Paul Sweeney

27 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported Glasgow City Region City Deal funding for the Windmillcroft Quay restoration project, what steps are being taken to establish a continuous public promenade along the south bank of the River Clyde from Windmillcroft Quay to Pacific Quay, in order to address the a…

Answer · Ivan McKee: Regional partners have confirmed the initiation of the procurement process for planned work at Windmillcroft Quay, on the south bank of the Clyde at Tradeston. The £50 million allocated via the Glasgow City Region Deal will secure the integrity of the Clyde w…

27 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many local authorities have received funding in the last six months to provide free (a) bus passes and (b) rail cards to people seeking asylum.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government has not provided funding to local authorities in the last six months to provide free bus passes or rail cards to people seeking asylum and does not hold information on whether local authorities have received funding from elsewhere. Ho…

26 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether mental health professionals within the NHS are trained to identify pressures of financial strain in patients and signpost to money advice services if appropriate.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: As part of a person-centred assessment, Mental Health professionals (e.g. mental health nurses, psychiatrists and psychologists) working in the NHS are skilled in discussing a wide range of factors that may impact a person’s mental health and wellbeing. This …

26 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting any students living in Scotland who are facing food insecurity.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: We are taking all the action we can to help students overcome the issues they face through the cost of living crisis, including food insecurity. No one should have to compromise on food or other essentials. We are supporting students directly by providing £1…

26 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support mental health services in (a) NHS boards and (b) the third sector in mitigating any detrimental impact of the cost of living crisis upon mental wellbeing.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: We know that poverty is a key driver of poor mental health, and that those already struggling with poor mental health and money worries are likely to be amongst the hardest hit. It is vital, therefore, that people can access the right practical advice and su…

26 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it undertakes any mental health and wellbeing impact assessments in formulating new policy, and, if this is not the case, whether it will consider creating a mental health impact assessment tool, as recommended by the Mental Health Foundation.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: We do not currently routinely require formal mental health and wellbeing impact assessments. However, we expect that careful consideration of any effects on mental health is a feature of the formulation of all new Government policy; and link across directorat…

26 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether NHS 111 staff are trained to identify pressures of financial strain in callers and signpost to money advice services if appropriate.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Many of the calls received at the Mental Health Hub, via the NHS 24 111 line, are driven by a range of complex and interrelated social factors, including financial worries. Callers to the Hub are connected to a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP), a s…

19 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to generate a green steelmaking capability in Scotland with electric arc furnaces using (a) scrap steel or (b) direct reduced iron (DRI) as the main feed materials.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government commissioned independent research into the steel sector in Scotland: this included consideration of the scope for Electric Arc Furnaces in Scotland. This report is available to read online and can be found here . There will be oppo…

19 Jan 2023 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) how it works with Capital Credit Union to promote any benefits of credit union membership to (a) SPCB and (b) MSP staff.

Answer · Jackson Carlaw : The SPCB is pleased to be able to confirm that it is a member of Capital Credit Union. SPCB staff and staff employed by MSPs are reminded that they can make regular monthly deposits into their savings account directly through payroll and a link to the Capital…

17 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to co-ordinate a whole-government approach to tackling health inequalities, as referred to by the recent Health, Social Care and Sport Committee report, Tackling health inequalities in Scotland, and The Health Foundation report, The state of health and health inequalities in…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: We recognise the need for a whole-government approach if we are to drive forward progress in reducing health inequalities. The government is already involved in proactive, cross-portfolio discussions on what a ‘whole of government’ preventative approach mig…

17 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Health Foundation report, The state of health and health inequalities in Scotland.

Answer · Maree Todd: We welcome this report which confirms that persistent inequalities can be attributed to the accumulation of disadvantage, a stagnation in wages and living standards, and the impact of austerity on public services. That is why we are using all the powers and …

17 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase male participation rates in higher education, in light of reports that poorer health outcomes for men are compounded by reduced earnings potential.  

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: This Government firmly believes that every child growing up in Scotland, regardless of their background or gender, should have an equal chance of attending university and participating in higher education. To date we have made progress on work to support fai…

12 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, following the publication of the final report of the Independent Oversight and Assurance Group on Tayside's Mental Health Services, Trust and Respect, how it will ensure that Tayside Mental Health Services has the resource it needs to further improve the delivery of the recommendations …

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government will continue to support sustainable change and improvements in Tayside, to ensure the safe and effective delivery of mental health services. To ensure that Tayside Mental Health Services have the resources needed to deliver on the re…

12 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to support Tayside Mental Health Services with staff support and retention, in light of the suggestion in the final report of the Independent Oversight and Assurance Group on Tayside's Mental Health Services, that workers need resource, support and leadership.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government is committed to continuing to work with partners across Tayside to support sustainable change, which ensures the safe and effective delivery of mental health services. It is crucial that, as the workforce responds to additional pressu…

11 Jan 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what economic analysis it considered prior to awarding ferry contracts reportedly worth £115 million to a shipyard in Turkey.  

