Pam Gosal

1 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is sufficiently equipped to respond to any hazards arising from battery storage facilities.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government holds regular discussions with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service on a wide range of topics and is assured that the Service is sufficiently equipped and has the ability to deploy a range of resources which can be utilised by the high…

1 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to equip and support the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to better respond to any hazards arising from battery storage facilities.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The assessment of all hazards and the equipment needed to deal with incidents is an operational matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

1 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service regarding any risks associated with an increasing number of battery storage facilities.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government has regular discussions with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service on a wide range of matters, which includes battery storage facilities to ensure the service is able to respond to incidents with the appropriate resources.

31 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to minimise waste across NHS Scotland, including to encourage the return of used crutches, wheelchairs and walking frames.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The NHS Scotland Climate Emergency and Sustainability Strategy 2022-2026 contains a number of actions linked to resource use, including management and reduction of waste, in line with Scottish Targets. Walking aids are included within this, and a number of Bo…

31 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to ensure that the Office of the Public Guardian is sufficiently supported to perform its public duties.

Answer · Angela Constance: In recognition of the ongoing pressures on the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, including the Office of the Public Guardian, additional funding for SCTS in 2024-25 was prioritised. The 2024-25 budget provides an additional £9.7 million resource and £3.9…

31 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to reduce the average processing times for power of attorney applications.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) is part of the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service (SCTS). As such, operational decisions regarding power of attorney applications are the responsibility of SCTS under the leadership of its independent board headed by …

29 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support schools to use the correct digital infrastructure and technologies.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Digital technology is an important aspect of any modern education system. To support continued development and use of digital technology to enhance teaching and learning, the Scottish Government is developing a new digital strategy for education. This new di…

29 Jan 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it will take in the next financial year to boost the confidence of those operating in the business sector and to promote entrepreneurship.

29 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what measures it is taking to improve the take-up of languages in education.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Since 2013 the Scottish Government has provided local authorities and third sector partners with funding of over £50m in support of the implementation of the 1+2 languages approach in schools. A 2021 survey of local authorities confirmed that pupils across S…

25 Jan 2024 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what steps it is taking to ensure that schools from all areas of Scotland are not prevented from visiting the Scottish Parliament due to high travel costs.

Answer · Christine Grahame MSP (on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corpora: The SPCB provides a free school engagement programme. Our Education Services staff deliver sessions and tours at the Parliament, online, and visit schools across Scotland. Digital and outreach education sessions are popular and especially appreciated by those…

16 Jan 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of its 2024-25 Budget on rural and island communities.

9 Jan 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made any assessment of the potential impact of its Budget on its net zero ambitions.

8 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential fire risks associated with electric vehicles (EV) and EV charging points, including any risk of fires in multi-storey car parks.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: It is the responsibility of the organisation that fitted the EV charging point(s) to ensure that they are fitted to the correct standard, meeting any regulations and restrictions associated with such devices. This should also be informed by a risk assessment …

21 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that young people learn life skills and financial literacy while at school.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Curriculum for Excellence seeks to provide our young people with the knowledge, attitudes and skills to succeed as underpinned by its four capacities: successful learners; confident individuals; responsible citizens and effective contributors. Financial liter…

20 Dec 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that teachers are fully equipped to safeguard the wellbeing of pupils.

15 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carried out of the rates of migration from (a) the rest of the UK to Scotland and (b) Scotland to the rest of the UK, (i) in terms of absolute numbers and (ii) as a percentage of each respective population, since 2000.

Answer · Angus Robertson: I have asked Janet Egdell, Chief Executive of the National Records of Scotland (NRS) to respond. Her response is: National Records of Scotland (NRS) publish migration flows as part of their mid-year population estimates. Estimates for in, out and net migrati…

4 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out any assessment of how effectively Scotland’s national parks are being governed.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Scotland’s two iconic national parks were established in 2000 as Non-Departmental Public Bodies and their governance arrangements were set down in Designation orders thereafter. NDPBs operate at arms lengths from Scottish Government and are wholly accountabl…

4 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the establishment of new national parks.

Answer · Lorna Slater: On 12 October 2023, I announced the start of the nominations process and invited communities and organisations across the country to develop and submit their proposals for their area to become Scotland’s next National Park. Nominations are due to be submitted…

29 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to extend emergency waiting list funding for Rape Crisis centres beyond March 2024.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W- 23353 on 14 December 2023, and reiterate the points made in that response. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found …

29 Nov 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to reduce waiting times for post-mastectomy breast reconstructive surgery.

24 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reduce waiting times for first appointments post-hearing aid fitting.

Answer · Jenni Minto: We continue to work closely with NHS Boards to reduce long waits, which have been exacerbated by the impacts of the global pandemic. This includes targets to address long waits and delivery of the commitments in our £1 billion NHS Recovery Plan to support an …

24 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce waiting times for an initial assessment and treatment of hearing loss.

Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-23310 on 11 December 2023. All answers to 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/wri…

24 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22468 by Jenni Minto on 7 November 2023, whether it plans to provide an update on its consideration of the recommendations of the Independent Review of Audiology Services in Scotland by the end of 2023.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government will provide its response to the Independent Review of Audiology Services in Scotland, before the winter recess.

24 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to support the Scottish night time industry.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is committed to supporting the hospitality and night-time industry, having been the hardest hit of all sectors from the Covid-19 pandemic and cost crises. The Scottish Budget 2023-24 ensures the lowest poundage in the UK for the fifth…

22 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning has received a request under rule 9 of the Inquiry Rules 2006 for evidence regarding any WhatsApp messages and informal communications with cabinet secretaries, ministers, senior civil servants or advisers, on Scottish Go…

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-23205 on 4 December 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-committ…

22 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance has received a request under rule 9 of the Inquiry Rules 2006 for evidence regarding any WhatsApp messages and informal communications with cabinet secretaries, ministers, senior civil servants or advisers, on Scottish Governme…

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has received a number of requests from the UK Covid-19 Inquiry under Rule 9 of the Inquiry Rules Act 2006, and has been asked not to disclose the evidence that has been requested or provided, as have all core participants. As a result…

8 Nov 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of police station closures on police response times.

30 Oct 2023 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether he will provide an update on waiting times for post-cancer breast reconstruction surgery.

16 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the decision to reinstate the £6.6 million reduction of the Creative Scotland budget.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: Over the last five years, Scottish Government has provided over £33m to Creative Scotland to compensate for the continuous shortfall in National Lottery funding. As a result of rising costs and pressure on budgets across government, we are unable to make up …

13 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the publication of the Domestic abuse recorded by the police in Scotland, 2022-23 statistics has reportedly been postponed to March 2024.

Answer · Angela Constance: Publication of the 2022-23 edition of the Domestic abuse recorded by the police in Scotland statistics has been postponed from November 2023 to March 2024. As outlined within the previous 2021-22 publication, Scottish Government statisticians are undertaking …