Beatrice Wishart

25 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential disruption caused by storms, what consideration it is giving to undergrounding electrical cables in areas that are at low risk of storm surge or flooding but are vulnerable to damage from high winds.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Resilience of the Electricity Sector is reserved and therefore the responsibility of the UK Government. Both BEIS and Ofgem have published their post-incident reviews/interim reports on Storm Arwen. The UK Government interim report on Storm Arwen review co…

25 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to planning guidelines and building regulations to improve storm resilience for homes, businesses and public buildings, in light of the disruption caused by recent storms across Scotland.

Answer · Tom Arthur: We recognise that the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events in Scotland are likely to continue to increase due to climate change. As a nation we need to prepare for the associated impacts, including through the resilience of our buildings. Draft …

18 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the site-specific brain tumour research funding that is provided through the Chief Scientist Office is allocated between the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Common Scientific Outline categories of (a) biology, (b) aetiology, (c) prevention, (d) early detection, diagnosis an…

Answer · Maree Todd: A search of the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Cancer Research Database (CaRD) carried out by NCRI at the request of the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) showed the following allocation for CSO funded site-specific brain tumour research by Common Scien…

16 Feb 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will work with Police Scotland to provide clear guidelines on legal medical cannabis prescriptions sent to patients by post via Royal Mail.

11 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that NHS Scotland is reaching at least the equivalent of the NICE guidelines for adults with cerebral palsy (CP), in light of the reported findings of a survey by Cerebral Palsy Scotland that 65% of people with CP do not consider the service is meeting their n…

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government welcomes the survey undertaken by Cerebral Palsy Scotland in November 2021 and notes the findings. Scottish Government officials recently met with Cerebral Palsy Scotland to further discuss the care and support available to people wit…

10 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05977 by Humza Yousaf on 7 February 2022, whether it will provide an answer to the question that was asked and confirm what consideration it has given to making (a) Distance Aware badges and (b) COVID-19 lateral flow device tests available for colle…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer given in S6W-05977. We know since the initial introduction of the Distance Aware initiative, uptake has been good and we have therefore ordered more badges and lanyards and considered additional ways to distribute. As such w…

10 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the current waiting times are for maxillofacial surgery in each NHS board.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The latest available statistics on NHS Waiting Times published up to 31 December 2021 can be accessed using the link below: https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/nhs-waiting-times-stage-of-treatment/

10 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people are on the waiting list for maxillofacial surgery in NHS Grampian, and what steps are being taken to reduce waiting times.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The latest available statistics on NHS Waiting Times published up to 31 December 2021 can be accessed using the following link: https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/nhs-waiting-times-stage-of-treatment/ Public Health Scotland (PHS) notes that…

9 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when the delayed Scottish census data for 1921 will be published by the National Records of Scotland.

Answer · Angus Robertson: National Record of Scotland (NRS) plan to publish the 1921 Scottish Census on the ScotlandsPeople Website ( ScotlandsPeople | Connecting Generations ) and in the ScotlandsPeople Centre as early as possible in the second half of 2022.  

8 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason licenced clubs are not eligible for the funding for businesses affected by measures to control the Omicron variant of COVID-19, and whether it will review the exclusion of licenced clubs from this funding.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government recognised the impact on businesses of measures to control Omicron including licensed clubs. As such they were eligible for hospitality funding including the Hospitality: December and January Business Support Top Up Fund and the Hospit…

1 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the steps being taken to ensure that people resident in Scotland who have received their COVID-19 vaccinations abroad, or in other UK nations, have their medical records updated to allow them to prove their vaccination status when travelling internati…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: We have established a process for individuals who have received their coronavirus vaccinations outwith Scotland which allows for them to upload official proof of vaccination from an approved country to their Scottish Vaccination Record through NHS Inform . …

28 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding brain tumours, what the average waiting time has been (a) for diagnosis and (b) from diagnosis to the start of treatment, in each year from 2017. 

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Brain and Central Nervous System cancer waiting times were part of the extending tumour site audit and were introduced into Cancer Waiting Times reporting for 2013 only. Since then, boards have not been required to submit these data. NHS boards may hold this …

28 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding renal cancer, what the average waiting time has been (a) for diagnosis and (b) from diagnosis to the start of treatment, in each year from 2017.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The exact data requested is not held. The Cancer Waiting Times data does not report on average waits, however median waits are reported. The information below is for urological cancers and is provided both for 62-day and 31-day standard. The 62-day standard r…

27 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support there is for driving instructors as part of the Close Contact Services Fund.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government is aware of the impact the necessary public health restrictions have had on businesses. We announced £375m of support for businesses impacted by measures introduced to control the spread of Omicron and this includes £19m for close cont…

24 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to making (a) Distance Aware badges and (b) COVID-19 lateral flow tests available for collection in local retail community shops in rural, remote and island areas.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government has given full consideration to ensuring Distance Aware badges and lateral flow device (LFD) tests are available across Scotland, including in rural, remote and island areas. As well as Distance Aware products being available in ASDA…

24 Jan 2022 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take in response to reports of the Women’s Health Plan study finding that endometriosis clinical care is failing to meet the base level of care.

