- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 16 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement (a) it and (b) Transport Scotland has had with Glasgow City Council about potential future rationalisation of the Townhead Interchange at junction 15 of the M8 and its local feeder roads as part of the Council's consultation on the Townhead District Regeneration Framework, which closes on 3 March 2023.
Answer
Glasgow City Council published the City Centre Strategic Development Framework in late 2019. Transport Scotland detailed in its response dated January 2020, that plans to improve connections across Junction 15, indeed any plans which affect the motorway through Glasgow, would require specific engagement with Transport Scotland given the potential impact on the strategic road network.
Transport Scotland regularly meets Glasgow City Council across a number of forums. However, they have not recently been approached to have any specific discussions with Glasgow City Council on the rationalisation of M8 junction 15, Townhead interchange or in regard to this District Regeneration Framework more generally. Nonetheless, my officials are preparing a response to the Townhead District Regeneration Framework public consultation.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 16 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considering merging and consolidating the boards of ScotRail and Scottish Rail Holdings.
Answer
Both organisations serve different functions. Scottish Rail Holdings Ltd oversees, on behalf of the Scottish Ministers, the delivery of rail services by ScotRail Trains Ltd.
Consideration of the appropriate arrangements concluded the current structure to be consistent with Scottish Government guidance on best practice for governance of such bodies.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 16 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what the latest estimate is of the total capital cost for the entire scope of repair works to the Woodside Viaducts of the M8 between junctions 16 and 17.
Answer
This is a complex repair of an expansive structure that is trafficked by approximately 150,000 vehicles on a daily basis. Although temporary works are well underway, the final design for the permanent repairs is yet to be completed, which will then inform the overall project cost estimate.
The latest phase (propping works of the structure) includes a trial repair which is programmed for Summer 2023. The findings from that trial are key to the next stages as they influence the options for the final design and hence the total costs.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 13 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 16 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether the design of the planned overhead line equipment to be installed on the East Kilbride railway line will incorporate passive provision for dual tracking the entire route in future.
Answer
The design being taken forward on the East Kilbride Line would not prevent the route being dual tracked in future if required.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reduce violence in schools.
Answer
Violence towards anyone is unacceptable and the safety of our children, young people and staff at school is paramount.
We have produced guidance for local authorities and schools to promote positive relationships and manage behaviour, including de-escalation of violent behaviour. There are a number of programmes that they use to do this.
Last week I met the Teachers Panel to discuss their experiences and how we could better support schools and pupils. The fifth wave of our Behaviour in Scottish Schools Research started last month and will provide a robust national picture of current relationships and behaviour. We will use this research and engagement with stakeholders, including the Scottish Advisory Group for Relationships and Behaviour in Schools, to inform the development of further future policy, guidance and support for schools and school staff.
- Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 16 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to ensure that an independently facilitated joint review of the bargaining agreement takes place, in light of the recommendation of the Lessons Learned exercise carried out by Strathesk Resolutions throughout 2021-22.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-15725 on 16 March 2023. 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: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 16 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the role that the Scottish Funding Council should play in ensuring that any information used in the negotiation process is accepted by all parties as accurate, in light of the recommendation of the Lessons Learned exercise carried out by Strathesk Resolutions throughout 2021-22.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-15725 on 16 March 2023. 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: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 16 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to implement the recommendations of the Lessons Learned exercise carried out by Strathesk Resolutions throughout 2021-22.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-15725 on 16 March 2023. 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: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Clare Haughey on 16 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce a national payment for kinship carers, and, if so, when it anticipates such a payment will be agreed and delivered.
Answer
The Scottish Government values the crucial role carried out by kinship carers and is committed to delivering a Scottish Recommended Allowance for them, alongside foster carers. We acknowledge that it has taken far longer than we would like. That is why we are actively exploring all available options and working at pace with CoSLA, to deliver the allowance as soon as possible.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 16 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how many district nurses have been employed by the NHS in each of the last five years, and what its position is on the provision of regular district nurse visits to people over 65.
Answer
The number of district nurses working in NHS Scotland in each of the last five years can be found on the TURAS NHS Education for Scotland workforce statistics site at NHS Scotland workforce | Turas Data Intelligence .
The Scottish Government does not direct NHS Boards to ensure that their district nurses and their teams undertake routine, planned visits to over 65s, however it is possible that such visits take place in some parts of the country. The roles of district nurses and their teams was described in the Transforming Roles District Nursing paper, which can be found here Supporting documents - Transforming nursing, midwifery and health professionals roles: district nursing roles - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .