- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 January 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 22 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how it collaborates with local authorities to manage and maintain the sections of the A90 that pass through their jurisdictions.
Answer
Our Operating Companies hold regular meetings with neighbouring Local Authorities to share knowledge and consult on matters that will affect the operation of each road network. For example, road works, winter maintenance, major events and instance of severe weather require a joined-up response or mutual aid. Our Operating Companies are required to consult a wide range of stakeholders to ensure the impacts of their planned works are properly managed and any negative impacts mitigated. Transport Scotland also maintains regular contact with Local Authority colleagues through a range of professional body engagements.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 January 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 22 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of the resource requirements for Police Scotland in responding to public safety threats, including incidents involving unexploded ordnance.
Answer
It is for the Chief Constable, working with the working with the Scottish Police Authority, to determine how to allocate resources to best respond to operational matters such as public safety threats, including incidents involving unexploded ordnance . The Scottish Government is providing record police funding of £1.55 billion this year – an increase of £92.7 million.
You may wish to write directly to Police Scotland on this matter.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 January 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 22 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures collaboration between railway operators in Scotland and law enforcement agencies to prevent thefts.
Answer
This is a matter for railway operators working in collaboration with the British Transport Police.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 January 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 21 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of the costs associated with maintaining and updating registers held by Registers of Scotland, and whether these are expected to change in the future.
Answer
Registers of Scotland is a non-Ministerial Public Body answerable to the Scottish Parliament.
The work of the Registers of Scotland is demand led, depending on the volume of activity in the housing market. RoS is continuously working to improve its efficiency and thereby keep its running costs as low as possible. The costs of running RoS are largely covered by the fees charged for its services, and that is expected to remain the position.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 January 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 21 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the reasons for the reported reduction in Foundation Year 2 doctors proceeding directly into NHS specialty training over the last decade.
Answer
Progression data from the General Medical Council shows that 90% of trainees have obtained a specialty training post in the UK within three years of completing the Foundation Programme. It is likely that overall numbers taking up a specialty training place for cohorts 2022, 2023 & 2024 (albeit not immediately after completing foundation training) will increase over the coming years.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 January 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 21 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what review it has carried out of the adequacy of NHS specialty training places available to meet future workforce demands.
Answer
The Scottish Shape of Training Transition Group undertakes an annual review of medical training establishments and makes recommendations to Scottish Ministers on the need to create additional training places in order to meet increased demand and future anticipated consultant need.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 January 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 21 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors the environmental impact of its vehicle fleet, including in relation to (a) emissions and (b) fuel usage.
Answer
The Scottish Government has a dedicated team that manage all aspects of our fleet. Part of this role is to ensure vehicles are maintained in line with manufacturers recommended maintenance schedules and guidelines to ensure emission compliance and the active monitoring of fuel usage.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 January 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 21 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what the average fee has been for (a) accessing and (b) updating information in the Registers of Scotland in each of the last five years.
Answer
Registers of Scotland is a non-Ministerial Public Body answerable to the Scottish Parliament.
RoS charge a range of different fees for various types of application. The following table details the main application types. Further information on RoS fees and types of application is available on the RoS website, www.ros.gov.uk.
Financial Year | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 |
| | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ |
Land Register Disposition | 311 | 333 | 376 | 389 | 391 |
Land Register Standard Security | 60 | 66 | 80 | 80 | 80 |
Land Register (Other Deeds) | 70 | 74 | 88 | 87 | 90 |
Sasine Register | 62 | 68 | 81 | 82 | 83 |
Crofting Register | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 |
Chancery and Judicial Registers | 16 | 22 | 27 | 30 | 28 |
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 January 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 21 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS specialty training places are projected to be offered in the next five years.
Answer
The allocation of medical specialty training places is made annually to ensure it meets the needs of the healthcare workforce, recognising that completion of specialty training can take a minimum of 3 to 8 years depending on the specialty. This process is overseen by a group of senior representatives from the Scottish Government, NHS Education for Scotland, professional bodies, and Health Boards. Based on workforce data and service demands, the group makes recommendations to Scottish Ministers regarding any changes needed, including the potential expansion of training places in specific specialties.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 January 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 21 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how it determines the number of NHS specialty training places offered annually.
Answer
Recruitment to specialty training is undertaken on a UK-wide basis and managed by NES in Scotland. The number of posts advertised by NES each year is determined by two factors: (i) individuals who have vacated their post and whose posts are therefore available for new applicants for apply for, and (ii) whether any additional posts have been created.
The Scottish Shape of Training Transition Group – membership of which includes the Scottish Government, NHS Education for Scotland, British Medical Association, Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and various Health Board representatives including regional workforce planners – undertakes an annual review of medical training establishments and makes recommendations to Scottish Ministers on the need to create additional training places in order to meet increased demand and future anticipated consultant need.