Parliamentary questions
Paul Sweeney
1,340 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
28 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve people’s confidence in accessing mental health support, in light of recent research from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, which reportedly found that 53% of people surveyed were not confident that they or a family member could access mental health su…
Answer · Maree Todd: The survey by the Royal College of Psychiatrists describes some of the issues with current mental health service provision that we are working hard to improve. The recent Audit Scotland report concluded that our new Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy "recog…
26 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what steps it is taking to reduce waiting times for dental surgery.
Answer · Jenni Minto: In recognition of long waiting times for dental surgery which have been exacerbated due to the pandemic, the Scottish Government published the NHS Recovery Plan in August 2021. The £1 billion backed plan will support an increase in outpatient and inpatient …
26 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people are currently participating in the Enhanced Drug Treatment Service in Glasgow.
Answer · Elena Whitham: To date 32 different people have been prescribed diamorphine in this service since it started in 2019. Currently 25 people attend the service with 23 on active injecting plans. The Chief Scientist Office published an evaluation of the facility in conjunction…
22 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action VisitScotland has taken to secure UK and international conferences for Glasgow in each of the last seven years, since the closure of the Glasgow City Marketing Bureau.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: We recognise the importance of Glasgow and the Scottish Events Campus as one of the world’s top conference and events venues. It is clear that Glasgow and the SEC make a vital contribution not just to the local economy, but to Scotland’s economy as a whole. …
21 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there are no National Galleries of Scotland or National Museums Scotland buildings in Glasgow.
Answer · Christina McKelvie: Decisions on where to locate their premises is an operational matter for National Museums Scotland, the National Galleries of Scotland and their Boards of Trustees. Both collections are committed to the important work that they do with local communities acro…
21 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-21255 by Neil Gray on 21 September 2023, what it is doing to grow the number of manufacturing jobs.
Answer · Neil Gray: A strong manufacturing sector with more jobs will be central to the successful delivery of our 10 year National Strategy for Economic Transformation. The Making Scotland’s Future Programme, which is focused on strengthening and diversifying Scotland’s manufa…
20 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that the (a) intellectual property and (b) industrial manufacturing supply chain development of the PALM-ALT research breakthrough at Queen Margaret University is retained in Scotland.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government works closely with the university sector to ensure that we secure economic advantage from innovative research. Our recently published Innovation Strategy highlighted work to deliver a step change in the commercialisation of this resear…
15 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will undertake a negotiation to construct electric arc furnaces at Clydebridge Steelworks, in light of the £500 million public investment package announced by the UK Government for the installation of electric arc furnaces to enable green steelmaking at Port Talbot steelworks …
Answer · Neil Gray: I refer to recent answers regarding the Clydebridge site in Cambuslang, in particular my answers to written questions S6W-17169 on 4 May 2023 and S6W-17708 on 16 May 2023. The Clydebridge site is not currently operational and no staff are currently employed …
14 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to ensure that foster carers (a) are paid a Living Wage, adjusted in line with inflation and (b) in Glasgow receive a fair pay increase, and whether it will encourage Glasgow City Council to (i) consider an uplift of foster carers allowance to bring it in line wit…
Answer · Natalie Don: Foster carers are classed as self-employed and, therefore, receive payments in the form of foster carer allowances and fees. Responsibility for providing financial support to foster carers registered with Glasgow City Council is a matter for Glasgow City Coun…
14 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many data centres across all sectors are (a) in operation (b) under development in Scotland.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: There are currently 10 commercial datacentres in Scotland that offer a wide range of data hosting services to both public and private sector organisations. In addition there are datacentres built by private sector companies including banks to service their r…
14 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will replicate the Welsh Emerging Drugs and Identification of Novel Substances Project (WEDINOS) in Scotland.
Answer · Elena Whitham: Plans to pilot drug checking facilities are being developed in Dundee, Aberdeen and Glasgow following a research project funded through the Drug Deaths Taskforce. The research work, carried out by Stirling University, highlighted the need for a national hub …
14 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of Glasgow City Council solicitors stating that the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has "not been accepting planning prosecutions in recent years", what information it has on whether this is true, and, if it is true, what its position is on whether this ha…
Answer · Dorothy Bain: The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service will give careful consideration to any reports of alleged criminal conduct which are submitted by the police, or any specialist reporting agency. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has no policy wher…
13 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to implementing the recommendation in the recent Audit Scotland report, Adult mental health, for it to publish a costed delivery plan, as soon as possible, setting out the funding and workforce needed to establish and accommodate primary care mental health and well…
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government thanks Audit Scotland for a thorough, clear and wide-ranging report on Adult Mental Health Services in Scotland. Ministers recognise how closely some of the content of the report mirrors our vision, outcomes and priorities that we set …
13 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to implementing the recommendation in the recent Audit Scotland report, Adult mental health, for it to publish its guidance on measuring and evaluating outcomes from mental health and wellbeing services in primary care before the end of 2023.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government thanks Audit Scotland for a thorough, clear and wide-ranging report on Adult Mental Health Services in Scotland. Ministers recognise how closely some of the content of the report mirrors our vision, outcomes and priorities that we set …
13 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent Audit Scotland report, Adult mental health.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government thanks Audit Scotland for a thorough, clear and wide-ranging report on Adult Mental Health Services in Scotland. Ministers recognise how closely some of the content of the report mirrors our vision, outcomes and priorities that we set …
13 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve monitoring of the quality and outcome of adult mental health services, in light of the only published monitoring at present reportedly being psychological therapies waiting times.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government thanks Audit Scotland for a thorough, clear and wide-ranging report on Adult Mental Health Services in Scotland. Ministers recognise how closely some of the content of the report mirrors our vision, outcomes and priorities that we set …
13 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that every directorate in the Scottish Government considers the impact of any policies it develops on mental health.
