Parliamentary questions
Carol Mochan
846 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
27 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the reported late filing of full accounts for 2022 by (a) P&O Ferries and (b) Port of Cairnryan.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has not held discussions with the UK Government regarding the late filing of accounts for either P&O Ferries or the Port of Cairnryan. Company accounts and related matters of HMRC taxation are reserved to the UK Government.
20 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to fill any staff vacancies associated with revenue protection in ScotRail.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This is an operational matter for ScotRail. The member may wish to contact ScotRail directly for this information.
20 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the ScotRail peak fares removal pilot scheme is being evaluated to take account of variations on particular routes, and how that correlates with areas with greater numbers of lower income households.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The final evaluation report will be undertaken before the Pilot ends. The final report will include data on the time passengers are travelling, by location and by socioeconomic background.
20 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what adjustment has been made to ScotRail's annual projections for travel to take account of the number of any (a) ticket examiner and (b) station booking office staff vacancies, and the impact of any such vacancies on ticket sales.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This is an operational matter for ScotRail. The member may wish to contact ScotRail directly for this information.
20 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the importance of measures that assist current rail travellers with the impact of the cost of living on households.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government is committed to measures which deliver an available, affordable and accessible public transport system which enables people to make positive and proactive choices to use public transport. ScotRail continue to develop fares initiatives …
10 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether any real-terms reductions that it has made to affordable housing budgets has led to (a) the Scottish Borders Council and (b) other local authorities declaring a housing emergency.
Answer · Paul McLennan: It is for individual local authorities to decide whether they wish to declare a Housing emergency and to outline their reasons for doing so. The Scottish Government has asked individual local authorities who have declared housing emergencies to share specific…
10 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Borders Council declaring a housing emergency.
Answer · Paul McLennan: In 2024-2025 we are making available £12.113 million for the provision of more social and affordable homes in the Scottish Borders Council area. We will invest almost £600 million in affordable homes across Scotland in 2024-2025 and will continue to work with…
4 Jun 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any economic and social impact of there being no rail services between Ayr, Girvan and Stranraer since the line was closed in September 2023.
29 May 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on what role local authorities have in preserving the heritage and culture of the areas that they serve.
22 May 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to reduce any health inequalities, specifically in relation to the uptake of cervical cancer screening appointments.
13 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which social determinants it prioritises to ensure that any health inequalities are tackled in rehabilitation service provision, as set out in the Framework for Supporting People through Recovery and Rehabilitation during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Once for Scotland Rehabilitation Approach which supersedes the Framework for Supporting People through Recovery and Rehabilitation during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic (‘The Framework’) sets out the Six Principles of Good Rehabilitation. These Principle…
13 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the resources that are given to local rehabilitation services are adequate to ensure that all adults can access the appropriate support as close to their local areas as possible, as set out in the Framework for Supporting People through Recovery and Rehabi…
Answer · Neil Gray: The resourcing and commissioning of local rehabilitation services is the responsibility of individual Health Boards. The Once for Scotland Rehabilitation Approach which supersedes the Framework for Supporting People through Recovery and Rehabilitation during…
13 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it anticipates that all adults who require rehabilitation will have timely access to the right information and services to support them by the end of 2025, as stated in the aims of the Framework for Supporting People through Recovery and Rehabilitation during and after the COVID-…
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government continues to work towards our ambition to ensure that all adults who require timely access to rehabilitation services can by the end of 2025. This is being taken forwards through the implementation of the Six Principles of Good Rehabi…
13 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many third sector organisations are recognised providers of non-NHS rehabilitation services in Scotland.
Answer · Neil Gray: This data is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.
13 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will support local authority leisure services to (a) develop and (b) deliver community-based rehabilitation services.
Answer · Neil Gray: As set out in the Once for Scotland Rehabilitation Approach, good rehabilitation happens when health care, social care, leisure and third and independent sectors work together to support individuals to access the right kind of rehabilitation for them, at the …
7 May 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will next review the income threshold for free school meals for those pupils not in a year where provision is currently free.
