Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-12620

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 21 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what plans there are to increase the number of (a) primary and (b) secondary school teacher training places delivered by (a) the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) and (b) Moray College UHI.

Consideration of the number of training places for primary and secondary school teacher training places for all initial teacher education institutions, including UHI, is discussed in partnership with local authorities, universities and other educational stakeholders through the Teacher Workforce Planning Advisory Group, as part of the annual teacher workforce planning exercise.

The Teacher Workforce Planning Advisory Group will meet in mid-December to consider its advice to Ministers on initial teacher education places for 2018-19.

The target intake in PGDE primary at UHI was increased from 80 in 2016-17 to 84 in 2017-18 - they met 79. The target intake in PGDE secondary was increased from 18 in 2016-17 to 25 in 2017-18. This target was met.

Question reference: S5O-01503

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 November 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Skills Development Scotland regarding reported skills shortages, such as a shortage of chefs, in the hospitality sector.

Question reference: S5W-12257

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 October 2017
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 31 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the actions it is taking to deliver its target to meet 11% of non-electrical heat demand from renewable sources by 2020.

I have laid a report in Parliament today, which provides an update on the actions the Scottish Government is taking to help meet our renewable heat target. The report is now available on the Scottish Government web-site, at http://www.gov.scot/ISBN/9781788513760.

During the 2016 calendar year, an estimated 4.8 – 5.0% of Scotland’s non-electrical heat demand was supplied from renewable sources. Renewable heat capacity increased by 13% and renewable heat generation decreased by 11%, when compared with 2015. This reduction in output was primarily due to the closure of the Tullis Russell paper mill in Fife, a significant user of renewable heat. However, while figures for 2016 represent a decrease from 5.4% in 2015, had the Tullis Russell Site remained open and heat demand remained static, renewable heat generation would have increased. The Scottish Government remains committed to decarbonising our heat supply whilst maximising the benefits of doing so for Scotland. We continued to demonstrate leadership and ambition in terms of our specific policy interventions, for example, the development of regulations around Local Heat & Energy Efficiency Strategies and district heating and, more broadly, Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme.

In addition, the Energy Saving Trust have published today the report Renewable Heat in Scotland 2016, which provides further details on these figures. The Energy Saving Trust report is now available at http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/renewable-heat-in-scotland2016.

Question reference: S5F-01630

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 October 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 October 2017

To ask the First Minister what progress is being made with the Reaching 100% Programme to connect premises that have not received support from the previous programmes for access to superfast broadband.

Question reference: S5W-11686

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 29 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 5 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to the Shared Lives model of care, and what its position is on the value of using Shared Lives in providing an alternative to residential care for disabled adults and older people.

Question reference: S5O-01344

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 5 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making with the establishment of a publicly-owned national energy company.

Presiding Officer, I know this is an issue that Richard Lochhead has a long-standing interest in and I am pleased to update members on progress. As part of the draft Energy Strategy consultation we asked people to consider the potential role and purpose for a Government Owned Energy Company that would help the growth of local and community energy projects. A stakeholder workshop was also held in late March to support this process and a number of suggested roles were put forward to Government for consideration through the workshop and in response to the consultation on the strategy itself.

The next stage is to complete analysis of these suggestions and views expressed on the role of a Government Owned Energy Company before including recommendations alongside the final Energy Strategy which we have committed to publish by the end of this year, at the latest.

Question reference: S5W-11476

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 5 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to veterans.

This Scottish Government is committed to supporting veterans and ensuring they are not disadvantaged by their service in the Armed Forces. Where it has devolved responsibility, the Scottish Government provides direct support to veterans in a wide number of ways, including in healthcare, housing, and employability. Renewing our Commitments, published in 2016, sets out our achievements and future priorities for the Armed Forces and veterans communities.

Some recent examples of the support provided are:

Almost £1.1 million has been provided through the Scottish Veterans Fund since its launch in 2008, supporting a total of 144 projects for veterans. The current fund, which totals £600,000 to 2019-20 and includes a dedicated stream for employment, supported by funding from Standard Life Aberdeen. On 2 October, the 2018-19 round of funding was opened for applications.

From 1 April 2017, £5 million has been committed to ensure that veterans in receipt of social care in Scotland will now get the full value of their war pensions.

In March 2017 I launched Capitalising on Military Talent, a toolkit, developed with key partner organisations, which is designed to help employers recognise the skills that Service leavers and veterans bring to the civilian workplace.

In June 2017, the Scottish Government Veterans Portal, available on the Scottish Government website (https://stage.mygov.scot/veterans/) was launched to bring together a range of useful information on housing, health, jobs, education and veterans support services both in Scotland and the rest of the UK, making it easier to source information specifically for veterans.

Question reference: S5W-11439

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 4 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to carry out a national review of cycling issues.

As part of the Active Travel Task Force work, which I announced in November last year, a review of barriers to better infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists is underway. The Task Force has received written and oral evidence from many stakeholders and will submit recommendations to me by the end of this year.

Transport Scotland works in partnership with local authorities and other partners to keep under review cycling and other active travel projects. Our Cycling Action Plan for Scotland 2017 outlines how we will deliver our vision with monitoring and evaluation as a core outcome.

Question reference: S5W-11437

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 4 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what funding is available specifically for the maintenance of cycle paths.

The maintenance of cycle paths is the responsibility of the body which has adopted the path, for example, local authorities, Forestry Commission Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Canals and in the case of trunk roads, Transport Scotland. Upgrades of existing cycle routes may qualify for capital funding through Sustrans funding programmes, such as Community Links and Safer Routes to School.

Question reference: S5W-11433

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 4 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made with the installation of cycling facilities at railway stations (a) nationally and (b) on the Aberdeen to Inverness line.

My officials at Transport Scotland engage regularly with ScotRail on progress being made to install cycle parking facilities at railway stations. Since the franchise commenced in April 2015 nearly 1,300 additional cycle parking spaces have been rolled out at 44 stations, including Elgin and Inverurie on the Aberdeen to Inverness line. Proposals are currently being developed for additional cycle parking facilities at Dyce, Aberdeen and Inverness station.

ScotRail has also rolled out the Bike and Go hire scheme at 12 stations including at Aberdeen and Inverness station.

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