Monday 27 November 2017 SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT

Transcription

1 Monday 27 November 2017 SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT Economy Gillian Martin (Aberdeenshire East) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government who the members will be of the new strategic board to co-ordinate and align the work of Scotland s enterprise and skills agencies. (S5W-12992) Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is today announcing the full list of members of the Enterprise and Skills Strategic Board. This follows the appointment of Nora Senior as Chair of the Strategic Board in August. Ms Senior is chair of UK regions for global communications firm Weber Shandwick, and recently served as president of the British Chambers of Commerce and chair of Scottish Chambers of Commerce. The board features members with a wealth of business experience encompassing a broad range of sectors, sizes and locations, with further representation covering further and higher education, research, trade unions, local authorities and the new South of Scotland Economic Partnership. The Strategic Board will meet for the first time on 13 December and will seek to maximise the impact of the collective investment that s made in enterprise and skills development in Scotland, helping create the conditions needed to deliver inclusive growth. The members of the Strategic Board are as follows: Wendy Alexander University of Dundee Karen Betts Scottish Whisky Association Liz Cameron Scottish Chambers of Commerce Mike Cantlay Scottish Funding Council Sara Carter University of Strathclyde Lorne Crerar Highlands and Islands Enterprise Audrey Cumberford West College Scotland Jeanette Forbes PCL Group Russel Griggs South of Scotland Economic Partnership Poonam Gupta PG Paper Company Steven Heddle COSLA Bob Keiller Scottish Enterprise John McClelland Skills Development Scotland Gerry McCusker Dog Digital, Chair of BIMA Scotland Scott McLarty Spirit Aerospace Grahame Smith STUC Education, Communities and Justice Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government how many new home approvals in each of the last five years have been for selfbuild homes. (S5W-12724) Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government does not collect data on new home approvals for selfbuild homes. Individual authorities record planning application approvals, however this will not include the method of delivery.

2 Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of housing approvals in each of the last five years have been for self-build homes. (S5W-12725) Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government does not collect data on housing approvals for self-build homes. The answer to S5W on 27 November 2017 provides the estimated numbers of self build completions over the last five years. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament s website, the search facility for which can be found at Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government how many self-build homes have been completed in each of the last five years. (S5W-12726) Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government does not collect data on the number of self-build homes completed. Information is collected from local authorities on the number of private-led housing completions relating to single-plot sites, and this is provided in the following table. Approximate estimated number of private-led single plot housing completions in Scotland, financial years to , , , , ,361 Note that these figures include an estimate for Highland Council based on historical data. Source: Scottish Government NB2 private-led new build housing returns collected from local authorities. Gail Ross (Caithness and Sutherland and Ross) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider reconfiguring the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation to take greater account of remote and rural poverty. (S5W-12728) Angela Constance: The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) is the Scottish Government s official tool for identifying concentrations of deprivation in Scotland. It is a relative measure of deprivation and takes into account aspects of deprivation that affect local areas, whether rural or urban. SIMD is a measure designed to ensure comparability across Scotland. When investigating particular aspects of deprivation, or specific local areas, it is recommended to use SIMD in conjunction with other data sources. The SIMD team provide two case studies that demonstrate how to combine data to examine issues that affect rural communities: one on child poverty in the Orkney Islands and another one on fuel poverty in Dumfries and Galloway. The case studies are available at: In addition to using other data sources, it is recommended to consider the individual SIMD domains for particular aspects of deprivation. The different domains consider different aspects of poverty. One element of SIMD with particular relevance to rural deprivation is the Geographic Access to Services domain. It contributes 9% of the overall index for SIMD16. It reflects the adverse effects of long travel times for basic services, which are more common in rural than urban areas, and is a good proxy measure for the additional barriers that people in rural areas face.

