Chamber and committees

Since the introduction of free school meals for all children in primaries 1 to 3 at all publicly funded schools in Scotland in January 2015, the Scottish Government has provided local authorities with funding of £203.1 million to deliver this commitment. We will be providing local authorities with a further £53.9 million in financial year 2018-19, however the allocations for the 2019-20 financial year are not yet known.

The Scottish Government allocated £2 million, £6.8 million, and £19 million in 2014-15, 2015.16 and 2017-18 respectively for additional Health Visitors. In 2016-17, funding for Health Visitors was included in the new Outcomes Framework (totalling over £160 million) issued to Health Boards. All of this funding supported the provision of an additional 500 health visitor posts. In addition, a further £4 million has been allocated to Health Boards over the same period in respect of Health Visiting training.

The above funding will allow us to meet the manifesto commitment by 2018, investing over £40 million by 2017-18.

The Draft Budget 2018-19 announced that the Scottish Government will introduce a new Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) relief for first-time buyers of properties up to £175,000. The relief raises the zero tax threshold for first-time buyers from £145,000 to £175,000, which means 80 per cent of first-time buyers in Scotland will pay no LBTT at all. Those first-time buyers buying a property above £175,000 will also benefit from the relief on the portion of the price below the threshold.

I refer the member to my answer to her previous question S5W-12808 answered on 23 November 2017 which outlines the actions the Scottish Government is taking to increase teacher recruitment.

I am pleased to report that “The Summary Statistics for Schools in Scotland” was published on 12 December 2017 and shows that there are 543 more full-time equivalent teachers than last year. This is the second year in a row that we have seen teacher numbers increase. In addition 2,864 newly qualified probationer teachers started on the Teacher Induction Scheme in August 2017, which is 231 more than last year.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Through the Scotland's Schools for the Future programme, the number of (a) new and (b) refurbished schools delivered in each year since the programme was introduced is as follows:

2012 (a) 6 (b) 0

2013 (a) 6 (b) 1

2014 (a) 3 (b) 1

2015 (a) 5 (b) 2

2016 (a) 14 (b) 4

2017 (a) 26 (b) 8

Scottish National Standardised Assessments have been available to schools from 24th August 2017, in line with the commitment in 2016.17 Programme for Government.

The new GP contract which has now been agreed between the Scottish Government and the BMA (British Medical Association) is a critical part of our plans to transform primary care services in Scotland. The Scottish Government will invest £100m in 2018-19 to support implementation of the proposed contract if agreed and to support the development of the primary care multidisciplinary team.

There will be significant new investment in expanded teams of health professionals in practices, widening patient choice and ensuring that GPs are able to focus on their expert medical generalist role. Additional health professionals will include pharmacy; nursing; Allied Health Professionals (physiotherapy, and paramedics and other urgent care practitioners); community mental health workers and non- clinical Support Workers (e.g. community Links workers).

More detail on the primary care workforce will be provided in the forthcoming national health and social care workforce plan on primary care in 2018.

As outlined within the Programme for Government 2017-18 it is the intention of this government to use the Tackling Child Poverty Fund to trial new approaches, strengthen the evidence base and support innovation at a national and local level in order to make progress towards the 2030 child poverty targets.

The Scottish Government issued a formal request for advice to the Poverty and Inequality Commission on 21 September, asking where this funding could have the biggest impact at a national and local level. We will use this advice to shape our proposals and ensure the fund achieves the maximum impact possible. Detail on our proposals will be included in the Delivery Plan being published next year.

The Delivery Plans due under the Child Poverty (Scotland) Bill will set out action to make progress towards the ambitious 2030 income targets, the first of which will be published by April 2018.

The Scottish Government published experimental statistics on 29 November that will help to identify local need and develop effective responses. We currently support a range of projects in the Scottish Borders and elsewhere to help families living in poverty through the £8.6 million People and Communities Fund. This includes an award of £45,000 to Scottish Borders Housing Association.

Through the Child Poverty (Scotland) Bill we are ensuring a keen focus on tackling child poverty, with ambitious income targets, annual reporting and Delivery Plans to outline action to be taken. Our first Delivery Plan, to be published by April 2018, will be underpinned by a £50 million Tackling Child Poverty Fund. The Bill also places reporting duties on Local Authorities and Health Boards; both on action they have taken, and that which they intend to take in future; driving action at a national and local level.

This is alongside a range of national measures to tackle poverty and inequality, including; doubling the provision of free childcare, providing free school meals to primary 1 to 3 pupils, and providing a baby box of essential items to all newborns.