Parliamentary questions

Carol Mochan

846 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

6 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the ability of residents in (a) Dumfries and Galloway and (b) the Scottish Borders to travel to major cities in the UK using public transport.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: A detailed analysis of public transport accessibility for the residents of Dumfries and Galloway and Scottish Borders was undertaken as part of the South West Transport Study ( swsts-inital-appraisal-case-for-change-including-appendices.pdf (transport.gov.sc…

6 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with bus companies regarding the incorporation of towns in (a) Dumfries and Galloway and (b) the Scottish Borders Council areas into routes from major Scottish cities to the rest of the UK.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: As I highlighted in my answer of S6W-14847 on 6 March 2023, bus services operate in an open de-regulated market, decisions about the incorporation of towns on service routes to major cities is a matter solely for the bus companies and local authorities. Howev…

6 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will seek a commitment from bus companies to reinstate or establish routes from towns in (a) Dumfries and Galloway and (b) the Scottish Borders Council areas to improve connectivity between these areas and the rest of the UK.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Most bus services across Scotland operate in an open de-regulated market and have done so since the 1980s. Scottish Ministers do not have the power to intervene directly in the provision of local services. This is solely a matter for individual bus operators …

31 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much the redevelopment of Troon railway station will cost; by what date the work will be completed, and whether it will retain a staffed ticket office.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Network Rail is initiating a tendering process to secure a contractor to deliver the Troon railway station project, which will provide clarity on the overall costs of the redevelopment. The proposed station includes provision for staff and the sale of tickets…

18 Jan 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that some women have been denied transvaginal ultrasounds on the basis of not yet being sexually active.

16 Jan 2023 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to comments by Prostate Cancer UK regarding reported figures showing that men in Scotland are more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer too late for it to be successfully treated than in any other part of the UK.

9 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans are in place to deal with any disruption to transport in the South Scotland region caused by flooding.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Climate change will increase both the intensity and frequency of storms, flooding and high winds. The recent impact of flooding on our roads and railway is a reminder of the need to adapt our transport network to the effects of severe weather. Action has bee…

9 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available for (a) families and (b) businesses in the South Scotland region that are affected by floods.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government funds the Scottish Flood Forum (SFF) to provide help to businesses and families in the event of flooding. They can offer advice, information and support to help those flooded – from advice on managing insurance claims, drying out, find…

9 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to invest in more flood defences in the South Scotland region.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: It is the responsibility of local authorities to develop and deliver flood protection schemes in Scotland. Since 2008, the Scottish Government has provided £42million/ yr through the general capital grant to support the delivery of flood risk management actio…

9 Jan 2023 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that, during freezing temperatures in December, ambulances were called out to 800 people with hypothermia.

16 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to (a) protect the jobs of retail workers and (b) assist retail workers who have lost their jobs due to shop closures.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The UK currently faces a rapidly escalating cost crisis, an emergency on a similar scale to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is essential that the response from government at every level is commensurate, in scale and speed, to the nature and magnitude of the emergen…

13 Dec 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prepare for any potential surge in avian flu cases over the winter.

12 Dec 2022 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister, further to her commitment in June that a Women’s Health Champion for Scotland would be appointed in the summer, whether such an appointment will be made before Christmas.

7 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Supreme Court ruling on buffer zones surrounding abortion clinics in Northern Ireland, when it will introduce legislation to support the creation of similar zones in Scotland.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government welcomes the UK Supreme Court’s judgment. We are carefully considering the judgment in the Scottish context and remain committed to supporting Gillian Mackay MSP with the development of her member’s bill to safeguard access for women i…

28 Nov 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when its prospectus, Building a New Scotland, will include a detailed plan regarding the economic practicalities of introducing a border with the rest of the UK.

