Douglas Lumsden

3 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what percentage of people in the NHS Grampian area who were referred for cancer treatment in (a) 2020 and (b) 2021 started treatment within the 62-day target.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Data published by Public Health Scotland covering the period 01 January 2020 to 30 September 2021 shows that in NHS Grampian 83.7 % eligible referrals started treatment within the 62 day standard in 2020 and 78.2% in 2021. Representing 1081 of 1,291 referrals…

3 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of the Mental Health Transformation Fund has been allocated to each NHS board in each year since 2018.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The information requested is shown in the following table for 2018-19 to 2020-21, the latest complete financial year available. Data for 2020-21 demonstrates that NHS Board allocations slightly exceeded the original planned budget, the balance of which was o…

3 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much each NHS board has spent on mental health services in each year since 2018.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Scottish Health Service Costs, including expenditure by NHS Scotland on mental health, is published annually by Public Health Scotland at: https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/scottish-health-service-costs/scottish-health-service-costs-costsboo…

3 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the NHS spending proposals in the Budget (Scotland) (No.4) Bill, whether NHS Grampian will receive its full share of funding as specified by the NRAC (NHS Scotland Resource Allocation Committee) formula in (a) 2020-21, (b) 2021-22 and (c) 2022-23.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Budget provides additional funding of £387 million for frontline NHS Boards in 2022-23 and continues to ensure that no Board is further than 0.8% from its target funding allocation. In 2022-23, NHS Grampian will receive additional investment of …

17 Nov 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will support the cultural sector in Aberdeen to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

10 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities categorise military compensation as income in relation to applications for benefits for (a) housing and (b) council tax reduction.

Answer · Shona Robison: (a) As per the guidance on Discretionary Housing Payments and the guidance on the GOV.UK webpage, anyone receiving Industrial Injuries Benefit (and equivalent payments made as part of a War Disablement Pension or the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme) are ex…

10 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has the power to compensate veterans who are in receipt of benefits and who are being financially disadvantaged as a result of receiving military compensation, by topping up their benefits or providing a discretionary payment.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: The Scottish Government is not aware of existing scenarios where veterans would be financially disadvantaged as a result of military compensation payments reducing or removing reserved benefit entitlements. As such, there has not been any examination of whet…

10 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has the power to exempt military compensation as normal income from benefits that are primarily “passported” from reserved benefits.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: As noted in the answer to S6W-04370 on 1 December 2021, the Scottish Government does not conduct means-testing for any of the devolved benefits that it delivers. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the se…

10 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to applications to Social Security Scotland for means-tested devolved benefits, whether military compensation is exempt from being categorised as income, and if this is not the case, under what circumstances could military compensation be categorised as income.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: The Scottish Government do not provide any directly means tested benefits and therefore have not taken any decisions as to whether military compensation would be categorised as income or not. Determination of what is considered income when assessing reserved…

10 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many veterans are in receipt of Social Security Scotland devolved benefits.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: Social Security Scotland does not hold information on how many veterans are in receipt of the benefits it delivers. This information is not captured as part of the application process and therefore not reported as part of the information Social Security Scotl…

10 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many veterans in Scotland are in receipt of Universal Credit.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: Universal Credit, alongside other reserved benefits including Employment and Support Allowance, are fully reserved to the UK Government and as such the Scottish Government does not hold the data relevant to this question. The Department for Work and Pensions…

10 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many veterans are in receipt of Employment and Support Allowance.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-04373 on 30 November 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-commit…

9 Nov 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the rural economy in the north east.

5 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the geographical breakdown is of the 22,660 renewable energy industry jobs that have reportedly been created.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Research carried out by the Fraser of Allander Institute found that Scotland’s renewable activities support 22,660 full-time equivalent jobs in Scotland 2019.  https://www.scottishrenewables.com/assets/000/001/718/2021_FAI_Economic_Impact_of_Scotland_s_Renew…

27 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much revenue is raised each year in business improvement district levies.

Answer · Tom Arthur: Business Improvement Districts are business partnerships which vote to invest collectively to deliver local economic growth. There are currently 38 operating in Scotland covering town and city centres as well as themed areas such as digital, food and drink, a…

15 Sep 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains supportive of Opportunity North East’s ambition of establishing an energy transition zone adjacent to the new Aberdeen South Harbour.

