Katy Clark

28 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to launch its consultation on the regulation of private (a) first aid event cover companies and (b) ambulance providers, in light of its previous commitments and the reported significant first aid demands of the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is committed to implementing further regulation of independent healthcare, through a phased approach to ensure that Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) has the capacity and appropriate staff in place to regulate the independent secto…

28 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the adequacy of first aid cover at major sporting events, including in relation to the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, and whether it has taken any specific action to ensure that private first aid companies and ambulance providers meet appropriat…

Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-36410 on 29 April 2025. 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-…

28 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, what progress it has made on implementing measures to improve the safety of event attendees, including in relation to first aid provision and the regulation of private first aid companies and ambulance providers.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Provision of medical first aid at a major sporting event is the event organisers’ responsibility which, in this instance, is the Glasgow 2026 Organising Company.The Scottish Government continues to work closely with event organisers to ensure that Scott…

26 Mar 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many patients in hospital are waiting for a social care package assessment from North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership.

24 Mar 2025 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider an independent external evaluation of the pilot scheme that provides victims in rape and serious assault cases with access to transcripts, in light of reports of some waiting a year for transcripts of their court cases.

3 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce a unified statutoryframework regulating the use of restraint and seclusion on children across allstate care and education settings, as set out in the letter from the Childrenand Young People’s Commissioner on 14 February 2025. 

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is committed to reducing the need to practice restraint and seclusion. Across all settings we are clear that the use of restraint should only be used as a last resort in exceptional circumstances when it is the only practicable means o…

5 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action has been taken to embed the key messages of the paper, Improving relationships and behaviour in schools:ensuring safe and consistentenvironments for all, Joint action plan 2024 - 2027, which it published with COSLA in August 2024, in light of the decision by NASUWT members at…

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Violent and abusive behaviours towards pupils or staff is unacceptable. Schools should be safe and consistent learning environments for all.Since May 2023, we have responded to schools’ concerns about relationships and behaviour in a number of ways. Thi…

5 Feb 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to help local authorities move families with children out of temporary accommodation into suitable permanent homes.

24 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the current proposals from ScotRail, regarding a reduction of booking office opening hours in stations, address the preference of women and girls, highlighted in the recent Transport Scotland qualitative research, for an increase in a visible staff presence in the evenings and at wee…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Following a conclusion of proposals mentioned by the Member, ScotRail stations will continue to offer access to station facilities as they do at present.Staff will be more visible either on station platforms or on train to meet passenger aspiration of a more …

24 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in increasing staff presence and staff numbers across the ScotRail network, in response to the recommendation in the Transport Scotland summary report, Women's and girls' views and experiences of personal safety when using public transport, which calls for the…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The adjustments to ticket offices opening hours have been consulted upon with ScotRail staff and aim to increase the staff presence to enhance passenger travel experience and passenger safety, not least by allowing staff redeployment onto Travel Safe teams.Sc…

24 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the new duties on employers under the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023, what steps are being taken to make all employers in Scotland aware of their obligations, and how commitments to the Respect principle in the Fair Work Framework will be address…

Answer · Tom Arthur: The legal powers governing Health and Safety, Employment and Equality laws are reserved to the UK Government, and it is their responsibility to promote and enforce legislation in this area. However, taking action to prevent sexual harassment at work is an iss…

19 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to complete the due diligence process in connection with the direct award of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract before 30 September 2025; what assessment it has made of the cost to taxpayers of the UK Government’s mandatory requirement to refer Scottish …

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: We expect to complete the due diligence in Spring 2025, prior to award of the new contract in October 2025.The costs included in the referral to the CMA are the overall costs of providing ferry services over the coming years, which include the costs of increa…

18 Dec 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is giving consideration to a pilot scheme on independent legal representation for rape victims.

16 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the new duties on employers under theWorker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023 regarding theprevention of sexual harassment of staff, how ScotRail is meeting its duty to takereasonable steps to prevent its employees from being subject to suchharassment, inc…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This is a matter for ScotRail as the employer.

