Chamber and committees

Mobile coverage is a critical element in our digital vision for Scotland. We recognise its importance socially and economically but also in terms of resilience. Following detailed collaboration with the mobile industry, we published a Mobile Action Plan on 12 June 2016 setting out a series of measures specifically designed to improve and increase mobile coverage across Scotland. Furthermore, as set out in the programme for government on 6 September 2016, we will outline plans, by Spring 2017, for a programme to address gaps in 4G coverage.

The Scottish Government provides direct funding to local authorities for active travel through the Cycling, Walking, Safer Streets (CWSS) ring fenced budget within the local authority settlement. The CWSS has allocated £720,000 to Renfrewshire over the last three financial years. In addition, the Scottish Government provides grant funding to a number of organisations to support sustainable and active travel initiatives. These include Cycling Scotland, Paths for All and Sustrans Scotland. Since 2014-15, the following projects have been taken forward in the Renfrewshire South area. Cycling Scotland has distributed £32,000 to projects under the Cycle Friendly and Sustainable Communities, Cycle Friendly Campus and Cycle Friendly Service Centre programmes. These include funding for Ride 63 in Lochwinnoch, the Neilston Development Trust and the University of the West of Scotland. Renfrewshire Council has been allocated over £320,000 in 2015-16 and 2016-17 through the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme, administered by Paths for All. Projects supported include improving signage on cycleways, promotional events for walking and cycling, the printing of maps and posters, and personal travel planning. Finally, Sustrans has provided £44,000 for a project to make access improvements on the NCN75 / NCN7 Paisley to Bridge of Weir walking and cycling route.

The Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband programme has delivered fibre broadband to more than 13,000 homes and businesses in Renfrewshire. At present 68% of premises in Renfrewshire are connected to fibre broadband. By the end of March 2018 at least 96% will have fibre access.

Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) has the lead role for developing the quality of disability sport for disabled people in Scotland. Since 2007, sportscotland has invested over £5.18million into SDS. A breakdown is in the following table. Breakdown of sportscotland investment into Scottish Disability Sport (includes Scottish Government and National Lottery funding):

In addition to the direct investment into SDS, sportscotland’s investment in Scottish governing bodies of sport also supports disability and its integration through the sport. Sportscotland’s Institute of Sport also supports over 50 Paralympic and Commonwealth Games para-athletes, providing specialist support and expertise.In addition, £12 million is being invested into the redevelopment of the sportscotland National Centre Inverclyde to become Scotland’s first fully-inclusive residential facility which will provide more opportunities for hosting national and international sporting events, particularly in para-sport.

There will be a phased implementation of NHS 24’s new system starting later in summer 2016.

The NHS 24 board at its meeting on 29 June 2016 agreed that implementation of its future programme would commence in summer with the introduction of its new telephony system across a range of planned care services in 2016, including Breathing Space, NHS Living Life, Musculoskeletal helpline, Death Certification, Blood Transfusion and Fit For Work Service; to be followed by the phased introduction of the system, and full implementation across all health boards by the end of 2017.

While the delays are disappointing, given the previous attempt to launch, it is important that all aspects of the system have been tested, are safe and that staff are able to confidently handle the system before it is introduced. We shall continue to make and review progress on this basis.

We also expect the NHS 24 board to make every effort to ensure best use of resources in delivering this system, including taking every effort to manage this implementation within existing funding. The Scottish Government will continue to work closely with NHS 24 during this time.