Chamber and committees

From November 2015, Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) qualifications will no longer be recognised by UK Visas and Immigration to demonstrate English language skills for settlement and citizenship applications. The First Minister has written twice to the UK Immigration Minister making clear Scottish Government concerns about these changes. The UK Government has however refused to continue to recognise SQA ESOL qualifications for settlement and citizenship applications. We are very disappointed by this response. Scottish Government and Education Scotland officials will remain in touch with SQA and with key sector contacts to monitor, and where possible, mitigate negative impacts of these changes.

This is a matter for the Scottish Police Authority, which has a statutory duty to maintain and manage an independent custody visiting scheme to monitor the welfare of people detained in police custody facilities throughout Scotland. Independent Custody Visitors are volunteer members of the local community who visit police stations unannounced to check on the treatment of detainees, the conditions in which they are being held and that their rights and entitlements are being observed. The SPA co-ordinates and manages around 140 volunteer visitors across Scotland.

I understand that in respect of Lerwick, despite a national recruitment drive with assistance from Voluntary Action Shetland there are currently no Independent Custody Visitors based on Shetland. The Scottish Police Authority is aiming to rectify this in the near future. Currently the unannounced visits to Lerwick are carried out by volunteers predominantly from the Inverness area.

The Scottish Government commissioned a study from Zero Waste Scotland to explore the feasibility of introducing a national deposit return system in Scotland. Following publication of this study, a call for evidence sought further information. At this stage, no particular model or system has been proposed by the Scottish Government, and we will consider further any issues raised during the call for evidence.

The annual budget for the Highlands and Islands Veterinary Services scheme is £760,000. There are no plans to reduce this.

The Scottish Government has not directly purchased products from dairy farmers in each of the last five years. We do have a contract with Sodexo for catering services in a number of Scottish Government buildings. Sodexo purchases milk from Grahams family dairy who in turn purchase milk from farmers. All milk is Scottish Red Tractor standard and Grahams confirm that they pay above the usual farmgate price.

The Scottish Government has not directly been involved in procuring Scottish produced milk. We do have a contract with Sodexo for catering services in a number of Scottish Government buildings. Sodexo purchases milk from Grahams family dairy who in turn purchase milk from farmers. All milk is Scottish Red Tractor standard and Grahams confirm that they pay above the usual farmgate price.

The Scottish Government’s Programme for Government 2015-16, published on 1 September 2015, contains a commitment to review the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002 to ensure that it is providing the necessary level of protection for foxes and other wild mammals, while at the same time allowing effective and humane control of these animals where necessary. Should the review conclude that changes to the legislation are required we will aim to consult and bring forward new legislation after May 2016. Details of the remit and timetable for the review will be announced in due course.

I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: G4S is required to self-report performance which falls outside defined contractual targets which includes court delivery performance. In addition, G4S contractual compliance and performance is subject of continuous and robust scrutiny by the Scottish Prison Service (SPS). SPS employs escort monitors, who oversee G4S operational performance attainment and service delivery across the requirements of the contract, which includes court delivery. More specifically, the Escort Monitors undertake spot checks and full assessment visits across G4S activities reporting on performance shortfalls and applying performance measures. In addition to this routine contract monitoring and management, more intensive scrutiny is currently being undertaken due to recent performance issues. This includes the daily review of performance data, SPS participation in G4S internal contract management calls, and daily attendance by escort monitors at the G4S head office.

I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: G4S have completed 131,780 movements to court over the last year, 22,001 of which were out with time referenced contractual requirements as a result of G4S failure and of which 169 resulted in a delay to court proceedings.

Guidance on buying food sustainably in the public sector is available in Catering for Change and the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 requires public bodies to provide a statement on how their policies on food procurement will contribute, among other things, to the wellbeing of their area.