Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-08325

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 10 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many staff it is planning to recruit over the current parliamentary session in order to improve continuity and coordination between new elements of international development and wider external affairs programming.

Question reference: S6W-08362

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 10 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-08000 by Kate Forbes on 25 April 2022, how many candidates with agricultural experience applied for the recently advertised vacancies.

South of Scotland Enterprise advertised for four new Board members in Autumn 2021. Applicants were asked to demonstrate evidence of their skills, knowledge and experience in one of three areas: land based industries; governance/strategic management; or digital transformation.

The Scottish Government received 47 completed applications for the advertised vacancies. Of these, over a third (16 applicants) set out evidence under the ‘land-based industry’ criterion. However, it is possible that other applicants, who chose to set out evidence against one of the other criteria instead, may also have experience in land based industries.

Question reference: S6W-08044

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 10 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding the Chief Scientist Office provided to support clinical research careers in each year since 2012.

These are the directly funded clinical academic fellowships (CAF) and Senior Clinical Academic Fellowships (SCAF) awarded by the Chief Scientist Office since 2012.

Year	Fellowships Awarded	Total Funding committed
2012	CAF/12/04	£666,181
	CAF/12/05
	CAF/12/07
2013	CAF/13/02	£775,052
	CAF/13/03
	CAF/13/09
	CAF/13/13
2014	CAF/14/02	£343,061
	CAF/14/04
2015	CAF/15/03	£1,459,574
	CAF/15/07
	SCAF/15/01
	SCAF/15/02
2016	CAF/16/01	£2,210,713
	CAF/16/06
	CAF/16/09
	SCAF/16/01
	SCAF/16/02
	SCAF/16/03
2017	CAF/17/01	£2,107,722
	CAF/17/06
	CAF/17/11
	SCAF/17/01
	SCAF/17/02
	SCAF/17/03
2018	CAF/18/02	£1,851,621
	CAF/18/05
	CAF/18/08
	CAF/18/12
	SCAF/18/01
	SCAF/18/02
2019	CAF/19/01	£1,636,496
	CAF/19/04
	CAF/19/05
	SCAF/19/01
	SCAF/19/02
2020	CAF/20/01	£659,011
	CAF/20/02
	CAF/20/03
2021	CAF/21/05	£700,147
	CAF/21/06
	CAF/21/13

Question reference: S6W-08008

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 10 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to implement the reported upcoming UK Government’s Alcohol Treatment Guidance; if it does, whether this implementation will be supported by a framework of standards, and, if so, how, and against which indicators will outcomes be monitored in order to ensure improvement.

We are committed to ensuring that alcohol treatment in Scotland is consistent and of high quality. We are supporting the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, which has been leading on the development of new UK-wide clinical guidelines for alcohol treatment.

We expect the draft guidance to be published for consultation this year. We will work with our partners to ensure that it is suitable for Scotland and how the guidance could be implemented effectively and consistently across the country.

The forthcoming UK clinical guidelines will act as a platform to develop alcohol specific treatment targets. The intention would be that these would launch in 2024.

Question reference: S6W-07991

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 10 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of landfill sites by (a) area covered and (b) active status.

The following table provides a full breakdown of landfill sites with a pollution prevention and control (PPC) permit with their locations and current operational status.

It is not possible to specify the area covered by each landfill given it is a commercial decision for landfill operators where they accept waste from. The local authority that each site is located in is provided in the following table, but it is possible that waste will travel between local authority areas prior to being landfilled.

