Parliamentary questions
Foysol Choudhury
467 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
28 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to ensure that (a) local authorities and (b) housing associations provide social housing suitable for families with multiple disabled people.
Answer · Paul McLennan: We want disabled people in Scotland to have choice, dignity and freedom to access suitable homes, built or adapted to enable them to participate as full and equal citizens.As the statutory housing authority for their area, local authorities are responsible fo…
28 Jan 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to increase investment in Scotland’s artificial intelligence sector.
28 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the support it provides to projects in such countries through its International Development Fund, what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the Cancel Debt, Choose Hope campaign, which calls for governments to champion improvements to the debt cancellation…
Answer · Angus Robertson: Debt repayments put extra burden for low-income countries and take way resources from much needed investment in key areas such as health and education. The Scottish Government is committed to supporting our partner countries in efforts towards SDGs with fundi…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects the Anti-Racism Observatory for Scotland to become operational.
Answer · Kaukab Stewart: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-34284 on 12 February 2025. 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-a…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the creation of the Anti-Racism Observatory for Scotland.
Answer · Kaukab Stewart: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-34284 on 12 February 2025. 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-a…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether funding for the Anti-Racism Observatory for Scotland will be separate and additional to existing budgets.
Answer · Kaukab Stewart: We can confirm the budget allocation for the Anti-Racism Observatory for Scotland (AROS) is separate and additional to existing budgets.We are currently within the evaluation phase of the procurement process to identify a host for the Anti-Racism Observatory …
22 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what progress has been made with its scheme, Percentage for the Arts.
Answer · Angus Robertson: The Scottish Government has committed through its 2024 Programme for Government to review the way the culture sector is supported, which includes exploring alternative and additional funding mechanisms to grow the overall funding pot for culture in Scotland. …
21 Jan 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to improve access to support for pupils with additional support needs, including access to speech and language therapists.
21 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the fixed fees system on the number of solicitors taking on legal aid cases.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: The fixed fee system was introduced over 25 years ago, in 1999. The initial move to fixed fees in 1999 was designed to reverse the substantial growth in costs seen throughout the 1990s and which led to significant reforms both in Scotland and England and Wale…
16 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding is being provided to ensure that every cancer patient is able to access specialist psychological support throughout their treatment.
Answer · Neil Gray: Scottish Government’s Psychological Therapies and Support Framework for People Affected by Cancer supports Health Boards in considering the services which should be available to those affected by cancer, including psychological support, at any point of …
16 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve NHS Scotland’s data and information-sharing infrastructure.
Answer · Neil Gray: COSLA and the Scottish Government published Scotland’s first Data Strategy for Health and Social Care in February 2023. The Strategy outlines a number of key developments for improving technology and infrastructure to improve the care and wellbeing of p…
16 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what recent steps it has taken to (a) increase the number of GPs nationwide and (b) improve access to face-to-face GP appointments.
Answer · Neil Gray: (a) The Scottish Government remains fully committed to increasing the number of GPs by 800 by 2027.In November 2024 we published a General Practitioner Recruitment and Retention Action Plan, available online at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/general-pract…
16 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to ensure that cancer patients are able to receive patient-centred care that is tailored to their individual needs.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government published our Cancer Strategy for Scotland 2023-2033 along with an initial three year Cancer Action Plan for Scotland 2023 – 2026 in June 2023. The strategy and plan take a comprehensive approach to improving patient pathways fro…
16 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to use public deliberation methods, such as citizens' juries, to improve cancer services.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government continues to use a range of methods to ensure meaningful public input to our work, including focus groups and formal public consultation.The Scottish Cancer Patient Experience Survey (SCPES) asks people about their experience of cancer…
14 Jan 2025 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any implications for its provision offunding for humanitarian aid in Gaza, whether it will provide an update on whatdiscussions it has had with the UK Government regarding recent developments inGaza.
8 Jan 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to ScotRail ticket offices scoring one out of five in the most recent Service Quality Inspection Regime data.
19 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in adopting the recommendations made in the Report of the inquiry into Islamophobia in Scotland by the Cross-Party Group on Tackling Islamophobia.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government greatly values Muslim communities in Scotland and is committed to tackling Islamophobia in our society. Since the publication of the Report of the inquiry into Islamophobia in Scotland, the Scottish Government has worked towards adopti…
19 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what progress it has made towards implementing the recommendations made by the Cross-Party Group on Tackling Islamophobia in its report, Scotland’s Islamophobia - Update 2023.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: Tackling religious or race-based intolerance, including Islamophobia, is a priority for the Scottish Government. The Cross-Party Group’s report, Scotland’s Islamophobia - Update 2023, attributes three recommendations to the Scottish Government:1. …
19 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to tackle any inequalities in HPV (a) vaccination and (b) screening coverage rates.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of HPV vaccination and screening.The latest published HPV vaccination uptake data from Public Health Scotland (PHS) shows that pupils living in the most deprived quintiles had lower coverage of the HPV vaccine…
19 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to formally commit to eliminating cervical cancer.
Answer · Jenni Minto: As set out on 22 January 2024 in response to question S6W-24720 on 21 January 2024, the Scottish Government has established an Expert Group to lead on scoping work to consider and provide recommendations on how Scotland will work towards reaching the targets …
3 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to prevent closures of the Queensferry Crossing, in light of reports after recent periods of cold weather that traffic could be diverted to the Forth Road Bridge as soon as an ice forecast is received, to prevent ice falling from its cables onto vehicles.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Ice accretion is a world-wide problem affecting cable-stayed bridges in colder climates, and there is currently no effective solution for preventing it completely. While closures of the Queensferry Crossing due to ice accretion cannot be prevented entirely, w…
3 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the operators of the Queensferry Crossing regarding regularly cleaning its cables to prevent the build up of ice.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Transport Scotland has worked in partnership with its Operating Company BEAR Scotland and industry experts to test potential solutions and mitigation measures for ice accretion on the Queensferry Crossing, including cable cleaning.This work, supported by labo…
2 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that communities do not lose access to dentistry services.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government remains committed to securing access to NHS dental services, and the draft budget published on 4 December includes an uplift of £65.2 million (14.6%) for primary care dental services, taking total funding to over half a billion p…
28 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that increases in child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) staff numbers are consistent and proportionate across NHS boards.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government have invested heavily in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in recent years, which is why CAMHS staffing has increased by 59.1% in the last decade of this Government (+553.8 WTE). CAMHS workforce data is publicly avail…
26 Nov 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to ensure that pupils have access to practical science activities as part of the curriculum.
19 Nov 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its work on diversity, inclusion and equalities, what recent discussions the Minister for Equalities has had with ministerial colleagues regarding work to tackle Islamophobia.
12 Nov 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to protect the allocation of funding to third sector organisations in its forthcoming Budget.
6 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether funding for the 2025-26 round of the Place Based Investment Programme (PBIP) will take place as planned.
Answer · Tom Arthur: Discussions regarding the 2025-26 budget remain ongoing, and as such we are unable to provide any details regarding the Place Based Investment Programme (PBIP) or other regeneration capital funding programmes for 2025-26.
22 Oct 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve transparency in the management of Scotland's finances.
16 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Scottish Police Federation regarding a 2024-25 pay award for police officers.
Answer · Angela Constance: On 23 May 2024 I met with David Kennedy and David Threadgold from the Scottish Police Federation, as part of my regular meetings with policing partners, where we discussed various topics of interest, including the pay claim for 2024-25.During the discussion i…