Parliamentary questions
Katy Clark
746 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
11 Apr 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that there were 224 eviction cases involving tenants lodged with the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland in the month to 15 March.
29 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the UK Government in order to improve the uptake of energy rebate vouchers among Scottish households with prepayment meters.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Energy retail policy is reserved to the UK Government. However, the Scottish Government is fully aware of the challenges that some consumers with prepayment meters faced when trying to access the Energy Bills Support Scheme vouchers. We would urge anybody in …
29 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any potential impact on service provision of reports that NHS Ayrshire and Arran’s deficit will double to £56 million.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government continues to prioritise investment in frontline services, providing an increase of over £730 million to NHS Boards in 2023-24 and taking funding for NHS Ayrshire and Arran to over £850 million – an increase of over 71% since 2006-07. …
29 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will establish a Cabinet-level ministerial position focused on housing and tackling homelessness.
Answer · Paul McLennan: There is already a Cabinet-level ministerial position focused on housing and tackling homelessness: the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice. In addition, the appointment of a dedicated minister for housing demonstrates the Scottish Government’s continued co…
29 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any potential impact on the delivery of the Universal Service Obligation of reports that the Royal Mail Group could soon go into administration.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The Royal Mail and postal delivery services remain a reserved matter and the responsibility of the UK Government. While the Scottish Government has no power to intervene in the industrial dispute between Royal Mail and the Commercial Workers Union we welcome…
29 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce the number of patient attacks on staff at the Langhill Clinic psychiatric care unit in Inverclyde, in light of reports that there have been almost 300 attacks on staff by patients since January 2020.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Health Boards are responsible for the health and safety of NHS staff. Scottish Government officials have been assured by NHS Greater Glasgow and Cycle (NHS GGC) that they have the necessary controls, protocols and support in place to protect staff. We will co…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12941 by Jenny Gilruth on 22 December 2022, whether it will provide an update on any potential implications for CalMac’s seafarer recruitment programme of the former Deputy First Minister's statement on Ferguson Marine on 16 March 2023.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: CalMac ferries continue to plan recruitment around the latest delivery date provided for the MV Glen Sannox and recruitment is currently ongoing. The recruitment process is continually monitored to ensure any risks and issues are identified and managed. Recru…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12940 by Jenny Gilruth on 22 December 2022, whether it will provide an update on the service continuity plan for the transfer and timetabling of services from Troon.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The service continuity plans for the Ardrossan-Brodick/Campbeltown route are currently being reviewed by CalMac following the recent announcement of the delivery date and deployment of the MV Glen Sannox to the route. CalMac are engaging with relevant partner…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-16093 by Jenny Gilruth on 28 March 2023, whether it, Transport Scotland, CalMac or CMAL made the final decision on chartering MV Alfred for the Clyde and Hebrides network.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The charter, and preceding discussions, for the MV Alfred from Pentland Ferries for use in Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service contract were a matter for the operator CalMac Ferries Limited. In line with the Contract for the Provision of Ferry Services Between …
22 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of its Public Sector Pay Strategy 2023-24, whether Skills Development Scotland guidance is now to be updated to reflect that all employers should pay the real Living Wage, including in relation to apprentices (a) aged 19 and under and (b) in their first year.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Public Sector Pay Strategy 2023-24 applies to staff in the Scottish Government and its associated departments, agencies, non-departmental public bodies and public corporations. All organisations covered by our Pay Strategy are required to pay at least th…
22 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to announce an updated timescale for the introduction of its National Litter and Flytipping Strategy, and, if so, what the updated timescale is.
Answer · Lorna Slater: Following public consultation on our proposals in 2022, the Scottish Government has been working with key partners – including Zero Waste Scotland, Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Keep Scotland Beautiful – to finalise the new National Litter and Fl…
22 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making towards the introduction of its National Litter and Flytipping Strategy.
Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government consulted on proposals for a new draft National Litter and Flytipping Strategy in early 2022. Following publication of a consultation analysis report in July 2022, the Scottish Government has been working in partnership with Zero Wast…
22 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact of reductions to local authority budgets on levels of littering across Scotland.
Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government has provided an additional £793 million to local government in 2023-24, which is a real terms increase of £376 million or 3 per cent, however, it is for locally elected representatives to manage the allocation of resources and the leve…
22 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to ensure that local authorities are properly resourced to provide waste management services and address littering.
