Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-29071

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 30 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Investing in Communities Fund.

The Investing in Communities Fund (ICF) is a multiyear communities fund that targets our most disadvantaged communities to deliver projects, services and activities that address poverty and disadvantage on their own terms. The second round of the fund invited applications addressing four areas of action:

tackling poverty and inequality, including child poverty#x200f
developing and sustaining place based approaches#x200f
community-led regeneration#x200f
ensuring a just transition to net zero#x200f

One hundred and five community projects are currently in receipt of ICF round 2 support (2023-2026), receiving a total of £27 million funding.

Link to the projects being supported https://www.gov.scot/publications/investing-in-communities-fund-round-2-approved-awards-2023-2026

Question reference: S6W-29105

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 29 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its commitment in the Bute House Agreement to "support public sector bodies, as part of their statutory duty under the Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Act 2018, to identify and implement opportunities to increase tree cover on land they own and manage, with an emphasis on native woodland and natural regeneration" and to "explore if further legislative changes are required to strengthen the duty on public bodies".

The Scottish Government, through its various public bodies is increasing woodland cover on the land that they own and manage and are looking for further opportunities. This includes the landscape scale native woodland creation work being explored by Forestry and Land Scotland at Glen Prosen, and the delivery of significant new woodland by Scottish Water at Loch Katrine. At this time there are no plans to amend the Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Act 2018 with regards to this policy area.

Question reference: S6W-29117

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 29 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether any of the policies within the Fourth National Planning Framework (NFP4) are prioritised over the others.

National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) should be read and applied as a whole. A plan-led approach is central to supporting its delivery and it is a legislative requirement that planning decisions must be made in accordance with the development plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

Annex A to NPF4 outlines how to use the document, It states that it is for the decision maker to determine what weight to give to individual policies in the circumstances of each case.

Question reference: S6W-29108

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 29 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress against each of the recommendations on land use, particularly relating to agriculture, in the 2021 report, Just Transition Commission: A national mission for a fairer, greener Scotland.

The work, advice, and recommendations of the Just Transition Commission (JTC) continue to be an important part of the Scottish Government’s drive towards a Just Transition to our net zero future. We are committed to providing an annual statement to update on the progress of just transition activity, with the date for the next statement yet to be confirmed. The upcoming statement will include information about land use and agriculture as well as the other sectors of importance highlighted by the JTC.

Question reference: S6W-29083

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 29 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it is reportedly (a) aiding five new transatlantic airline routes at Edinburgh Airport and (b) not aiding any new routes at Glasgow Airport.

The Scottish Government has always recognised the importance of Scotland’s international connectivity and we are committed to working with all Scotland’s airports to help grow international connectivity, a commitment recently reaffirmed in our Aviation Statement published in July. The statement also makes clear that the decision on where an airline flies to in Scotland rests entirely with the airline and we do not seek to influence that process. Of the four routes currently being supported, three started at Edinburgh while one operated both to Glasgow and Edinburgh before switching all capacity to Edinburgh. This was a decision by the airline and we are not sighted on what Glasgow Airport did to retain the route, or what Edinburgh Airport did to encourage consolidation.

The Scottish Government take a national approach to route development and our route development work with airlines is carried out strictly on an “airport-neutral” basis, leaving airlines to decide which Scottish airport to use. The role of the Scottish Government is a complementary one with each airport competing on their own merits for new routes and capacity.

Question reference: S6W-29118

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 29 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the Fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) affords more or less weight to the climate and nature emergencies than the previous planning frameworks.

National planning Framework 4 (NPF4) signalled a turning point for the Scottish planning system, placing climate and nature at the heart of decision making. For example, Policy 1: Tackling the climate and nature crises, encourages, promotes and facilitates development that addresses the global climate emergency and nature crisis to achieve zero carbon, nature positive places.

NPF4 integrates these matters into its policies and decision-making processes more comprehensively than previous national planning frameworks.

Question reference: S6W-28954

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 29 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will outline how it is encouraging schools to designate young carers school leads.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of ensuring schools are a safe supportive space for all young carers. The answer to question S6W-28953 on 29 August 2024 provides greater detail on how we are supporting and raising awareness of young carers in education.

In addition, to encourage schools to consider having young carer leads or champions, we have funded Carers Trust Scotland to launch the “Young Carers School Challenge”. This programme supports and encourages all schools who sign up to:

Have a young carer champion
Have all school staff undertake Young Carer Awareness training
Have a young carers charter or policy
Correctly record all young carers on the school system (SEEMiS)
And to forge partnership links with their local carer organisation

This challenge is currently in the pilot phase with 5 Local Authorities (covering both primary and secondary schools) trialling in these areas:

Dumfries and Galloway
South Ayrshire
Falkirk and Clackmannanshire
East Renfrewshire
Argyll and Bute

More local authorities have committed to sign up once the pilot period has ended.

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.

Question reference: S6W-28953

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 29 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will outline how it is encouraging schools to identify young carers to (a) ensure that they receive the support that they need to successfully transition to university or college and (b) increase their awareness of targeted support and resources that might be available at university or college.

As set out in our National Carers Strategy, the Scottish Government recognises the importance of young carers being identified in schools so that they can be supported in achieving their educational and wider goals.

This is why we fund an Education Officer post at Carers Trust Scotland to work with Education Scotland, the General Teaching Council for Scotland, and the Scottish Qualification Authority on improving young carer awareness, identification, and support in education. This has led to an accredited e-training module to help education staff understand, identify, and support young carers.

