Paul Sweeney

28 Jan 2025 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will make a representation to the Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth requesting that it reviews its Standing Rules and considers admitting devolved parliaments and legislative assemblies to its membership.

Answer · Christine Grahame (on behalf of the SPCB): The Parliament seeks to engage with other legislatures, inter-parliamentary bodies and international organisations in line with the SPCB’s International Strategy. This engagement is kept under regular review, with the Parliament’s International Re…

27 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many of the 16 full-time equivalent roles to support the mental health and wellbeing of the NHS workforce have been filled since the publication of this pledge in the national workforce strategy in March 2022.

Answer · Neil Gray: Since March 2022, 16.8 whole time equivalent (WTE) posts have been in place. NHS Board partners provide quarterly reports on funding utilisation for Psychological Therapies for the Workforce.In Quarter 3 of 2024-2025 (October 2024), the staff reported in post…

27 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of the health budget was spent on the National Wellbeing Hub in the financial year (a) 2023-24 and (b) 2024-25.

Answer · Neil Gray: The National Wellbeing Hub offers a range of self-service resources for staff across health, social care and social work on how to improve their wellbeing and resilience.Less than 1% of the health budget was spent on the National Wellbeing Hub in financial ye…

27 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the adequacy of wellbeing services for healthcare professionals, including in relation to their accessibility, frequency of usage and success in reducing burnout rates, in light of reported research by the Medical and Dental Defence Union Scotland (MDDUS) s…

Answer · Neil Gray: Scottish Government regularly receives data from wellbeing services that support healthcare professionals. Each of the services actively gather user feedback which is shared with Scottish Government who use it to enhance and develop their wellbeing resources.…

21 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of the Spanish Tax Lease system, which is applied to finance agreements for the purchase of ships, making it possible for shipping companies to purchase ships built by Spanish shipyards at a 20% to 30% discount, and whether it (a) can and (b) will develop a similar sy…

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is aware of the Spanish Tax Lease system.The Spanish tax lease system refers to a Corporation Tax depreciation process.Corporation Tax is entirely reserved to the UK Parliament, and so it would be beyond the devolved competency of the …

20 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Police Scotland plans to dispose of its (a) Possilpark and (b) Springburn building.

Answer · Angela Constance: The management of the Police Scotland Estate is an operational matter, and is the responsibility of the Chief Constable under the scrutiny of the Scottish Police Authority.Police Scotland is considering the future of both the Possilpark (Saracen) Police stati…

20 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many tests have been performed to date in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde by the capsule sponge diagnostic service.

Answer · Neil Gray: As part of the Scottish Government’s Endoscopy Recovery and Remobilisation Plan (2021) nurse led Oesophageal Cell Collection Device services were rolled out across NHS Boards. To date, 11 Mainland Boards have active services with over 6,000 procedures d…

20 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to ensure that there is access to capsulesponge diagnostics for all who require this in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD) continues to support the roll out, and evaluation of the Oesophageal Cell Collection Device (CytoSponge) across Scotland.However, whilst Scottish Ministers are responsible for determining the strategic policy of the …

20 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding has been allocated to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in 2024-25 to utilise capsule sponge technologies; how much will be allocated in 2025-26, and how many people it expects will be able to access these technologies.

Answer · Neil Gray: From 2024-25, Boards have started to transition to business as usual for these tests and a small amount of funding was provided to support this transition. For NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde this equated to £36,450.The Budget we set out on 4 December 202…

16 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the article Infinite and Everywhere, which was published in August 2024 by These Islands, and the reported view that"renewables are a low return on capital business", that theyrepresent a different economic opportunity to oil and gas, and that "It isthe Union whic…

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government does not share this view.The returns to Scotland from renewables are substantial. For example, the Fraser of Allander Institute estimates that in 2021 Scotland’s renewable energy sectors and supply chain supported over £10.…

14 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will update section 19 of the Historic Environment (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2011 to increase the maximum fine for offences in relation to unauthorised works and listed building consent above the current maximum of £50,000, recognising the effect of inflation, and wheth…

Answer · Angus Robertson: The Scottish Government would advise that the question does not take into account section 8(4)(b) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997. While the summary conviction can carry a fine up to £50,000 the legislation …

14 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what areas of brain cancer research it allocated funding to in 2023-24, also broken down by the amount allocated to each area. 

Answer · Jenni Minto: Within the Scottish Government, funding of Health and Care Research comes under the remit of the Chief Scientist Office (CSO).CSO funds research projects via its Translational Clinical Studies (TCS) Committee and the Health Improvement, Protection and Service…

14 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made with the assessment of whether to include spinal muscular atrophy screening in health checks for newborns.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Scotland’s screening policy relies on recommendations from the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), an independent scientific body that provides advice on screening policy to all four UK nations. To date, the UK NSC has not recommended Spinal Muscu…

14 Jan 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains committed to dedicating 10% of frontline NHS spend to mental health and 1% to CAMHS.

