- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 March 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 March 2019
To ask the Scottish Government when it will bring forward plans to dual the A75.
Answer
Transport investment has to be supported by robust evidence and that is why the Scottish Government is undertaking the South West Scotland Transport study. This study is considering the rationale for improvements to all modes of transport on key strategic corridors, including that served by the A75. The study is expected to be published this spring and will provide recommendations which identify transport interventions to be considered in more detail through the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2). Until the outcomes from that review are available, it is not possible to set a date for improvements on particular roads.
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 March 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 20 March 2019
To ask the Scottish Government how many pupils attend schools where buildings are not deemed to be satisfactory.
Answer
According to our latest national school estate statistics, the number of pupils educated in poor or bad condition schools has decreased from 256,794 (37% of pupils) in April 2007 to 80,359 (12% of pupils) in April 2018.
The number of pupils educated in poor or bad suitability schools has decreased from 154,783 (23% of pupils) in April 2010 to 94,022 (14% of pupils) in April 2018.
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 04 February 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Aileen Campbell on 21 February 2019
To ask the Scottish Government what help it offers to communities that are seeking to (a) improve the appearance of buildings that are considered to be "eyesores" and (b) bring derelict buildings back to use.
Answer
We offer various types of help to communities to address this kind of situation. The Part 3A community right to buy provides a compulsory purchase power for communities to take ownership of land (and buildings) that are abandoned or neglected. The Scottish Land Fund provides financial support to communities who wish to take ownership of land and buildings that matter to them, as well as practical support to develop their aspirations into viable projects – this does not need to be done through formal community right to buy routes.
We have established the Vacant and Derelict Land taskforce to consider ways to bring vacant and derelict land into productive use. A key approach of the taskforce will be to work with communities to help them identify land that can be used for purposes that will support local needs.
We also support local government in the delivery of locally-led regeneration projects including through our Regeneration Capital Grant Fund and Vacant and Derelict Land Fund.
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 February 2019
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 28 February 2019
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the school estate in Dumfries meets an acceptable standard.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 28 February 2019
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 January 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 19 February 2019
To ask the Scottish Government when the temporary traffic lights between Kirkconnel and New Cumnock on the A76 are scheduled for removal.
Answer
Following a road traffic accident on 14 January 2018, an LGV demolished 50m of safety barrier at this location, south of Marchburn. Temporary traffic signals and associated signing were provided at the time and are remain in place for public safety reasons.
The repair to the damaged fence has unfortunately been delayed due to difficulties in the design process. Replacing the damaged barrier with a like for like replacement is not possible due to the ground conditions and the presence of public utility apparatus which were laid after the current barrier was installed. As such, the design of a new barrier system which complies with required standards has been challenging. Investigations have taken place in several phases since the incident occurred in January 2018, with the final investigations taking place earlier in February 2019.
With investigations now complete, the design process can progress with a view to carrying out construction works in May 2019. Further details will be shared with stakeholders as the scheme develops.
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 January 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 22 January 2019
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the reported plan by NHS Dumfries and Galloway to close its doctor-led out-of-hours service at midnight.
Answer
I have been reassured by NHS Dumfries & Galloway that there are no such plans in place to close its doctor-led out of hours service at midnight.
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 December 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 8 January 2019
To ask the Scottish Government how much it spends on mental health research.
Answer
Within the Scottish Government, the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) is responsible for health and social care research. CSO is currently funding 10 active research grants or fellowships in the area of mental health with a total value of about £1,288,000. In addition, CSO invests annually in the NHS Research Scotland Mental Health Research Network (£508,000 in the current financial year).
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 December 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 13 December 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14751 by Roseanna Cunningham on 1 March 2018, what account it takes of climate change when considering whether to fund new flood defence systems, and how many new systems in each of the last five years that it has provided funding for (a) have and (b) have not been subject to such consideration by it.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-20377 on 13 December 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 December 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 13 December 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14751 by Roseanna Cunningham on 1 March 2018, what its position is on whether local authorities should take account of climate change when considering new flood defence systems, and what information it has regarding how many new systems that it has provided funding for in each of the last five years (a) have and (b) have not been subject to such consideration by the relevant councils.
Answer
The Scottish Government provides guidance for responsible authorities on the economic, social and environmental aspects of option appraisal for actions promoted under the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009. https://www.gov.scot/publications/guidance-support-sepa-responsible-authorities/ . It includes guidance on how to take climate change into account. The Scottish Government does not hold information on what consideration has been given to climate change by local authorities when designing new flood protection schemes.
It is for the local authority to decide on the standard of protection for a proposed scheme based on all the relevant factors. The approach should be risk based, linking benefits to costs with the aim of maximising the reduction in overall risk.
Climate change has not been a specific consideration when making decisions about which flood protection schemes should be funded. In 2012 an arrangement was agreed between the Scottish Government and COSLA whereby the flooding component of the General Capital Grant would be distributed to major projects against a set of eligibility criteria agreed by Scottish Ministers and COSLA. No design standards were applied at this time but schemes had to be able to demonstrate a positive benefit cost ratio of greater than 1 and demonstrate project value for money.
In July 2016 it was agreed by Scottish Ministers and COSLA that from 2016-17 onwards 80% of the flood component of the general capital grant would be allocated to large scale projects and distributed according to the prioritised list of flooding schemes and works set out in the Flood Risk Management Strategies. Schemes proposed in the flood risk management strategies were prioritised according to their cost benefit ratio and taking into account a series of additional criteria, encompassing the environmental and social impacts of flooding. This list was agreed by the National Prioritisation Advisory Group which was chaired by the Scottish Government. It was agreed that for 2016-2021 all the 40 schemes on the prioritised list would receive 80% grant funding if they went ahead.
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 22 November 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 3 December 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to changing the legislation regarding site fee increases for park homes from using the Retail Price Index (RPI) to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Answer
The Scottish Government has carried out a considerable amount of work on park home (mobile home) issues since 2012. The Mobile Homes Act 1983 (Amendment of Schedule 1) (Scotland) Order 2013 significantly enhanced the protection of park home residents in Scotland. The key objective of the order was to provide better protection for site residents while ensuring the viability of privately owned sites. The considerations to be taken into account when calculating pitch fees are set out and increases are capped, in accordance with RPI, to balance the interests of site owners and residents. There are no plans to review this position.
