Parliamentary questions

Paul Sweeney

1,340 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

17 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many of the affordable homes currently being built are (a) within walking distance of local services and amenities, and (b) accessible by public transport.

Answer · Shona Robison: Scottish Government requires local authorities to assess, set out and monitor delivery against affordable housing priorities through Local Housing Strategy and Strategic Housing Investment Plans, which should be available on the relevant local authority websi…

8 Jun 2022 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the delivery of the missions of the Scottish National Investment Bank.

1 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the #LiveableNHSBursary campaign led by medical students, which includes calls for access to full maintenance loans for medical students in line with other professional healthcare courses, access to the NHS Learning Support Fund for medical students and a review o…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The #LiveableNHSBursary campaign is focused on the situation faced by latter years medical students studying in England which is something we are unable to comment on. Scottish domiciled medical students are eligible for the standard student support package w…

25 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update regarding the proposals to allow Ukrainian refugees settling in Scotland access to study at Scottish universities free of charge, with access to living cost support.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Ukrainians who arrive in Scotland and wish to undertake a course of study in Further or Higher Education will be entitled to home tuition fee status, free tuition and living cost support for the duration of their studies. This entitlement has been enshrined i…

24 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) hernia and (b) rectopexy mesh surgery procedures have been performed in each of the last 10 years.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: In the period between 2012 and 2021 there have been 72,683 hernia mesh repairs. Rectopexy mesh analysis is not currently produced. Public Health Scotland are in the process of developing the correct codes to use for future analysis.

18 May 2022 · Written Question

Answer · Angus Robertson: In 2019, there were 191 unexplained deaths. In 2020, there were 202 unexplained deaths. This information is published annually in the Vital Events Reference Tables published by National Records of Scotland. Data for 2019 and 2020 can be found in table 6.01 h…

17 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the current policy is for women over 70 to be able to access breast screening appointments; what the justification is for any decision to stop regular access to breast screening for this age group, and what consideration it will give to improving access to breast screening for this …

Answer · Maree Todd: We have followed the recommendation of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), an independent scientific body that advises all four UK nations on screening, that women between the ages of 50 and 70 should be invited for three yearly routine breast scree…

12 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the detailed maps of route options for the proposed Clyde Metro that have reportedly been presented as advice to ministers.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Detailed maps on Clyde Metro have not been produced or presented to Scottish Ministers. Indicative maps were presented to Scottish Ministers as part of discussions on STPR2 in the lead up to the publication of draft recommendations in January 2022. The level …

11 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered providing additional support for care homes to prevent closures as a result of the cost of living crisis.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government is aware of the pressures impacting on all sectors. The National Care Home Contract determines the rates paid for residential care by Local Authorities. This is negotiated annually by COSLA, Scottish Care and Scotland Excel, the Scott…

4 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support it will make available for NHS dentists, in light of reported concerns from the British Dental Association that many practices are likely to reduce their NHS commitment.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government has delivered record investment into NHS dental services with a 9 per cent increase in the budget for NHS dental services in 2022-23. From April, we have introduced revised payment arrangements which reward NHS dental teams according …

25 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on whether it plans to provide Care and Repair with further funding, in addition to the £500,000 previously committed, to support older and vulnerable people to upgrade their fire alarms in line with new regulations, in light of reports that some people …

Answer · Shona Robison: In order to support older and disabled people in meeting this new legislation, we have provided a total of £1.1 million in 2021-22 to Care and Repair Scotland. We also provided £1 million to SFRS for their Home Fire Safety visits to help those most vulnerabl…

22 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to increase awareness of the Warmer Homes Scotland scheme, in light of the cost of living crisis.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government recognises the acute pressure that is felt by people due to the cost of living crisis and will be pulling forward planned marketing activity to promote the advice and support that is in place for them. The Scottish Government directs …

22 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what alternative support will be available to people whose residence is not in a council tax band that qualifies for a council tax rebate.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government is providing the £150 Cost of Living award to every household in receipt of a reduction under the Council Tax Reduction (CTR) scheme, across council tax bands A to H; and to all households in council tax bands A to D who are not receiv…

22 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what specific support it will provide to help people with their energy bills (a) in general and (b) for those whose residence is not in a council tax band that qualifies for the council tax rebate.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government is providing a £150 cost of living award to all those receiving a reduction under the Council Tax Reduction scheme, regardless of their council tax band, as well as to all households living in properties in Bands A - D, which means thi…

22 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how people with no digital or internet access can use ScotRail's half-price train ticket scheme.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Anyone with no digital or internet access can benefit from ScotRail’s half price ticket offer by phone via 0344 811 0153. The number to call has been publicised by ScotRail from 9 May to enable customers to book their discounted Off-Peak tickets between 9 an…

