Martin Whitfield

29 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of paragraph 28 of the Audit Scotland report, New vessels for the Clyde and Hebrides, stating that “it is not clear what discussions took place between Scottish ministers and Transport Scotland about the contract award...there is no documented evidence to confirm why Scottish m…

Answer · Kate Forbes: The audit trail here is a matter of public record. Advice was put to the then Cabinet Secretary Keith Brown on 20 August 2015, setting out CMAL’s identification of FMEL as the preferred bidder. Advice was also put to the then Minister for Transport and Island…

22 Mar 2022 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the SNP manifesto commitment for every child to leave school being able to cycle safely.

10 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many undergraduate and postgraduate students have presented as homeless since May 2016, broken down by higher education institution.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Statistics on homelessness, based on administrative data, are collected by local authorities in the course of processing homelessness applications and for households in temporary accommodation. A limitation of this approach is that data is not collected for a…

7 Feb 2022 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether she will provide an update on what steps the Scottish Government is taking to improve CAMHS waiting times.

1 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether young people who have received an email confirmation that they will receive a travel card for free bus travel, but have not received it, are able to claim back their bus travel costs between 1 February 2022 and the date on which they received their card, and if this is the case, …

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: To access the scheme, all those aged 5-21 must be carrying a new card. A valid card must be presented to obtain free travel. Until a valid card is received applicants are required to pay the fare of any journeys required. Transport Scotland will not provide r…

26 Jan 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives from the nuclear energy sector, and what was discussed.

25 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps have been taken to (a) monitor and (b) evaluate local authorities’ compliance with the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (Relevant Services in relation to Children at Risk of Becoming Looked After etc.) Order 2016.

15 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the timeline for plans to pilot free school breakfast provision in primary and special schools.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The 2021-22 Programme for Government committed to developing plans to deliver free breakfasts to all primary and special school children, and start to pilot this provision. In order to effectively deliver this universal breakfast offer we need to better under…

22 Nov 2021 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many schools are currently shut due to staff shortages resulting from COVID-19 cases.

16 Nov 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the closure of Edington Cottage Hospital.

9 Nov 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what actions are being taken to ensure that the agriculture sector plays a leading role in delivering a net zero Scotland.

3 Nov 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle the employment gap for disabled people, in light of the reported findings from the Annual Population Survey 2020-21 that the employment rate for disabled people was 47.4%, which was lower than that for non-disabled people.

26 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has given to local authorities regarding parent-teacher consultations, and whether any such guidance specifies (a) whether they should be virtual or in-person meetings, (b) the time of day that meetings should take place and (c) any position on the importance of meeting …

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Specific guidance on Reporting to Parents and Involving / Engaging Parent Councils during COVID–19 was published in November 2020. It states that “alternative methods and approaches to reporting will need to be used” in the current circumstances. Digital an…

11 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to (a) attract more and (b) retain (i) neurology specialists and (ii) MS nurses.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: In December 2019 we published a Neurological Care and Support – a National Framework for Action . Over five years we will invest £4.5 million to implement the Framework’s commitments, including the development of sustainable workforce models. The Scottish …

11 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the reported backlog with the provision of (a) MS and (b) other neurology services.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all people living in Scotland with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) are able to access the best possible care and support, and benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and person-centred. The NHS …

11 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support people who have (a) MS and (b) other neurological conditions with managing their condition while they are waiting for treatment.

Answer · Maree Todd: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-03702 on 29 October 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-committ…

11 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve access to new medicines for people living with progressive forms of MS.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: In December 2019 we published "Neurological Care and Support - a National Framework for Action". Over 5 years we will invest £4.5 million to implement the Framework’s 17 commitments. Some of these commitments aim to improve access to new medicines for people…

4 Oct 2021 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the announcement that the SQA has entered a two-year agreement with the Equality and Human Rights Commission to improve equalities practices after the Commission established that the SQA was not routinely assessing the impact of its policies and p…

22 Sep 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the recent funding announcement of £50 million for homeless services will be new money or funds previously allocated to existing budgets.

15 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether essential workers who are (a) unwilling and (b) unable to have a COVID-19 vaccine should instead be allowed to undertake regular (i) lateral flow and (ii) PCR tests to enable them to work.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government encourages essential workers, along with the wider adult population and secondary school-aged pupils, to participate in regular asymptomatic testing irrespective of their vaccination status. The Scottish Government’s asymptomatic work…

15 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which of its departments was responsible for the decision for non-symptomatic school pupils to be offered COVID-19 lateral flow tests, as opposed to PCR tests; who made the decision, and when.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The decision to recommend the use of LFD tests for children, young people and staff in the event of having been identified as a low-risk contact was based upon expert public health advice and through engagement with the Covid-19 Education Recovery Group (CERG…

15 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what arrangement it has with Openreach to access private land to facilitate the roll-out of fibre optic broadband.

Answer · Kate Forbes: All legislative and regulatory responsibility for telecommunications rests with the UK Government and Ofcom respectively. As such the Scottish Government has no arrangement with Openreach around access to private land in Scotland. Wayleaves are negotiated dir…

8 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund will be operational, and what the mechanism for distribution will be.

Answer · Clare Haughey: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02863 on 23 September 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-commi…

8 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an annual breakdown for the allocation of the £500 million Whole Family Wellbeing Fund set out in the Programme for Government, and whether any of this funding will be redirected from pre-existing budgets.

Answer · Clare Haughey: We will work closely with The Promise Scotland and partners across local government, social justice, health, the third sector, and with children and families to design and deliver the Fund. Further details will be provided in due course. The commitment to in…

8 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to involve the third sector in the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund.

Answer · Clare Haughey: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02863 on 23 September 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-comm…

8 Sep 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the finance secretary has had with the education secretary regarding the allocation of additional funding to improve ventilation in schools to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

3 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the scientific basis is for the continuing COVID-19 restrictions on parents and carers from watching their children participate in organised school sport.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Our priority remains keeping children, young people and school staff safe. The guidance on reducing COVID risks in schools, has been updated and was published on 15 September. It is in line with current advice from the COVID-19 Advisory Sub-Group on Education…

25 Aug 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any progress that has been made on the use of mobile abattoirs.

18 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider fast-tracking applications for the new Adult Disability Payment from people who are undergoing cancer treatment.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: Throughout the development of our new social security system our overriding commitment is to the safe and secure transfer of disability assistance from the Department for Work and Pensions to Social Security Scotland. It is essential that clients continue to …

13 Jul 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider undertaking a campaign to raise public awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer.

Answer · Maree Todd: A new Early Cancer Diagnosis Programme Board has been formed – this group will be responsible for shaping and supporting the delivery of Scotland’s early cancer diagnosis efforts over the coming years. The exploration of any future public awareness campaigns …