Questions and answers

Question reference: S6F-01051

Asked by: Gillian Mackay, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 29 April 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 May 2022

To ask the First Minister whether she will provide an update on what the Scottish Government is doing to support households through the cost of living crisis.

Question reference: S6F-01049

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 29 April 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 May 2022

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-01048

Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 29 April 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 May 2022

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6W-07831

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 29 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07108 by Lorna Slater on 22 March 2022, whether, at the time that the answer was provided, it had been advised by Circularity Scotland that the estimated number of reverse vending machines (RVMs) to be used for its Deposit Return Scheme would be around 5,000 rather 3,021, and, if so, for what reason this information was not disclosed in that answer.

As set out in the answer to S6W-07830 on 29 April 2022, we have had no further discussions with Circularity Scotland Ltd regarding any estimated numbers of reverse vending machines since the publication of the amended final Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment for our Deposit Return Scheme, and do not recognise the figure of around 5,000.

. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Question reference: S6W-07830

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 29 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07108 by Lorna Slater on 22 March 2022, which states that the number of reverse vending machines (RVMs) that will be used in Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) was estimated at 3,021, whether it now estimates that number to be around 5,000, in light of this reportedly being stated in a DRS workshop held by Circularity Scotland in March 2022, and, if so, what action it will take to further amend the final BRIA to reflect the additional costs associated with this increased estimate.

Our best and final estimate of the number of reverse vending machines (RVMs) that will be required to operate Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) is 3,021, as set out in Table 2 of the amended final Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) published on 15 December 2021. At the time of drafting the amended final BRIA, Circularity Scotland Ltd (CSL) confirmed that this matched their estimate.

We have had no further discussions with CSL regarding any estimated numbers of RVMs since that time and do not recognise the figure of around 5,000. Although it is entirely appropriate for CSL to continue to update its own assumptions regarding key parameters for DRS, our best and final estimate prior to implementation remains unchanged and we have no intention to further revisit the amended final BRIA.

Question reference: S6W-07942

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 29 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the number of people who have had COVID-19, and who were eligible for anti-viral medication, who (a) received and (b) did not receive this medication within five days.

As at the week beginning 11 April 2022, over 6300 non-hospitalised individuals had received COVID-19 treatments (oral antivirals or monoclonal antibody treatment) in Scotland since 22 December 2021.

Adults and children (aged 12 years and above) are eligible to be assessed for their suitability for new COVID-19 treatments if they:

? have symptoms of coronavirus that started in the last 5 days with no signs of clinical recovery;

? are a member of one of the patient groups considered at high risk from coronavirus and with a clinical condition prioritised for treatment; and

? coronavirus is confirmed by a positive lateral flow device (LFD) or PCR test.

Some COVID-19 positive individuals who meet the eligibility criteria will decide not to receive antiviral treatments, or may be unable to, for example due to other medications they are taking.

The information on those who were eligible for treatment and who received it within five days and those who did not receive it within five days is not held centrally.

Question reference: S6W-08031

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 29 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated combined financial value of the energy output from all of Scotland’s wind energy projects was in each of the last 10 years.

The exact financial value of the electricity output from Scotland’s wind energy projects is not known. Electricity is traded on in the wholesale market where the price fluctuates continuously and precise data on prices is not publicly available.

? Also a large proportion of wind generators are subsidised through schemes such as the contracts for differences (CfD) and the Renewable Obligation (RO) so the revenues obtained will differ from the wholesale market price.

? However, taking estimates of annual average wholesale market prices together with the volume of electricity generated by Scottish wind farms, the estimated value of the electricity generated from 2012-2021 is approximately £9.5bn.

? Due to recent spikes in energy prices around 25% of the total value over the last 10 years occurred in 2021 alone.

Question reference: S6W-07920

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 29 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether pre-retirement interviews are standard practice in the NHS, and what efforts are made to retain staff as part of this process.

The Model Retirement policy (included within the Supporting the Work-Life Balance PIN policy 2015 ) asks that all NHS Scotland Boards arrange an individual interview with a member of staff 9 months before a proposed date of retiral in order that a ‘Retiral Plan’ may be drawn up. Each circumstance is different, however, this would provide an opportunity to discuss retaining staff where possible.

Question reference: S6W-08041

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 29 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what it is doing to address reported concerns about pupil behaviour in schools.

We want all pupils to respect their peers and staff, and are supporting a number of programmes to promote positive relationships and behaviour. This includes good behaviour management, restorative approaches and programmes to help develop social, emotional and behavioural skills.

There are a range of strategies and programmes which schools can and do use to improve relationships and behaviour in schools. These include a range of relationship based and trauma informed approaches including those that are nurturing and restorative, and curriculum based programmes that develop social, emotional and behavioural needs.

