Parliamentary questions
Tess White
414 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
6 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what percentage of premises in each Scottish parliamentary constituency have access to broadband speeds of no more than (i) 5, (ii) 10 and (iii) 24 Mbps.
Answer · Kate Forbes: We do not hold this data. However, Ofcom provides breakdowns at Local Authority and UK parliamentary constituency level as part of the interactive report they produce alongside their Connected Nations updates. Their latest published information can be found a…
6 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what percentage of children in the NHS Tayside area who were referred for mental health treatment in (a) 2020 and (b) 2021 started treatment within the 18-week target.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The following table provides statistics for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in the NHS Tayside area. It is possible that children were seen within Psychological Therapy (PT) in addition to this however it is not possible at present to disag…
6 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what percentage of children in the NHS Grampian area who were referred for mental health treatment in (a) 2020 and (b) 2021 started treatment within the 18-week target.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The following table provides statistics for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in the NHS Grampian area. It is possible that children were seen within Psychological Therapy in addition to this however it is not possible at present to disaggreg…
6 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the original estimated date was for roads to open to traffic following the completion of the Haudagain Improvement project, and what the current estimated date is.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The A92 A96 Haudagain Improvement project, which was anticipated to be complete in winter 2021, has faced a number of challenges including the impact of the pandemic continuing to disrupt progress. The contractor has indicated a revised date for completing th…
6 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) foundation, (b) modern and (c) graduate-level apprenticeships have been started in each (i) month and (ii) year since April 2019.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Official Modern Apprenticeship statistics are published by Skills Development Scotland quarterly, including the number of starts. The Modern Apprenticeship 2021-22 Q4 (Year End) statistics is expected to be published in May 2022. Foundation and Graduate Appre…
29 Nov 2021 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to reports that the use of antidepressant medication among children has increased by more than 80% over the last 10 years.
16 Nov 2021 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress in relation to A Culture Strategy for Scotland.
2 Nov 2021 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Discover Cyber Skills programme.
23 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported comments by the Chief Executive of Women’s Aid that women who have experienced domestic or sexual abuse may be deterred from reporting it because of court delays and that “there is no safety for them in calling the police or in asking for help from th…
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government advises anyone who has experienced domestic abuse or sexual violence to report crimes committed against them, regardless of the impacts of Covid-19. Police Scotland remain committed to proactively target perpetrators and protect victim…
23 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the roll-out of the new digital platform to support group treatments and therapies for patients experiencing mental ill health.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government recognises that the lack of a national platform for group therapy has been challenging for services, that is why we have been working with the software developers, Attend Anywhere, to develop their platform Near Me as suitable solution…
23 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many referrals there have been to the National Referral Mechanism for human trafficking and exploitation cases in Scotland in (a) 2020 and (b) 2021 to date, broken down by (i) type of referral and (ii) demographic.
Answer · Ash Denham: National Referral Mechanism data is released by the Home Office Single Competent Authority. Information is published quarterly and in an end of year summary. Data relating to 2020 and 2021 can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-r…
23 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many lower-income older or disabled homeowners have been assisted by Care and Repair Scotland in the last 12 months with the installation of smoke, fire and carbon monoxide alarms in order to comply with the new regulations.
Answer · Shona Robison: We have awarded a grant of £0.5 million to Care and Repair Scotland to provide additional support in relation to the new standard for fire alarms in all Scottish homes. Care and Repair Scotland will provide a report on the use of the grant funding at the end …
23 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its publication, Whole School Approach Framework for Schools to Support Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing, what action it is taking to support teachers to become Mental Health First Aiders, and how this will be facilitated if training is not allowed to …
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Mental Health in Schools Working Group have sought to establish a comprehensive approach to supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing through schools. The publication of the whole-school approach framework provides guidance on set…
23 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the statement in the Scottish Social Services Council publication, Mental Health Officers (Scotland) Report 2020, that "the last three years have seen by far the highest number of vacated posts" for Mental Health Officers (MHOs), for what reason this is the case, and what ac…
Answer · Kevin Stewart: MHOs are critically important as they protect and safeguard the rights of vulnerable people with mental health conditions. MHO workload pressures have no doubt been exacerbated by the COVID pandemic, but we are aware of a number of issues that are having an…
23 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many consultant psychiatrists there are across all Mental Health and Learning Disability (MHLD) services in each NHS board, and what the cost has been of using locum consultant psychiatrists for MHLD services in each NHS board in each of the last 12 months.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Consultant Psychiatrists across NHS Boards The latest quarterly NHS Workforce stats (published 7 September) provide a data snapshot of the number of consultant psychiatrists across Mental Health and Learning Disabilities (MHLD) services within NHS Scotland a…
23 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to help older and vulnerable people comply with the new regulations on fire and smoke alarms, and what its response is to reports of scammers and rogue traders attempting to capitalise on the introduction of the regulations.
