Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S5O-02169 on 31 May 2018. The answer to the oral parliamentary question is available on the parliaments website, the Official Report can be viewed at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=11571&i=104888

The process to appoint four new non-executive members to Social Security Scotland's Executive Advisory Body is currently ongoing, and is expected to conclude early September this year. As a new high profile agency, we have adopted the formal process of for Ministerial Public Appointments in order to ensure a that a fair, open and transparent procedure is followed.

Progress is being made in a number of areas, including in the completion of the first stage of recruitment for local delivery staff. These staff will work to identify and put in place arrangements to best deliver the face-to-face services in each local authority area.

Engagement with local authorities and public and third sector organisations regarding how local services will be delivered is also continuing. This is helping to identify potential opportunities to work together and to learn from stakeholders experience in delivering similar services.

Staff who will join Social Security Scotland are currently employed within the Scottish Government’s Social Security Directorate. As of 31 July 2018 there are 87 staff who will transfer to Social Security Scotland.

93 (80 Full Time Equivalent) candidates have been offered Client Advisor Positions thus far.

Accommodation within Glasgow City Council’s building at 220 High Street, Glasgow was secured in June 2018 as the interim site for Social Security Scotland in Glasgow. Staff who will transfer into the Agency moved into the site in July.

Later this summer Social Security Scotland will make the first payments to recipients of Carers Allowance Supplement. At that time arrangements will be in place for any members of the public visiting the Agency.

Staff, including modern apprentices, who will join Social Security Scotland are currently employed within the Scottish Government’s Social Security Directorate.

Of those staff that will transfer to the Agency, as of 31 July 2018, (a) there are no current modern apprentice vacancies and (b) 30 staff have been employed through the modern apprentice scheme. A further seven vacancies are due to be advertised in August 2018 across a range of functions.

Under the terms of The Scotland Act 1998 (River Tweed) Order 2006 the River Tweed Commission is empowered, amongst other things, to protect and improve salmon and freshwater fisheries in the Tweed district, and to preserve and increase salmon and freshwater fish in the district.

In addition, the Scottish Government introduced conservation measures for Atlantic salmon in April 2016, and stocks are assessed annually. The most recent assessment showed that the exploitation of salmon stocks on the Tweed remains sustainable, allowing for the retention of any salmon caught in the river in the 2018 season, outwith the close time. The Tweed Commission does, however, have additional management measures in place to protect stocks and maintain this position.

The Commission has also applied to Scottish Ministers for a change to the annual close time order for the Tweed which would have the effect of requiring all salmon caught by rod and line before 1 June each year to be returned under catch and release arrangements, and would prohibit netting until the same date. A public consultation on this proposal ended on 12 July and officials are currently considering the representations received.

Finally, The Rivers Tweed and Eye Protection (Renewal) Order 1991, as varied in 1994, prohibits fishing for or taking freshwater fish in inland waters in the area without legal right or written permission from someone having such a right.

Each local authority receives its fair share of the total funding provided by the Scottish Government. The needs based distribution methodology is kept under constant review and is agreed with COSLA on behalf of local authorities each year and although it takes into account a range of factors it is primarily population based. It follows, therefore if the population of Midlothian and East Lothian Council areas grow faster than other local authority areas they will receive an increased share of the available funding, all other factors being equal.

In addition, as each local authority retains every penny of council tax collected in their area, any increase in housing will generate additional income that can also support local services.

The Scottish Government provides on-going financial support for the National Museum of Flight, which is part of National Museums Scotland, in East Fortune. As with all areas of Scotland, the fantastic assets of East Lothian - described as "Scotland's Golf Coast" - are marketed by VisitScotland using marketing campaigns, social media and trade and press familiarisation trips; and through VisitScotland iCentres and VisitScotland information partner programme arrangements with local businesses and community groups.

VisitScotland visitor guides and dedicated regional microsites feature attractions and activities in East Lothian, and wider VisitScotland campaigns feature the area as part of themes around food, drink and golf, for example. In addition, VisitScotland offers support to individual East Lothian businesses through their Quality Assurance schemes to ensure visitors can be certain of an excellent experience.

Our other public bodies promote tourism in East Lothian. Scottish Enterprise continue to deliver a series of golf-related marketing/business development/IT workshops on a demand-led basis. Scottish Enterprise also work collaboratively and co-sponsored the Scottish Golf Visitor Survey 2016 which provides valuable industry insights into the metrics of golf visitors both nationally and within East Lothian itself.

The most recent example of that successful public and private partnership is that Aberdeen Standard Investments, the Scottish Government and VisitScotland hosted the Scottish Open and the Ladies Scottish Open at Gullane this year, raising East Lothian's profile both nationally and domestically as a quality destination.