Chamber and committees

The Gaelic Capital Fund is an important support mechanism for Gaelic projects across Scotland. The Scottish Government is currently considering a range of bids from across Scotland and a decision will be made on these shortly.

The Scottish Government does not hold this data centrally.

Scottish Government officials engaged ferry stakeholders, including some representatives also on the Ferry Industry Advisory Group, as part of the National Transport Strategy review, which included the review of transport governance.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-02580 on 13 September 2021 on stakeholders engaged by Jacobs as part of the review on transport governance structures in Scotland. 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

In addition, a review of the current legal structures and governance arrangements around the provision of ferry services is underway. As part of this review, we will work with all key stakeholders to ensure the most efficient and best value arrangement to deliver our key lifeline ferry services.

The Scottish Ministers are committed to ensure the most efficient and best value arrangement to deliver our key lifeline ferry services. An independent review of the current legal structures and governance arrangements around the provision of ferry services is already underway. There is nothing ‘off limits’ to the appointed consultants when addressing the issues within the scope of the review, including the direct award option. The review remains on track and we hope to publish the provisional outcomes of the review around the end of the year.

Jacobs were awarded the review of transport governance structures in Scotland, which formed part of the National Transport Strategy review, through a Task Order. This was progressed as a call off from the previously signed Agreement as a supplier for one of the Lots forming part of the Multi-Supplier Framework Agreement for Transport and Land-Use Modelling and Transport Appraisal and Planning.

The duration of the Task Order was 13 and a half months from November 2017 to 31 December 2018.

The construction of the A92/A96 Haudagain Improvement project is continuing to progress well. It remains that completion is anticipated in winter 2021 as confirmed in the latest Infrastructure Investment Plan update published in June 2021.

This date is subject to any unforeseen circumstances such as the effects of exceptional weather.

Since 2016 - which is when a specific food waste support programme came in - up to April 2021, approx. £1.23 million has been spent.

Table 1 also provides a breakdown of Scottish Government’s advertising spend targeted at food waste prevention and reduction since 2013.

In March 2021, the Scottish Parliament unanimously passed the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill (the “Bill”), which aims to incorporate the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into Scots law to the maximum extent possible within the powers of the Scottish Parliament. The UK Government challenged the legislative competence of certain provisions of the Bill in a reference to the UK Supreme Court. A hearing was held on 28 and 29 June 2021 and judgment is awaited.

The Scottish Government remains committed to the incorporation of the UNCRC to the maximum extent of the Parliament’s powers and to commencement of the Bill as soon as possible. Whilst the reference means that the Bill cannot receive Royal Assent at this stage, the majority of work in relation to implementation can and is continuing, consistent with the fact that the case is before the UK Supreme Court.

• We are investing in a £4 million programme over three years to help to ensure public services are consistently upholding children’s rights
• The UNCRC Strategic Implementation Board has been meeting monthly since 1 July 2021 to provide strategic vision and oversight of a comprehensive and joined-up implementation programme
• A UNCRC Implementation Guidance Reference Group has been established comprising of key partners, and has been meeting fortnightly since 17 May 2021 to assist Scottish Government in developing non-statutory guidance to assist public authorities and those undertaking functions of a public nature to fulfil the UNCRC
• To support the meaningful and inclusive participation of children and young people in the UNCRC Strategic Implementation Board and wider implementation programme, we are working to establish a consortium of organisations that have strong, trusting relationships with children and young people across Scotland

We continue to promote registration so more children can benefit from milk and a healthy snack. We are working in close partnership with COSLA and Local Authorities via an Implementation Group. We will shortly be expanding the remit and membership of this Group to include wider stakeholders and to ensure the scheme is meeting the needs of children and settings as we look ahead to scheme Year 2 and beyond.

The Scottish Government has had no approach from either Sector regarding increasing the numbers of spoken language interpreters.

The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) is the national, strategic body that is responsible for funding teaching and learning provision, research and other activities in Scotland's colleges and universities. It’s budget provides investment in Scotland's colleges and universities to support the development of well-educated, highly-skilled people and to enable sustainable, inclusive economic growth through enhancing skills and securing world-class research and cutting-edge innovation.

Scottish universities are autonomous institutions therefore it is for the individual universities to decide how to distribute the places it receives between faculties, what courses to offer, and how many of the total funded places will be available on each course.