Answer · Maree Todd: The new Mental Health & Wellbeing Strategy sets out our vision to improve mental health and wellbeing – including the role of other key areas such as poverty, housing, employment and our communities. The Strategy recognises that in order to address the wide-r…
13 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will support National Museums Scotland with approaching the City of Long Beach, California, regarding the potential acquisition of at least one of the original lifeboats from the RMS Queen Mary that were built by Hugh McLean & Sons Ltd, of Govan, Glasgow, for Scotland's nation…
Answer · Christina McKelvie: This is an operational matter for National Museums Scotland and the Board of Trustees. National Museums Scotland has advised officials that it is not looking to acquire one of the lifeboats from the RMS Queen Mary for the National Collection. NMS does not a…
12 Sep 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to support Glasgow’s museums and galleries.
9 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many manufacturing jobs were created in each of the last 10 years.
Answer · Neil Gray: Specific data on job creation is not collected. Over the past ten years, the estimated numbers of manufacturing jobs in Scotland, rounded to the nearest 1,000, were as follows: Year 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Total 184000 …
8 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to (a) the Rail Delivery Group, (b) Avanti West Coast and (c) the UK Department for Transport regarding the proposed closure of the Avanti West Coast ticket office in Glasgow Central Station.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-20943 on 26 September 2023 and, in addition, can advise that no representations have been made to the Rail Delivery Group. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's websi…
7 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the reasons why the number of active construction projects in Glasgow and Edinburgh is reportedly lagging behind that of every other major British city.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: There has been no specific assessment and it is important to note that these data only reflect Considerate Contractor members. Scottish Government monitor the market dynamics through our data dashboard which was developed by the Construction Leadership For…
7 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to take forward the recommendations made by the COVID-19 Recovery Committee in its letter to the Minister for Public Health and Women's Health on 5 July 2023 regarding its Recovery of NHS dental services inquiry, including the recommendation that "the Scottish Government pro…
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government remains committed to implementing NHS dental payment reform on 1 November 2023 which will retain independent dental practices as the mainstay of NHS provision. Payment reform will also continue to comprise fee-per-item, capitation and …
6 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported marketing for sale of the Clydebridge Steelworks by Liberty Steel, what it is doing to safeguard Clydebridge's future as a green steelmaking facility of strategic importance to the Scottish economy.
Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-17708 on 16 May 2023 The Clydebridge Steelworks site in Cambuslang is not currently operational and no staff are currently employed at the site. The future of the site is an operational matter for Liberty Steel…
6 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its engagement with the UK Government regarding whether there will be a third round of the Levelling Up Fund.
Answer · Neil Gray: We understand from regular contact with colleagues in UK Government that the third round of the Levelling Up Fund is in development however we have no further information or clarity on when or how the funds will be allocated. The Scottish Government maintain…
5 Sep 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the 2021 SNP manifesto commitment to expand on the community link worker programme.
5 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the most recent CAMHS waiting time statistics, for the quarter ending in June 2023, which reportedly demonstrate a decrease in the number of children and young people being seen within the 18-week waiting time target.
Answer · Maree Todd: The most recent CAMHS statistics show that the number of patients starting treatment within 18 weeks of referral did in fact increase in quarter ending June 2023, and in comparison with the same quarter the previous year. 3,760 children and young people (CYP…
5 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to increase the number of people starting psychological therapies within the 18-week target, following a reported decrease in the number of people being seen within that target window over the previous two quarters to March 2023.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government remains committed to supporting all Boards to meet the standard that 90% of patients start treatment within 18 weeks of referral. We continue to provide targeted, tailored support towards those Boards with the longest waits and poorest…
4 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the UK Senior Traffic Commissioner (a) prior to and (b) following the withdrawal of the proposed introduction of new voluntary guidelines to apply to the carriage of passengers to football matches in Scotland.
Answer · Maree Todd: I wrote directly to Richard Turfitt, the Senior Traffic Commissioner, on 6 September to set out our strong concerns with the proposed guidelines and to request any future proposals are developed with the full involvement of the Scottish Government and the Sco…
2 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish an inspection schedule for all NHS buildings that have still to be inspected for reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The schedule NHS Scotland buildings included in the on-site phase of the survey programme was submitted as part of the answer to question S6W-19366 on 21 July 2023 and was published on the NHS Scotland Assure website on the 15th September 2023: RAAC -List of…