4 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to compensate businesses on the Isle of Arran for any losses that they have incurred as a result of delayed and cancelled ferries.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Scottish Ministers appreciate the particular challenges faced by island communities as a result of delayed and cancelled ferries.Recognising the distinct challenges of hospitality business on Islands, the Scottish Budget announced we will continue to offer 10…

2 Dec 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that it plans to double the funding available to local authorities through its school meal debt fund from £1.4 million to £2.8 million, whether it plans to allocate the same amount of funding on a recurring basis in future Budgets.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has taken steps to address the historic school meal debt accrued by local authorities by increasing the funding available through the School Meal Debt Fund from £1.5m to £2.8m in 2024/25. This increase has fully met the req…

20 Nov 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to its cross-government co-ordinationon islands policies, what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had withministerial colleagues regarding what more it can do to support residents andbusinesses on the Isle of Cumbrae.

13 Nov 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to improve safety for women and girls when travelling by train.

8 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it is undertaking regarding (a) the implementation of firework control zones and (b) any impact that firework control zones are having on deterring the antisocial use of fireworks.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: All local authorities are required to review the operation and effectiveness of any firework control zones designated within their area. Data gathered as a part of such reviews can be utilised for the Scottish Government's statutory obligation to report on th…

8 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with industry representatives regarding standards of specification to categorise "silent" or "low-noise" fireworks, in order to incorporate their use into the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The current maximum legal noise level for fireworks is defined in UK-wide legislation, the Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015.While we recognise that some retailers label fireworks as silent or low noise consultations with various stakeholders had…

8 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is reviewing whether to incorporate, via regulations, a provision for “low noise” or “silent” fireworks into the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-31145 on 19 November 2024. 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…

5 Nov 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration has been given to improving the living costs support available to part-time disabled students.

25 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made with developing the toolkit for local authorities to build cohesive communities, and when this will be published.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: CoSLA and Scottish Government are undertaking a joint programme of engagement with local authorities to understand what they would find helpful to address hate crime and strengthen community cohesion at a local level. A toolkit is expected to publish in early…

25 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measurable objectives it has for building cohesive communities.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: Community cohesion stretches across a number of policy themes and outcomes. For example, our Vision for Justice three year delivery plan remains to deliver a just, safe resilient Scotland. This will see us living in safer, more tolerant and inclusive communit…

16 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of the research that it commissioned on the experience of Gypsy/Travellers in Scotland during the so-called Tinker Experiment, which was originally due to be completed in September 2024.

Answer · Kaukab Stewart: The archival fieldwork for the independent research has been completed and the report on this complex work is currently being produced. We intend to publish a report in due course, and will work to ensure those who wish to provide feedback and share their exp…

4 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the timeline is for the introduction of the proposed The Promise Bill.

Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: The Scottish Government is committed to keep The Promise by 2030 and has recently set out further detail on activity underway in our Promise Implementation Plan Update 2024.This includes a continued commitment to introduce a Promise Bill by the end of this pa…

25 Sep 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it can provide to NHS Ayrshire and Arran, in light of reports that the health board requires over £85 million to cover the cost of backdated repairs.

23 Sep 2024 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is regarding whether the early release scheme for prisoners has been a success.

18 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date (a) it currently anticipates that CMAL will deliver the Glen Sannox to CalMac, (b) the operator currently anticipates that it will begin delivery to operational sea trials of the vessel and (c) it currently anticipates that the Glen Sannox will enter service on the Troon-Bro…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: In his most recent letter to the NZET committee on 12 September, the interim Chief Executive of Ferguson Marine indicated that the handover date for MV Glen Sannox of 30 September 2024 was delayed by around two weeks. Following successful Builder’s LNG …

17 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many individual domestic properties have been identified as having a sleeping risk, in relation to any risk assessment.

Answer · Paul McLennan: We have not identified buildings with a specific sleeping risk, however buildings on the pilot are residential.The Single Building Assessment (SBA) must result in a report on any risk to human life that is (directly or indirectly) created or exacerbated by th…