- Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 24 August 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 21 September 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how much it has spent to date on its challenge of the decision of the UK Secretary of State for Scotland to issue an order under section 35 of the Scotland Act 1998 in respect of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill.
Answer
The costs incurred in this legal challenge are the necessary price of protecting democracy and devolution in Scotland. On 19 April 2023 I undertook to publish the costs of this action once it is completed, and as the member will be aware the substantive hearing in this case was held in the Court of Session earlier this week. In the spirit of transparency and accountability we will publish the costs accrued by the Scottish Government, up to and including those associated with this week's hearing, once they are available.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 August 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Lorna Slater on 21 September 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on classifying different end uses for steel as either socially beneficial or harmful.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not currently have a position on classifying different end uses for steel. As part of the Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan we are considering consultation responses and relevant research, including those relating to steel and the circular economy in line with our Just Transition Principles/Outcomes.
- Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 August 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 21 September 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what the proposed timeline and target date are for the national roll-out of the General Practice Armed Forces and Veterans’ Recognition Scheme.
Answer
The General Practice Armed Forces and Veterans’ Recognition Scheme has been developed in conjunction with practices who agreed to be part of an initial pilot. The pilot finished in December 2022 and since then work has been on-going to update the training according to feedback from the pilot, ensuring that relevant training content, processes and data gathering are ready prior to a wider rollout to other practices. It is anticipated that the full roll out will take place later this year.
We do recognise the potential value of such as scheme and want to ensure that the benefits of the scheme are optimised for both the patient and the practice.
If General Practises are keen to be involved ahead of the full launch they can contact [email protected] for more information.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 August 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 21 September 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the proportion of total journeys that will be made by bus by 2030 as a result of its policies.
Answer
The appraisal that supported the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) assessed the change in access public transport use and accessibility at a national and regional level to a range of locations, including health care; education and employment centres. The outcomes of this work were reported in the final-technical-report-28-december-2022-stpr2.pdf (transport.gov.scot) and accompanying detailed-appraisal-summary-table-national.pdf (transport.gov.scot). This appraisal was supported by a set of updated transport forecasts to 2045, which considered the impact of a 20% reduction in car kilometres by 2030 and an alternative scenario. Details of how these were developed can be found here: https://www.transport.gov.scot/media/52476/appendix-f-approach-to-scenario-planning-december-2022-stpr2.pdf .
It should be noted that the STPR2 appraisal and assessment covered infrastructure interventions and so did not specifically consider the future impacts of, for example, potential bus franchising in Scotland, the establishment of local council operated bus companies, or the outcomes of the Fair Fares Review. The impact of individual policies on bus use may be evaluated on a policy by policy basis through the transport appraisal process as they are developed
- Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 August 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 21 September 2023
To ask the Scottish Government when it next plans to meet with the Scottish Veterans Commissioner.
Answer
I last met with the Scottish Veterans Commissioner on 7 June 2023. Scottish Government officials have regular meetings with the Commissioner and last met with her on 22 August. There is currently no meeting scheduled between the Commissioner and I but it is likely that one will take place following the publication of her 2023 Progress Report.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 August 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 21 September 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide a breakdown by local authority area of (a) the number of loans granted through the Energy Saving Trust e-bike loan scheme in each year since it was launched, (b) the value of those loans and (c) how many loans have been defaulted, and the value of any defaults.
