Paul O'Kane

17 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to address any gaps in services and medical treatment for patients with long COVID, in light of reports undertaken by Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland and The ALLIANCE on the condition. 

Answer · Jenni Minto: Since the research undertaken by Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland and the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE), the National Strategic Network for long COVID managed by NHS National Services Scotland has produced information for NHS boards o…

17 Dec 2024 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to continue the Investing in Communities Fund into the 2025-26 financial year, in light of reported concerns that funding may not continue for supported community projects.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The draft Scottish Budget sets out our spending plans for 2025-26 to deliver progress for Scotland, and to improve the lives of the people of Scotland. It includes investment for regeneration of over £62 million to support communities most in need, whic…

12 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comments by the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport during the members' business debate on motion S6M-14427 (Reversal of £10 Million Funding for Changing Places Toilets) on 11 December 2024, by what date it plans to have published the application fo…

Answer · Maree Todd: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-32273 on 6 January 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-com…

12 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comments by the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport during the members' business debate on motion S6M-14427 (Reversal of £10 Million Funding for Changing Places Toilets) on 11 December 2024, by what date in the 2025-26 financial year it hopes to hav…

Answer · Maree Todd: Work to develop the Changing Places Toilets Fund criteria, plans and processes is underway. Details of the Fund launch date will be confirmed once arrangements have been finalised and will be dependent on Parliamentary approval of the Scottish Government&rsqu…

12 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comments by the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport during the members' business debate on motion S6M-14427 (Reversal of £10 Million Funding for Changing Places Toilets) on 11 December 2024, whether it will provide the draft criteria for the planned…

Answer · Maree Todd: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-32271 on 6 January 2025. As I said during the Parliamentary debate on Changing Places Toilets, I am keen to work in partnership with members from all parties.All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are a…

12 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comments by the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport during the members' business debate on motion S6M-14427 (Reversal of £10 Million Funding for Changing Places Toilets) on 11 December 2024, whether it plans to publish the draft criteria for the pla…

Answer · Maree Todd: Initial views were sought on the criteria for the Changing Places Toilets (CPT) Fund at the CPT Cross Party Group on 14 November. We will not be undertaking a formal consultation on the draft criteria, but we will share them with key interests, including the …

12 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comments by the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport during the members' business debate on motion S6M-14427 (Reversal of £10 Million Funding for Changing Places Toilets) on 11 December 2024, how much funding has been allocated from within its draft …

Answer · Maree Todd: As emphasised during the Parliamentary debate on Changing Places Toilets (CPTs) on 11 December, there has been no reversal of the decision to provide funding for CPTs. I expect to be in a position to provide details of the amount of funding we propose to prov…

11 Dec 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent engagement its ministers have had with Disabled People's Organisations to discuss any concerns of disabled people.

3 Dec 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish the next Medium-Term Financial Strategy.

26 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it has provided to local authorities for the provision of school (a) libraries and (b) librarians in the current financial year, and in each year since 2021.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Responsibility for funding school libraries and the provision of school librarians is devolved to local authorities, who have a statutory duty to ensure there is adequate provision of library services. Scottish Government does not hold data on the specific fu…

26 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Great School Libraries campaign to bring libraries and access to librarians back to every school in the UK, as it relates to Scotland. 

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government agrees that Scotland’s school libraries play a key role in supporting literacy and cultivating a love of reading. Responsibility for school libraries rests with local authorities, who have a statutory duty to ensure there is…

26 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it (a) can take and (b) is taking to support local authorities to ensure that licensed taxi drivers comply with the Equality Act 2010 in relation to refusing or attempting to refuse to carry visually impaired people due to them travelling with their guide dog.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Accessibility obligations for taxi and private hire car drivers and Local Licencing Authorities are reserved to the UK Government under the Equality Act 2010.The taxi licensing system is devolved under the Civic Government Act 1982 and is implemented by (loca…

20 Nov 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the reported disproportionately lower levels of social security uptake among ethnic minority groups.

20 Nov 2024 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will consult MSP staff trade unions before deciding on uprating the Staff Cost Provision in the 2025-26 financial year. 

13 Nov 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what ongoing discussions the finance secretary is having with ministerial colleagues and officials regarding the planning of portfolio budgets in the lead up to the publication of its Budget for 2025-26.