Answer · Shona Robison: Home owners are responsible for the costs of on-going work needed to protect and preserve their own property, which includes the costs for the fire alarms to meet the new standard. We have provided £0.5 million additional funding for Care and Repair Scotland …
23 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that some suppliers of smoke and fire alarms that are compliant with the new regulations are experiencing unprecedented demand and have limited stock, and what its position is on whether insufficient stock could affect compliance with the regulations.
Answer · Shona Robison: We are aware that, following our successful public awareness campaign, there is significant public interest in carrying out work to comply with the new standard for fire alarms in all Scottish homes. It is, therefore, possible, that some retailers will have s…
21 Sep 2021 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress with the dualling of the A96.
16 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to a University of Aberdeen study that suggested that there was evidence of potential for an opioid problem associated with the influence of COVID-19 on elective orthopaedic services to emerge.
Answer · Maree Todd: The decision about which treatment to prescribe is a clinical decision made by the prescriber in discussion with the patient, taking into account the individual’s condition and medical history. Guidance is available to assist prescribers and Scottish Governm…
16 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what direction it has provided to local authorities regarding the model of delivery for the school counselling services that they have been asked to implement.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The commitment to invest in access to school counselling services across education in Scotland was announced in our 2018/19 Programme for Government. The Scottish Government provided guidance ( https://www.gov.scot/publications/guidance-education-authoritie…
16 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many mobile phones have been confiscated from prisoners in HMP and YOI Grampian in each month since they were issued in 2020.
Answer · Keith Brown: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: The following table provides the number of SPS issued mobile phone handsets that have been confiscated at HMP & YOI Grampian, …
16 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Scottish Prison Service regarding the reported tampering of mobile phones used by prisoners, and what the outcome was.
Answer · Keith Brown: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: Whilst this is primarily an operational matter for the SPS, the SPS and Scottish Government have been in communication regardi…
16 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much sportscotland has invested in each local authority area (a) in each year since 2012-13 and (b) since April 2021.
Answer · Maree Todd: As the national agency for sport, sport scotland invests Scottish Government and National Lottery resources to help the people of Scotland get the most from the sporting system. sport scotland works in partnerships with Scottish Governing Bodies of sport (SGB…
16 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase participation in sports by disabled people, and what its response is to reports that the current rate of participation is low.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government understand the important role sport plays in communities, bringing people together, and contributing to a sense of local belonging and inclusion. Through the Programme for Government we have committed to double investment in sport and …
16 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether a revised Addiction Prevalence Testing (APT) by the Scottish Prison Service remains set to be introduced in late 2021.
Answer · Keith Brown: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: Addictions Prevalence Testing has been reviewed and renamed Drug Trend Testing. Along with the testing of individuals being ad…
16 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report, LISTEN – Experiences of NHS Tayside Mental Health Services, which recorded that 58% of the 286 people surveyed were “not confident” NHS Tayside could take care of their mental health needs.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: I welcome the efforts of Plus Perth, Dundee Healthy Minds Network, Angus Voice and the Tayside Independent Inquiry Stakeholder Participation Group in producing this survey and report. I recognise the value that it has provided to David Strang in informing his…
16 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to ensure that NHS boards properly maintain hospital estates, and what analysis it has carried out of whether each board employs a sufficient number of estate and facilities staff.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: In 2020-21, the Scottish Government delegated £140 million of the Health and Social Care Portfolio’s capital budget to be used by Health Boards on priorities such as maintenance. Over the course of the next five years, the Scottish Government intends to doubl…
16 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) replaced the Lowit Unit at the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital, which closed in 2014, and what analysis it has carried out of their effectiveness.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Following closure of the Lowit Unit at the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital in 2014, a programme of CAMHS redesign started in 2015. This included all services for children and young people with mental health issues being redesigned to support children aged …
14 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that 9.9% of children starting treatment within child and adolescent mental health services between April and June 2021 had experienced a waiting time of more than 53 weeks, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: It is encouraging to see a record number of new patients – including those who have waited longest – starting treatment in CAMHS in the last quarter, as our NHS continues to remobilise. Long waits are unacceptable and we remain committed to meet the standard…
14 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the report commissioned by Scottish Women in Sport, which found that only 20% of women fill the most senior roles in sports clubs and associations, what action it is taking to encourage more women into leadership roles in sport.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government recognises the disparity between men and women in leadership roles in sport. We will continue to work with sportscotland and wider partners to understand how best to identify future leaders and support their development through program…