Answer
The following data is accurate up to the end of July 2023:
Number and value of loans by local authority:
LOCAL AUTHORITY | PAID (£) | NUMBER PAID | TOTAL PAID (£) | TOTAL NUMBER PAID |
BUSINESS | DOMESTIC | BUSINESS | DOMESTIC |
Aberdeen City | | £ 224,230 | | 73 | £ 224,230 | 73 |
Aberdeenshire | £ 6,000 | £ 501,946 | 2 | 161 | £ 507,946 | 163 |
Angus | | £ 251,294 | | 82 | £ 251,294 | 82 |
Argyll and Bute | | £ 414,650 | | 123 | £ 414,650 | 123 |
City of Edinburgh | £ 96,968 | £ 855,070 | 17 | 293 | £ 952,038 | 310 |
Clackmannanshire | | £ 56,145 | | 15 | £ 56,145 | 15 |
Dumfries and Galloway | £ 5,299 | £ 475,894 | 2 | 166 | £ 481,193 | 168 |
Dundee City | £ 51,600 | £ 239,540 | 2 | 73 | £ 291,140 | 75 |
East Ayrshire | £ 4,200 | £ 113,792 | 1 | 36 | £ 117,992 | 37 |
East Dunbartonshire | | £ 185,556 | | 57 | £ 185,556 | 57 |
East Lothian | | £ 189,454 | | 66 | £ 189,454 | 66 |
East Renfrewshire | £ 5,748 | £ 154,435 | 1 | 52 | £ 160,183 | 53 |
Falkirk | £ 3,000 | £ 108,675 | 1 | 36 | £ 111,675 | 37 |
Fife | £ 6,000 | £ 583,523 | 1 | 193 | £ 589,523 | 194 |
Glasgow City | £ 50,795 | £ 533,500 | 10 | 172 | £ 584,295 | 182 |
Highland | £ 82,089 | £ 1,061,270 | 13 | 336 | £ 1,143,359 | 349 |
Inverclyde | | £ 50,703 | | 19 | £ 50,703 | 19 |
Midlothian | £ 2,925 | £ 103,596 | 1 | 35 | £ 106,521 | 36 |
Moray | | £ 245,367 | | 82 | £ 245,367 | 82 |
Na h-Eileanan Siar | | £ 44,297 | | 17 | £ 44,297 | 17 |
North Ayrshire | £ 3,799 | £ 184,288 | 1 | 67 | £ 188,087 | 68 |
North Lanarkshire | £ 4,999 | £ 101,277 | 1 | 38 | £ 106,276 | 39 |
Orkney Islands | £ 6,000 | £ 58,947 | 1 | 20 | £ 64,947 | 21 |
Perth and Kinross | £ 55,858 | £ 1,026,956 | 9 | 292 | £ 1,082,814 | 301 |
Renfrewshire | | £ 138,619 | | 45 | £ 138,619 | 45 |
Scottish Borders | £ 10,875 | £ 376,075 | 2 | 130 | £ 386,950 | 132 |
Shetland Islands | | £ 33,799 | | 14 | £ 33,799 | 14 |
South Ayrshire | | £ 217,413 | | 86 | £ 217,413 | 86 |
South Lanarkshire | £ 2,199 | £ 225,768 | 1 | 81 | £ 227,967 | 82 |
Stirling | £ 21,931 | £ 349,147 | 3 | 111 | £ 371,078 | 114 |
West Dunbartonshire | | £ 78,666 | | 31 | £ 78,666 | 31 |
West Lothian | £ 6,000 | £ 108,839 | 1 | 43 | £ 114,839 | 44 |
GRAND TOTAL | £ 426,284 | £ 9,292,732 | 70 | 3,045 | £ 9,719,016 | 3,115 |
Number and Value of Impaired or Defaulted Loans by Local Authority:
Note - Loans are considered to be in default after two missed payments and impaired after three consecutive missed payments
| | DEFAULT | IMPAIRED | | |
LOCAL AUTHORITY | Count | Value (£) | Count | Value (£) | | Total Count | Total Value (£) |
Aberdeen City | 2 | £ 4,249 | 2 | £ 4,099 | | 4 | £ 8,348 |
2018-19 | | | 1 | £ 3,000 | | 1 | £ 3,000 |
2019-20 | 1 | £ 2,500 | | | | 1 | £ 2,500 |
2022-23 | 1 | £ 1,749 | 1 | £ 1,099 | | 2 | £ 2,848 |
Aberdeenshire | 6 | £ 20,217 | 3 | £ 9,700 | | 9 | £ 29,917 |
2018-19 | | | 1 | £ 6,000 | | 1 | £ 6,000 |
2020-21 | 5 | £ 17,518 | 1 | £ 1,700 | | 6 | £ 19,218 |
2021-22 | 1 | £ 2,699 | 1 | £ 2,000 | | 2 | £ 4,699 |
Angus | 2 | £ 5,699 | 2 | £ 4,659 | | 4 | £ 10,358 |
2020-21 | 2 | £ 5,699 | 2 | £ 4,659 | | 4 | £ 10,358 |
Argyll and Bute | 3 | £ 13,149 | 1 | £ 2,899 | | 4 | £ 16,048 |