30 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that emergency care is maintained for patients requiring air ambulance services, in light of any issues created by the issuance of CAP1264 by the Civil Aviation Authority.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government (SG) is aware of the Civil Air Publication to address the design requirements and options for new heliports located at hospitals in the United Kingdom. Any new recommendations will, of course, be considered by Health Boards and organis…

25 Sep 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to bring down processing times for the Adult Disability Payment, in light of the most recent high level statistics from Social Security Scotland indicating a reversal in the previous reduction to processing times.

11 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its proposed Adults with Incapacity Bill as outlined in its Programme for Government 2024-25, whether it plans to consult on each of the recommendations contained under Recommendation 13.3 of the final report of the Mental Health Law Review, which relate to amending the powe…

Answer · Maree Todd: ‘The Adults with Incapacity Amendment Act Consultation’ published on 25 July 2024 consults on four out of seven power of attorney (PoA) recommendations at section 13.3 of the Scottish Mental Health Law Review. Although not part of this consultatio…

11 Sep 2024 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to a recent report from the Scottish Health Equity Research Unit, which highlights that "core outcomes related to inequalities and health are not improving significantly and some are getting worse".

5 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, prior to the announcement by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government, in her letter to the Convener of Finance and Public Administration Committee, that the Changing Places toilet fund would be reprofiled, what work it had undertaken to prepare for the fund to open at the…

Answer · Maree Todd: A range of work has been undertaken to prepare for the opening of the Changing Places Toilets fund. This has included scoping work, internal discussions and meetings with key stakeholders. We are working closely with PAMIS (Promoting a More Inclusive Society)…

5 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to open the £10 million Changing Places toilet fund, in light of the reprofiling of the commencement of the fund, as detailed in the letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government to the Convener of the Finance and Public Administration Committee, …

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government is working towards a launch date for the Changing Places Toilets fund and we will provide an update in due course.

5 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is still committed to investing £10 million in Changing Places toilets by the end of the current parliamentary session, in light of the reprofiling of the commencement of the Changing Places toilet fund, as detailed in the letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Finance an…

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government is committed to investing in Changing Places Toilets in order to increase the number of these facilities across the country, allowing people easier access to events and outdoor venues.As you will be aware, the Cabinet Secretary for Fin…

4 Sep 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its Pre-budget Fiscal Update on 3 September, what the potential impact will be of its "review and reprofile of recruitment" at Social Security Scotland on the agency’s provision of frontline services to clients.

14 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is committed to continued support through Transport Scotland of SUSTRANS’ Places for Everyone programme, as part of its commitment to supporting active travel.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Transport Scotland has already allocated £46.7 million of funding to Sustrans for Places for Everyone for 2024-25 which will deliver a range of active travel infrastructure this year. More broadly in 2024-25 financial year more than £145 million h…

14 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when (a) ministers and (b) representatives of Transport Scotland last met (i) SUSTRANS and (ii) other relevant stakeholders to discuss the Neilston and Uplawmoor Link active travel project.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Sustrans are funded to manage and administer the Places for Everyone fund and meet with the applicants as appropriate. As Sustrans manage the fund on behalf of Transport Scotland neither Ministers nor Transport Scotland meet regularly to discuss specific proj…

14 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when ministers last met Transport Scotland to discuss the Places for Everyone programme administered by SUSTRANS and its associated funding.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Officials met with the Cabinet Secretary for Transport on 26 June, where Places for Everyone was included as part of the discussion.

14 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates that decisions regarding funding for SUSTRANS’ Places for Everyone programme for 2024-25 will be made by Transport Scotland.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Transport Scotland has already provided £46.7 million of funding to Sustrans for Places for Everyone for 2024-25 which will deliver a range of active travel infrastructure this year. More broadly in 2024-25 more than £145 million has been provided…

12 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on establishing an advisory group of equalities experts to co-produce new regulations for the public sector equality duty, as committed to by the then Minister for Equalities, Migration and Refugees in response to a letter from 26 equalities organisations in A…

Answer · Kaukab Stewart: The Scottish Government is focused on implementing a phased approach to improving the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED). Scoping and planning of this work are underway in continued engagement with partners and stakeholders.

12 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with relevant stakeholders to discuss its ongoing review of the public sector equality duty.

Answer · Kaukab Stewart: The Scottish Government regularly engages with stakeholders to discuss the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED). Over the past six months, we have met with various groups to ensure ongoing collaboration. This includes regular monthly meetings with the Equality …

12 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the public sector equality duty and any new human rights framework are compatible and adequately linked.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-29112 on 5 September 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-commi…