This e-training module has recently been refreshed to add information about supporting young carers in their transition into further or higher education or employment. Additionally, we have funded Young Scot to work with young carers to create a page on their platform which hosts information and resources for young carers about what support is available to them at key transitions, such as moving from Primary to Secondary School; and from Secondary School onto further education or work. Skills Development Scotland are also highlighting to career advisers the additional support young carers may need at this pivotal time.

Question reference: S6W-28739

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 29 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many public sector (a) grants and (b) contracts that have been awarded since 1 July 2023 have exempted the receiving body from complying with the Fair Work First principle, broken down by the (i) receiving body. and (ii) reason for exemption.

In total, between July 2023 and March 2024, 26 organisations in receipt of grants from the Scottish Government have an approved limited exception to the real Living Wage grant condition. A list of these organisations can be found in the following table.

Name of organisation with a limited exception to the real Living Wage grant condition	Reason for exception
Aberdeen City Council	Exception approved on the basis of affordability in relation to parts of the workforce, and the cost of resulting uplifts throughout the organisational pay scale within existing allocated budgets.
Angus Council	Exception awarded on the basis of affordability in relation to parts of the workforce, and the cost of resulting uplifts throughout the organisational pay scale within existing allocated budgets.
Building Craftsmen Ltd (BCS)	Exception awarded on the basis of affordability in relation to parts of the workforce.
Centre Stage	Exception approved on the basis of affordability in relation to parts of the workforce.
Dumfries and Galloway Council	Exception awarded on the basis of affordability in relation to parts of the workforce, and the cost of resulting uplifts throughout the organisational pay scale within existing allocated budgets.
Dundee City Council	Exception awarded on the basis of affordability in relation to parts of the workforce, and the cost of resulting uplifts throughout the organisational pay scale within existing allocated budgets.
East Ayrshire Council	Exception awarded on the basis of affordability in relation to parts of the workforce, and the cost of resulting uplifts throughout the organisational pay scale within existing allocated budgets.
East Dunbartonshire Council	Exception awarded on the basis of affordability in relation to parts of the workforce, and the cost of resulting uplifts throughout the organisational pay scale within existing allocated budgets.
East Lothian Council	Exception awarded on the basis of affordability in relation to parts of the workforce, and the cost of resulting uplifts throughout the organisational pay scale within existing allocated budgets.
East Renfrewshire Council	Exception awarded on the basis of affordability in relation to parts of the workforce, and the cost of resulting uplifts throughout the organisational pay scale within existing allocated budgets.
Falkirk Council	Exception awarded on the basis of affordability in relation to parts of the workforce, and the cost of resulting uplifts throughout the organisational pay scale within existing allocated budgets.
Glasgow City Council	Exception awarded on the basis of affordability in relation to parts of the workforce, and the cost of resulting uplifts throughout the organisational pay scale within existing allocated budgets.
Inverclyde Council	Exception awarded on the basis of affordability in relation to parts of the workforce, and the cost of resulting uplifts throughout the organisational pay scale within existing allocated budgets.
Link Housing	Exception awarded on the basis of affordability in relation to parts of the workforce.
Moray Council	Exception awarded on the basis of affordability in relation to parts of the workforce, and the cost of resulting uplifts throughout the organisational pay scale within existing allocated budgets.
North Ayrshire Council	Exception awarded on the basis of affordability in relation to parts of the workforce, and the cost of resulting uplifts throughout the organisational pay scale within existing allocated budgets.
North Lanarkshire Council	Exception awarded on the basis of affordability in relation to parts of the workforce, and the cost of resulting uplifts throughout the organisational pay scale within existing allocated budgets.
Perth and Kinross Council	Exception awarded on the basis of affordability in relation to parts of the workforce, and the cost of resulting uplifts throughout the organisational pay scale within existing allocated budgets.
Renfrewshire Council	Exception awarded on the basis of affordability in relation to parts of the workforce, and the cost of resulting uplifts throughout the organisational pay scale within existing allocated budgets.
River Clyde Homes Housing Association	Exception awarded on the basis of affordability in relation to parts of the workforce.
Scottish Borders Housing Association (SBHA)	Exception awarded on the basis of affordability in relation to parts of the workforce.
South Ayrshire Council	Exception awarded on the basis of affordability in relation to parts of the workforce, and the cost of resulting uplifts throughout the organisational pay scale within existing allocated budgets.
Stirling Council	Exception awarded on the basis of affordability in relation to parts of the workforce, and the cost of resulting uplifts throughout the organisational pay scale within existing allocated budgets.
West Dunbartonshire Council	Exception awarded on the basis of affordability in relation to parts of the workforce, and the cost of resulting uplifts throughout the organisational pay scale within existing allocated budgets.
West Lothian Council	Exception awarded on the basis of affordability in relation to parts of the workforce, and the cost of resulting uplifts throughout the organisational pay scale within existing allocated budgets.
Wheatley Group (Loretto, Wheatley East and Wheatley Glasgow)	Exception awarded on the basis of affordability in relation to parts of the workforce.

Further detail on the number of exceptions approved by public bodies in the wider public sector will be published by end September on the Fair and Inclusive Workplaces webpage.

Fair Work First conditionality does not apply to public contracts in the same way it does to grants. Fair Work First is considered on a case-by-case basis and applied to a contract where it is deemed to be relevant and proportionate. Each public body is accountable for its own decisions in relation to procurement, including when it is appropriate to include Fair Work requirements in tendering exercises.

For information on the number of contracts including Fair Work First considerations, I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-28738 on 23 August 2024. 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.

Question reference: S6O-03673

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 August 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to assist local authorities with repairing potholes, in light of reports of the detrimental impact that large numbers of potholes are having on drivers across Scotland.

Chamber and committees