Questions and answers

Question reference: S6O-02850

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports of Aberdeenshire secondary school parent councils calling for changes to the Teacher Induction Scheme.

Question reference: S6W-22828

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 23 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when additional support for the new entrants to farming will be announced, in light of its commitment to announce additional support for new entrants later in 2023.

I can confirm that I announced the opening of the “Next Generation Practical Training Fund Pilot” at AgriScot on 22 November 2023. This fund will offer up to £500 per person for relevant practical land-based courses for new and young entrants.

The development of the fund has been spearheaded through the Farming Opportunities for New Entrants (FONE) Group, chaired by Henry Graham, and I am very grateful that he continues to provide his valuable time and effort to progress this work effectively with officials and industry stakeholders.

Question reference: S6O-02821

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking with Social Security Scotland to help with the heating costs of households in the north east.

Question reference: S6W-22849

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 21 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22160 by Angela Constance on 7 November 2023, when any new guidance on responding to emergencies will be published.

Question reference: S6W-22717

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 20 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Stagecoach regarding recent reports of bus fires.

Question reference: S6W-22718

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 20 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what fire safety drills are required for bus companies.

Bus Companies must comply with all safety regulations and conditions as required to be able to hold a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) licence. The PSV licensing is reserved and is managed by the Traffic Commissioner, the main purpose of the regime is to ensure safe and proper use of vehicles including regular maintenance. Drivers must also complete driver CPC training which includes Fire Evacuation and Fire Safety Training Courses.

Question reference: S6W-22690

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 20 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the publication of local government audits is essential to ensuring effective and efficient government.

The audit of the Annual Accounts of a local authority provides essential external scrutiny and assurance that a local authority is managing its finances appropriately. Best Value audits provide further scrutiny of the effectiveness of a local authority’s use of public funds to deliver public services and are essential in order to provide public assurance that a local authority is delivering value for money for council tax payers.

The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 requires the Auditor General and the Accounts Commission to secure the audit of all accounts of local authorities and associated bodies (including health and social care integration boards and other joint boards) by appointing either Audit Scotland or firms of accountants as the auditors.

Local Authorities are required to make their audited annual accounts available for public inspection and publish them on their website. Audit Scotland publish all audit reports of local authority annual accounts.

Question reference: S6O-02788

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what its position is on whether the £3,000 used from Michael Matheson’s office expenses for roaming charges constituted value for money, as required of all expense claims under the Reimbursement of Members’ Expenses Scheme.

Question reference: S6W-22689

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 16 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many local authorities did not meet the Accounts Commission's deadline to submit their annual accounts for the financial years (a) 2021-22 and (b) 2022-23.

The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 requires the Auditor General and the Accounts Commission to secure the audit of all accounts of local authorities and associated bodies (including health and social care integration boards and other joint boards) by appointing either Audit Scotland or firms of accountants as the auditors.

The extent to which local authorities did not meet the Accounts Commission’s deadline to submit their annual accounts is a matter for the Controller of Audit or the Accounts Commission and the Scottish Government does not hold this information.

Question reference: S6W-22706

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don on 15 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what childcare support is available for working parents of two-year-olds.

Local authorities in Scotland have a statutory duty to offer 1140 hours of high quality funded early learning and childcare (ELC) to all eligible children within their area. An ‘eligible child’ is described in the legal framework as all 3 and 4-year-olds from the relevant start date, and some 2 year olds are also eligible.

A range of research shows that while attending high quality ELC improves outcomes for all children, the children facing the most disadvantage benefit the most. Eligibility criteria for early access to funded ELC at age two currently target children in households that receive low or no income benefits, children with care experience, and children whose parents have care experience themselves.

Targeting eligibility for funded ELC at age two in this way ensures that those who will benefit most from high quality ELC provision, benefit first. While some two-year-old children of working parents will be eligible for this offer, eligibility is not dependant on the working status of parents. Currently, the offer of 1140 hours of high quality ELC is available to around a quarter of families with a two-year-old.

The Scottish Government has committed to work with local authorities and our partners in the sector to develop plans to expand access to funded ELC for two-year-olds. We will also continue to work closely with local authorities and providers to maximise uptake of the existing offer as we develop these plans. Further detail, including on the additional investment required to deliver the childcare expansion over this Parliament, will be set out later this year at the Scottish Budget for 2024-25.

Working families can access other support with childcare costs through UK-wide schemes like Tax Free Childcare or Universal Credit. Information about these schemes is available at the UK Government website Childcare Choices . This includes an eligibility checker.

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