Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-27441

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 1 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many data breaches that contained private or personal information of UK citizens have occurred within Police Scotland since figures were last disclosed through a Freedom of Information request in 2023, and whether any such information was related to alleged or convicted crimes.

The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested. It is for the Chief Constable to determine Police Scotland’s approach to data management and to ensure there are policies and controls in place to ensure the organisation complies with the wide range of obligations required to discharge its statutory and regulatory responsibilities regarding the processing of data, with oversight and scrutiny undertaken by the Scottish Police Authority Board.

Question reference: S6W-29226

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 25 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how much support has been made available to support services for people who experienced historic forced adoption, in each year since 2021.

The Scottish Government continues to fund the charity, Health in Mind, to deliver a specialist peer service to those affected by historic forced adoption. This is in direct response to feedback from people with lived experience for this type of support.

Funding has totalled over £73,000 to date, (£23,389 in 2022-2023 and £49,276 in 2023-2024). Health in Mind continues to promote the service across Scotland and raise awareness of the impact of historic forced adoption practices. Further details of the service are available at: https://health-in-mind.org.uk/how-we-can-help/national-services/historic-adoption-trauma-support-service/

Question reference: S6W-29224

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 19 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions its ministers have had with (a) Police Scotland and (b) companies that provide delivery services regarding any requirements for delivery drivers to wear safety helmets.

The enforcement of traffic offences is an operational matter for Police Scotland, with oversight provided by the Scottish Police Authority, who act independently of Scottish ministers.

The wearing of cycle helmets is covered by the Highway Code and is a matter reserved to the UK government. The Scottish government endorses the Highway Code, which states: You should wear a cycle helmet that conforms to current regulations, is the correct size and securely fastened. Evidence suggests that a correctly fitted helmet will reduce your risk of sustaining a head injury in certain circumstances however this latter is not a legal requirement and remains a matter of personal choice.

Furthermore, the Scottish Government takes road safety seriously. Scotland’s Scotland's Road Safety Framework to 2030 - Scotlands Road Safety Framework (RSF2030) was published in February 2021, with the goal of Scotland having the best road safety performance in the world. It adopts the Safe System approach to road safety which is recognised internationally as best practice in road safety delivery. It sets challenging targets for the years ahead, with a 50 per cent reduction in fatal and serious injuries and a 60 per cent reduction in child fatal and serious injuries by 2030.

Transport Scotland works in collaboration with our road safety partners, to deliver the Road Safety Framework through a three-tier governance structure. This includes Police Scotland, who are represented at each level of governance.

Question reference: S6W-29223

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 19 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions its ministers have had with Police Scotland regarding the wearing of safety helmets by delivery drivers.

The enforcement of traffic offences is an operational matter for Police Scotland, with oversight provided by the Scottish Police Authority, who act independently of Scottish ministers.

The wearing of cycle helmets is covered by the Highway Code and is a matter reserved to the UK government. The Scottish government endorses the Highway Code, which states: You should wear a cycle helmet that conforms to current regulations, is the correct size and securely fastened. Evidence suggests that a correctly fitted helmet will reduce your risk of sustaining a head injury in certain circumstances however this latter is not a legal requirement and remains a matter of personal choice.

Furthermore, the Scottish Government takes road safety seriously. Scotland’s Scotland's Road Safety Framework to 2030 - Scotlands Road Safety Framework (RSF2030) was published in February 2021, with the goal of Scotland having the best road safety performance in the world. It adopts the Safe System approach to road safety which is recognised internationally as best practice in road safety delivery. It sets challenging targets for the years ahead, with a 50 per cent reduction in fatal and serious injuries and a 60 per cent reduction in child fatal and serious injuries by 2030.

Transport Scotland works in collaboration with our road safety partners, to deliver the Road Safety Framework through a three-tier governance structure. This includes Police Scotland, who are represented at each level of governance.

Question reference: S6W-29582

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 17 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how much has been spent to date from the cladding remediation fund.

Question reference: S6O-03735

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 September 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to deliver better outcomes for children and young people with learning disabilities, autism and neurodiversity, in light of its decision not to include the introduction of its proposed Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence Bill in the Programme for Government 2024-25.

Question reference: S6W-29225

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 6 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions its ministers have had with local authorities regarding the wearing of safety helmets by delivery drivers.

No discussions have taken place between ministers and Local Authorities regarding the wearing of safety helmets by delivery drivers.

As outlined in the Highway Code (a matter reserved to the UK Government), riders are recommended to wear a correctly fitted cycle helmet. However, this is not a legal requirement and remains a matter of personal choice.

However, the Scottish Government takes road safety seriously. Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2030 (RSF2030) was published in February 2021, with the goal of Scotland having the best road safety performance in the world. It adopts the ‘Safe System’ approach to road safety which is recognised internationally as best practice in road safety delivery. It sets challenging targets for the years ahead, with a 50 per cent reduction in fatal and serious injuries and a 60 per cent reduction in child fatal and serious injuries by 2030.

Question reference: S6W-29001

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 5 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what the legislative process is for transferring the powers to the Scottish Parliament that are required to establish a building safety levy.

The Scotland Act 2012 introduced provisions for the UK Parliament to devolve further tax powers to the Scottish Parliament (now section 80B of the Scotland Act 1998, “Power to add new devolved taxes”).

This followed a recommendation from the Calman Commission, which stated that “we see no reason why the Scottish Parliament should not be able to legislate to create new taxes that affect the whole of Scotland uniformly and not just via local taxation, if it does so with the agreement of the whole UK Parliament”.

The specific legislative mechanism is an Order in Council which must be approved by both Houses of the UK Parliament and by the Scottish Parliament. Once approved, the Order in Council would add any new tax to the existing list of devolved taxes in the Scotland Act 1998.

Primary and secondary legislation would then be required in the Scottish Parliament for a new devolved tax to come into effect.

Question reference: S6W-29000

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 5 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making towards the introduction of a building safety levy, and by what date this will be introduced.

Following the general election, I wrote to the Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray MP, requesting renewal of the agreement to the devolution of the necessary powers for a Building Safety Levy in Scotland that was in place with the previous UK Government.

An affirmative response to this letter was received on 27 August 2024 and arrangements are now being made for the necessary legislative procedures to take place in the Scottish and UK Parliaments to progress the devolution.

The Scottish Government’s 2024-25 Programme for Government announced that, subject to the devolution of powers, the Scottish Government proposes to bring forward a Bill to establish a Building Safety Levy in Scotland.

A consultation will be launched later this month to inform policy development for the proposed Bill. The levy is not expected to come into effect until April 2026 at the earliest.

Question reference: S6W-28856

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 5 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) research it has carried out and (b) discussions it has had regarding pay weighting for public sector workers working in Edinburgh.

Research has focused on the wider challenges and opportunities associated with rapid localised population growth where it is occurring in parts of Scotland. This was discussed at the October 2023 meeting of the Population Taskforce and is a priority within the Population Balance strand of delivery of the Population Strategy. The minutes of the October meeting are published on the Scottish Government webpages: https://www.gov.scot/publications/population-taskforce-minutes-october-2023/

Our approach to public sector pay has provided support to public sector workers during COVID-19 and the cost of living crisis, balancing fairness, affordability and fiscal sustainability within an extremely difficult fiscal context. We have protected the lowest paid and encourage employers to take a progressive approach to pay. As a result, public sector salaries in Scotland after taxes are 6% higher on average than the rest of the UK, with median full-time pay around £1,500 higher, up from around £430 prior to the pandemic.

A short briefing note will be prepared on how the London weighting allowance is calculated and applied, which can be shared with Mr Briggs in due course.

Chamber and committees