2 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the availability of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Various Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) medicines continue to experience limited and intermittent supply issues. We are aware that market data has indicated that some of these issues will continue beyond May 2024 into the Summer. As the prici…
1 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will set out a plan for ensuring there is sufficient protected time for personal development plans to be completed for nurses in addition to exploring further protected time for leadership training of registered staff at all levels.
Answer · Neil Gray: On 1 March 2024, the Cabinet Secretary for Health confirmed the implementation of the Agenda for Change Review Recommendations including the implementation of a consistent approach to Protected Learning Time across all NHS Scotland Boards. This includes the c…
1 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many times the Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce has met since it was established, and when it plans to make any recommendations.
Answer · Neil Gray: As set out in answer S6W-26380 on 16 April 2024, the Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce has held four ministerial led meetings in April, July, December 2023 and March 2024. The Taskforce has also held two official led meetings in June 2023 and March 2024. The T…
1 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will roll out the Prince of Wales Nursing Cadet Scheme across Scotland.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Prince of Wales Nursing Cadet Scheme has been successfully piloted in NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Tayside, with evaluations demonstrating positive experiences for both participants and NHS placement staff. Learning and good practice from these pilots has been…
1 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will deliver a cost of living increase to the student nurse bursary.
Answer · Neil Gray: We recognise the financial challenges faced by all students, including nursing and midwifery students, and know that this has been exacerbated by the current cost of living crisis. At this juncture, there are no definitive plans to increase the student nurse…
1 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce a long-term public campaign to attract people into nursing.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce has been established to build on efforts to make Scotland the best place for nurses and midwives to come and work by developing plans for the retention of the existing nursing workforce, as well as looking at recruitment. T…
1 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will set out a timeline for how any issues regarding understaffing of nurses as a result of the common staffing method will be resolved, as raised by the Royal College of Nursing Scotland.
Answer · Neil Gray: Under the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019, Health Boards / Special Health Boards / NHS National Services Scotland must follow the common staffing method, which only applies to certain types of health care, provided in certain locations by certa…
1 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much of the NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care budget in 2024-25 has been spent on prevention, and provided to allied health professionals (AHP) as those focused on prevention.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government does not hold the detail of this funding. Local decisions on how to allocate funding is the responsibility of NHS Boards. The 2024-25 Budget provides funding of over £19.5 billion for NHS recovery, health and social care – giving our …
1 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to imposing limitations on any reductions to allied health professional (AHP) budgets by NHS boards, in light of its priority of preventative healthcare.
Answer · Neil Gray: While the Scottish Government provides the policies, frameworks and resources for high quality healthcare, it is for each individual NHS Board to decide best how to utilise funding, facilities and staff while taking account of national and local priorities to…
1 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the First Minister's priority of prevention in health is being delivered.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Our prevention agenda has seen the implementation of various strategies, addressing the fundamental drivers of inequality; encouraging early intervention and support; and promoting environments that support healthy lifestyles. This has included tackling some…
29 Apr 2024 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the number of private GP clinics has reportedly tripled since the COVID-19 pandemic.
25 Apr 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has spoken to the relevant authorities regarding plans to bolster public transport links between Ayr and Stranraer, in light of the reported ongoing disruption on the railway line from Ayr.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Officials from Transport Scotland are in regular dialogue with South Ayrshire Council, ScotRail and Network Rail regarding the ongoing disruption caused by the fire at the Ayr Station Hotel. Officials have separately kept the Regional Transport Partnership ap…
25 Apr 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has conducted an equality impact assessment regarding the number of any missed health appointments as a result of the reported ongoing disruption to the railway line from Stranraer to Ayr, in particular for women.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Lead responsibility for Ayr Station Hotel rests with South Ayrshire Council while Network Rail has lead responsibility for the railway station itself. All parties are aware of the disruption to travel caused by the dreadful vandalism which set fire to the St…
25 Apr 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has conducted an economic impact assessment of any damage to the economy of Stranraer and the surrounding area due to the reported ongoing disruption on the railway line from Ayr.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-27091 on 10 May 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-committees/…