The National Improvement Hub provides all of our practitioners, parents and young people themselves with specific good practice models to review. We, and partners across the education sector, advocate an approach for schools and local authorities to work with pupils on the underlying reasons behind inappropriate behaviour. We published guidance in 2018 ‘Developing a positive whole school ethos and culture: relationships, learning and behaviour’ to support local authorities, education settings, practitioners and partners to further improve the ethos and culture, and relationships and behaviour in Scottish schools. This is in addition to national guidance on the prevention and management of exclusion from school which was published in 2017.

The Scottish Advisory Group on Relationships and Behaviour in Schools is considering the next round of the Behaviour in Scottish Schools Research which was delayed due to COVID-19. The research informs the further development of policy, guidance and support by providing a clear and robust picture of current relationships and behaviour, and of policy and practice in this area.

Question reference: S6W-08040

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 29 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-00064 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 1 June 2021, whether it will provide the same information for 2020-21.

Spending data on additional support for learning (ASL) is provided below. This data is collected from local authorities via the Local Financial Returns (LFR). In addition to 2020-21 expenditure data, figures for 2019-20 have also been provided due to revisions in LFR statistics since the response to S6W-00064 on 1 June 2021. These revisions reflect an upward revision in ASL spending reported by Aberdeen City, and a downwards revision in ASL spending reported by Renfrewshire local authority.

Local authorities are asked to provide this data in line with guidance to ensure returns are completed on a consistent basis to allow for a reasonable degree of comparability. However, these figures may be affected by variations in local accounting practices and education strategies. It is important to bear this in mind when making comparisons between local authorities and years.

Local authorities are asked to record all centrally funded ASL expenditure under Special Education, irrespective of where it is delivered. Decisions about prioritisation and budgets, including those for the provision of services for pupils with additional support needs, are a matter for individual councils. We recognise the challenges facing authorities in balancing their need to meet a wide range of statutory duties, local priorities and local circumstances.

Tables 1 and 2 show gross revenue expenditure on additional support for learning (ASL) education from 2020-21 and 2019-20 respectively, split by Pre-Primary, Primary, Secondary and Special Education.

Table 1 – 2020-21 ASL expenditure by Local Authority (£000)

	Pre-Primary Education	Primary Education	Secondary Education	Special Education	Total
Aberdeen City	0	5,577	6,136	16,813	28,526
Aberdeenshire	0	0	0	38,966	38,966
Angus	0	0	0	10,776	10,776
Argyll and Bute	603	3,568	4,068	2,741	10,980
City of Edinburgh	3,027	19,596	8,595	41,294	72,512
Clackmannanshire	0	0	0	9,218	9,218
Dumfries and Galloway	0	0	0	19,604	19,604
Dundee City	172	4,546	1,820	8,287	14,825
East Ayrshire	0	0	0	18,788	18,788
East Dunbartonshire	277	2,027	2,012	12,531	16,847
East Lothian	86	2,971	2,111	10,297	15,465
East Renfrewshire	596	1,473	1,327	8,289	11,685
Falkirk	0	0	0	24,731	24,731
Fife	0	0	0	38,910	38,910
Glasgow City	3,993	15,147	23,816	71,639	114,595
Highland	0	0	0	39,794	39,794
Inverclyde	206	0	0	10,873	11,079
Midlothian	37	3,255	2,415	12,500	18,207
Moray	0	0	0	14,623	14,623
Na h-Eileanan Siar	0	0	0	4,882	4,882
North Ayrshire	0	0	0	13,950	13,950
North Lanarkshire	541	12,412	5,547	31,253	49,753
Orkney Islands	1	1,543	1,437	1,283	4,264
Perth and Kinross	320	2,483	1,693	13,999	18,495
Renfrewshire	1,285	4,134	2,715	14,801	22,935
Scottish Borders	0	0	0	11,073	11,073
Shetland Islands	0	0	0	7,052	7,052
South Ayrshire	0	917	597	17,431	18,945
South Lanarkshire	33	8,715	8,087	28,025	44,860
Stirling	73	1,483	2,686	8,376	12,618
West Dunbartonshire	407	3,724	2,234	11,442	17,808
West Lothian	0	0	0	25,745	25,745
All Local Authorities	11,657	93,571	77,296	599,986	782,511

Source: Local Financial Returns – Education (LFR 01) statistical return provided by local authorities to the Scottish Government.

Table 2 – 2019-20 ASL expenditure by Local Authority (£000)