Answer · Lorna Slater: Local authorities remain responsible for and are best placed to make decisions regarding the provision of waste and recycling services and measures to address littering on the basis of local needs and priorities. The Scottish Government has provided an addit…
21 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15024 by Jenny Gilruth on 21 March 2023, whether (a) the Minister for Transport, (b) CMAL and (c) Transport Scotland officials have held meetings with representatives of Pentland Ferries, from 1 October 2022 to date, regarding the chartering of the …
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: There have been no such meetings with Pentland Ferries on this matter. Any discussions regarding the chartering of vessels for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service contract would be a matter for the operator CalMac Ferries Limited.
21 Mar 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to carrying out a review of the use of public private partnerships for public infrastructure projects.
17 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had any discussions with (a) commercial landlords, (b) local authorities and (c) community groups regarding developing a strategy to ensure that premises rented by M&Co Trading Limited are put to productive use once they default back to their owners.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth met with the appointed administrators for M&Co on 19 January 2023 and offered his support, including via Government engagement with Scottish Enterprise. He also met with Katy Clark and Neil Bibby …
14 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the number of hearings involving tenants facing court proceedings to remove them from properties has doubled since 2021-22.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: Social housing evictions are dealt with by the Sheriff Courts. The number of court hearings required in each case will depend on the complexity and circumstances of the individual case. Whilst the number of summary cause eviction applications registered by th…
14 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the effectiveness of the eviction ban in reducing the number of tenants being evicted.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The ongoing cost crisis continues to place people across Scotland in an unprecedented economic position. The first report on the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022 was published on 12 January. The report outlines the various sources of …
14 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with Circularity Scotland regarding the decision to appoint Biffa as its logistics partner for the Deposit Return Scheme.
Answer · Lorna Slater: I refer the member to my answer to question S6W-15957 on 27 March 2023. 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…
14 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether Biffa is an appropriate logistics partner for the Deposit Return Scheme, given that the company has previously been prosecuted for breaches of environmental waste export laws.
Answer · Lorna Slater: Circularity Scotland, the scheme administrator is a private non-profit company and is responsible for operating the scheme, including logistics. Decisions regarding their contracts are for them – this is entirely appropriate for a scheme that has industry res…
14 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has ever carried out an analysis of any impact that jury duty citations may have on the wider economy.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has not carried out an analysis of the impact that citations for jury service may have on the wider economy.
14 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the percentage of the eligible population that have been cited for jury service in the past year.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government does not hold this data. Court operational matters, including the system and arrangements for jury service, fall within the remit of the independent Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS).
14 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what data it holds on how many people have been cited for jury duty more than once in the past year.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government does not hold this data. Court operational matters, including the system and arrangements for jury service, fall within the remit of the independent Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS).
14 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what data it holds on how many people have been excused as of right from jury duty in the past year, and, of those, how many were excused because they had (a) already served on a jury in the last five years and (b) been cited but not selected in the last two years.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government does not hold this data. Court operational matters, including the system and arrangements for jury service, fall within the remit of the independent Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS).
10 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that some local authorities have been unable to process payments of arrears of pay in March, following the recent agreement of a pay deal for teachers, and reported concerns that this means that some teachers' back pay will be subject to higher tax rates if not proce…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Local authorities are responsible for administering their payroll operations and ensuring any tax is paid at the correct rates. His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) are responsible for the collection of Scottish Income Tax and all technical guidance rela…
7 Mar 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has plans to reform the compulsory purchase order process to make it easier to convert empty buildings into council housing.
3 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has released encrypted phone app, including WhatsApp, messages, in response to a Freedom of Information request, and, if so, on how many occasions.
Answer · George Adam: The Scottish Government recognises that all recorded information relating to its business is subject to Freedom of Information law, irrespective of its format or the platform on which it is held. This includes any information held in or originally generated i…
22 Feb 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the 2022 Scottish teacher census, which showed that there had been a reduction in teacher numbers in North Ayrshire, compared with 2021.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that numbers of teachers and support staff are protected. We will provide local government with £145.5 million in next year's budget, which is conditional on the successful delivery of the following objectives:…
22 Feb 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with NHS Ayrshire and Arran following the Primary Care Out of Hours Workforce Survey 2022, published by Public Health Scotland on 14 February 2023, which found that the NHS board has reported a 6% decrease in the number of GPs working in out-of-hours services s…
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government has continuous engagement with Health Boards and has had recent contact with NHS Ayrshire & Arran on the provision of Out of Hours services. The Board has advised that the medical workforce across Ayrshire Urgent Care Service (AUCS) h…