3 Changes to SIMD were supported by an advisory group, made up of data suppliers and users. The SIMD team has recently reviewed how it gains expertise for all areas and is inviting people with rural interests to take part in a dedicated expert panel. Councils, the police service, health boards and academics will be invited to contribute to future developments of SIMD. Alison Johnstone (Lothian) (Scottish Green Party): To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendation in A Low Carbon Building Standards Strategy for Scotland that it should have been introduced in , when it will set the date for the delivery of net zero-carbon new buildings. (S5W-12770) Kevin Stewart: At this point, the Scottish Government have no plans to set a date for the delivery of net zero carbon new buildings. The 2013 Update to the Low Carbon Building Standards Strategy acknowledged that delivery of net zero carbon new buildings may not be practical, as indicated by research carried out by the Zero Carbon Hub. This aligns with the 2007 Sullivan panel recommendation for Net zero carbon buildings by , if practical. As a consequence, the recommendation within the 2013 Update called for investigation of the potential for Allowable Solutions to deliver a net zero carbon standard for new development. Allowable Solutions a mechanism by which remaining building emissions could be offset through measures unrelated to the building - will be considered in the forthcoming review of the energy standards in building regulations which will commence in early Alison Johnstone (Lothian) (Scottish Green Party): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W by Derek Mackay on 10 March 2014, whether it will provide an update on what progress it is making on delivering the recommendations in A Low Carbon Building Standards Strategy for Scotland: 2013 Update. (S5W-12771) Kevin Stewart: Yes, the Scottish Government will provide an update on the progress made on delivering the recommendations in the Low Carbon Building Standards Strategy for Scotland: 2013 Update. This will be provided after the conclusion of the forthcoming review of energy standards within building regulations programmed to commence in early Health and Social Care Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Scottish Conservatives and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W by Shona Robison on 23 June 2017, whether it will provide the figure for Holding answer issued: 23 November 2017 (S5W-12603) Shona Robison: The Budget Bill for included all health resource consequentials within the health budget. This amounted to 304 million. Allocation of the further consequentials arising since the Budget Bill will be confirmed as part of the Spring Budget Revision. Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government how many children and young people have been turned away from each mental health inpatient unit in each of the last three years, broken down by reason, and how many were (a) admitted to alternative units, broken down by unit, (b) treated on adult wards and (c) not admitted at all. Holding answer issued: 24 November 2017 (S5W-12640) Maureen Watt: Information on how many children and young people who have been turned away from each mental health impatient unit in each of the last three years, (including breakdown) is not held centrally.

4 The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland's Young person monitoring report was published on 18 October We warmly welcomed the MWC s report, and its conclusion that the significant and continued reduction in the number of admissions of young people to non-specialist settings appears to have come about as a result of targeted investment and focussed, co-ordinated service re-design of key elements of CAMH services across the country. Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government how many clinical nurse specialists in myeloproliferative neoplasms there are. (S5W-12708) Shona Robison: The information held centrally is not recorded at this level of detail. The number of clinical nurse specialists in post can be found on the workforce statistics web site 06/Clinical_Nurse_Specialists_S2016.xls. Note that this information is published annually in December. Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve access to clinical nurse specialists in myeloproliferative neoplasms. (S5W-12711) Shona Robison: We are working together with partners to improve the outcomes and support for people with rare diseases as outlined in the Implementation Plan 'It's Not Rare to Have a Rare Disease'. The Scottish Government cancer strategy 'Beating Cancer: Ambition and Action' complements the actions of the rare disease plan through its focus on early detection, diagnosis and treatment for all forms of cancer, including rare cancers. I recognise the vital role specialist nurses play in patient care. That is why we are investing 2.5 million annually in specialist nursing and care. I expect all NHS Boards to ensure that patients with conditions such as myeloproliferative neoplasms have appropriate access to a range of professionals, including specialist nurses, to ensure optimum management of their condition. Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take regarding reports that over a quarter of patients awaiting cataract surgery are not seen within the waiting time target. (S5W-12750) Shona Robison: We are taking significant action to reduce waits for all patients including those waiting for cataract surgery. I recognise that some patients are experiencing long waits, which is why the Scottish Government announced at the end of August 150 million funding over the next 3 years to support reduction on hospital waiting times of which 50 million has been allocated to NHS Boards in the current year. I expect to see improvement in waiting time improvement for all parts of the patient journey including for cataract surgery between now and end of March next year. I launched last week the new Access Collaborative Programme which is a different way to bring patients, clinicians, and other NHS staff together to look at ways patients can receive timely accessible care. The programme will reduce planned waiting times by improving communications between staff working in the community and in hospitals to identify the right clinician and treatment, and streamline patient care to minimise or eliminate unnecessary processes. Transport Scotland Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Scottish Conservatives and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government how many cyclists have been involved in road traffic accidents in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area, and what information it has regarding how many of the cyclists

5 were wearing a helmet, also broken down by the cost to each NHS board of treating those who (i) wore and (ii) did not wear a helmet. (S5W-12702) Humza Yousaf: Reported Road Casualties Scotland provides information on injury road accidents reported to the police. The latest statistics available are up to The following table Shows the number of pedal cyclists who were involved in injury road accidents by local authority area. Pedal cyclists involved in injury road accidents Aberdeen City Aberdeenshire Angus Argyll & Bute Clackmannanshire Dumfries & Galloway Dundee City East Ayrshire East Dunbartonshire East Lothian East Renfrewshire Edinburgh, City of Eilean Siar Falkirk Fife Glasgow City Highland Inverclyde Midlothian Moray North Ayrshire North Lanarkshire Orkney Islands Perth & Kinross Renfrewshire Scottish Borders Shetland Islands South Ayrshire South Lanarkshire Stirling West Dunbartonshire West Lothian Total Aberdeen City Aberdeenshire Angus Argyll & Bute Clackmannanshire Dumfries & Galloway Dundee City