20 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that new housing developments currently under construction in Dalmarnock, which are reportedly partially funded by the Scottish Government, are not being connected to the new Dalmarnock District Heating Network developed by Clyde Gateway or to the legacy C…

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government Heat in Buildings Strategy was published in October 2021 and aligns with wider Scottish Government policy on housing, energy and climate change; the actions it sets out are reflected in our Housing to 2040 Strategy. In February this ye…

20 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider making the provision of supporting evidence from an accredited specialist conservation architect or conservation architect accredited and registered by a suitable body, such as the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS), Royal Institute of British A…

Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-07951 on 20 April 2022. 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-committee…

20 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to scale the proof-of-concept Queens Quay Heat Pump scheme in Clydebank, which uses water source Neatpumps designed and manufactured by the Glasgow-based engineering company, Star Refrigeration, into a repeatable, modular model for a national programme of district heat n…

Answer · Patrick Harvie: Heat networks have an important role to play in meeting the targets set out in our Heat in Buildings Strategy, including contributing to ensuring that at least 1 million homes and the equivalent of 50,000 non-domestic buildings are connected to zero emission …

20 Apr 2022 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address the reported increase in levels of violence and antisocial behaviour in Glasgow city centre.

19 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider a non-domestic rates exemption for properties that are owned by local authorities and arm's-length external organisations (ALEOs) that are related to local authorities, which could allow ALEO assets to be brought back in-house without the risk of non-domestic rat…

Answer · Tom Arthur: The independent Barclay Review of Non-Domestic Rates acknowledged that exemption - where types of property are exempt from rating – is not the best way to affect non-domestic rates liabilities. The review highlighted that where properties are not valued and d…

13 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that foster carers across Scotland are paid the real Living Wage, and that their wage is adjusted in line with inflation.

Answer · Clare Haughey: Foster carers are classed as self-employed and, therefore, receive payments in the form of foster carer fees and allowances. Responsibility for paying and setting levels of both foster carer fees and foster care allowances - along with consideration of any ad…

13 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will encourage Glasgow City Council to consider an uplift in foster carers allowance to bring it in line with inflation.

Answer · Clare Haughey: Responsibility for financial support to foster carers registered with Glasgow City Council is a matter for Glasgow City Council. Consideration of any uplift in their foster carer’s allowances to bring them in line with inflation is a matter for the local auth…

13 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that foster carers in Glasgow have not received a pay increase since 2009; what its position is on whether this can be considered fair pay, and, if it considers this is not the case, what steps it can take to address the matter.

Answer · Clare Haughey: Responsibility for providing financial support to foster carers registered with Glasgow City Council is a matter for Glasgow City Council. Any concerns about levels of foster carer fees or foster care allowances should be addressed directly to them. The Scot…

13 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will encourage Glasgow City Council to introduce an annual and consistent increase in foster carers allowance.

Answer · Clare Haughey: Responsibility for financial support to foster carers registered with Glasgow City Council is a matter for Glasgow City Council. Consideration of the introduction of an annual and consistent increase is a matter for them to consider.

6 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to protect high growth potential firms in strategic sectors from overseas takeovers.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The powers required to legislate in respect of company acquisition and ownership are reserved to the UK Parliament and, as such, the Scottish Government does not have the power to take action in this area. In addition recent legislative change in the UK via t…

6 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it undertakes of the public interest of overseas takeovers of companies based in Scotland.

6 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support the (a) growth and (b) retention of medical research spin-out companies in Scotland.

Answer · Ivan McKee: (a) The National Strategy for Economic Transformation puts a clear focus on growing new companies. Scotland aims to be a nation of entrepreneurs and innovators, with resilient supply chains and competitive advantages in the new industries generated by technol…

6 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with medical research charities and researchers they fund in Scotland to support the creation of spin-out companies from their research.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Charities are a major funder of medical research and development in Scotland, with investment estimated to be worth £122m in 2018 (Fraser of Allander report 2022). Scotland is a global centre of excellence for clinical research and there are a number of organ…

4 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce a formal requirement in planning (a) policy and (b) guidance that all applications for listed building consent to a planning authority should include supporting evidence from (i) an accredited specialist conservation architect or conservation architect registere…

Answer · Neil Gray: Listed building consent applications are made to and dealt with by the relevant local planning authority, unless a specific direction is issued for the decision to be made directly by Ministers. In order to add a formal requirement for any specific supporting…

18 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the 2020 Cumberford-Little Report, One Tertiary System: Agile, Collaborative, Inclusive, and what, if any, workstreams it is developing to progress the recommendations in the report.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: In recognition of the scale of the existing shock of the pandemic and of the need to consider existing models of funding, governance, collaboration and delivery, the Deputy First Minister and the then Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Scien…