- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with bus companies regarding the incorporation of towns in (a) Dumfries and Galloway and (b) the Scottish Borders Council areas into routes from major Scottish cities to the rest of the UK.
Answer
As I highlighted in my answer of S6W-14847 on 6 March 2023, bus services operate in an open de-regulated market, decisions about the incorporation of towns on service routes to major cities is a matter solely for the bus companies and local authorities. However, given the importance of bus services in rural areas, I strongly encourage operators and local authorities to work together to ensure that connectivity is protected and maintained.
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
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will seek a commitment from bus companies to reinstate or establish routes from towns in (a) Dumfries and Galloway and (b) the Scottish Borders Council areas to improve connectivity between these areas and the rest of the UK.
Answer
Most bus services across Scotland operate in an open de-regulated market and have done so since the 1980s. Scottish Ministers do not have the power to intervene directly in the provision of local services. This is solely a matter for individual bus operators who use their own commercial judgement on service routes, frequencies, and vehicle types. However, where there is a social need for bus services which are not provided commercially, local authorities, such as Dumfries & Galloway or Scottish Borders Councils can subsidise these at their discretion.
The Scottish Government is committed, in partnership with operators and local authorities, to looking at ways of ensuring that everyone has accessible public transport regardless of where they live. We have established a taskforce with stakeholders from across the bus sector and local government to explore what practical solutions we can deliver to help improve bus services across the country.
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 2 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS boards currently outsource services to the private provider, Healios, and which services are outsourced.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-15310 on 2 March 2023. 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 .
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 2 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the outsourcing of mental health services to private companies.
Answer
Patient care and service delivery are the statutory responsibility of local healthcare providers. NHS Boards are responsible for working with their partners to plan and provide health services which meet the needs of their populations. Use of the independent sector has been an option open to all Health Boards to help address short-term capacity issues.
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 1 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether NHS boards moving from paper-based appointment and diagnostic evidence gathering systems to online systems is a helpful and deliverable step towards reducing backlogs in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), particularly in instances where backlogs predate the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer
This is an operational decision for Boards. We continue to work closely with them to ensure delivery of the CAMHS waiting times standard and implementation of the CAMHS Specification.
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 February 2023
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 23 February 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact on its ongoing targets to tackle child poverty of any reduction in local government funding.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 23 February 2023
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 09 January 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 23 January 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what plans are in place to deal with any disruption to transport in the South Scotland region caused by flooding.
Answer
Climate change will increase both the intensity and frequency of storms, flooding and high winds. The recent impact of flooding on our roads and railway is a reminder of the need to adapt our transport network to the effects of severe weather.
Action has been taken but Transport Scotland has identified the need for climate change mitigation and adaptation as a central plank in the National Transport Strategy which sets out the vison for the next decades.
Transport Scotland’s Road Operating Companies are required to undertake a series of activities aimed at improving journey time reliability by minimising the risk of unplanned disruption to the operation of the trunk road network. The Transport Scotland Manual for the Management of the Risk of Unplanned Network Disruption provides direction to Operating Companies on managing and mitigating the effects of disruptive events, such as those caused by weather events like flooding. The manual requires Operating Companies to develop and implement disruption risk processes which are informed by the formal recording of all previous events, as they occur. This includes severe weather related events such as high winds, flooding, snow and ice.
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 January 2023
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 25 January 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that some women have been denied transvaginal ultrasounds on the basis of not yet being sexually active.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 25 January 2023
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 09 January 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 18 January 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what support is available for (a) families and (b) businesses in the South Scotland region that are affected by floods.
Answer
The Scottish Government funds the Scottish Flood Forum (SFF) to provide help to businesses and families in the event of flooding. They can offer advice, information and support to help those flooded – from advice on managing insurance claims, drying out, finding a builder, to protecting property from flooding.
The Scottish Welfare Fund helps families and people in Scotland who are on low incomes through Crisis Grants and Community Care Grants. Crisis Grants are available to those hit by crisis such as a flood. Applications can be made through local authorities.
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 09 January 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 18 January 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to invest in more flood defences in the South Scotland region.
Answer
It is the responsibility of local authorities to develop and deliver flood protection schemes in Scotland. Since 2008, the Scottish Government has provided £42million/ yr through the general capital grant to support the delivery of flood risk management actions. The 2020 PfG also committed an additional £150 million over the course of this parliament.
Flood Risk Management Plans have been developed to reduce the devastating and costly impact of flooding in Scotland. The plans coordinate the efforts of all organisations that tackle flooding and concentrate the work to where the risk of flooding and benefits of investment are greatest. The 2015-2021 Plans included a number of flood protection schemes in the South Scotland region including in Hawick and Whitesands.
Flood Risk Management Plans for the period 2022-2028 were approved by Scottish Ministers in December 2021 and published by SEPA in January 2022. A COSLA/ Scottish Government Funding Working Group has been set up to discuss funding arrangements for flood risk management actions including those set out in the
2022-2028 plans. This group will put recommendations to the joint Scottish Government/COSLA officers’ Settlement Distribution Group. Ministers and Council Leaders’ will subsequently be provided with advice in 2023.
