Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-00932

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 21 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 28 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to SEPA issuing a "very poor" draft assessment of the Ineos Kinneil terminal for 2019, due to significant non-compliance and the requirement for urgent improvement, and what discussion it has had with (a) SEPA and (b) Ineos about (i) the assessment, and (ii) flaring and effluent breaches.

SEPA has not yet published information on its Compliance Assessment Scheme results for 2019 and expect to publish the results later this year. As such, no discussions have been held with SEPA or Ineos in relation to the assessment.

The draft result for Ineos Kinneil Terminal was included in the information stolen from SEPA in the cyber attack and was subsequently published in the press. The information stolen was an draft of this assessment - and had therefore not been subjected to all the necessary verification processes to finalise the assessment.

Question reference: S6W-01265

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 28 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many disabled interns each NHS board has hired in each of the last three years.

Question reference: S6W-01231

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 28 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how it will (a) monitor and (b) evaluate the performance of Circularity Scotland as the administrator of the Deposit Return Scheme.

Question reference: S6W-01189

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 28 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what support and advice it can provide in arranging COVID-19 vaccine appointments for vulnerable adults, including whether there are concerns that there has been an absence of an adequate response from NHS boards or GP surgeries.

The Scottish Government continues to follow the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) guidance for the rollout of our vaccination programme.

The JCVI has from the start advised a rollout of COVID-19 vaccination targeting the most vulnerable first, resulting in an age based rollout, with the oldest, and those with conditions which make them susceptible to COVID-19 being offered vaccinations first.

COVID-19 vaccinations are now open to everyone over the age of 18, who can register for a vaccination online via NHS inform here : Registering for a coronavirus vaccine | The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine (nhsinform.scot)

Health boards are now also offering drop in clinics, with no pre arranged appointment required. Details of which are different per board area, with further information available here : Vaccine drop-in clinics | The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine (nhsinform.scot)

Question reference: S6W-01159

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 02 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 28 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its decision to ban biodegradable municipal waste to landfill sites by 2025, how many job losses are anticipated at landfill sites; how many landfill sites are expected to close, and what support it will put in place to support commercial waste collectors.

Scottish Ministers are fully committed to ending the practice of sending biodegradable municipal waste to landfill by 2025, in line with recommendations made by the Committee on Climate Change. By working to achieve our ambitious waste and recycling targets, we can ensure a transition to a fully circular economy and help to achieve our net zero commitments.

The implementation of the ban was delayed to 2025 to allow local authorities and the wider waste sector the necessary time to ensure full readiness and avoid unintended negative economic impacts, as highlighted by the Waste Markets Study (2019) . We are working to provide a centrally supported procurement solution to help local authorities secure alternative solutions to comply with the forthcoming ban. In addition, we will continue to engage with the commercial sector to support their preparation and input in to the delivery of the ban.

We recognise that the actions needed to become net zero by 2045 will transform all sectors of our economy and society. The Scottish Government is committed to a just transition, which is about ensuring that, as we reduce our emissions and respond to a changing climate, that journey is fair and creates a better future for everyone – regardless of where they live, what they do, and who they are. We are working with industry and businesses to maximise the opportunities and realise the benefits of a circular economy, identifying where there are opportunities to make transformational changes. We will ensure our transition to net-zero creates new opportunities for people across the country. For example, we are investing £100 million in the Green Jobs Fund which will provide support to businesses (and their supply chains) to help them better transition to a low carbon economy. In so doing, the Green Jobs Fund will boost green employment and create opportunities for individuals to retrain and upskill in new and high-growth areas.

Question reference: S6W-01165

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 02 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 28 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-29691 and S5W-22664 by Angela Constance on 2 March 2016 and by John Swinney on 1 May 2019, whether it will provide the figures for each year since 2018-19.

Table 1 provides information on average gross revenue expenditure in Scotland per pre-school registration, and primary and secondary pupil along with information on teaching allocations per college and university place (Average Teaching Grant Funding per FTE - including controlled SG funded places – expenditure on tuition fees and student support not included).

Table 1: Average expenditure per place for each education level in cash terms
Education level	2010-11	2011-12	2012-13 1	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16 2	2016-17 3	2017-18 4	2018-19 4,5	2019-20 4,6	2020-21
Pre-school	£3,456	£3,193	£3,194	£3,102	£3,411	£3,957	£4,344	£4,561	£5,190	£6,958	-
Primary School	£5,001	£4,935	£4,899	£4,880	£4,819	£4,877	£4,980	£5,169	£5,444	£5,779	-
Secondary School	£6,598	£6,495	£6,629	£6,714	£6,795	£6,920	£7,046	£7,127	£7,454	£7,787	-
College	£3,803	£3,601	£3,496	£3,317	£3,317	£3,421	£3,527	£3,615	£3,972	£4,064	£4,284
University	£5,219	£5,115	£5,379	£5,514	£5,620	£5,655	£5,435	£5,437	£5,560	£5,563	£5,703

Table 2 provides the same information in 2020-21 prices.

