area 2 & 4/5, Irvine	Closure	North Ayrshire Council
Auchinlea L/F Site, Bellside, Cleland, M/well	Closure	North Ayrshire Council
Mossband Farm High Street Newhouse Motherwell	Closure	North Lanarkshire Council
Kingsdale LFS, Firth, Orkney	Closure	Orkney Island Council
Aberfeldy Groundworks Ltd, Mains of Taymouth	Closure	Perth & Kinross Council
SITA, Binn Landfill, Binn Farm, Glenfarg	Closure	Perth & Kinross Council
WH Malcolm Ltd, Reilly Quarry, Houston	Closure	Renfrewshire Council
James Fairbairn, Lamberton Inert Waste L/F	Closure	Scottish Borders Council
Easter Langlee Landfill Site, Galashiels	Closure	Scottish Borders Council
Shetland Gas Plant Peat Store, Sullom Voe	Closure	Shetland Islands Council
Tarbolton Moss Landfill Site, South Ayrshire	Closure	South Ayrshire Council
GCC, Cathkin L/F, Cairnmuir Rd, East Kilbride	Closure	South Lanarkshire
Rigmuir Landfill Site, East Kilbride	Closure	South Lanarkshire
Muirhouse LF, Muirhouse Quarry, Strathblane	Closure	Stirling Council

Source: Scottish Environmental Protection Agency

Question reference: S6W-08142

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 10 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many local authority social work departments have developed their own policy to manage risk and to respond to and track missing children, as stated at paragraph 621 of the National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland (2014).

Local authorities are distinct corporate bodies whose powers and duties are set out in statute. The Scottish Government does not have a record of how many social work departments have their own policy in place for missing children.

Multi-agency risk assessment and co-ordination is essential to managing risk, responding to and tracking missing children. Local Child Protection Committees should ensure that there are specific and appropriate arrangements in place through policy, guidance, protocols and procedures which are known and implemented by relevant services. Local authority social work departments are a core multi-agency partner. The National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021, which replaced the 2014 guidance, states that each agency needs to develop its own policies and protocols to manage risk and track missing children. These should sit alongside and make reference to the multi-agency Child Protection Committee guidance reflecting that other agencies, for example, Police Scotland, will have to become involved very quickly when a child goes missing.

Question reference: S6W-08259

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 10 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve support and care for people experiencing perimenopause symptoms.

Through the Women’s Health Plan, we are committed to improving support and care for people experiencing perimenopause symptoms.

A menopause platform has launched on NHS Inform to ensure women have access to information on menopause, including the signs and symptoms of perimenopause. One of the key actions in the Women’s Health Plan is to launch a public health campaign in order to raise awareness of the symptoms of menopause.

We want all women to have timely access to menopause support and services. For those who need specialist support, there is now a specialist menopause service in every mainland NHS Board and support in place for the Island health boards.

A Menopause Specialists Network meets regularly to provide consistent advice and peer support to health care professionals, including primary care teams.

We know that many women will seek support from their local GP practice for their perimenopause symptoms. To support primary care, NHS Education for Scotland (NES) is developing menopause training for healthcare professionals, including Practice Nurses and GPs.

A Women’s Health Lived Experience Group has been established by Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland to ensure we continue to engage with women across Scotland on menopause and other areas of Women’s Health.

Question reference: S6W-08279

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 10 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07335 by Maree Todd on 25 March 2022, what the outcome was of the meeting on 10 November 2021, and what steps have been taken since to "work with NHS, third sector partners and people affected by Huntington’s Disease to drive up standards of care".

The Minister had a positive and constructive meeting with Scottish Huntington’s Association (SHA) in November to discuss the issues raised within motion S6M-00923. Scottish Government officials will meet with the SHA this month in order to further explore the need for provision and service development across neurological conditions, including Huntington’s Disease.

The pandemic has seen our NHS under the most severe pressure in its 73-year existence. The NHS Recovery Plan sets out plans and ambitions for recovery, backed by more than £1 billion of funding. The plan will support increased inpatient and outpatient activity, including an aim to increase outpatients capacity by 10% compared to pre-pandemic levels.

In March we published a National Workforce Strategy for Health and Social Care which supports the remobilisation and recovery of health and social care services and sets out priorities for recruitment, training and retention.

The Scottish Government’s National Advisory Committee for Neurological Conditions and the Centre for Sustainable Delivery have set up a working group to improve workforce and care pathways in neurology. This includes development of tools to support statutory providers to make effective workforce decisions. Alistair Haw, Chief Executive Officer at the SHA is a member of this group, representing the Neurological Alliance of Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-08272

Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 10 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been convicted of possessing indecent images of children, broken down by type of disposal, in each of the last 10 full financial years.

The latest available information from the Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings database is for 2019-20 and is provided in the following tables.

Information for 2020-21 will not be available until publication of the Criminal Proceedings in Scotland, 2020-21 statistical bulletin later this year.

Number of people convicted for taking, distribution, possession etc. indecent photos of children 1 , by disposal and length of custodial sentence, where main charge, 2010-11 to 2019-20

Main disposal	Total convicted	Custody	Community sentence	Monetary	Other
2010-11	107	49	57	-	1
2011-12	118	45	71	2	-
2012-13	166	72	90	1	3
2013-14	245	93	148	2	2
2014-15	287	74	203	4	6
2015-16	279	60	208	6	5
2016-17	232	72	154	3	3
2017-18	250	85	160	4	1
2018-19	283	96	183	2	2
2019-20	211	54	152	2	3

Length of custodial sentence

	Total custody	Up to 3 months	Over 3 months to 6 months	Over 6 months to 1 year	Over 1 year to 2 years	Over 2 years to less than 4 years	4 years and over
2010-11	49	2	2	12	17	12	4
2011-12	45	-	5	6	13	15	6
2012-13	72	-	6	23	18	10	15
2013-14	93	-	4	27	24	20	18
2014-15	74	1	5	19	21	16	12
2015-16	60	1	6	12	21	14	6
2016-17	72	1	3	19	32	11	6
2017-18	85	-	3	21	42	13	6
2018-19	96	-	3	31	40	20	2
2019-20	54	-	-	12	26	13	3

1. Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 sections 52 and 52A.

Question reference: S6W-08281

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 10 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07335 by Maree Todd on 25 March 2022, whether it will provide a breakdown of the funding provided to the Scottish Huntington’s Association in each year since 2012.

The following is a breakdown of the funding provided by the Scottish Government to the Scottish Huntington’s Association (SHA), since 2012.

2012 - £103,000

2013 - £93,000

2014 - £88,000

2015 - £138,000

2016 - £133,000

2017 - £133,000

2018 - £145,600

2019 - £50,000

2020 - £40,000

2021 - £15,000

Total Funding - £938,600

This funding largely comprises support for the development of a national care framework for Huntington’s Disease, and organisational core and project funding for the SHA, to support the provision of their specialist services and initiatives for people affected by Huntington’s Disease and their families.

Question reference: S6W-08233

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 10 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on whether there are any roundtable forums for self-employed inventors to meet relevant stakeholders in Scotland.

The Scottish Government does not facilitate any forums or roundtables for self-employed inventors. We are working with industry and key stakeholders to develop a new innovation strategy to ensure businesses, people and institutions are ready to meet the challenges and opportunities we face over the next 10 years. We will ensure the support we provide is easy to access and focused on areas of greatest opportunity to meet our vision in becoming a world leading, innovation nation.

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