8 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with (a) NHS National Services Scotland and (b) Community Pharmacy Scotland regarding the availability of the drug, naloxegol.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is aware that, since April 2024, there has been ongoing supply issues with the availability of naloxegol (Moventig®) tablets. On 25 April 2024, the Scottish Government issued a Medicines Supply Alert Notice to NHS Scotland on the a…

8 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the availability of (a) the drug, naloxegol, and (b) alternatives to this drug in the event of a shortage.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The supply of medicines is currently a reserved matter for the UK Government. We continue to engage with the UK Government’s Department of Health and Social Care on all medicines supply issues. The NHS in Scotland has robust processes in place to manage…

8 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is taking to improve access to urology services.

Answer · Neil Gray: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is maximising theatre access for all surgical specialties. The Health Board are also running additional waiting list sessions targeted at various surgical specialties, including urology.NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde North Secto…

7 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it had with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde regarding access to urology services over the 2024-25 Christmas and New Year period, and what the outcome of these discussions was.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government and the Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD) meet regularly with all Health Boards, including NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, to discuss the performance and delivery of all planned care specialities including urology.We have developed…

7 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to ensure emergency access to specialist medical services, including urology, over winter.

Answer · Neil Gray: There is no lack of emergency access to any specialty over winter.Our planning for this winter builds on the effective measures which have supported our health and social care services through previous years. However, we stand ready to take additional measure…

2 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which combined sewer overflows (CSOs) in Glasgow that have experienced an overflow event in the last six months are not planned investment priorities.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Combined sewer overflows are an essential part of the sewer system, protecting properties from flooding at times of intense rainfall by allowing highly diluted wastewater to spill to the water environment. CSOs must be licensed by SEPA, and any unsatisfactory…

2 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) combined sewer overflows (CSOs), (b) settled storm sewage overflows (SSSOs) and (c) emergency overflows (EOs) in Glasgow are currently monitored for overflow events, and what percentage this is of the total number. 

Answer · Gillian Martin: As published by Scottish Water on its website at https://www.scottishwater.co.uk/Your-Home/Your-Waste-Water/Overflows/Prioritisation-of-Sewer-Overflows-in-Scotland, there are some 4,080 CSOs on its network.Scottish Water publishes data on all monitored overfl…

30 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it holds time series data on the annual number of households and dwellings in Glasgow from the start of the 20th century to date.

Answer · Angus Robertson: I have asked Alison Byrne, Chief Executive of National Records of Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:Annual estimates of households and dwellings by local authority area are published by the National Records of Scotland. The statistics on househ…

30 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Ferguson Marine is prepared to bid to build two floating docks for the Royal Navy under the Additional Fleet Time Docking Capability (AFTDC) project, which aims to acquire two floating dry docks and associated infrastructure for submarine maintenance at HMNB Clyde (Faslane).

Answer · Kate Forbes: Ferguson Marine is responsible for its own commercial decision making, including which contract opportunities to pursue. The Scottish Government is working to support the business and secure a sustainable future given the importance of Ferguson Marine to the …

30 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any potential costs and benefits to the Scottish economy from its start-up investment in FanDual, and what lessons have been learnt from the reported subsequent loss of Scottish corporate control of FanDual to American private equity firms Shamrock and KKR.

Answer · Kate Forbes: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I have asked their Chief Executive, Adrian Gillespie, to contact you directly with a response.

30 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what return the Scottish Co-investment Fund has made on its initial investment in the country's first "unicorn" start-up, FanDual.

Answer · Kate Forbes: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I have asked their Chief Executive, Adrian Gillespie, to contact you directly with a response.

28 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will request that Network Rail replace the bridge height restriction signage on the railway bridge that carries the Glasgow–Edinburgh via Falkirk line over Hawthorn Street in Glasgow, in light of reports that the westbound sign is damaged and the eastbound sign is missin…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Transport Scotland have raised this matter with Glasgow City Council, who has responsibility for road signage on low bridges. Glasgow City Council has advised it will seek to instruct remedial work as soon as possible.

27 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its total Glasgow city centre office leasehold and freehold footprint has been in terms of (a) buildings occupied and (b) total square footage occupied in each of the last 10 years.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Details of Scottish Government's Glasgow city centre office accommodation, including the buildings occupied and the total area in square metres, over the last 10 years are as follows:YearBuildingNIA (Sq m)2014-155 Atlantic Quay7,223.72 Highlander House2,…

27 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of its lease of 5 Atlantic Quay at 150 Broomielaw after its owner, Singapore-based Elite Partners Capital’s UK Commercial Fund III, reportedly instructed JLL to seek offers over £20 million for the building in April 2024, and whether it has assesse…

Answer · Ivan McKee: In line with Ministerial priorities in the current challenging fiscal context, officials are always considering options and opportunities for Scottish Government's estate that make the best possible use of our existing assets and deliver value for money. The …

27 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported comments from Stuart Patrick, chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, that the Scottish Government should “either support one or two flights to North America from Glasgow or stop doing route development funding altogether” and that…

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of Scotland’s international connectivity and we want to see it grow at all Scotland’s airports.Our Aviation Statement commits to working with Scotland’s airports and airlines to help grow con…

20 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made with the second phase of the Glasgow Queen Street railway station redevelopment at the former car park adjacent to North Hanover Street.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Funding for the redevelopment of the North Hanover Street car park site was withdrawn after a review of priorities following the Capital Spending Review in 2020. Network Rail was tasked at that time with sourcing alternative funding and a consideration of opt…