Tables A and B set out information about the number and percentage of written questions up to the week commencing 7 February 2022 that have been processed within the timeframe set out in the question.

In providing this information, “processed” has been taken to mean the number of calendar days between a question being submitted by a Member and the question either being published or not lodged. As the information is based on calendar days, it does not take into account factors such as days on which the office of the clerk is closed, i.e. a question which was submitted on a Friday and published on a Monday will be included in the tables as having taken 2 to 3 calendar days rather than reflecting the processing having taken 0 to 1 working days. The data is not held in a format that would enable this further disaggregation to be provided.

There are also a number of elements that may be involved in processing questions. Factors such as seeking clarification of the purpose of a question, editing a question so that it meets the requirements of Standing Orders and Guidance on Parliamentary Questions, or seeking input on issues such as sub judice or compliance with data protection obligations may impact on the time that it takes for questions to be processed. These factors can also impact on the processing time where batches of interrelated questions are submitted among which only one or two may raise more complex considerations. The necessary prioritisation of other items, such as Urgent Questions or motions and amendments for debate, may also impact on the time between a question being submitted and published or not lodged. As noted in the response to S6W-06278, additional staffing resources have been deployed to the Chamber Desk. Once training and familiarisation have been completed, it is anticipated that there will be a positive impact on the time taken to process questions.

Table A

Table B

Attached are the figures for FTE requested since 2016 and broken down by workstreams.

The reason for the increase in FTE staffing level’s from 2016 and 2021 are due Transport Scotland’s increasing pieces of work through changing ministerial responsibilities. These responsibilities include our work on EU Exit, COP26, Free Bus Travel for U22’s and the Strategic Transport Projects Review (SPTR2). These key commitments have led to the need for an increase in staffing numbers to ensure their delivery.

Throughout the pandemic, the Scottish Government has worked in collaboration with the college and university sectors to provide support and guidance, and to ensure the safety of staff and students. Following the publication of the Scottish Government’s updated Strategic Framework on 22 February, we are working with partners on the Advanced Learning COVID-19 Recovery Group to develop a framework to replace prescriptive sector-specific guidance.

This framework will provide high-level guiding principles and support for institutions in developing local solutions. We will also work with universities and colleges to support the development of institution-level COVID-19 Response Committees. The committees – using existing structures where possible with representatives from the institution, trade unions, students and accommodation providers – will monitor the public health and wider context, with a view to adjusting local safety protocols accordingly. This will enable decisions on COVID-safety measures, beyond any that may be in place across society, to be determined locally and, where possible, collectively.

Some young people, or their legal guardians, may have difficulty providing the proofs of person or of address to access the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme, including young people who are (a) care-experienced and (b) estranged from parents, family or care givers. To this end, many local councils have dedicated staff on hand to help applicants who might have difficulty with the application process, including care-experienced young people, and need particular support. Transport Scotland has not been prescriptive on what constitutes acceptable proof or verification that an individual is eligible for the scheme. This is to allow delivery partners and local authorities the flexibility to support applications from a range of eligible individuals.

The Scottish Government have produced guidance which has been issued to all local authorities, advising that children and young people should be supported to access free bus travel where appropriate, with specific guidance aimed at supporting those who will have the most difficulty in providing documentary evidence. As corporate parents, local authorities are committed to ensuring that the children and young people they look after experience the same opportunities and life experiences as are open to their non-care experienced peers.

At the time the scheme opened in January, because of the high levels of transmission associated with the Omicron variant, we asked that only those with an essential need to travel by bus apply and that anyone travelling should follow the latest advice to keep themselves and others safe. Since travel restrictions have eased, we are asking all eligible young people to apply for free bus travel and have been working to make the application process easier to use. On 28 January we released the Transport Scot Pass Collect app, which lets people aged 16 – 21, who already have a National Entitlement Card or Young Scot National Entitlement Card, to download free bus travel onto their existing card. This means they may not need to apply for a replacement card.

In designing the scheme, Transport Scotland worked closely with Barnardo's Scotland on how to safeguard young people travelling on the bus network, including providing training material for bus drivers. This helps drivers to recognise and respond to children or young people who need support while travelling on the bus network and help ensure that they can travel safely.

Transport Scotland is responsible for the policy and some aspects of the operational delivery of the free bus travel scheme for under 22s. However, the Improvement Service (IS) is the accountable body for the NEC scheme and cards are delivered by the National Entitlement Card Programme Office (NECPO) on behalf of local authorities.

Transport Scotland has not been prescriptive on what constitutes acceptable proof or verification that an individual is eligible for the scheme. This is to allow delivery partners and local authorities the flexibility to support applications from a range of eligible individuals.

The Improvement Service, acting on behalf of Local Authorities, make decisions on what evidence is required to support an application for the scheme for online applications through the www.GETYOURNEC.scot website, and all other elements of the application and card issuing process. Local Authorities have discretion regarding the rollout of application and approval processes, which should allow for a broader range of evidence to be accepted, both in person and through other methods that local authorities may use.

Transport Scotland receives regular reports from IS and NECPO on any issues with the application process and we are working closely with them to ensure that children and young people can receive their cards that will give them free bus travel.

The Scottish Government welcomes the publication of the comprehensive and well informed Joint Report on Automated Vehicles by the Scottish Law Commission and the Law Commission of England and Wales.

While the majority of the Law Commissions’ recommendations fall within legislative competence reserved to the UK Parliament, some fall within devolved competence, such as a specific defence applying to driving offences committed in Scotland by the driver of an automated vehicle with a User-in-Charge function.

We will continue to engage with our partners in the UK and Welsh Governments on the development of those regulatory frameworks needed to support the safe deployment of automated vehicles, informed by the findings and recommendations of the Law Commissions’ Joint Report.

We know some people may not have access to the technology required to make an online application for a new or updated card. For this reason, other routes are available to help ensure no eligible young person is excluded. Applications to update cards can be made in-person via local councils and through some schools. Many local councils have dedicated staff on hand to help applicants who might have difficulty accessing the online card management system.

Many school children use public bus services to get to and from school and will benefit from the u22s scheme. Other pupils who are eligible for free school transport and use dedicated school transport or public bus services will continue to travel to school for free. We are working closely with local authorities to understand impact of the scheme on school transport and this will inform our planned review of the scheme after its first full year of operation.

All three and four year olds and around a quarter of two year olds in Scotland have a statutory entitlement to up to 1140 hours of funded early learning and childcare a year. Our funded ELC offer is the most generous across the United Kingdom.

Unlike the UK Government’s funded ELC offer for England which prioritises children with two working parents, our aim in Scotland is to ensure that every child benefits from high quality early learning and childcare. Regardless of their parent or carer’s working status, all children have a right to play, to learn and to access experiences that meet their physical, social, emotional and cultural needs; and a right to associate with their peers.