Foysol Choudhury

9 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to raise awareness of leukaemia and its symptoms among (a) the public and (b) health professionals.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Our Detect Cancer Early (DCE) Programme is aimed at increasing early diagnosis rates of Scotland’s most common cancers while reducing health inequalities. DCE launched a new overarching campaign – Survivors - in September 2018 to reduce fear of cancer and emp…

8 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has given to ScotRail to ensure that disabled people are fully involved in the consultation, Fit for the Future.

Answer · Graeme Dey: ScotRail engages with key stakeholders, including Mobility and Access Committee Scotland, throughout the timetable development consultation process to seek their views which will help inform the final May 2022 timetable.

8 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the ScotRail consultation, Fit for the Future, fits with the Scottish Government's commitment to encourage a modal shift to increase the use of public transport.

Answer · Graeme Dey: ScotRail’s proposed timetable for May 2022 would provide more seats than the current timetable, responding to changing travel patterns. By also offering more service options this will help encourage passengers to choose train over car.

8 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has given to ScotRail to ensure that future service provision better meets the needs of people (a) on low incomes and (b) from households without access to a car.

Answer · Graeme Dey: ScotRail currently offers a range of discounted fares and concessions to reduce the cost of travel for a diverse range of passengers. The Scottish Government will require ScotRail to continue to review how it can offer lower fares to meet the needs of people …

8 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the potential impact of ScotRail's proposed service reductions will be on areas with higher levels of multiple deprivation.

Answer · Graeme Dey: ScotRail will continue to serve the diverse range of communities across Scotland, reflecting their changing travel needs. ScotRail’s proposed timetable for May 2022 would provide more seats than the current timetable and the vast majority of customers will fi…

8 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government where the Equality Impact Assessment for the proposals set out in the ScotRail consultation, Fit for the Future, is published.

Answer · Graeme Dey: ScotRail has commenced the Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) and the timetable consultation process will contribute to this assessment. The purpose of the consultation is to enable passengers and stakeholders to provide specific feedback on how the proposals i…

8 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans are in place for the rail network to ensure that additional measures will be taken to tackle women's reported concerns about safety in stations and on trains.

Answer · Graeme Dey: Safety of passengers on our railway is paramount and the British Transport Police (BTP) is accountable to the Scottish Government through the Scottish Railway Policing Committee. I recently met with Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi of the BTP and the topic of wom…

8 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the potential impact of ScotRail's proposed service reductions will be on (a) rural areas and (b) other areas that already have relatively poor public transport links.

Answer · Graeme Dey: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02881 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 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the finance secretary has had with the culture secretary regarding the allocation of funding for the culture, arts and events sectors in light of the impact of COVID-19.

8 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will increase spending to ensure that the NHS can (a) provide adequate support to staff in relation to mental health issues, (b) ensure staff safety in hospitals and (c) overcome any low staffing issues.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: NHS Scotland's staffing levels are at a record high, with 25,000 more whole time equivalent staff members working in our NHS under this Government. Supporting our National Health Service is a central part of the Scottish Government’s programme of work. This …

6 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported low score Scotland has in relation to the Biodiversity Intactness Index, and the ongoing wildlife losses reported in the State of Nature Report 2019, what plans it has to put in place mechanisms and structures for the (a) funding, (b) delivery and (c) evaluation…

Answer · Lorna Slater: The Biodiversity Intactness Index focuses on nature in the past, reflecting the many pressures in the past over which we now have no control. I am pleased to say that of the four UK nations, Scotland is highest in the list. However, our Statement of Intent on…

6 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to findings from the Biodiversity Intactness Index showing that, of 240 countries and territories around the world that have been assessed, Scotland scores 212th, 28th from the bottom, in terms of biodiversity intactness.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The Biodiversity Intactness Index focuses on nature in the past, reflecting the many pressures in the past over which we now have no control. I am pleased to say that of the four UK nations, Scotland ranks highest in the Index. However, we have already acknow…

2 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the arrangements are for childcare provision and support for people participating in the Kickstart scheme, and how this is being monitored to ensure that need is being met with the appropriate services.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: As per the Scottish Government's response to S5W-35177 on 19 February 2021 and S6W-02708 on 16 September 2021, the Kickstart Scheme is a programme of work reserved to the UK Government and it is for the Department of Work and Pensions to report on it. All an…

2 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of places allocated through the Kickstart Scheme in Scotland have been given to (a) young parents, and (b) lone parents.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: As per the Scottish Government's response to question S5W-35177 on 19 February 2021 , the Kickstart Scheme is a programme of work reserved to the UK Government and it is for the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to report on the allocation of opportunitie…

2 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address any hardship faced by lone parents who are under the age of 25 and receive a reduced rate of universal credit.

Answer · Shona Robison: Families where the mother is under the age of 25 and lone parents families are two of the six priority family types identified in the Scottish Government’s Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan as those where children are at greater risk of living in poverty. …

1 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the Biodiversity Intactness Index, and whether it will publish any such assessment. 

