Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-29748

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 20 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what the total value of grants awarded by Creative Scotland’s Open Fund for Individuals to applicants in the Highlands and Islands region has been since May 2021, broken down by local authority area.

The following table shows the total value of grants awarded by Creative Scotland’s Open Fund for Individuals to applicants in the Highlands and Islands region from 1 May 2021 to 31 August 2024, which are broken down by local authority area.

Local Authority Areas	Number of applications	Amount awarded
Argyll and Bute	27	£296,255
Highland	61	£797,771
Moray	12	£191,893
Na h-Eileanan Siar	6	£43,285
Orkney Islands	7	£112,731
Shetland Islands	8	£84,229
Grand Total	121	£1,526,164

Question reference: S6W-29371

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 20 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many people it estimates will (a) now be eligible and (b) not be eligible to receive its Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, following its reported decision to make it a means-tested payment.

Scottish Government analysis suggests that between 110,000 and 130,000 pensioners will remain eligible for payment in Scotland this winter. This represents a reduction of around 900,000 pensioners who will no longer be entitled in 2024-25.

The UK Government’s decision to restrict eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments has had a significant impact, reducing the Block-Grant Adjustment associated with devolution of the UK’s Winter Fuel Payment by an estimated £140 million to £160 million in 2024-25, nearly 90% of the cost of the Scottish Government’s replacement benefit, Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.

Question reference: S6W-29373

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 20 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many people it estimates were claiming the Winter Fuel Payment prior to its decision to make its proposed Pension Age Winter Heating Payment a means-tested payment, in each year since 2021.

Question reference: S6W-29754

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 19 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that NHS Western Isles has identified £4.5 million of high-priority and high-cost works, "but has received a grant of just £1.29 million from the Scottish Government" for the works in 2024-25.

As a result of significant increases in construction costs due to inflation, and a lower than expected capital grant from the UK Government, a capital review is currently underway.

Alongside this, we are working with all health boards to develop a whole-system infrastructure plan which reflects on the needs for the whole of Scotland and will support continued safe operation of existing facilities and well as determination of longer-term investment priorities.

Question reference: S6W-29744

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 September 2024
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 19 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether its Pre-Budget Fiscal Update proposal to reprofile the timing of project spend on the Hydrogen Emerging Energies Technology Fund will impact on the ability of the selected projects to develop and demonstrate renewable hydrogen technologies by the end of the funding period in 2026.

The Hydrogen Action Plan, published in December 2022, set out a clear commitment to support renewable hydrogen production.

The UK Government’s 10% cut on the Scottish Government capital budget has impacted Scottish government funding ability. However, on 16 September we launched a £7m funding call to enable companies to develop renewable green hydrogen production projects and support the development of the hydrogen supply chain in Scotland.

More details on the call can be found on the website of our delivery partner, Scottish Enterprise;

Earlier this summer, on 14 August, I announced the £3.1m match-funding grant award to the Storegga Speyside Hydrogen Project in Moray. This will help to support the development stage of the construction of a new regional hydrogen production hub which will produce green hydrogen for operations across distilleries and other businesses in Moray.

Allocations from the first tranche of the Emerging Energy Technology Fund hydrogen investment programme, the Hydrogen Innovation Scheme, totalled nearly £7m to 31 projects, and were announced in May 2023. These projects will all conclude by 2025.

Question reference: S6W-29758

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 19 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that NHS Western Isles has designated the refurbishment of Medical Ward 2 at the Western Isles Hospital in Stornoway as high priority, but that this work is reportedly unaffordable in the current financial year.

As a result of significant increases in construction costs due to inflation, and a lower than expected capital grant from the UK Government, a capital review is currently underway.

Alongside this, we are working with all health boards to develop a whole-system infrastructure plan which reflects on the needs for the whole of Scotland and will support continued safe operation of existing facilities and well as determination of longer-term investment priorities.

Question reference: S6W-29756

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 19 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to its decision to pause the replacement of St Brendan’s hospital in Castlebay; whether it has held any recent meetings with NHS Western Isles, and, if so, whether it can provide details of what was discussed.

In December 2023, given the extremely challenging capital funding position, NHS Boards were instructed to stop any project development spend and instead direct capital budgets towards maintenance of the existing estate and essential equipment and digital replacement. Boards were notified that the Scottish Government does not anticipate starting construction of any new project over the next two years at least.

We are working with all health boards to develop a whole-system infrastructure plan which reflects on the needs for the whole of Scotland and will support continued safe operation of existing facilities and well as determination of longer-term investment priorities.

Question reference: S6W-29757

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 19 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the air flow cleansing canopy in an NHS Western Isles operating theatre is showing signs of failure, but that this work is reportedly unaffordable in the current financial year.

As a result of significant increases in construction costs due to inflation, and a lower than expected capital grant from the UK Government, a capital review is currently underway.

Alongside this, we are working with all health boards to develop a whole-system infrastructure plan which reflects on the needs for the whole of Scotland and will support continued safe operation of existing facilities and well as determination of longer-term investment priorities.

Question reference: S6W-29753

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 19 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that NHS Western Isles has designated the acquisition of automated medicine cabinets as high priority, but that this is reportedly unaffordable in the current financial year.

As a result of significant increases in construction costs due to inflation, and a lower than expected capital grant from the UK Government, a capital review is currently underway.

Alongside this, we are working with all health boards to develop a whole-system infrastructure plan which reflects on the needs for the whole of Scotland and will support continued safe operation of existing facilities and well as determination of longer-term investment priorities.

Question reference: S6W-29755

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 19 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that, following a review of existing facilities at St Brendan’s Hospital in Castlebay by NHS Assure, "heating systems, electrical wiring, and water systems have been identified as requiring upgrade in the very near future".

As a result of significant increases in construction costs due to inflation, and a lower than expected capital grant from the UK Government, a capital review is currently underway.

Alongside this, we are working with all health boards to develop a whole-system infrastructure plan which reflects on the needs for the whole of Scotland and will support continued safe operation of existing facilities and well as determination of longer-term investment priorities.

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Chamber and committees