Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-28792 on 4 January 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-28792 on 4 January 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

The table provided in response to S4W-27885 set out the number of full time equivalent employees in each pay bargaining unit and the salary cost in each case. As noted in that response only Scottish Government (SG) Main and some of its agencies form a pay bargaining unit. All other bodies, even those that choose to analogue to the SG Main pay settlement, have their own individual bargaining arrangements.

The Scottish Government produces a range of statistics and analysis on the oil and gas industry in Scotland. The most recent publications were Oil and Gas Production, Income and Expenditure Statistics in October 2015 and the Quarterly National Accounts in November 2015, which detailed gross value added and tax revenues related to the Scottish offshore sector up to 2015 quarter 2.

The releases are available on the Scottish Government website at the following pages: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Economy/SNAP/expstats/oilandgas and http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Economy/QNA2015Q2

I announced in November 2015 that the first direct payments should begin arriving in bank accounts by the end of December 2015. Virtually all farmers should receive an initial payment by the end of March 2016 and the balance of payments in April 2016. The payment window, which is set by the European Union, runs from 1 December to 30 June in each scheme year, therefore payments are not officially delayed unless paid beyond 30 June 2016.

As a result of a meeting I chaired on 19 November 2015, the banks agreed to encourage all producers to consider their cash flow position and to contact their bank as soon as possible if they have any concerns.

There is an on-going requirement to maintain the accuracy of our mapping system, which the European Commission (EC) regulations describe as a Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) and considers as a ‘key control’ for the administration of payments under the Common Agricultural Policy. This is achieved by reviewing regular updates from Ordnance Survey’s Mastermap, updated aerial photography, on the spot checks by Rural Payments and Inspection Division inspectors, and changes notified by land occupiers.

In addition we are currently in the process of updating the LPIS to include changes required by the recent Common Agricultural Policy reforms. For example, the EC regulations require us to create an Ecological Focus Area layer in our LPIS which includes details of the land cover in each field and some ecological focus area claimed by farmers each year.

This Scottish Government is committed to supporting Scotland’s farmers and crofters. The Scottish Government is implementing the biggest Common Agricultural Policy Reform in a generation, which is considerably more complex than the former policy. To avoid delays in getting payments to farmers we will issue payments in two parts, and are on track to begin making payments in December 2015.

The planned timetable for payments was communicated to the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee and announced on 17 November 2015. All farmers should receive their initial payment by the end of March 2016 and their second (balance) payments in April 2016.

Out-of-hours clinics provide patients with more flexible access to services such as the rheumatology out-of-hours clinic in Lanarkshire. This will allow Lanarkshire patients who have commitments, such as work, to attend a clinic more quickly at a time more convenient to them. I understand that the board have secured a short-term contract with Medinet for three months to help meet short-term capacity issues. This is helping to support the boards rheumatology out-of-hours clinic. This is in line with the Scottish Government policy that boards can make use of the private sector to address short-term capacity issues and reduce waits for patients.

The funding and staffing of a particular hospital service or clinic are of course a matter for the local health board who are responsible for delivering services to meet the needs of their local population.

I understand from NHS Lanarkshire that they have a three month contract with Medinet to support their rheumatology out-of-hours clinics. This contract is to address short-term capacity issues due to a high level of demand being experienced in the board's rheumatology service. This additional capacity will reduce waits for patients until the board have in place sustainable capacity to ensure waiting time standards are delivered for all patients.

The Independent Living Fund Scotland has been fully operational since 1 July 2015. The Scottish fund budget for the first nine months of operation, until 31 March 2016, is £35.4 million. In addition, the Scottish Government contribution to administration costs for the first nine months is £939,000.