Paul Sweeney

25 Jan 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will support the fishing industry to grow to meet any increased capacity within the catching and processing sectors.

21 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how venues impacted by the temporary Omicron restrictions can access the targeted funds allocated for culture and events, and what steps it can take to ensure that such venues in receipt of funding will fairly compensate employees with full back-dated pay for the wages lost while their w…

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government has announced £65 million of additional funding support for the culture and events sectors that were impacted by the additional Covid-19 restrictions introduced in December 2021. This is in addition to the £175m of emergency funding pr…

14 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding estimates of the number of people in the Glasgow region who have been affected by an underpayment of benefits after transitioning from incapacity benefit to employment and support allowance.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is reserved to the UK Government. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) publishes an estimate of ESA and other income-related benefits every six months, at a UK-wide level only. The latest figures published (cover…

13 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what documentation can be used by asylum seekers under the age of 22 to make an application under the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme if they do not have the documentation required for a Young Scot card.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme is being delivered through the National Entitlement Card (NEC) in the same way as the long standing Older and Disabled Persons’ Scheme. The Improvement Service is the accountable body for the NEC Scheme. People applyi…

11 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will assess the installation of soundproofing barriers along motorways located in urban areas (a) in general and (b) along the M8 between junctions 8 and 25, and what its position is on the reported proposal from Glasgow City Council to introduce a cap over the section of the …

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: As part of a Transportation Noise Action Plan, five soundproofing barriers were constructed in 2020 at priority areas for noise management. We are currently developing proposals for further barriers where practicable at noise management areas on the network. …

10 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what role it has in administering the UK Government’s Help to Buy ISA scheme in Scotland, and what (a) discussions it has had with the UK Government and (b) action it can take regarding reports that changes may be made to the access of scheme holders in Scotland to the 25% of their closi…

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has no functions in relation to the Help to Buy ISA

10 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the justification is for its guidance setting out a COVID-19 14-day self-isolation period for care home residents, and whether there are plans to change this guidance to specify a shorter period, similar to changes to guidance on self-isolation for the wider public.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: recognise how difficult self-isolation for 14 days has been for those who live in care homes and their loved ones. While self-isolation has been necessary for minimising the risk of Covid-19 transmission, I understand that restrictions on visiting during isol…

22 Dec 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it next plans to revise the Conditions of Eligibility for the Bus Service Operators Grant.

16 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider providing grants to support taxi drivers to upgrade their cars to sustainable, low-emissions vehicles.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government currently offers a number of funding schemes, through Transport Scotland, to support businesses (including taxi owners) make the shift to low and zero-emission vehicles. Applications for these funds can be made through the Energy Savin…

16 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it can take to support taxi operators and increase the availability of drivers and taxis in Glasgow.

Answer · Kate Forbes: We recognise the pandemic’s impact on the economy and businesses across a wide range of sectors. So far, the Scottish Government has provided £79.3 million directly to taxi and private hire drivers and operators in response to the pandemic. Further support of…

15 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether a presumption in planning policy against the demolition of existing buildings will be incorporated into National Planning Framework 4 in order to meet the carbon reduction measures that were agreed at COP26.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The draft National Planning Framework (NPF4) includes a strengthened planning policy position that seeks to proactively enable the reuse of vacant and derelict land and buildings and which notes that demolition should be regarded as the least preferred option…

13 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with (a) Mears and (b) local authorities to tackle the reported (i) digital exclusion and (b) poor Wi-Fi access experienced by individuals in asylum seeker accommodation.

Answer · Shona Robison: Asylum is reserved to the UK Parliament and handled by the Home Office. Provision of Wi-Fi is not included as a requirement in the Home Office asylum accommodation contract with Mears Group. Scottish Ministers have repeatedly pressed the Home Office to includ…

13 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the current legal status of the drug, Paxlovid, in Scotland; how much of the drug NHS Scotland has (a) ordered and (b) stocked; what models it is aware of regarding its efficacy in reducing hospitalisations of patients with the Omicron variant of COVID-19, and …

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government continues to closely monitor all emerging evidence on the effectiveness of COVID-19 treatments and their clinical effectiveness. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is now assessing Paxlovid’s safety and effe…

8 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support the integration of refugees and asylum seekers.

