Parliamentary questions
Paul Sweeney
1,340 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
4 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17169 by Neil Gray on 4 May 2023, whether it will engage directly with Liberty Steel on the potential development of an Electric Arc Furnace at (a) Dalzell and (b) Clydebridge steel works as the basis for a strategic, national, green steel-making ca…
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government maintains an open dialogue with Liberty Steel and meets with them regularly. The question of whether or not to install additional equipment at the Dalzell or Clydebridge facilities is an operational matter for Liberty Steel. From rece…
2 May 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the delivery of the Scottish Welfare Fund.
28 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the provisions in the Heritage Railways and Tramways (Voluntary Work) Bill, introduced in the UK Parliament, if passed, will have an effect in Scotland, and, if they will not, whether it will consider introducing equivalent legislation in Scotland.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: I note that the Heritage Railways and Tramways (Voluntary Work) Bill is going through the UK Parliamentary process. Railway Safety legislation is reserved to the UK Parliament, and would be expected to apply in Scotland. The Scottish Government considers it …
28 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17014 by Neil Gray on 28 April 2023, whether the Clydebridge Steelworks site in Cambuslang remains an operational asset of Liberty Steel Group Holdings UK Ltd for the manufacture of quenched and tempered steel plate; how many people are currently em…
Answer · Neil Gray: I understand, from recent communication with Liberty Steel UK, that the Clydebridge Steelworks site in Cambuslang is not currently operational. The future of the site is an operational matter for Liberty Steel and I further understand that a number of options…
27 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when a final decision will be taken regarding funding allocation for student mental health counsellors for the next academic year.
Answer · Graeme Dey: We have made significant investment to introduce more than 80 extra counsellors across institutions and have committed funding to maintain support through to the end of this academic year. No decision has yet been taken with regard to funding beyond the curr…
24 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what progress it has made towards delivering the Bute House Agreement commitment to develop a long-term mental health workforce plan.
Answer · Maree Todd: A programme of stakeholder engagement has taken place to develop our strategic approach to workforce planning for mental health and wellbeing. Our strategic approach, which will align with the Health and Social Care: National Workforce Strategy published Marc…
24 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has allocated to mental health services, as a percentage of frontline spend, this parliamentary session, broken down by financial year.
Answer · Maree Todd: Net mental health expenditure is published on the Public Health Scotland website Scottish health service costs under data files mental health expenditure Excel workbook . This information is available for financial years 2011-12 to 2021-22 for each NHS Bo…
24 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has allocated to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), as a percentage of frontline spend, this parliamentary session, broken down by financial year.
Answer · Maree Todd: Net mental health expenditure is published on the Public Health Scotland website Scottish health service costs under data files mental health expenditure Excel workbook . This information is available for financial years 2011-12 to 2021-22 for each NHS Bo…
24 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to raise awareness of mental health and wellbeing issues in schools and colleges.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The mental health and wellbeing of children and young people is an absolute priority for the Scottish Government and we continue to prioritise support for mental health and wellbeing in schools. We support our local authority partners with £16 million in fun…
24 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made towards delivering the Bute House Agreement commitment to embed the NHS Education Scotland mental health knowledge and skills framework to support the training of all staff working with children and young people.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government continues to invest in a range of mental health and wellbeing training and education materials to support all staff working with children and young people. This includes the NHS Education Scotland (NES) Children and Young People's Men…
21 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the additional £15 million funding for the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund will be allocated, and when it expects to have reached a final decision on which community organisations will be awarded grants from the fund.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults is distributed through by Third Sector Interfaces (TSI) across all regions of Scotland, who deliver the Fund locally to grassroots community organisations, in partnership with others including Health…
20 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to support local authorities to promote and deliver the Scottish Welfare Fund in order to support low-income families, as recommended in the Poverty Alliance report, “It’s hard work being poor” Women’s Experiences of the Cost-of-Living Crisis in Scotland.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government sets Statutory Guidance for the Scottish Welfare Fund, outlining the responsibilities for Local Authorities in their administration of the Fund and making clear guidance available on how to apply for a grant. Local Authorities are requ…
20 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to establish a Centre of Excellence for brain tumour research in Scotland, in line with the existing network of four such centres in England.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Charity Brain Tumour Research currently funds five Centres of Excellence for Brain Tumour Research (at the Institute for Cancer Research in Surrey, the University of Plymouth, Queen Mary University London, Imperial College London, and the University of Po…
20 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde regarding the redevelopment of the Institute of Neurological Sciences in Glasgow.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government meet weekly with the team at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to discuss their capital investment plans, including redevelopment of the Institute of Neurological Sciences in Glasgow.