Table 2: Average expenditure per place for each education level in real terms (2020-21=100)
Education level	2010-11	2011-12	2012-13 1	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16 2	2016-17 3	2017-18 4	2018-19 4,5	2019-20 4,6	2020-21
Pre-school	£4,321	£3,933	£3,854	£3,678	£3,989	£4,589	£4,917	£5,073	£5,641	£7,397	-
Primary School	£6,252	£6,078	£5,912	£5,785	£5,635	£5,657	£5,636	£5,749	£5,917	£6,143	-
Secondary School	£8,249	£7,999	£8,000	£7,959	£7,946	£8,026	£7,975	£7,927	£8,102	£8,278	-
College	£4,754	£4,435	£4,219	£3,932	£3,879	£3,968	£3,992	£4,021	£4,318	£4,321	£4,284
University	£6,525	£6,299	£6,492	£6,537	£6,572	£6,559	£6,152	£6,047	£6,044	£5,913	£5,703

For pre-school education, estimates are derived by dividing total expenditure adjusted for inter-authority transfers on pre-school education, reported by local authorities in the Local Finance Return, by the total number of early learning and childcare registrations, reported in the Scottish Government’s Early Learning and Childcare statistics.

Average gross revenue expenditure per pupil in primary and secondary education respectively is arrived at by taking the total gross revenue expenditure adjusted for inter-authority transfers, reported by local authorities on primary and secondary education to the local financial return, divided by the number of pupils in primary and secondary education as per the most recent statistics reported in the pupil census.

To ensure comparability with the 2019-20 figures, the earlier figures provided here for pre-primary, primary and secondary education expenditure have been re-calculated on a consistent basis and have been updated to take into account any methodological changes and revisions to the calculation of expenditure figures from the Local Government Financial returns. Some of the figures presented here, therefore, may differ from those provided previously in answers to parliamentary questions.

The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) have supplied detail of the cost of a College place (expenditure per full-time equivalent (FTE)). This is calculated by taking funding provided to Colleges for core teaching and fee waiver grant divided by the weighted SUMs (relative cost to a college of delivering different subjects). Expenditure excludes tuition fees not paid by SFC (mainly the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS)) and student support funding or funding from the European Social Fund.

The cost of a University place, also provided by the SFC, is estimated by taking the total teaching grant awarded to Universities divided by the total number of SFC funded places for Scottish and EU domiciled FTEs. Expenditure figures exclude funding for student support, SFC’s research and strategic funds, and tuition fees that SAAS pay. Total FTE figures are SFC/SG funded places and do not include fees only and international places.

Real terms figures are in 2020-21 prices and are calculated using HM Treasury’s GDP Deflator Series, June 2021.

Additional notes

1. The rest of UK places were removed from 2012-13 on a phased basis (new students in 2012-13 and each new cohort thereafter over a 5 year period).

2. In AY 2015-16 SFC moved college funding to a credits based system, rather than WSUMS. It is assumed that 15 credits = 1 FTE.

3. In AY 2016-17 there was a 2.9% reduction in HEI gross teaching prices.

4. In 2017-18 and 2018-19, funding for colleges includes additional funding for national bargaining.

5. In 2018-19, The additional places at St Andrew’s for rUK Calman students clinical training were funded separately by SFC however are not included for continuance.

6. The university allocation includes funded places and funding for childcare that were announced after the publication of the final funding announcement, to ensure consistency with other years

7. The funded places/weighted SUMS/credits figures used are taken from the final published main grant letters or outcome agreements, and do not take account of any subsequent adjustments.

8. SFC (not matched) ESF funding included together with all ESF student number targets.

9. A “-“ symbol indicates no available data.

Question reference: S6W-01247

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 28 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the (a) South Lanarkshire, (b) North Lanarkshire and (c) Forth Valley Alcohol and Drug Partnership, and what was discussed.

Scottish Government officials regularly meet with Alcohol and Drug Partnerships which allows for discussion on a wide range of issues as part of our shared commitment to reduce drug deaths.

Meetings with officials have taken place in May, June and July 2021. Most recently I met with Cathie Cowan, CEO of NHS Forth Valley, on 6 July discussing drug deaths, MAT implementation, Buvidal and workforce culture. I also met with Carol Chamberlain, Strategic Lead for South Lanarkshire ADP, on Wednesday 23 June as part of a joint meeting with stakeholders to discuss residential rehabilitation.

The next meeting with all ADPs is scheduled to take place in August 2021 and will focus on funding the national mission to reduce drugs deaths.

Question reference: S6W-01496

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 28 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-00743 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 28 June 2021, what its response is to the campaign, Everyone's Invited, which encourages survivors to share their stories anonymously online, naming 120 schools in Scotland in connection with allegations of sexual assault and harassment.

The significant work already underway in relation to this issue in Scotland, as outlined in S6W-00743, is a broader approach than suggested by the Ofsted review. The ongoing work across schools as well as the further and higher education sectors is designed to help tackle sexual harassment and gender based violence. This is part of our wider Equally Safe work to eradicate violence against women and girls.

The Everyone’s Invited suggested approach of ensuring all schools are enabled to prevent and respond effectively to sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviours is the correct approach, and one which the Scottish Government has been pursuing for some time.

Question reference: S6W-01337

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 28 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-35656 by John Swinney on 11 March 2021, what progress has been made regarding updated guidance for schools on supporting transgender children and young people, and whether the guidance will be ready for the return of schools in August 2021.

The Scottish Government is committed to improving the lives of trans and non-binary people in Scotland. Trans people continue to suffer poorer outcomes relative to the wider population, and this needs to change.

We are committed to ensuring that all children and young people are supported in school and are able to reach their full potential, including transgender young people. We committed to develop guidance to support schools to do this and will publish guidance shortly.

Question reference: S6W-01262

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 28 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to establish a lived-experience panel, as recommended by the National Review of Eating Disorder Services.

Chamber and committees