Chamber and committees

100 places to start your reading journey was shared with public libraries ahead of the First Minister’s Reading Challenge being launched. This allowed librarians to consider their current children’s book stock in light of the new programme before schools began to take part. The Scottish Book Trust is running regional events where teachers and librarians can come together to see how they can work in partnership on the Reading Challenge. Public libraries are represented on the Advisory Group for the Challenge by the CEO of the Scottish Library and Information Council.

Public libraries, which already hold a wide range of children’s titles, are an essential part of supporting access to reading materials. Everybody can join their local library service. Young people will be able to access a wide range of free books in all sorts of formats through their local library, as well as advice and recommendations from library staff.

100 places to start your reading journey is not a mandatory list. The First Minister’s Reading Challenge recognises the importance of personalisation and choice in reading for pleasure. It is therefore flexible so that children can read any books or other reading materials which interest them.

The Scottish Government has allocated £334,144 to enable the Scottish Book Trust to develop, promote and administer the First Minister’s Reading Challenge. This includes teacher resources and marketing materials for every primary school and branch library in Scotland, Reading Passports that are free on request upon registration for the Challenge, the 100 places to start your reading journey resource, prizes for schools and pupils, and a website. Schools can use the new website to register, access resources, interact with the book collection, submit their own reading recommendations, order passports and submit entries for challenges.

This funding also pays for Inspiring Classrooms, which gives schools the opportunity to apply for a small grant to pay for an author to visit their school and buy books or other reading materials for the children taking part, and a dedicated full time outreach worker with a background in primary school teaching. She is visiting schools and libraries across the country and speaking at events and parents’ evenings to provide information and support involvement in the First Minister’s Reading Challenge. She will also be gathering examples and case studies from schools taking part to share online, providing additional support and ideas for other schools.

The information requested is not held centrally, however I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-02014 on 13 September 2016 which contains information on the number of libraries in Scotland. 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 Scottish Government funds the Scottish library and information council to provide independent advice to the Scottish Government on library services and to act as a leadership body for the sector. SLIC can provide information on the local library landscape in Scotland, and may be contacted using the details below:

Pamela Tulloch

Chief Executive Officer

Scottish Library & Information Council

Suite 2.4

Turnberry House

175 West George Street

Glasgow

G2 2LB

t: 0141 202 2999

e: [email protected]

The Scottish Government works closely with Police Scotland and a range of business and other stakeholders in relation to cyber-crime and cyber-resilience.

We launched our cyber-resilience strategy ‘Safe, Secure and Prosperous’ in November last year.

The Scottish Government and its enterprise agencies continually analyse inward investment data, including data from the Department of International Trade.

We also engage with existing and potential investors to understand and respond to their needs and priorities.

Licensed providers, also known as retailers, are responsible for billing and collecting charges from non-domestic properties across Scotland. The £15 million additional revenue was calculated on an all-Scotland basis based on data held by Scottish Assessors Valuation Roll on 1 April 2013. It has been broken down by local authority area in the following table:

On 1 June 2016, FCBC ratified their revised programme at a meeting of the FCBC Board showing the Queensferry Crossing opening by May 2017.

On 1 June 2016, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work met with Sally Cox, Chair of the FCBC Board and Michael Martin Project Director for FCBC to discuss the emerging programme. Transport Scotland officials were asked to rigorously assess the programme when it was received to ensure everything possible that could be done was being done to meet the December 2016 opening to traffic target.

On 2 June 2016, Transport Scotland received written confirmation of FCBC’s revised programme showing opening by May 2017. Detailed scrutiny and challenge of this programme was subsequently undertaken on 6 June 2016 by Transport Scotland Directors, Transport Scotland Project team and independent advisors. Following this review, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work made a statement to Parliament on 8 June 2016 announcing the new date for opening to traffic.

Inclement weather affects construction activities in different ways ranging from the need to alter a method of work to completely cancelling a piece of work. Consequently, it is not possible to quantify how many construction days were lost on construction of the Queensferry Crossing as a result of inclement weather conditions. However, the contractor estimates that approximately 20% of the project programme has been impacted by weather in the period 2011 to 2015 which is in line with the allowances made in their programme.

I shall reply to the member as soon as possible.