18 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to introduce training places funded through the Student Awards Agency Scotland for career-changers who wish to retrain as allied health professionals.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: A national oversight group responsible for a review of AHP Education and Workforce Review has recently concluded its work. The collaborative group involving a wide range of AHP stakeholders including professional bodies, HEIs and NHS Boards have produced a nu…

18 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce bursaries for those training for or studying allied health professions.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government will continue to protect free tuition for Scottish-domiciled students undertaking under-graduate courses in addition to stepping in to address specific workforce challenges directly related to government workforce policy ambitions . At…

18 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there are plans to develop a training and development fund specifically for the allied health professions.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: A national oversight group responsible for a review of AHP Education and Workforce has recently concluded its work. The collaborative group involving a wide range of AHP stakeholders including professional bodies, HEIs and NHS Boards is due to report their re…

1 Nov 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the social justice cabinet secretary has had with ministerial colleagues on any potential impact on levels of personal debt of the inclusion of individual consumers under the Moveable Transactions (Scotland) Bill.

31 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-10776 by Kevin Stewart on 20 September 2022, on what date it will launch the formal public consultation period on the proposed Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity Bill.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government has committed to introducing a Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity Bill to ensure that the rights of autistic people, people with learning disabilities, and neurodivergent people are respected and protected. Final decision…

31 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what planning and preparation is taking place to ensure that Scotland can adopt HPV self-sampling in the national cervical screening programme as soon as it is recommended by the UK National Screening Committee.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government is committed to exploring the implementation of HPV self-sampling, and acknowledges that it has the potential to increase uptake levels and reduce barriers to cervical screening. The UK National Screening Committee (NSC) recognises th…

27 Sep 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to support the rural economy in areas impacted by long-term population decline.

28 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to improve access to dentistry services in rural areas.

Answer · Maree Todd: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-10083 on16 August 2022. 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-committee…

28 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will invest more in NHS dentistry in rural areas in order to ensure that every family has access to affordable and accessible dentistry care.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government is committed to continuing to invest in NHS dentistry in rural areas, which is why we have updated the Recruitment and Retention Allowance to reflect the particular challenges in attracting dentists to work in more remote areas. Denti…

28 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of households in the (a) Borders, (b) Dumfries and Galloway, (c) East Lothian, (d) East Ayrshire, (e) South Ayrshire, (f) South Lanarkshire and (g) Midlothian Council area are not registered with a dentist.

Answer · Maree Todd: The percentage of the population registered with a NHS dentist in Scotland is broken down by NHS Board rather than council area and is published by Public Health Scotland (PHS). As of September 2021, the percentage of patients who are not registered with a NH…

19 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what investment it is making in public transport in (a) Patna and (b) other villages in Scotland to ensure that residents are able to travel to and from nearby towns and major cities at times convenient to them.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is aware of the importance of rural bus services for villages across the country and are committed, in partnership with operators and local authorities, to looking at ways of ensuring that those living in or visiting Patna, as well as …

19 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether spectating at sporting events can be an important and significant part of some people's lives, and what it is doing to ensure that public transport services work to ensure that such events can be enjoyed by all.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Spectating at sporting events is important to the people of Scotland and brings benefits in terms of enjoyment, stress reduction, socialisation and camaraderie with community, friends and family. Public transport has a role to play in enabling fans to get to …

19 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported concerns by football fans in south Scotland that current public transport services do not run frequently enough to attend an evening football match and return home afterwards.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: If the member could share more detail on the specific concerns and services she is referring to then I would be happy to write directly to her.

5 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what role dedicated units for women experiencing baby loss and/or pregnancy complication have in achieving the aims set out in the Women’s Health Plan.

Answer · Maree Todd: As outlined in the Programme for Government 2021 – 22 A Fairer, Greener Scotland: Programme for Government 2021-22 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) published in September 2021, the Scottish Government is committed to establishing a dignified and compassionate misc…

5 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to delivering dedicated units for women experiencing baby loss and/or pregnancy complication in NHS board areas as an immediate priority rather than a medium to long term target.