1 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its commitment to protect at least 30% of land for nature by 2030, how it will improve the protections given to internationally-designated Ramsar sites.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The target to protect 30% of Scotland’s land for nature by 2030 provides an opportunity to strengthen our existing protected areas network, including Ramsar sites, by improving the connectivity between them. This will give the space for nature to adapt to Sco…

1 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to ensure that internationally-designated Ramsar sites in Scotland are given an increased level of protection in the forthcoming National Planning Framework 4.

Answer · Tom Arthur: Our National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) position statement, published November 2020, sets out our intentions that NPF4 will strengthen our approach to protecting and restoring the health and quality of Scotland’s natural environment. We will lay a draft NPF4…

1 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review its policy on Ramsar sites, in light of reports that such sites receive a higher level of protection in the rest of the UK.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Ramsar sites are currently afforded a high level of protection in Scotland by virtue of their co-designation as Sites of Scientific Interest, Special Area of Conservation or Special Protection Area. We are committed to producing a new Biodiversity Strategy by…

1 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there are any designated Ramsar sites in Scotland that are not designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Special Protection Areas or Special Areas of Conservation.

Answer · Lorna Slater: There are currently 51 Ramsar sites in Scotland, all of which are also designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Special Protection Areas or Special Areas of Conservation.

1 Sep 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its cooperation agreement with the Scottish Green Party, whether it will provide an update on its position on maintaining the monarch as the head of state in an independent Scotland.

18 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce a firework licensing system whereby adults would be required to apply for a licence and complete an online safety training course before they could purchase fireworks, and, if so, how much it estimates it would cost (a) an individual to apply for such a lice…

Answer · Ash Denham: Following the final report from the independent Fireworks Review Group recommending a fundamental shift in how fireworks are accessed and used in Scotland, the Scottish Government intends to implement the recommendations from the Group as a matter of urgency …

11 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to implement the principles of Mental Health Awareness Week in the public sector workplace.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of enhancing mental health awareness and provision within the public sector and wider workplace. Our Clear Your Head campaign has been in place since April 2020 to help people look after their mental health d…

11 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many of its employees were dismissed during Mental Health Awareness Week 2021 in (a) Scotland and (b) the Grampian region.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government did not dismiss any employees during Mental Health Awareness Week 2021 in (a) Scotland and (b) the Grampian region.

11 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the number of NHS employees that were dismissed during Mental Health Awareness Week 2021 in (a) Scotland and (b) the NHS Grampian region.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Information on NHS staff dismissals is not held centrally. The recruitment and employment of NHS staff is the responsibility of NHS Boards. The Scottish Government expects Boards to apply workforce policies in adherence to NHS Scotland’s values of: care and …

6 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has received from the UK Government in Barnett consequentials as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and how much of this funding is yet to be (a) spent and (b) allocated.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government received a total of £9.7 billion in Barnett consequentials from the UK Government for 2020-21, with £8.6 billion allocated throughout 2020-21 and £1.1 billion deferred into 2021-22. The Scottish Government set out details of the alloca…

23 Jul 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on making improvements to the Toll of Birness junction on the A90.

Answer · Graeme Dey: Transport Scotland undertakes an annual assessment of the safety performance of the entire trunk road network, including the A90, and considers accident patterns and rates in the form of Route Accident Reduction Plans. In the short term, a Vehicle Activated S…

22 Jul 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on facemasks being mandatory in schools, and, in light of the challenges with communication and participation faced by pupils with hearing difficulties, whether it will consider providing an exemption, in time for the start of the new academic year, for classrooms in…

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The current guidance, updated on 3 August Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on reducing the risks in schools - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) , remains that face coverings will continue to be worn by staff in communal areas in all schools, and in classrooms by staf…

14 Jul 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comment by the First Minister on 13 July 2021 that, “We are determined to make sure that volunteers who have participated in the Novavax trials are not disadvantaged in any way. Work is on-going to ensure that their vaccine status is correctly shown on NHS systems, so tha…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Work is ongoing to ensure the vaccine status of those who volunteered for clinical trials in Scotland is correctly presented on the vaccine database. A letter confirming their involvement in the trials is being issued to those who participated. Any participan…

9 Jul 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding whether the people who received the Novavax vaccine as part of the clinical trial, which includes 400 volunteers from the NHS Grampian area (a) will be given a "fully vaccinated" status and allowed to partake in any greater fre…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government recognises that clinical trials for vaccinations are critical for responding to COVID-19 and we would like to thank all those who have volunteered to take part in these trial, you are providing a great benefit for our society and indee…