2019-20 | 1 | £ 1,750 | 1 | £ 2,899 | | 2 | £ 4,649 |
2020-21 | 2 | £ 11,399 | | | | 2 | £ 11,399 |
City of Edinburgh | 3 | £ 5,907 | 3 | £ 7,085 | | 6 | £ 12,992 |
2018-19 | 1 | £ 2,029 | | | | 1 | £ 2,029 |
2019-20 | 1 | £ 1,579 | | | | 1 | £ 1,579 |
2020-21 | | | 1 | £ 2,000 | | 1 | £ 2,000 |
2021-22 | 1 | £ 2,299 | 1 | £ 2,595 | | 2 | £ 4,894 |
2022-23 | | | 1 | £ 2,490 | | 1 | £ 2,490 |
Dumfries and Galloway | 5 | £ 16,255 | 4 | £ 13,746 | | 9 | £ 30,001 |
2019-20 | 2 | £ 7,138 | 2 | £ 6,999 | | 4 | £ 14,137 |
2020-21 | 1 | £ 2,519 | | | | 1 | £ 2,519 |
2021-22 | 1 | £ 3,000 | | | | 1 | £ 3,000 |
2022-23 | 1 | £ 3,598 | 2 | £ 6,747 | | 3 | £ 10,345 |
Dundee City | 2 | £ 24,415 | 1 | £ 4,949 | | 3 | £ 29,364 |
2018-19 | | | 1 | £ 4,949 | | 1 | £ 4,949 |
2019-20 | 1 | £ 21,600 | | | | 1 | £ 21,600 |
2020-21 | 1 | £ 2,815 | | | | 1 | £ 2,815 |
East Ayrshire | 2 | £ 6,148 | 3 | £ 10,299 | | 5 | £ 16,447 |
2019-20 | 1 | £ 2,000 | 1 | £ 1,800 | | 2 | £ 3,800 |
2020-21 | | | 2 | £ 8,499 | | 2 | £ 8,499 |
2022-23 | 1 | £ 4,148 | | | | 1 | £ 4,148 |
East Dunbartonshire | 1 | £ 4,398 | 1 | £ 3,000 | | 2 | £ 7,398 |
2020-21 | 1 | £ 4,398 | | | | 1 | £ 4,398 |
2021-22 | | | 1 | £ 3,000 | | 1 | £ 3,000 |
East Lothian | | | 2 | £ 5,399 | | 2 | £ 5,399 |
2019-20 | | | 1 | £ 2,900 | | 1 | £ 2,900 |
2020-21 | | | 1 | £ 2,499 | | 1 | £ 2,499 |
East Renfrewshire | 2 | £ 4,900 | | | | 2 | £ 4,900 |
2019-20 | 1 | £ 2,000 | | | | 1 | £ 2,000 |
2020-21 | 1 | £ 2,900 | | | | 1 | £ 2,900 |
Falkirk | 2 | £ 9,113 | 1 | £ 3,298 | | 3 | £ 12,411 |
2021-22 | 1 | £ 3,795 | 1 | £ 3,298 | | 2 | £ 7,093 |
2022-23 | 1 | £ 5,318 | | | | 1 | £ 5,318 |
Fife | 6 | £ 14,923 | 5 | £ 16,249 | | 11 | £ 31,171 |
2018-19 | 2 | £ 5,998 | 1 | £ 2,999 | | 3 | £ 8,997 |
2019-20 | 2 | £ 4,725 | 1 | £ 2,800 | | 3 | £ 7,525 |
2020-21 | 1 | £ 1,700 | 1 | £ 6,000 | | 2 | £ 7,700 |
2022-23 | 1 | £ 2,500 | 2 | £ 4,450 | | 3 | £ 6,950 |
Glasgow City | 8 | £ 22,299 | 3 | £ 17,095 | | 11 | £ 39,394 |
2019-20 | 2 | £ 8,400 | | | | 2 | £ 8,400 |
2020-21 | 3 | £ 6,148 | 1 | £ 5,495 | | 4 | £ 11,643 |
2021-22 | 1 | £ 3,753 | | | | 1 | £ 3,753 |
2022-23 | 2 | £ 3,998 | 1 | £ 5,700 | | 3 | £ 9,698 |
2023-24 | | | 1 | £ 5,900 | | 1 | £ 5,900 |
Highland | 16 | £ 53,878 | 3 | £ 13,056 | | 19 | £ 66,934 |
2018-19 | 1 | £ 3,796 | | | | 1 | £ 3,796 |
2019-20 | 6 | £ 21,061 | 2 | £ 9,398 | | 8 | £ 30,459 |
2020-21 | 8 | £ 23,423 | 1 | £ 3,658 | | 9 | £ 27,081 |
2021-22 | 1 | £ 5,598 | | | | 1 | £ 5,598 |
Inverclyde | 1 | £ 3,000 | 1 | £ 1,600 | | 2 | £ 4,600 |
2018-19 | | | 1 | £ 1,600 | | 1 | £ 1,600 |
2019-20 | 1 | £ 3,000 | | | | 1 | £ 3,000 |
Moray | 2 | £ 3,699 | 3 | £ 8,179 | | 5 | £ 11,878 |
2018-19 | | | 1 | £ 1,280 | | 1 | £ 1,280 |
2020-21 | 1 | £ 1,699 | 1 | £ 4,100 | | 2 | £ 5,799 |
2021-22 | 1 | £ 2,000 | | | | 1 | £ 2,000 |
2022-23 | | | 1 | £ 2,799 | | 1 | £ 2,799 |
Na h-Eileanan Siar | | | 1 | £ 3,698 | | 1 | £ 3,698 |
2020-21 | | | 1 | £ 3,698 | | 1 | £ 3,698 |
North Ayrshire | 2 | £ 6,409 | 3 | £ 7,148 | | 5 | £ 13,557 |
2018-19 | | | 1 | £ 3,000 | | 1 | £ 3,000 |
2019-20 | 1 | £ 1,709 | | | | 1 | £ 1,709 |