Site Name	Status/Phase	Site location
A & M Smith, Bankhead, Portlethen	Closure	Aberdeenshire Council
Crows Nest L/F,Raemoir Rd,Banchory,Aberdeen	Closure	Aberdeenshire Council
Brandon Howe L/F Site, Inverboyndie, Banff	Closure	Aberdeenshire Council
Park Quarry, Kincluny Farm, Durris	Operational	Aberdeenshire Council
Easter Hatton Environment, Balmedie, Aberdeen	Operational	Aberdeenshire Council
Loch Hills Quarry, Parkhill, Dyce, Aberdeen	Operational	Aberdeenshire Council
Savoch Quarry Landfill Site, Peterhead	Operational	Aberdeenshire Council
Howe of Byth, Cowbog, New Pitsligo	Closure	Aberdeenshire Council
Stoneyhill Environ Pk, Peterhead, Aberdeen	Operational	Aberdeenshire Council
Hill of Tramaud Landfill, Harehill, Aberdeen	Closure	Aberdeenshire Council
Wester Hatton L/F Site, Balmedie, Aberdeen	Operational	Aberdeenshire Council
Restenneth Landfill Site, Montrose Rd, Forfar	Operational	Angus Council
D Geddes Ltd, Border Quarry LF, Friockheim	Operational	Angus Council
D Geddes Ltd, Ardownie Landfill, Monifieth	Operational	Angus Council
D Geddes (Con) Ltd, Prettycur Landfill,Forfar	Operational	Angus Council
Hatton Mill Landfill site	Operational	Angus Council
Tayside Contrcts,Bolshan Quarry LF,Friockheim	Operational	Angus, Dundee & Perth & Kinross Councils
Gott Bay LFS, Isle of Tiree, Argyll	Operational	Argyll & Bute Council
Glengorm Landfill Site, Glengorm Rd, Tobermor	Operational	Argyll & Bute Council
Gartbreck Landfill Site, Bowmore, Islay	Operational	Argyll & Bute Council
Dalinlongart L/F & Compost, Sandbank, Dunoon	Operational	Argyll & Bute Council
Lingerton Landfill Site	Operational	Argyll & Bute Council
Bennadrove L/F Site, Marybank, Isle of Lewis	Operational	Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Auchenlosh Landfill Site	Closure	Dumfries and Galloway Council
Galdenoch Waste Disp Site, Leswalt, Stranraer	Closure	Dumfries and Galloway Council
Aucheniness Waste Disposal Site, Dalbeatie	Closure	Dumfries and Galloway Council
Barr Environ, Garlaff L/F, Skares Rd, Cumnock	Operational	East Ayrshire
Cockenzie Ash Lagoons, Musselburgh	Closure	East Lothian
Viridor Waste,Dunbar L/F,Oxwell Mains,Dunbar	Operational	East Lothian
JM Murdoch, East Capellie Farm L/F, Neilston	Closure	East Renfrewshire Council
West Fortune Transfer Station & Landfill	Closure	Edinburgh, Lothian and Borders
Avondale Non-Hazardous Landfill, Polmont	Operational	Falkirk Council
Avondale Environmental, Polmont, Falkirk (Haz)	Operational	Falkirk Council
West Carron Landfill, Stenhouse Rd, Falkirk	Operational	Falkirk Council
Scottish Water, Broadside Landfill, Denny	Closure	Falkirk Council
Fife Council, Lochhead L/F, By Wellwood, Fife	Operational	Fife Council
Fife Council, Lower Melville Woods, Fife	Operational	Fife Council
Scottish Power, Valleyfield Ash Lagoons	Closure	Fife Council
Greenoakhill L/F Site, Hamilton Rd, Glasgow	Operational	Glasgow City Council
Skitten Quarry, Skitten, Wick	Operational	Highland Council
Duisky Landfill Site, Fort William (Site 5)	Operational	Highland Council
Oatslie Sandpit L/F, Cleugh Rd, Midlothian	Closure	Midlothian Council
Drummond Moor (No2) L/F, Rosewell, Midlothian	Operational	Midlothian Council
Middleton Quarry, Middleton, Gorebridge	Operational	Midlothian Council
Nether Dallachy Landfill Site, Spey Bay	Operational	Moray Council
Shewalton Landfill Area 2 & 4/5, Irvine	Closure	North Ayrshire Council
Auchinlea L/F Site, Bellside, Cleland, M/well	Closure	North Ayrshire Council
Knowes Farm IV Landfill Site, Beith	Operational	North Ayrshire Council
Loanhead Quarry, Boydstone Road, Beith	Operational	North Ayrshire Council
Greengairs L/F, Meikle Drumgray Rd, Airdrie	Operational	North Lanarkshire Council
Levenseat Waste Management Site, Lanarkshire	Operational	North Lanarkshire Council
Mossband Farm High Street Newhouse Motherwell	Closure	North Lanarkshire Council
Kingsdale LFS, Firth, Orkney	Closure	Orkney Islands Council
OIC Bossack Landfill, Bossack, Orkney	Operational	Orkney Islands Council
Aberfeldy Groundworks Ltd, Mains of Taymouth	Closure	Perth & Kinross Council
SITA, Binn Landfill, Binn Farm, Glenfarg	Closure	Perth & Kinross Council
Bishopton Landfill, Royal Ordnance Site	Operational	Renfrewshire Council
Kilbarchan Landfill, Branscroft, Kilbarchan	Operational	Renfrewshire Council
WH Malcolm Ltd, Reilly Quarry, Houston	Closure	Renfrewshire Council
James Fairbairn, Lamberton Inert Waste L/F	Closure	Scottish Borders Council
Easter Langlee Landfill Site, Galashiels	Closure	Scottish Borders Council
Gremista Landfill, Lerwick, Shetland	Operational	Shetland Islands Council
Shetland Gas Plant Peat Store, Sullom Voe	Closure	Shetland Islands Council
Straid Farm Landfill Site, Lendalfoot, Girvan	Operational	South Ayrshire Council
Tarbolton Moss Landfill Site, South Ayrshire	Closure	South Ayrshire Council
GCC, Cathkin L/F, Cairnmuir Rd, East Kilbride	Closure	South Lanarkshire Council
Carscallan Farm Landfill, Quarter, Hamilton	Operational	South Lanarkshire Council
Rigmuir Landfill Site, East Kilbride	Closure	South Lanarkshire Council
W Hamilton & Sons, Dovesdale Farm LF,Stonehse	Operational	South Lanarkshire Council
Muirhouse LF, Muirhouse Quarry, Strathblane	Closure	Stirling Council
Highland Coun,Granish L/F,Aviemore,Inverness	Operational	The Highland Council
Highland Council,Seater L/F,Bower,Caithness	Operational	The Highland Council
Barr Environ, Auchencarroch L/F, Jamestown	Operational	West Dumbartonshire Council
Rigangower L/F, Off A82, Milton, Dumbarton	Operational	West Dumbartonshire Council
Torphin Quarry, Harburn, West Calder	Operational	West Lothian Council

