Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-16154

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 5 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15567 by Jenny Gilruth on 21 March 2023, whether it will provide a breakdown of the information in the table showing the name and location of each bridge, and the date that the repair work (a) was first identified as required and (b) is projected to be completed by.

Please find the following table providing the name and location of each bridge on the trunk road network highlighted in our previous answer to S6W-15567. The dates that upgrades were first identified as required and projected to be completed are also contained:

Local Authority Area	Structure Reference	Structure Name	Work Identified	Planned Year of Completion
Highland	A887 80	A887 Lagain Bhain	1998	2024-25
Highland	A830 160	A830 Shlatach	2013	2025-26
Stirling	A85 270	A85 Dalkenneth	2021	2026-27
Stirling	A84 137	A84 Balquidder Station	2019	2026-27
Highland	A82 1180	A82 Lagain	2018	2027-28
Moray	A95 170	A95 Craigellachie Bridge	First identified over 10 years ago	2024-25
Moray	A95 180	A95 Craigellachie Bridge	First identified over 10 years ago	2025-26
Fife-Falkirk	A985 1	Kincardine	1983	2024-25
Highland	A830 130	A830 Finnan River	1998	2027-28
Stirling	A84 35	A84 Cambus	1999	2028-29
Highland	A82 670	A82 Allt Molach	1990	2028-29
Highland	A82 680	A82 Allt Nan Guibhas	1990	2029-30
Highland	A82 690	A82 Creagdubh	1990	2029-30
Highland	A82 770	A82 Alltanrigh	1990	2030-31
Highland	A82 800	A82 Achtriochtan	1990	2030-31
Highland	A87 30	A87 Daingean	2018	2031-32
Highland	A87 40	A87 Bhoira	2018	2031-32
Highland	A87 50	A87 Garbh Dhoire	2018	2032-33
Highland	A87 60	A87 Loyne	2018	2032-33
Highland	A87 70	A87 Moriston	2018	2033-34
Highland	A87 520	A87 Allt A'ghlarsair	2013	2033-34
Highland	A87 540	A87 Lon Chaorach	2013	2034-35
Argyle & Bute	A828 10	Connel	2016	2024-25
Borders	A702 80	A702 Westwater	2018	2023-24
West Dunbartonshire	A82 150	A82 Leven Bridge	1999	2025-26
Dumfries and Galloway	A76 160	A76 Marchburn	1993	2025-26
Dumfries and Galloway	A75 690	A75 Barlae	2016	2025-26
Highland	A82 700	A82 Etive	2018	2034-35
West Dunbartonshire	A82 640	A82 Tulla	2018	2035-36
Stirling	A84 10	A84 Drip	2016	2035-36
Highland	A830 140	A830 Challium	2013	2036-37
Highland	A830 150	A830 Dhuibh	2013	2036-37
Highland	A87 600	A87 Lon Na H'Iolainn	1997	2037-38
Stirling	A84 80	A84 Kilmahog 1	1997	2037-38
Stirling	A84 90	A84 Kilmahog 2	1997	2038-39

All substandard structures on the trunk road network are monitored and managed in accordance with national standards until such time as funds are prioritised for remedial work.

Question reference: S6W-16162

Asked by: Roz McCall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 5 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care on 23 November 2022, when it will publish a full progress report on the improvement plan for NHS Forth Valley, following its escalation to stage 4 of the NHS Scotland performance escalation framework.

The Chair of the Assurance Board, Christine McLaughlin, wrote to members on 31 March 2023 with a full progress update on NHS Forth Valley’s escalation in Governance, Leadership and Culture. The letter has been published on the Scottish Government website: NHS Forth Valley Assurance Board update: letter from the Chair to MSPs - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

The onus remains on NHS Forth Valley to deliver and evidence the required improvements in governance, leadership and culture; and, in turn, on performance. The Assurance Board will continue to monitor and scrutinise NHS Forth Valley’s progress.

Question reference: S6W-16230

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 5 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what research it has undertaken on distance decay in relation to health outcomes in the Highlands and Islands, and whether it has any plans to record the impact of any such distance decay in relation to health outcomes.

Question reference: S6W-16048

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 5 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15589 by Elena Whitham on 14 March 2023, whether it will list the stakeholders that it (a) has already consulted and (b) plans to gather views from on potentially raising the legal age of marriage to 18, in line with the recommendation of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

Scottish Government officials have met with the following groups and organisations on the minimum age of marriage and related matters:

AMINA- Muslim Women’s Resource Centre

Article 12 in Scotland

Association of Registrars of Scotland

Caledonian Humanist Association

Evangelical Alliance

Hemat Gryffe Women’s Aid

Humanist Society Scotland

IKWRO Women’s Rights Organisation

Independent Humanist Ceremonies

JustRight Scotland

Karma Nirvana

Minority Ethnic Carers of People Project

Scottish Council of Jewish Communities

Saheliya

Scottish Women’s Aid

Shakti Women’s Aid

Together (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights)

UNICEF UK

They have also met with some Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament and with two Scottish family law academics.

I intend for these meetings to continue. My officials are planning to meet representatives of the following bodies, some of which will have received invitations to discuss the issues.

The Baptist Union of Scotland

The Church of Scotland

The Free Church of Scotland

The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland

Glasgow Central Mosque

Hindu Forum of Britain

The Methodist Church

The Muslim Council of Scotland

The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers in Scotland)

The Roman Catholic Church (The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland)

The Salvation Army

The Scottish Association of Mosques

The Scottish Episcopal Church

Sikhs in Scotland

The Scottish Unitarian Association

The Synod of Scotland of the United Reformed Church

The United Free Church of Scotland

The member is welcome to write to me with details of other interested groups who want to be involved.

Question reference: S6W-16052

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 5 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comments by the Deputy First Minister during the ministerial statement on Ferguson Marine on 16 March 2023, whether the planned periods between maintenance for (a) MV Glen Sannox and (b) Hull 802, once they are operational, has changed.

There has been no changes to the maintenance periods following these comments. Every vessel within the CalMac fleet requires regular maintenance work and CalMac are contractually obliged to ensure annual overhauls are completed successfully.

Planned maintenance will be carried out on each vessel on an annual basis in line with other vessels in the CHFS fleet. The timing of these inspections and necessary dry docks is for the operator to manage.

Question reference: S6W-16044

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 5 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has at any point offered, or signalled support for, health services as part of the Gilmerton Gateway project.

Question reference: S6W-16032

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 5 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on TikTok in each of the last five years.

Question reference: S6W-16043

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 5 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the adequacy of GP provision in Edinburgh.

Question reference: S6W-15937

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 5 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its announcement in June 2022 that £30 million would be spent “this financial year” to “accelerate the shift to zero emission transport”, how much of this funding it has spent to date, broken down by what it has been spent on; which geographical areas it has been spent in, and whether it has been allocated to (a) the corporate sector, (b) charitable organisations, (c) individuals and (d) others.

Of the £30 million support that was announced in June 2022, £28 million was allocated to the Low Carbon Transport Loan and the remaining £2 million was allocated to the Plugged-In Communities Schemes. Both have been fully allocated and are pending final claims being received.

Table 1 below gives a breakdown of loans paid under of the Low Carbon Transport loan by local authority area and type of recipient, reflecting payments up to 28 February 2023.

Table 1: Low Carbon Transport Loan – paid loans in financial year 22-23 to 28 February 2023
Local Authority Area	New Business Loan	Switched on Taxis Loan	Used Domestic Loan	Used Business Loan	Grand Total (to 28-02-23)
Argyll and Bute	£0.00	£0.00	£193,983.50	£46,800.00	£240,783.50
Highland	£130,000.00	£0.00	£325,320.98	£39,194.00	£494,514.98
Na h-Eileanan Siar	£29,495.00	£0.00	£38,744.00	£0.00	£68,239.00
Orkney Islands	£0.00	£0.00	£59,093.00	£27,600.00	£86,693.00
Aberdeen City	£58,499.00	£150,000.00	£521,317.56	£109,394.00	£839,210.56
Aberdeenshire	£30,000.00	£30,000.00	£794,529.23	£121,936.50	£976,465.73
Angus	£30,000.00	£0.00	£250,730.00	£59,398.00	£340,128.00
Dundee City	£53,684.56	£28,195.00	£513,198.20	£28,295.00	£623,372.76
Moray	£0.00	£0.00	£147,881.00	£0.00	£147,881.00
Perth and Kinross	£34,999.00	£0.00	£641,044.60	£92,617.00	£768,660.60
City of Edinburgh	£90,979.00	£831,821.44	£1,697,763.01	£123,612.00	£2,744,175.45
East Lothian	£0.00	£34,093.00	£587,197.00	£0.00	£621,290.00
Fife	£35,000.00	£63,805.00	£800,616.00	£0.00	£899,421.00
Midlothian	£0.00	£121,898.20	£432,242.00	£0.00	£554,140.20
Scottish Borders	£0.00	£0.00	£377,066.00	£23,500.00	£400,566.00
West Lothian	£70,000.00	£128,473.00	£475,531.81	£0.00	£674,004.81
Dumfries and Galloway	£0.00	£0.00	£285,852.00	£11,499.00	£297,351.00
East Ayrshire	£0.00	£0.00	£134,602.21	£111,834.00	£246,436.21
North Ayrshire	£0.00	£0.00	£144,256.06	£28,437.60	£172,693.66
South Ayrshire	£120,000.00	£93,658.00	£204,350.00	£25,200.00	£443,208.00
Clackmannanshire	£0.00	£0.00	£154,468.00	£0.00	£154,468.00
East Dunbartonshire	£60,000.00	£252,771.40	£324,659.03	£25,198.80	£662,629.23
East Renfrewshire	£0.00	£185,751.80	£436,581.00	£89,498.00	£711,830.80
Falkirk	£51,165.48	£0.00	£353,921.00	£27,500.00	£432,586.48
Glasgow City	£130,000.00	£586,127.60	£1,286,187.01	£168,160.00	£2,170,474.61
Inverclyde	£31,093.50	£0.00	£222,936.93	£0.00	£254,030.43
North Lanarkshire	£0.00	£154,718.00	£575,597.99	£0.00	£730,315.99
Renfrewshire	£0.00	£148,558.00	£273,222.00	£67,507.30	£489,287.30
South Lanarkshire	£152,629.00	£152,001.10	£815,437.47	£100,186.60	£1,220,254.17
Stirling	£97,000.00	£0.00	£790,167.00	£22,700.00	£909,867.00
West Dunbartonshire	£0.00	£0.00	£119,368.00	£23,149.00	£142,517.00
Grand Total	£1,204,544.54	£2,961,871.54	£13,977,863.59	£1,373,216.80	£19,517,496.47

Tables 2 and 3 below give a breakdown of payments under the Plugged-in Communities schemes, reflecting payments up to 28 February 2023. Table 2 reflects payments to Community Transport Organisations, and Table 3 reflects payments to car clubs.

Table 2: Plugged-in Communities, Grants to Community Transport Organisations, payments in financial year 22-23 to 28 February 2023
Local Authority Area	Amount Paid	Community Transport Organisation.
Highland	£83,603.70	Wheels in Nairnshire
Orkney	£80,856.00	Island of Hoy Development Trust
Argyll and Bute	£66,638.00	Ross of Mull and Iona Community Trust
Highland	£67,371.40	Transport for Tongue
Aberdeen	£76,535.00	Clan Cancer Support
Dumfries and Galloway	£46,000.00	Galloway Community Transport
Aberdeen	£76,535.00	Camphill School Aberdeen
West Lothian	£41,979.80	The Larder (West Lothian)
Dumfries and Galloway	£71,040.00	Annandale Community Transport
Highland	£8,400.00	Connect Assynt
Total	£618,958.90

Table 3: Plugged-in Communities, Grants to Car Clubs, payments in financial year 22-23 to 28 February 2023
Local Authority Area	Amount Paid	Car Club
Aberdeen	£13,801.68	Grampian Housing Association
Renfrewshire	£3,375.00	Linstone Housing Association
Glasgow	£9,201.12	Queens Cross Housing Association
Glasgow	£15,335.14	Glasgow Housing Association
Aberdeen	£10,351.25	Osprey Housing Association
Fife	£19,584.00	Ore Valley Housing Association
City of Edinburgh	£39,168.00	Blackwood Group
Total	£110,816.19

Question reference: S6W-16164

Asked by: Roz McCall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 5 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received a progress report from NHS Forth Valley regarding its improvement plan, including any additional (a) culture, (b) leadership and (c) integration actions, following its escalation to stage 4 of the NHS Scotland performance escalation framework on 23 November 2022.

NHS Forth Valley provide a full progress update against their published Improvement Plan to the Assurance Board on a monthly basis. Material relating to the escalation is proactively published by both the Scottish Government and NHS Forth Valley.

NHS Forth Valley recently published the latest iteration of their Improvement Plan, which included a progress update and incorporated additional actions in governance, leadership, culture and integration. A Measurement Framework has also been developed and published by NHS Forth Valley to allow them to demonstrate and evidence tangible progress. These documents can be found on NHS Forth Valley’s website: NHS Forth Valley – Escalation and HIS

The onus remains on NHS Forth Valley to deliver and evidence the required improvements in governance, leadership and culture; and, in turn, on performance. The Assurance Board will continue to monitor and scrutinise NHS Forth Valley’s progress.

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