Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-23225

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 27 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 12 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it defines multi-year funding for voluntary sector organisations as a three-year minimum commitment.

In line with our Fairer Funding commitment to embed a multi-year grant approach on all third sector grants by 2026, the First Minister has committed to increasing the number of two-year grants in the forthcoming budget, and longer where possible.

It must be recognised that whilst we would wish to go further we face significant economic uncertainty and it would be wrong to make commitments we cannot sustain.

Question reference: S6W-23224

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 27 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 12 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to develop a longer-term funding model for the voluntary sector across all of its directorates.

We recognise that the third sector needs clarity and stability to secure its resilience and to grow its capacity. That is why we have committed to develop a Fairer Funding approach for the sector as a means to embed systemic change and to create conditions for third sector organisations to thrive as part of a mixed economy.

Our initial focus has been on improving grant-making arrangements, including increasing multi-year funding. Officials are working with grant managers across the organisation to ensure that they are aware of, and operating within, the terms of the commitment.

Question reference: S6W-23222

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 27 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 12 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that multi-year funding arrangements for the voluntary sector have annual inflation-based uplifts inbuilt, at a level as close to inflation as possible.

In line with our commitment to develop a fairer funding approach for the third sector, we will increase the number of multi-year grants in the forthcoming budget and ensure timely notification of funding.

In the current fiscal climate and within the constraints of the significant financial challenges facing us in this budget, we will consider each proposal for funding carefully and do what we can to support third sector organisations.

Question reference: S6W-23221

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 27 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 12 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of public sector grants and contracts are currently delivered on a multi-year basis.

Currently, as of 4 December 2023, the Scottish Governments proportion of live contracts, delivered on a multi-year basis, is 65%. Multi-year has been classed as a contract over 12 months. Data on wider public sectors can either be found here: Home - Public Contracts Scotland or by contacting them directly.

Each grant fund is managed locally by a specific policy area within the Scottish Government, currently the Scottish Government does not hold central information at the detailed level of individual scheme operation.

Question reference: S6W-23223

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 27 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 12 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that its funding decisions regarding support for the voluntary sector are issued no later than December, and that any funds are paid no later than the start of the tax year in April.

In the 2023-24 Programme for Government we have committed, as part of developing an approach to fairer funding for the third sector, to deliver improvements in grant-making arrangements, including providing greater clarity and consistency of practice.

We understand that organisations need timely grant decisions and payments in order to reduce financial uncertainty and effectively resource delivery.

In line with the commitment given by the First Minister, we are working, within the context of the Scottish Budget process, to issue notifications of funding arrangements to third sector organisations, as soon as is practicably possible and no later than end of March for funding beginning on 1 April.

Question reference: S6W-23253

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 27 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 11 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on delivering its commitment to reduce class contact time for teachers by 90 minutes per week to 21 hours, from the current 22.5 hours.

To help inform these discussions I have commissioned an external modelling and research exercise which will consider a range of factors including current teacher numbers, pupil teacher ratios and the projected decline in the number of school-aged children in Scotland. This work will inform decisions on education workforce planning for future years and is due to conclude by the end of December.

We continue to work with the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers on how we can best progress this commitment.

Question reference: S6W-23252

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 27 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 11 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it will deliver its commitment to reduce class contact time for teachers by 90 minutes per week to 21 hours, from the current 22.5 hours.

Question reference: S6W-22247

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 16 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 29 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has been allocated by the UK Government for the upgrade of the A75.

At present no funding has been allocated by the UK Government for the upgrade of the A75. A detailed business case for the development of improvements to the A75 was submitted by the Scottish Government to the UK Government in April 2023.

The UK Minister for Roads and Local Transport, Mr Richard Holden MP has since confirmed in writing in October 2023, following my discussions with him in September, that funding of £8 million is available, subject to final approvals. My officials continue to engage proactively with their counterparts, and we await confirmation from UK Government, including when funding will be received.

Question reference: S6O-02815

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to calls from Age Scotland and others to improve plans for the new Pension Age Disability Payment by including extra mobility and travel support for recipients.

Question reference: S6O-02785

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body under what circumstances Fairtrade products are used in catering in the Scottish Parliament.

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