Question reference: S6W-08272

Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 10 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been convicted of possessing indecent images of children, broken down by type of disposal, in each of the last 10 full financial years.

The latest available information from the Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings database is for 2019-20 and is provided in the following tables.

Information for 2020-21 will not be available until publication of the Criminal Proceedings in Scotland, 2020-21 statistical bulletin later this year.

Number of people convicted for taking, distribution, possession etc. indecent photos of children 1 , by disposal and length of custodial sentence, where main charge, 2010-11 to 2019-20

Main disposal	Total convicted	Custody	Community sentence	Monetary	Other
2010-11	107	49	57	-	1
2011-12	118	45	71	2	-
2012-13	166	72	90	1	3
2013-14	245	93	148	2	2
2014-15	287	74	203	4	6
2015-16	279	60	208	6	5
2016-17	232	72	154	3	3
2017-18	250	85	160	4	1
2018-19	283	96	183	2	2
2019-20	211	54	152	2	3

Length of custodial sentence

	Total custody	Up to 3 months	Over 3 months to 6 months	Over 6 months to 1 year	Over 1 year to 2 years	Over 2 years to less than 4 years	4 years and over
2010-11	49	2	2	12	17	12	4
2011-12	45	-	5	6	13	15	6
2012-13	72	-	6	23	18	10	15
2013-14	93	-	4	27	24	20	18
2014-15	74	1	5	19	21	16	12
2015-16	60	1	6	12	21	14	6
2016-17	72	1	3	19	32	11	6
2017-18	85	-	3	21	42	13	6
2018-19	96	-	3	31	40	20	2
2019-20	54	-	-	12	26	13	3

1. Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 sections 52 and 52A.

Question reference: S6W-08279

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 10 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07335 by Maree Todd on 25 March 2022, what the outcome was of the meeting on 10 November 2021, and what steps have been taken since to "work with NHS, third sector partners and people affected by Huntington’s Disease to drive up standards of care".

The Minister had a positive and constructive meeting with Scottish Huntington’s Association (SHA) in November to discuss the issues raised within motion S6M-00923. Scottish Government officials will meet with the SHA this month in order to further explore the need for provision and service development across neurological conditions, including Huntington’s Disease.