	Pre-Primary Education	Primary Education	Secondary Education	Special Education	Total
Aberdeen City	0	6,819	5,962	15,161	27,942
Aberdeenshire	0	0	0	35,306	35,306
Angus	0	0	0	10,824	10,824
Argyll and Bute	598	3,539	4,034	2,690	10,861
City of Edinburgh	0	4	1	35,072	35,077
Clackmannanshire	0	0	0	8,434	8,434
Dumfries and Galloway	0	0	0	19,560	19,560
Dundee City	174	3,923	1,819	7,501	13,417
East Ayrshire	0	0	0	19,239	19,239
East Dunbartonshire	202	1,939	1,789	11,813	15,743
East Lothian	76	2,870	2,050	9,563	14,559
East Renfrewshire	582	1,497	1,255	7,965	11,299
Falkirk	0	0	0	23,386	23,386
Fife	0	0	0	36,817	36,817
Glasgow City	4,090	16,732	14,939	71,732	107,493
Highland	0	0	0	38,265	38,265
Inverclyde	206	0	0	10,799	11,005
Midlothian	36	3,197	2,234	11,303	16,770
Moray	0	0	0	14,009	14,009
Na h-Eileanan Siar	0	0	0	4,945	4,945
North Ayrshire	0	0	0	14,655	14,655
North Lanarkshire	515	12,651	5,591	31,607	50,364
Orkney Islands	0	1,470	1,306	1,229	4,005
Perth and Kinross	276	2,195	1,468	13,340	17,279
Renfrewshire	1,286	2,836	2,000	15,984	22,106
Scottish Borders	0	0	0	11,163	11,163
Shetland Islands	0	0	0	6,779	6,779
South Ayrshire	0	0	0	18,034	18,034
South Lanarkshire	437	7,993	8,291	18,066	34,787
Stirling	73	1,240	2,357	7,413	11,083
West Dunbartonshire	407	2,836	2,219	12,427	17,889
West Lothian	0	0	0	22,432	22,432
All Local Authorities	8,958	71,741	57,315	567,513	705,527

Source: Local Financial Returns – Education (LFR 01) statistical return provided by local authorities to the Scottish Government.

All figures in tables 1 and 2 are based on gross expenditure on a funding basis. This means they have not been adjusted for inter/ intra authority transfers.

Table 3 shows the percentage of total gross revenue expenditure on education by local authorities which was accounted for by spending on additional support for learning in 2019-20 and 2020-21.

Table 3 – Share of education expenditure accounted for by ASL

	2019-20	2020-21
Aberdeen City	14%	13%
Aberdeenshire	11%	12%
Angus	9%	8%
Argyll and Bute	10%	9%
City of Edinburgh	8%	16%
Clackmannanshire	13%	13%
Dumfries and Galloway	12%	11%
Dundee City	9%	9%
East Ayrshire	13%	12%
East Dunbartonshire	11%	11%
East Lothian	13%	13%
East Renfrewshire	9%	8%
Falkirk	13%	13%
Fife	9%	9%
Glasgow City	16%	16%
Highland	14%	13%
Inverclyde	12%	11%
Midlothian	15%	14%
Moray	14%	14%
Na h-Eileanan Siar	10%	10%
North Ayrshire	9%	8%
North Lanarkshire	12%	12%
Orkney Islands	11%	11%
Perth and Kinross	10%	11%
Renfrewshire	11%	11%
Scottish Borders	9%	8%
Shetland Islands	12%	13%
South Ayrshire	14%	14%
South Lanarkshire	9%	11%
Stirling	10%	10%
West Dunbartonshire	15%	15%
West Lothian	11%	11%
All Local Authorities	12%	12%

Source: Local Financial Returns – Education (LFR 1) statistical return provided by local authorities to the Scottish Government.

Table 4 shows the average per-pupil spending on additional support for learning by local authority. More precisely, this calculation shows gross revenue expenditure on additional support for learning in primary, secondary and special education from the local financial returns, divided by the number of pupils identified as having additional support needs recorded in the Pupil Census.

Table 4 – ASL spending per pupil (£, cash terms)

	2019-20	2020-21
Aberdeen City	3,377	3,196
Aberdeenshire	2,276	2,392
Angus	3,354	3,024
Argyll and Bute	4,561	3,833
City of Edinburgh	1,737	3,093
Clackmannanshire	4,211	4,344
Dumfries and Galloway	3,168	3,226
Dundee City	2,027	2,274
East Ayrshire	4,423	4,432
East Dunbartonshire	4,310	4,500
East Lothian	4,111	3,865
East Renfrewshire	2,740	2,785
Falkirk	3,803	3,798
Fife	2,898	2,794
Glasgow City	3,979	4,133
Highland	2,980	3,062
Inverclyde	3,801	3,722
Midlothian	4,389	4,100
Moray	3,340	3,110
Na h-Eileanan Siar	4,862	5,757
North Ayrshire	2,711	2,379
North Lanarkshire	5,602	5,490
Orkney Islands	4,768	4,540
Perth and Kinross	2,783	3,023
Renfrewshire	3,401	3,477
Scottish Borders	2,231	2,210
Shetland Islands	5,849	5,901
South Ayrshire	4,952	4,868
South Lanarkshire	2,787	3,505
Stirling	3,061	3,374
West Dunbartonshire	3,662	3,589
West Lothian	2,593	2,700
All Local Authorities	3,230	3,402

Sources:

1. Local Financial Returns – Education (LFR 01) statistical return provided by local authorities to the Scottish Government: Local government finance statistics - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

2. Pupil Census – published annually - for further details go to: Pupil census: supplementary statistics - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

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