20 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider the redevelopment of the Institute of Neurological Sciences in Glasgow as an opportunity to establish a Centre of Excellence for brain tumour research in Scotland.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government meet weekly with the team at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to discuss their capital investment plans, including redevelopment of the Institute of Neurological Sciences in Glasgow. The Scottish Government would be happy to discuss with …
20 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) regarding financial support to permanently extend the daily operating hours of the Glasgow Subway once the full modernisation programme has been completed, including the installation of Platform Screen Doors (PS…
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) is the owner and operator of Glasgow Subway and they are responsible for decisions and funding for subway operations. The Scottish Government is providing up to £246 million to SPT, towards the estimated total proj…
20 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the University of Strathclyde regarding the future development of the Technology and Innovation Zone at the campus, in light of reports that the procurement procedure for the design and construction of the planned Technology and Innovation Centre (TIC) Ea…
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government has not held discussions with the University of Strathclyde regarding the procurement procedure for the design and construction of the planned Technology and Innovation Centre (TIC) East and West Buildings. Procurement matters are the…
18 Apr 2023 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average waiting time is for neurology patients who are seeking an appointment with a physiotherapist.
16 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any competitive commercial advantage that the port facilities on the River Forth may now have, relative to those on the River Clyde, as a result of the establishment of the Forth Green Freeport.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: As part of the Green Freeports bidding process, bidders were required to outline how their choice of tax site locations would minimise displacement of economic activity from wider areas, especially other economically disadvantaged areas. This was given close …
16 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has a development plan to grow shipping traffic and cargo tonnage handled by port facilities on the River Clyde and Firth of Clyde, and, if so, whether it will publish any such plan.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government have hosted a number of stakeholder meetings to explore options to help facilitate a growth of shipping traffic and cargo across ports in Scotland. Scottish Government Trade and Transport Scotland officials are working closely with in…
11 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will request that the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service initiate an options appraisal and consultation on the potential disposal of the large surface car park to the south of Glasgow Sheriff Court, or selling the air rights above it while retaining a car parking facility, …
Answer · Angela Constance: The management of the court estate is an operational matter for the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service. The car park to the south of Glasgow Sheriff Court is considered an essential part of the SCTS estate.
6 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that Liberty Steel has secured a A$50 million (US$33.6 million) government grant to partially fund the installation of a new low-carbon Q-One Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) from Italian equipment manufacturer, Danieli, which is reported to require a capital in…
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government is aware of the recent announcement by Liberty Steel that it is to install a new Electric Arc Furnace at its Whyalla plant in South Australia. We applaud Liberty Steel’s commitment to its global decarbonisation strategy which aims to …
6 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the Scottish Training Federation has warned that thousands of young people across Scotland have been “left in limbo” as no new modern apprenticeships will be available “for the foreseeable future”, as a result of delays in Scottish Government funding …
Answer · Graeme Dey: Modern Apprenticeships are a vital resource for employers to invest in their workforce and for people to develop their skills. Investing in skills across people’s lifetimes is critical to our future productivity and success, underlining our commitment to a sk…
3 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the Edinburgh-headquartered, FTSE 250-listed company, Capricorn Energy, may reduce its UK workforce by 75% to approximately 40 staff, which would involve 120 redundancies.
Answer · Neil Gray: In the unfortunate event of any employees facing redundancy, the Scottish Government will always offer and provide support through our initiative for responding to redundancy situations, Partnership Action for Continuing Employment, PACE. Through providing s…
3 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had any engagement with Liberty Steel Group Holdings UK Ltd regarding the reported concerns of dilapidation and vandalism affecting its Clydebridge Steelworks site in Cambuslang.
Answer · Neil Gray: I can confirm that the Scottish Government regularly engage with Liberty Steel Group Holdings UK Ltd regarding their operations. We are aware that last year there were instances of break-ins occurring at the Clydebridge site which were reported to the police…
30 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress Ferguson Marine has made on implementing the recommendations of the operational benchmarking report that was undertaken by First Marine International (FMI) in 2021, and what investment it has committed to support this.
Answer · Neil Gray: The 2021 benchmarking report by First Marine International was commissioned by Ferguson Marine and any response to its recommendations would be an operational matter for the shipyard. The Scottish Government, in addition commissioned an FMI productivity repor…
30 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider mandating the Scottish National Investment Bank to create a refund guarantee product for shipbuilding contracts undertaken by shipbuilding companies with operations in Scotland, in a similar manner to other state investment banks.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Bank is guided by the missions set for it by Scottish Ministers and makes independent decisions in line with their Investment Strategy. The Scottish Government is not currently considering mandating the creation of any refund guarantee products by the Sco…
29 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve the safety of white collar boxing events in Scotland, and whether it has considered proposals for all unlicensed white collar boxing events to comply with Boxing Scotland’s minimum criteria for such events.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government places great importance on the safety, wellbeing and welfare of everyone taking part in sport. We have met with Boxing Scotland to discuss their proposals around minimum criteria for white collar boxing events. It is the responsibili…
29 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the social impact of grassroots boxing clubs in local communities, and, if none, whether it will consider undertaking research to measure any such impact.
Answer · Maree Todd: While the Scottish Government has not undertaken any assessment of the social impact of grassroots boxing we recognise that boxing as a sport is continuing to break down barriers. The wide reach of boxing related projects continues to grow with a lasting and …
29 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the financial viability of community boxing clubs in Scotland, and what steps it will take to prevent clubs from closing due to increased running and utilities costs in the next financial year.
Answer · Maree Todd: While the Scottish Government has not undertaken any assessment of the financial viability of community boxing clubs, we recognise their importance to the overall physical, mental and social health of communities across Scotland. sport scotland investment in…