The pandemic has seen our NHS under the most severe pressure in its 73-year existence. The NHS Recovery Plan sets out plans and ambitions for recovery, backed by more than £1 billion of funding. The plan will support increased inpatient and outpatient activity, including an aim to increase outpatients capacity by 10% compared to pre-pandemic levels.

In March we published a National Workforce Strategy for Health and Social Care which supports the remobilisation and recovery of health and social care services and sets out priorities for recruitment, training and retention.

The Scottish Government’s National Advisory Committee for Neurological Conditions and the Centre for Sustainable Delivery have set up a working group to improve workforce and care pathways in neurology. This includes development of tools to support statutory providers to make effective workforce decisions. Alistair Haw, Chief Executive Officer at the SHA is a member of this group, representing the Neurological Alliance of Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-08263

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 10 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how (a) much funding it has provided to and (b) many people have been successful in using the Scottish Land Matching Service in each year since the service was established.

The Scottish Land Matching Service (SLMS) launched at the end of September 2019. During the period 1 October 2019 to 30 September 2020, Scottish Government provided £55,480 of funding. For the second year between 1 October 2020 and 30 September 2021, Scottish Government expenditure was £54,785. So far £31,958 has been spent in the seven months from 1 October 2021 to 30 April 2022.

The SLMS has dealt with over 300 enquiries and has helped achieve 19 contractual agreements since its introduction.

Question reference: S6W-08201

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 10 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the number of digital devices that have been distributed to children and young people in each local authority area.

In 2020-21, we provided £25 million of funding to councils across Scotland to tackle digital exclusion, resulting in over 72,000 pupils receiving a device to support their learning.

The following table shows the number of devices distributed via that funding, as reported by individual local authorities.

Local Authority	Devices Distributed
Aberdeen City	1777
Aberdeenshire	5008
Angus	2420
Argyll and Bute	1317
City of Edinburgh	2605
Clackmannanshire	828
Dumfries and Galloway	2371
Dundee City	2050
East Ayrshire	1837
East Dunbartonshire	1015
East Lothian	1806
East Renfrewshire	623
Falkirk	1840
Fife	5465
Glasgow City	7240
Highland	4499
Inverclyde	1107
Midlothian	1235
Moray	1315
Na h-Eileanan Siar	357
North Ayrshire	1734
North Lanarkshire	6026
Orkney Islands	275
Perth and Kinross	1507
Renfrewshire	1800
Scottish Borders	316
Shetland Islands	475
South Ayrshire	1512
South Lanarkshire	5544
Stirling	1794
West Dunbartonshire	2084
West Lothian	2905
Total	72687

Beyond this, Councils have also invested in technology and have recently indicated that in total almost 280,000 devices have been, or are in the process of being, distributed to learners. This figure includes the 72,000 devices provided for by Scottish Government funding.

Question reference: S6W-08219

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 10 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has made available for the creation and implementation of its Rare Disease Action Plan in (a) the current financial year and (b) each of the last five years.

The Scottish Government has made £100,000 available for 2022-23 for tests-of-change to improve care co-ordination for people living with rare diseases.

Our Bridge to a Scottish Genomics Strategy project focused on expanding our genomics capabilities to support the diagnosis and treatment of rare and inherited disease. This was a key programme for government commitment for 2017-18, and £4.2 million was made available to NHS National Services Division over 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21. A further extension of the Bridge was agreed in 202-/22 with a further £2.3 million made available.While the work of the Bridge has concluded, we have announced a significant increase in the genomics budget for 2022-23, rising to £6.2 million. This funding will support the sustainability of the successes from the Bridge as well as expanding our genomics capabilities further into cancer.

Furthermore, the Scottish Government has made available over £600,000 since 2019-20 to Public Health Scotland for the development of the Congenital Anomalies and Rare Diseases Registration and Information Service for Scotland (CARDRISS). A further £169,000 will be provided for 2022-23. The registry will become operational in this financial year. Discussions are ongoing with Public Health Scotland in expanding the registry’s functionality to support our wider endeavours for rare disease.

While the above sets out discreet funding to support those with a rare disease, many of our wider health priorities will equally contribute and deliver improved care for those living with a rare disease.

Chamber and committees