Answer · Shona Robison: Scotland is committed to supporting refugees, asylum seekers and our communities through the pioneering and collaborative approach of the New Scots refugee integration strategy. The New Scots strategy is built on partnership and collaboration, led by the Scot…

8 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve the inclusivity of public health communication, in light of the challenges experienced by asylum seekers and refugees in understanding such advice during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government has been working collaboratively with public and third sector partners to create and disseminate COVID-19-related information to asylum seekers and refugees in relevant languages and accessible formats. Given the fast-moving nature of …

8 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with (a) Mears and (b) local authorities to expedite the backlog of repairs in asylum seeker accommodation. 

Answer · Shona Robison: Asylum is reserved to the UK Parliament and handled by the Home Office. Asylum accommodation is delivered under Home Office contracts, with Mears Group holding the contract for Scotland. Responsibility under that contract includes meeting standards for undert…

7 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support public hire drivers in the taxi industry, and what action it is taking with local authorities to distinguish the nature and needs of private hire and public hire taxis in the sector.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government has engaged extensively with local authorities and with a number of organisations representing the taxi sector including Unite the Union, the App Drivers and Couriers Union, the Scottish Association of Private Hire Operator and the Sco…

3 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the proposed timescale is for the commencement of works on the site of the former car park to the east of Glasgow Queen Street Station to build a new North Hanover Street entrance and podium building for operational and passenger facilities, including retail, and what the expected d…

Answer · Graeme Dey: In the summer of 2020, the Scottish Government undertook a Capital Spending Review of its capital budgets against the backdrop of Covid-19, which necessitated a review of rail enhancements priorities. Following the 2020 review, amid significant financial pre…

3 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the anticipated timescale is for the electrification of the Maryhill railway line in Glasgow.

Answer · Graeme Dey: Our Rail Decarbonisation Action Plan requires a rolling programme of electrification to meet its target date of 2035. We continue to make good progress, including the current electrification work on the Barrhead and East Kilbride routes. Early development wor…

29 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will support the development of a museum at Barlinnie prison in Glasgow once the site is decommissioned by the Scottish Prison Service, on a similar basis to the Peterhead Prison Museum, which opened in 2016 after the closure of Peterhead prison in 2013.

Answer · Keith Brown: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: As was the case for the disposal of the former HMP Peterhead site, SPS will dispose of the site at HMP Barlinnie in accordance…

25 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date booster vaccinations will be displayed on the NHS Scotland COVID status app.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-04734 on 13 December 2021 . 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-commi…

19 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making to resolve the COVID-19 vaccine passport access issues for people who received each vaccination in different countries.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-04301 on 6 December 2021. 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-committ…

17 Nov 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address the reported backlog in at-home COVID-19 booster and flu vaccine appointments in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area.

16 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any implications of the ending of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), due to take place in March 2022, for the development and expansion of district heating schemes in Scotland.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (NDRHI), which supported district heating development, closed to new applicants on 31 March 2021. However provisions were made to allow some applicants to commission up to 31 March 2022, in response to disruptions cau…

9 Nov 2021 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what it considers to be its obligations under the Fair Work Convention with regards to staff employed directly by MSPs.

Answer · Jackson Carlaw MSP (on behalf of the SPCB) : The SPCB is not the employer of MSPs’ staff.  The SPCB’s responsibility is to fund the provisions of the Reimbursement of Members’ Expenses Scheme, including the Staff Cost Provision, which funds MSPs to employ their staff.  MSPs, as the direct employers of t…

9 Nov 2021 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body when it last met trade unions representing Scottish Parliamentary Service and MSP staff.

2 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to increase the provision of community rehabilitation services for people with neurological conditions.

Answer · Maree Todd: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-04136 on 16 November. 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-committees/…

2 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to increase the provision of physiotherapy rehabilitation services for people with neurological conditions.

Answer · Maree Todd: We are working to implement our ‘ Framework on Recovery and Rehabilitation from COVID-19’ , which puts in place clear principles, priorities and objectives to support planning to meet increasing demand and provide high quality person-centred rehabilitation …

2 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it measures unwarranted geographic inequalities in MS and neurology services, and what plans it has to address any such inequalities.

Answer · Maree Todd: As part of delivering the Neurological Care and Support – a National Framework for Action and meeting the National Health and Well-being Outcomes, we are working closely with health and social care services to contribute in reducing health inequalities. We …

1 Nov 2021 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to Glasgow City Council cleansing workers taking strike action from 1 November and throughout COP26 due to low pay.