Answer · Lorna Slater: The Biodiversity Intactness Index is one of several indices devised to assess the current state of nature, with attribution to a range of drivers. The Biodiversity Intactness Index focuses on nature in the past, and the many pressures in the past over which w…

31 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-01641 by Graeme Dey on 16 August 2021, whether it can confirm that there is no opposition from Transport Scotland to the application from the Ferymuir Gait site developer to secure planning permission for the access arrangements to the Ferrymuir Gai…

Answer · Graeme Dey: Transport Scotland’s position remains, and has been consistent from the planning stage, that it has not agreed to unrestricted access rights through Ferrymuir Gate. There is no agreement that it would be used as the main access to the housing development and …

26 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what liaison it has with the (a) higher and (b) further education sector regarding increasing the numbers of spoken language interpreters.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government has had no approach from either Sector regarding increasing the numbers of spoken language interpreters. The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) is the national, strategic body that is responsible for funding teaching and learning provisio…

25 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of Scotland's plastic waste is exported; what steps it is taking to reduce this, and what date it has set to end the practice.

Answer · Lorna Slater: This information is publically available through the SEPA Waste Discover Data Tool: https://informatics.sepa.org.uk/WasteAllSources/ We are actively working with potential investors in plastic reprocessing capacity in Scotland. Zero Waste Scotland have com…

23 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on what proportion of children who finished primary school in each year since 2018 were able to swim, also broken down by local authority.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

23 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what additional support it has put in place during the COVID-19 recovery period to increase access to swimming lessons for everyone.

Answer · Maree Todd: Our approach during the pandemic has been to permit as much sport and physical activity as much as possible in a safe way, in particular prioritising under eighteen sport. The Scottish Government is in discussion with key stakeholders involved in the provisio…

23 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions on children's access to sport and leisure facilities.

Answer · Maree Todd: We recognise that the opportunities for physical activity, particularly for organised sport, have been significantly affected by the restrictions. Our approach during the pandemic has been to permit as much sport and physical activity as much as possible in a…

19 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prevent diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in vulnerable groups of type 1 diabetics, in light of the study, Rising Rates and Widening Socioeconomic Disparities in Diabetic Ketoacidosis in Type 1 Diabetes in Scotland: A Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Observational St…

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government are committed to improving outcomes for people living with diabetes in Scotland. Our Diabetes Improvement Plan contains specific commitments to raise awareness of the dangers of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and also has a significant fo…

28 Jul 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what help it has made available to potential first-time home buyers since the First Home Fund closed to new applicants, and what support it provides to them when (a) the average price of a home in their area is above the maximum threshold price for the Open Market Shared Equity Scheme, (…

Answer · Shona Robison: First-time buyers can access a variety of support to become a home owner, including the Help to Buy Smaller Developers Scheme and the Low Cost Initiative for First-Time Buyers (LIFT). In addition, the first-time buyer relief for Land and Building Transaction …

19 Jul 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to review the access arrangements to the Ferrymuir Gait housing development, and what its position is on the impact of the current road traffic on the (a) environment and (b) health and quality of life of residents.

Answer · Graeme Dey: Ferrymuir Gait is a ‘private’ road, as defined by the Roads (Scotland ) Act 1984 and serves land owned by Scottish Ministers and infrastructure required for the safe operation and maintenance of the Forth Bridges. Ferrymuir Gait housing development shall not …

19 Jul 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to assess the (a) impact on the environment and (b) noise levels of jet skiers (i) near Wardie Bay, Edinburgh, and (ii) around Scotland's coastline.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: There are voluntary agreements in some parts of Scotland around the use of jet skis, including duration of use and timings. We are not aware of a specific agreement covering Wardie Bay. These agreements are not a statutory requirement. Our natural geography …

19 Jul 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to protect marine wildlife from the impact of jet skiers (a) near Wardie Bay, Edinburgh, and (b) around Scotland's coastline.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government is committed to protecting Scotland’s marine wildlife. The current regulatory framework provides a high level of individual and site based protection measures for our iconic marine wildlife with processes in place to ensure that action…

9 Jul 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what research has been carried out on the impact of COVID-19 vaccinations on reducing the need for international arrivals to quarantine, and what plans to remove such restrictions for people arriving who have been fully vaccinated.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Four nations discussions on policy for fully vaccinated travellers has benefited from analysis and research from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, the Joint Biosecurity Centre and other sources. The success of the vaccination programme means we …

9 Jul 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent (a) discussions have taken place and (b) public health guidance it has received regarding increasing the numbers of guests at weddings under the proposed easing of the COVID-19 restrictions.

Answer · Ash Denham: The Scottish Government has been reviewing the restrictions and guidance in place regularly. Following the most recent review, the First Minister announced on 13 July that all remaining parts of Scotland would move to protection level 0 of the updated Str…

7 Jul 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will address the concerns raised in the 2020 Insights report, Spoken Language Interpreters in Social Work, in particular those regarding (a) shortages of skilled interpreters and (b) the ad hoc nature of the service in place to support clients.

Answer · Clare Haughey: The Scottish Government is committed to improving and embedding inclusive communication within Government and across public bodies, this is a focus of one of our Equality Outcomes for the 2021-25 reporting period, as well as being a 2020 PfG commitment. The S…