Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government is wholehearted in its commitment to supporting our Armed Forces, veterans and their families in Scotland. We want Scotland to be the destination of choice for Service Leavers and their families and that includes Scotland being the best place in the world in which children and young people grow up and learn .

In relation to school admissions, in Scotland, local authorities have a legal responsibility to provide education in their area and publish arrangements for admission of pupils to schools they manage. Local authorities can also reserve places in schools in anticipation of children who may move into the area during the school year. Our expectation is that local authorities, especially those with a significant local military presence, make efforts to engage with local armed forces bases to monitor new demand for places and work with them to identify suitable school places. We have no plans to place additional requirements on local authorities in this regard.

The Scottish Government has made a commitment to phase out the need for new petrol or diesel light commercial vehicles in public bodies by 2025; the need for any new petrol or diesel vehicles in public sector fleets by 2030; and the need for new petrol or diesel cars or vans by 2030.

The Scottish Government is aware of the issue of microplastic and other forms of pollution from road vehicles of all kinds. A 2019 report, “Non-Exhaust Emissions from Road Traffic” concluded the most effective mitigation strategies for reducing wear-generated fine particulate matter are: to reduce overall volumes of traffic; reduce speed limits; and promote good driving behaviour, all of which are part of our plans to reduce casualties and improve air quality.

Reducing the number and use of vehicles is central to reducing all types of pollution that they generate. The National Transport Strategy promotes walking, cycling, public transport and bike, car and ride sharing in preference to single occupancy car use. In the Climate Change Plan update published in December 2020, the Scottish Government committed to reducing car kilometres by 20% by 2030.

While the Scottish Government continues to monitor research into issues relating to zero emission vehicles, we have not conducted specific analysis in the potential increase in microplastic waste from electric vehicles.

The Scottish Government has written to the UK Government on six occasions in order to urge them to retain the £20-per-week uplift to Universal Credit, and also extend it to people on legacy benefits, such as Jobseeker’s Allowance.

The Scottish Government also published analysis in June , showing that if the UK Government proceeds with their plan to withdraw the £20-per-week uplift to Universal Credit in September it could cut social security payments in Scotland by over £460 million per year by 2023-24.

Pentland Ferries have withdrawn, on commercial grounds, from discussions on the offer of the Time Charter of the MV Pentalina with CalMac.

The Scottish Government recognises the severe impact that COVID-19 restrictions have on the events sector and on the ability of groups, including Pride organising groups, to organise large-scale gatherings and marches. The measures within the Strategic Framework , including physical distancing and limiting mass gatherings, have been crucial for controlling the virus, particularly as new and highly infectious strains emerge, and have been necessary and proportionate to protect lives and the NHS.

Since the start of the pandemic, Scotland’s LGBTI organisations have, where possible, arranged virtual alternatives to traditional Pride events, bringing people together to celebrate Scotland’s diverse and vibrant LGBT community. We are currently reviewing physical distancing measures, taking account of available and emerging evidence, including the ongoing rollout of the vaccination programme. Public events will be considered as part of this review.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have provided funding of over £74,000 to LGBTI organisations from the Immediate Priorities Fund. This includes:

• Funding to LGBT Health and Wellbeing to provide additional cover for the National LGBT Helpline, for an additional 2 days a week (which brings coverage from 2 days a week to overall 4 days a week) and to offer more tailored individual support for particularly isolated members of the community.
• Funding to Equality Network to increase access to Zoom for community groups, to maintain social connectivity.
• Funding to LGBT Youth Scotland, to fast track their digital youth work platform to ensure that young people are better supported during the pandemic and beyond.

A partnership of LGBTI organisations was also awarded short term funding of £87,700 from the Scottish Government’s Supporting Communities Fund, delivered via the National Lottery, to support a community response to COVID-19. Outputs included the creation of a dedicated LGBTI micro-site to: support Pride organisers to put on events; support LGBTI groups to provide social and COVID-19 services; and provide LGBTI digital care packages to up to 50 isolated LGBTI people through local LGBTI community groups. Further details of this can be found online at: https://www.equality-network.org/funding-announcement/ .

Delays in obtaining an AWI (2) report will result in a delay in a guardianship order application being decided on by a sheriff. An application for a guardianship order can be for both property and financial matters, and for welfare matters. A sheriff will look to see that the principles of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 have been given effect to when deciding on a case and the mental health officer considers these principles when compiling the AWI (2) report.

No specific advice has been sought from, or provided by, the Ferry Industry Advisory Group regarding (a) chartering additional ferry capacity, and (b) time chartering the MV Pentalina from Pentland Ferries on the Clyde and Hebrides routes operation.

Transport Scotland officials have continued to engage closely with CalMac and CMAL as key stakeholders on issues including additional tonnage.

The Scottish Government remains committed to reducing fares on Northern Isles ferry routes.

Following engagement with European Commission officials in 2019, Transport Scotland officials were developing proposals to introduce Road Equivalent Tariff. This work was rightly paused in early 2020, while resources were pivoted to deal with the Covid outbreak, however work has recently resumed.

Engagement between Transport Scotland officials and ferry operators has taken place and will continue as the work progresses.

The vision of our National Transport Strategy is that we will have a sustainable, inclusive, safe and accessible transport system, helping deliver a healthier, fairer and more prosperous Scotland for communities, businesses and visitors. The Strategy embeds the Sustainable Travel Hierarchy into decision making, by prioritising walking, wheeling, cycling and public and shared transport options in preference to single occupancy private car use.

It also confirms that future transport investment decisions will be made in line with the Sustainable Investment Hierarchy, ensuring that transport options that focus on the need to travel sustainably and reduce inequalities are prioritised.

I can confirm that Sustrans notified Transport Scotland of its decision to pause applications to the Places for Everyone (PfE) fund for all new projects, due to the fund currently being oversubscribed. Funds continue to be available for the delivery of existing PfE projects. Sustrans will review this position again in September 2021.