19 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05332 by Michael Matheson on 10 January 2022, what the timeframe is for publishing the report by Seagreen Wind Energy Limited in respect of unexploded ordnance clearance activities.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Marine Scotland – Licensing Operations Team (“MS-LOT”) has recently received the written report from Seagreen Wind Energy Limited in respect of unexploded ordnance clearance activities. MS-LOT is currently conducting a review of the report and will publish on…

13 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05103 by Graeme Dey on 5 January 2022, whether it will provide an update on the proposed plan to move Sumburgh approach radar from Aberdeen to a new combined surveillance centre, as part of Highlands and Islands Airports Limited's Air Traffic Manage…

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Work to transfer the operation of the Sumburgh approach provision continues. The transfer is expected to complete in 2022.

12 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03765 by Patrick Harvie on 4 November 2021, whether it will provide an update on the funding (a) available and (b) unallocated for 2021-22.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The funding allocation to the E-bike Loan Fund, and unallocated funds for the financial year 2021-22 up until December 2021 is summarised in the following table. Financial Year Funding Unallocated Notes 2021-22 £3,800,000 £2,117,483 up until Dec 2021

21 Dec 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what considerations it will give in relation to its proposals for the scheduling of government business in the Chamber in order to take account of the various impacts of COVID-19 and Scotland's recovery from it.

20 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when local stakeholders and members of the public will be invited to contribute to the development of its Islands Connectivity Plan, scheduled for publication in 2023, in light of reported concerns raised in the community about seasonal fares, freight capacity and the level of service th…

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Islands Connectivity Plan, to replace the current Ferries Plan, will be produced during 2022 and engagement and consultation on this will enable substantial public and community input.

19 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03602 by Michael Matheson on 25 October 2021, whether it will publish the written report by Seagreen Wind Energy Limited in respect of unexploded ordnance clearance activities.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Marine Scotland – Licensing Operations Team (“MS-LOT”) intends to publish the written report by Seagreen Wind Energy Limited in respect of unexploded ordnance clearance activities on its website (marine.gov.scot) once the internal review of the report is comp…

13 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-10494 by Roseanna Cunningham on 15 August 2017, which of the 42 formal flood protection schemes or engineering works have been removed from the list of proposed works since August 2017, broken down by the (a) number of properties that were expected …

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The only works that have been removed from the list of the 42 formal flood protection schemes or engineering works are those to the Greenock - Coves Burn which were to be taken forward by Inverclyde Council. The number of properties that were expected to be p…

13 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-10494 by Roseanna Cunningham on 15 August 2017, which of the 42 formal flood protection schemes or engineering works are (a) under construction and (b) at the planning or other stage of development, broken down by the (i) expected completion date, (…

Answer · Mairi McAllan: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-04901 on ? 24 December 2021. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-comm…

13 Dec 2021 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will set up a commission on preventing violence against women and girls, in light of reports that one in five teenage girls have been sexually assaulted.

7 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of its consultation report on short-term let licensing, how it has addressed the specific concerns raised by the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, as identified in Annex E of the report.

Answer · Shona Robison: In developing proposals for the regulation of short-term lets, the Scottish Government has conducted three public consultations. Our most recent consultation closed on 13 August 2021, and we received 1,026 responses. We carefully considered suggestions for c…

7 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of its Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) on short-term let licensing, on what evidence it has based its assumption that “there is no reason why lenders and insurers should be unwilling to extend financial products to such a business, provided th…

Answer · Shona Robison: At the heart of our licensing scheme is a set of mandatory standards which will help to protect the safety of guests and neighbours in short-term lets across Scotland. Provided an operator continues to comply with their licence conditions, which will often ju…

26 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what basis it would gather evidence when considering whether proof of COVID-19 vaccine status is required for entry to cinemas.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: We must make sure our decisions on all of the COVID protection measures are necessary, proportionate and targeted in delivering our four harms approach to alleviating the direct harms of COVID-19, the indirect health harms, and the social and economic harms. …

24 Nov 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to ensure a just transition for the Highlands and Islands.

16 Nov 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its Housing Strategy supports social landlords to ensure ageing properties meet current energy efficient standards.