9 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is, regarding any impact in Scotland, on the role that increases in alcohol duty play as a public health measure to reduce alcohol-related harms.

Answer · Maree Todd: Alcohol duty is reserved to the UK Government. The Scottish Government would strongly recommend that the UK Government considers public health as part of any review to alcohol duty. The Scottish Government believes that the stronger the beverage, the higher…

9 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact in Scotland of the UK Government’s decision to extend the freeze on alcohol duty rates until 1 August 2023.

Answer · John Swinney: Alcohol duty is a reserved tax which is set and administered by the UK Government. We are not aware of the UK Government having made any assessment of the impact of the extended six-month freeze on alcohol duty on Devolved Administrations, nor did they consul…

9 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on alcohol-related harms and other public health impacts in Scotland of alcohol duty freezes.

Answer · Maree Todd: Alcohol duty is reserved to the UK Government. The Scottish Government would strongly recommend that the UK Government considers public health as part of any review to alcohol duty. We have made no assessment of the impact of the six-month freeze on alcohol…

4 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will actively engage with Aberdeen-based North Star Shipping, which has reportedly secured $172.2 million of financing and loan support to begin the next phase of its plan to build 40 Service Operation Vessels, in order to ensure that this long-term ship design and build oppor…

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government is supportive to the shipbuilding industry which has strategic importance to Scotland’s economy and its wider manufacturing base; and we actively engage with the industry, both with individual companies through our enterprise and skill…

4 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will assess the potential of piloting a VAT offset or rebate scheme in Scotland that is focused initially on properties listed on the Buildings at Risk Register maintained by Historic Environment Scotland, in order to test its efficacy as an incentive to promote retrofit, reno…

Answer · Neil Gray: Setting VAT rates is reserved to the UK Government, and remains a decision for HM Treasury. This issue affects heritage properties across all four nations of the UK and provides an opportunity for the UK Government to respond proactively to the global climate…

23 Dec 2022 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will consider allowing members of the public to request to have a loved one's 100th birthday recognised through a greetings card sent on behalf of the Scottish Parliament in situations where the recipient's contribution to Scottish public life is considered s…

Answer · Christine Grahame: The SPCB notes that members of the public can currently request a loved one’s 100th birthday to be recognised by the King and Queen Consort and it does not currently have any plans to facilitate requests for cards to be sent on behalf of the Scottish Parliame…

23 Dec 2022 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will consider sending greetings cards on behalf of the Scottish Parliament to residents of Scotland who are due to celebrate their 100th birthday.

Answer · Christine Grahame: The SPCB notes that the UK Government currently facilitates a birthday message to be sent from the King and Queen Consort to mark a person’s 100th birthday and currently it does not have any plans to send cards on behalf of the Scottish Parliament. 

22 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to include all ethnic minority groups in the Interim Governance Group to Develop National Anti-Racist Infrastructure.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: The Scottish Government is using a range of interventions across its policies to advance the Race Equality Framework and human rights for all minority ethnic groups, one of which is the Interim Governance Group. The Interim Governance Group is a short-life w…

22 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether critical race theory is government policy with regards to issues under the remit of the Minister for Equalities and Older People.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: The Scottish Government recognises that outcomes are not uniform across all communities, and effective interventions need to take specific experiences into account. This understanding must be evidence based and we are clear that a “one size fits all” singular…

19 Dec 2022 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what progress the Scottish Government has made in ending the use of hotels as temporary accommodation for children and families.

13 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the IMAX Theatre at Glasgow Science Centre is within the scope of the £5.5 million roof repair works currently being undertaken to replace the defective external cladding system at the facility.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Glasgow Science Centre (GSC) is owned by the GSC Charitable Trust, a wholly owned subsidiary of Scottish Enterprise (SE). The Scottish Government is providing £5.5 million to SE to cover refurbishment work to GSC’s main buildings. A further £800,000 has b…

13 Dec 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Scottish Housing Regulator regarding the future of community housing associations.  

8 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the current composition is of the ScotRail Trains Limited train operating company fleet in terms of ownership by third-party rolling stock companies.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: All of the ScotRail Trains Ltd fleet is owned by third party rolling stock leasing companies. Public ownership of ScotRail provides Transport Scotland with the opportunity for the previous approach to rolling stock procurement to be reviewed.

8 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Prison Service will provide a report on the current structural condition of A, B, C, D and E accommodation halls at HMP Barlinnie in Glasgow.

Answer · Keith Brown: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: SPS do not currently hold this type of report and is not aware of any structural issues affecting these accommodation halls.

7 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps Scottish Water is taking to address any dilapidated structural condition of the category B listed Partick Sewage Pumping Station at 35 Dumbarton Road, Glasgow.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Scottish Water has completed some works to the front facia elevation of the building and the dome structure as well as some minor roof repairs and replacement of downpipe and guttering. There have also been repairs made to replace vandalised windows. Scottish…