Foysol Choudhury

16 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to publicly respond to the Scottish Police Federation's submitted pay claim for a 5.7% pay increase for 2024-25.

Answer · Angela Constance: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-30701 on 4 November 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-co…

16 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to make a formal pay offer to police officers.

Answer · Angela Constance: The negotiation of police officer pay is carried out through the Police Negotiating Board for Scotland (PNBS), which has been negotiating the police officer pay claim since it was received on 10 May 2024.The Official Side (Scottish Ministers, the Scottish Pol…

15 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered extending modern language provision in primary and secondary schools to include the languages spoken by New Scots pupils and their families, in line with the recommendations set out in the University of Glasgow-led project, Welcoming Languages, and the principle…

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government notes the University of Glasgow-led project and report ‘Welcoming Languages’, and officials are in contact with researchers from the University to consider the report’s findings and to ensure that learning from the pr…

1 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there are any plans to review the operational aspects of the Caledonian Sleeper train service now that it has come into public ownership.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Scottish Rail Holdings working with its subsidiary Caledonian Sleeper Limited keep all aspects of the Caledonian Sleeper operation under review to ensure it operates effectively and in alignment with the policies of the Scottish Government.

10 Sep 2024 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the reported reduction to the Investing in Communities Fund and any impact on its aim of addressing poverty and disadvantage.

5 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6F-03284 by John Swinney on 5 September 2024, how it is working to lower waiting times for urology operations classified as urgent by NHS Scotland.

Answer · Neil Gray: Patients referred for urgent care, including cancer treatment, continue to be prioritised across NHS Scotland.We are committed to providing Health Boards with the necessary support to drive improvements in waiting times, and will continue to target resources …

2 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the negotiations between Transport Scotland and Ambassador Living in relation to concluding the Ferrymuir Gait access issue.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Transport Scotland is still engaged in positive dialogue with the housing developer to agree a way forward for access through Ferrymuir Gait. We are now at a position whereby the agreements are being signed by both parties, therefore it is hoped that this wil…

21 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Independent Working Group on Antisocial Behaviour is expected to report on the efficacy of the Scottish Government’s current approach to antisocial behaviour.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Independent Working Group on Antisocial Behaviour is expected to report to Ministers, COSLA and Police Scotland by the end of 2024.

21 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to NHS boards regarding the positioning of pharmacies that offer supervised methadone supply.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government has not provided guidance on this matter. It is for Health Boards to ensure that NHS pharmaceutical services are in place to meet the needs of their local population.

21 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with local authorities regarding antisocial behaviour since April 2024.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: We fully support local authorities, and Police Scotland, who lead on preventing and tackling antisocial behaviour and are best placed to work with their local communities using the powers available to them. I have regular direct engagement with COSLA’s …

8 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to ensure that people using motorhomes for recreational activities such as camping do so in a manner that respects the environment and local area.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government recognises that Tourism is a vital part of the Scottish economy both nationally and locally.We are working closely through the Visitor Management Group with the relevant agencies, Local Authorities and National Park Authorities to ensu…

6 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its publication, Scotland’s Long COVID Service, will be updated to reflect any research undertaken and guidance provided since 2021.

Answer · Jenni Minto: There are no current plans to update the publication ