Chamber and committees

The pool has been shut since the start of Jan 2020.

It has been used 0 days in 2020, 21 and 22 and was available for use throughout 2018 and 2019.

As Scotland’s Redress Scheme will run for at least 5 years from December 2021, fluctuations in the inflation rates over this period are to be expected. To mandate routine or regular changes to account for these fluctuations would have added another level of complexity which may have detracted from the core aim of providing acknowledgement and tangible recognition of harm caused to those who experienced abuse in care.

No amount of money can make up for the harm done, and survivors have told us that, in some cases, the receipt of a payment, rather than the level of that payment, has been the recognition they have been seeking. The redress payment reflects only one part of that tangible recognition, which also includes the provision of support to access a personal apology, which again can be more meaningful to some survivors than the payment.

There is no fixed budget or limit to the number of redress payments which will be paid by the Scottish Government. We are committed to making financial redress to all survivors of abuse in care who receive an offer of payment from the independent decision making body, Redress Scotland, based upon the published assessment framework and associated payment levels .

Payments made through the scheme are not index linked. Section 39 of the Revised Financial Memorandum outlines that there is provision, but not a requirement, for Scottish Ministers to increase redress payment amounts to account for inflation, as set out in Section 41 of the Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Act 2021, through the introduction of regulations.

At this time, the longer term economic forecasts mean there are no current plans to introduce regulations of this nature, and monitoring of the situation will continue.

Telecoms remains reserved to the UK Government and regulated by Ofcom. While this leaves the Scottish Government with limited ability to influence mobile operators directly, officials escalated the issue to senior management in BT Group as soon as the situation in Uig came to our attention. Faulty equipment was replaced in late November and BT advises that an improved service should now be available.

Questions regarding day-to-day operational matters of Historic Environment Scotland, including information relating to the resolution of complaints made to Historic Environment Scotland are best answered directly by Historic Environment Scotland.

I have asked Historic Environment Scotland to respond directly to the member with a full reply to his question in writing.

Information on funding awarded to projects from the Regional Food Fund in each year since it was established is published on the Scotland Food & Drink website and can be found at the following link: https://foodanddrink.scot/regional-food-growth/regional-food-fund/

Scotland needs a system that supports our higher education sector to deliver the best learning, research and experience for those who choose to study in Scotland. The reinstatement of the Graduate Route was welcome but the scope must also be widened to include HND qualifications from Scottish institutions as was under the previous post-study work scheme and Fresh Talent. it remains clear that UK immigration system still does not address Scotland’s economic, demographic and social needs. We will continue to push UK Ministers to engage meaningfully on these issues.

The latest available information is provided in the following tables.

(a) N umber of offences related to drink/drugs driving, recorded by the police 2014-15 to 2021-22.

While the Scottish Government keeps alcohol licensing legislation under review, there are no current plans to update legislation for on-sales premises. Operation of the alcohol licensing regime is the day-to-day responsibility of independent Licensing Boards and Scottish Government officials regularly engage with a range of licensing stakeholders including clerks to Licensing Boards to help inform regular review and assessment of whether any legislative changes should be considered.

Scottish Government has provided over £150 million to date in additional support to maintain the capacity and capability of the independent sector.

We have also introduced new incentives for recruitment and retention of dentists in certain remote and rural areas. This will mean that dentists, including orthodontists, who join the NHS Board list in Scotland for the first time can receive up to £25,000 over a two-year period.