2020-21 | 1 | £ 4,700 | 2 | £ 4,148 | | 3 | £ 8,848 |
North Lanarkshire | 1 | £ 1,798 | 1 | £ 3,000 | | 2 | £ 4,798 |
2021-22 | 1 | £ 1,798 | 1 | £ 3,000 | | 2 | £ 4,798 |
Perth and Kinross | 11 | £ 54,794 | 8 | £ 32,397 | | 19 | £ 87,191 |
2018-19 | | | 4 | £ 17,499 | | 4 | £ 17,499 |
2019-20 | 6 | £ 19,695 | 2 | £ 6,299 | | 8 | £ 25,994 |
2020-21 | 2 | £ 8,099 | 2 | £ 8,599 | | 4 | £ 16,698 |
2022-23 | 3 | £ 27,000 | | | | 3 | £ 27,000 |
Renfrewshire | | | 1 | £ 2,849 | | 1 | £ 2,849 |
2021-22 | | | 1 | £ 2,849 | | 1 | £ 2,849 |
Scottish Borders | 3 | £ 12,427 | | | | 3 | £ 12,427 |
2018-19 | 1 | £ 3,998 | | | | 1 | £ 3,998 |
2019-20 | 1 | £ 6,000 | | | | 1 | £ 6,000 |
2020-21 | 1 | £ 2,429 | | | | 1 | £ 2,429 |
Shetland Islands | | | 1 | £ 5,929 | | 1 | £ 5,929 |
2021-22 | | | 1 | £ 5,929 | | 1 | £ 5,929 |
South Ayrshire | 1 | £ 3,778 | 3 | £ 6,098 | | 4 | £ 9,876 |
2019-20 | 1 | £ 3,778 | | | | 1 | £ 3,778 |
2020-21 | | | 3 | £ 6,098 | | 3 | £ 6,098 |
South Lanarkshire | | | 3 | £ 8,448 | | 3 | £ 8,448 |
2019-20 | | | 2 | £ 5,448 | | 2 | £ 5,448 |
2020-21 | | | 1 | £ 3,000 | | 1 | £ 3,000 |
Stirling | 4 | £ 23,098 | 3 | £ 5,246 | | 7 | £ 28,344 |
2020-21 | 3 | £ 11,098 | 1 | £ 1,645 | | 4 | £ 12,743 |
2021-22 | | | 2 | £ 3,601 | | 2 | £ 3,601 |
2022-23 | 1 | £ 12,000 | | | | 1 | £ 12,000 |
West Dunbartonshire | | | 2 | £ 4,199 | | 2 | £ 4,199 |
2021-22 | | | 1 | £ 3,000 | | 1 | £ 3,000 |
2022-23 | | | 1 | £ 1,199 | | 1 | £ 1,199 |
- Asked by: Ivan McKee, MSP for Glasgow Provan, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 September 2023
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 28 September 2023
To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce funding for its Innovation Centres.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 28 September 2023
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 September 2023
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 28 September 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether equivalent measures in Scotland are needed to those introduced in England and Wales by the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023, in light of reports of a recent spate of thefts in the Scottish Borders.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 28 September 2023
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 September 2023
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 28 September 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has plans to engage with Regional Screen Scotland regarding their call for funding for a new Screen Machine vehicle, in light of concerns that a lack of funding could lead to the end of the service.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 28 September 2023
- Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 September 2023
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 28 September 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the roll-out of the Scottish Education Exchange Programme initial test and learn project this year.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 28 September 2023
