- Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 6 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-23223 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 12 December 2023, in light of its commitment to issue notifications of funding arrangements to third sector organisations no later than the end of March for funding beginning on 1 April, what processes it plans to put in place in relation to third sector funding in 2024 to ensure that this commitment is met.
Answer
As I said to the Social Justice and Social Security Committee on 25 January, we are absolutely committed to pursuing our commitments to Fairer Funding for the third sector through the 2024-25 budget process. This includes providing early notification of grants to organisations as soon as is practically possible and before the end March 2024 for funding beginning on 1 April.
The budget process is still ongoing. I will provide a further update to parliament on the implementation of this commitment after the end March 2024.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 6 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6F-02720 by Humza Yousaf on 18 January 2024, whether the First Minister plans to request the addition of a correction in the Official Report in relation to his claim that "All homes and businesses across Scotland can currently access a superfast broadband service", in light of Ofcom statistics reportedly showing that superfast availability across Scotland is at 94.7%.
Answer
As outlined in response to question S6W-24707 on 6 February 2024 every home and business across Scotland should be able to access a superfast broadband connection – either through fixed line broadband, mobile broadband, fixed wireless access or using newer technologies such as Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites.
The superfast broadband figure quoted in Ofcom’s latest Connected Nations Report published on 19 th December 2023 relates to the availability of fixed line broadband only, which currently stands at 95% across Scotland.
The same Ofcom 2023 report also states that “Starlink [an LEO satellite service] currently… delivers nationwide broadband coverage, including in harder-to-reach areas” and that “Ofcom home broadband performance measurements suggest measured speeds on its [Starlink] network average around 100 Mbit/s download and 14 Mbit/s upload.”
All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 6 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what impact assessment was conducted regarding the £9.3 million reduction to the “Skills Programmes” budget line in its Budget 2024-25.
Answer
Our children, young people, families and learners of all ages continue to be a key priority for this Government and we will continue to focus on our three central missions of equality, opportunity, and community. We also have to make difficult budget choices due to the pressures on our public services and the lack of funding from the UK Government resulting in the most challenging fiscal position since devolution.
We remain committed to supporting a high quality post-school education, research and skills system with over £2.4 billion investment. This will maintain Scotland’s reputation for world-leading research; provide opportunities for people to learn and develop their skills through further and higher education, apprenticeships and other programmes including Developing the Young Workforce. We are also honouring this government’s commitment to free tuition; and providing vital financial support to students to support them in completing their studies in the face of significant cost of living pressures.
The impact assessments which support the draft Budget 2024-25 can be found at this link: Scottish Budget - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .
- Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 6 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide a list of voluntary sector organisations in receipt of Scottish Government funding that have received a reduction in their award, including the amount of any such reductions, in each of the last three financial years.
Answer
Information about third sector grants is not currently collated centrally.
The Scottish Government provides support to voluntary sector organisations from a range of budget lines across Ministerial portfolio. This includes direct grants as well as funding distributed as part of partner-led funding programmes and through public bodies.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 6 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can detail what its policies are in relation to designing clinical models for independent hospices.
Answer
It is for Integration Joint Boards to govern, plan and resource adult palliative care in their areas, including independent hospice care. The Scottish Government is developing a national guidance framework to support local planning and commissioning of independent care between Integration Joint Boards and independent hospices.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 29 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 6 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government which (a) companies and (b) non-governmental organisations were invited to the St Andrew’s Day reception that it hosted during COP28 in Dubai.