6 East Ayrshire East Dunbartonshire East Lothian East Renfrewshire Edinburgh, City of Eilean Siar Falkirk Fife Glasgow City Highland Inverclyde Midlothian Moray North Ayrshire North Lanarkshire Orkney Islands Perth & Kinross Renfrewshire Scottish Borders Shetland Islands South Ayrshire South Lanarkshire Stirling West Dunbartonshire West Lothian Total Although the number of pedal cyclists involved in accidents has increased from a low of 740 in 2007 to 808 in 2016 (9%), there has been a 47% rise over the same period in the distance travelled, as shown in the following table. million vehicle kilometres Source: Scottish Transport Statistics Information on the wearing of cycle helmets is only available from 2013 onwards. The following table shows the number of casualties injured in road accidents by severity and whether they were wearing a helmet or not. Pedal cyclists injured in road accidents by severity and whether wearing a helmet

7 Killed Wearing Not wearing Not known Total Serious Slight All severities Information on the cost of treating cyclists injured in road accidents is not held centrally. Jenny Gilruth (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government whether Transport Scotland plans to meet Fife Council to discuss the Governance for Railway Investment Projects (GRIP) process with regard to the Levenmouth Rail Link and, if so, (a) when and (b) where this will take place. (S5W-12713) Humza Yousaf: Transport Scotland met with Fife Council in Glasgow on 21 November 2017 to discuss progressing the transport appraisal work undertaken to date for the Levenmouth Sustainable Transport Study. It has been agreed that there will be regular progress meetings with the Council throughout the course of the work. The Levenmouth rail link is one of the options considered as part of this study. Jenny Gilruth (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government when the Governance for Railway Investment Projects (GRIP) process with regard to the Levenmouth Rail Link will (a) commence and (b) be completed. (S5W-12714) Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W on 16 October All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament s website, the search facility for which can be found at Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take regarding the anticipated increase in rail traffic around the Christmas holiday period to ensure that there is minimal inconvenience for passengers. (S5W-12749) Humza Yousaf: ScotRail is required through the Franchise Agreement to manage the delivery of rail services, to accommodate the anticipated increase in rail traffic around the Christmas holiday period. Over this period, ScotRail will be providing four additional services on the Edinburgh to Glasgow route on Friday evenings/early Saturday mornings, each with six carriages, commencing 25 November.

8 ScotRail will also be providing more carriages on rail services across Scotland on Friday evenings and across the day on Saturday and Sunday. This is equivalent to nearly 100,000 additional seats. ScotRail will communicate the above to customers through the normal channels website, press release, social media platforms etc. Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what minute or informal note was taken at the meeting between the Minister for Transport and the Islands and the Confederation of Passenger Transport at Trump Turnberry in November 2017, and whether it will publish this. (S5W-12767) Humza Yousaf: The Minister for Transport and the Islands gave the keynote speech at the annual Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) Conference, which took place at Trump Turnberry in November. He did not have a meeting with CPT on that occasion. Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what was discussed at the meeting between the Minister for Transport and the Islands and delegates to the Confederation of Passenger Transport Scotland Conference at Trump Turnberry in November 2017, and whether this included the regulation of bus services. (S5W-12768) Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W on 27 November. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament s website, the search facility for which can be found at Ivan McKee (Glasgow Provan) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government when it will bring forward legislation to tackle obstructive and inconsiderate parking. (S5W-12778) Humza Yousaf: A Public Consultation entitled "Improving Parking in Scotland" was launched on 31 March and closed on 30 June to the general public and 31 August to local authorities and Regional Transport Partnerships. We are currently analysing 661 responses to the consultation, which will inform our policy on how best to manage and enforce parking in Scotland. The findings will also assist in the development of provisions for the Scottish Government's Miscellaneous Transport Bill which is due to be introduced in year 2 of this Parliamentary session. Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what level of profits were made by Abellio ScotRail in each year since it took over the franchise. (S5W-12786) Humza Yousaf: Abellio ScotRail posted a profit of 9,519k in 2015 (1 January December 2015) and a loss of 3,370k in 2016 (1 January December 2016). The figure for 2017 is not yet available. David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider creating a post of Road Safety Minister. Humza Yousaf: There are no plans to create the post of Road Safety Minister. (S5W-12807) The Scottish Government takes road safety very seriously and it remains a portfolio priority for the Minister for Transport and the Islands.

9 The following questions received holding answers: S5W S5W S5W S5W-12699