Answer
The following list of companies and organisations were invited to the St Andrew’s Day reception during COP28 in December 2023:
Abu Dhabi Aviation | CPI media | Islamic Finance Guru | Radisson |
AD Ports Group | DAHC | JM Foods | Retail Is Detail LLC of Alabbar Enterprises |
ADIO | D-CAT | Joulon | ReVentas |
ADNOC | DHA | Karpowership | Ritz Carlton DIFC |
ADQ | Dhabi Hold Co | Kent | Robertson Group |
Aforza | Doosan Babcock | KEZAD | Roslin Technologies |
AGR Petroleum Services | Drax | Kibsons | Safco |
Al Rostamani Tavel | Dubai Academic Health Authority | Kitopi | Scotmas |
AL TAYEB MEAT SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP LLC | Dubai Chamber | Krucial | Seafood Scotland |
Al Tayer Holidays | Dulsco LLC | Lactalis GCC | SEHA |
Al Yaseah | Edinburgh Science | Lactalis Group | Seven Media |
Al Yusr Industrial Contracting | Elevation Sustainable Solutions | Lactalis UAE | Shell |
Amity Fish | Emirates | LRQA | Siccar |
Aquatera Group | Energy Industries Council | LULU | Siemens Energy |
Arbikie | Equiom Group Middle East | MAF Hypermarkets LLc | Sirocco |
Areej International | Euro Mechanical | Masdar | SolarisKit |
Astro Agency | EY | Max Foods Inc | SOV |
Atlantis | Fawaz Alhokair Group | Mazrui International | Spinney |
Australian Embassy | FCDO | MEED | Sunamp Ltd |
Automech Engineering | finefarefood | Midgard Oilfield Services | SUNMEET GENERAL TRADING LLC |
AzurX | Fluitron | MMI | TAQA |
Baker Hughes | Fonterra | Mocean Energy | The Corporate Group |
Bee'ah | Foodsource International | Motive Offshore Group Ltd | Truebell |
Bidfood Middle East | FreshExpress | NAMA Development Enterprises | Tyde Digital |
Bidfood UAE | Gateway Group of Companies UAE | NKMS | UAE Space Agency |
Blake Evans & Co | Global Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Institute | Norco Group Ltd | Valeo Snackfoods Ltd |
BP | Green Bioactives | North Oil Company | VS |
Bristow Aviation Holdings Limited | Gulf Business Consulting | Nova Innovation | Waterfalls |
British Chamber of Commerce Abu Dhabi | HFI Consulting International | NPCC | Watson Farley & Williams |
Bureau Veritas | HSBC | OiLSERV | WetFish |
Carrefour | Hunter Food | Orbital Marine Power | Wishfoods |
Casinetto | Hydrogen Vehicle Systems Ltd | Park N Shop | Wood |
CBRE ME | IAS International Oil & Gas Consultants | PDF Beveage LLC | Xergy |
Chef Middle East LLC | IGS | PETRASCO Middle East LLC | Y International UK Ltd |
Choithram & Sons LLC | INVest NI | Proserv | Zumo Money |
Christof Globabl | IRBcreative | PWC | |
Core (A Zahid Group Company) | Isla Seafood | Quality Meat Scotland | |
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 6 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of there being just over one year remaining to meet its commitment to eliminate hepatitis C (HCV) as a public health concern in Scotland by the end of the 2024-25 financial year, whether it will provide an update on (a) what progress it is making towards this goal and (b) how NHS boards are performing in relation to the treatment targets that it has set for them.
Answer
Progress towards eliminating hepatitis C (HCV) as a public health concern is monitored by Public Health Scotland (PHS) with the most recent surveillance report in December 2023 indicating that major progress continues to be made on a number of HCV elimination targets in Scotland. For example, 86% of those previously diagnosed have been treated for their infection (in excess of the World Health Organization target of 80%).
A key indicator of progress toward HCV elimination is prevalence of chronic HCV among people who inject drugs (PWID) which is monitored via the Needle Exchange Surveillance Initiative survey led by Glasgow Caledonian University in association with PHS. This found the prevalence of chronic HCV infection among PWID in Scotland had reduced by approximately 50%, from 37% in 2015-16 to 19% in 2019-2020. Results for the latest NESI survey conducted during 2022-23 are expected to be published in mid 2024-25.
Treatment targets are currently published at Scotland level only, however a new PHS-led blood borne virus and sexually transmitted infection dashboard is scheduled for launch in 2024-25 which will include data on HCV treatment (alongside other indicators) and will help to monitor progress on elimination at NHS board level.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 6 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how many hospital buildings have been assessed as
containing potentially flammable or combustible cladding materials in each of
the last five years.
Answer
In the past five years, no hospital buildings have been identified as having external wall cladding with high-risk polyethylene Aluminium Composite Material (ACM).
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde are in the process of removing ACM from the internal atrium of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and replacing it with a non-combustible cladding material. This action was agreed after extensive and regular engagement with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, who were fully supportive of the mitigating actions implemented by the Board.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 January 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 6 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how it is measuring progress towards meeting its goal of eliminating hepatitis C (HCV) as a public health concern in Scotland by the end of the 2024-25 financial year.
Answer
Progress towards eliminating hepatitis C (HCV) as a public health concern is monitored by Public Health Scotland using a range of public health surveillance data including HCV tests and diagnoses, and clinical, morbidity and mortality data.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 05 February 2024
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 6 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the reported recall of 150,000 women who were wrongly excluded from cervical cancer screening since 1997.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 6 February 2024
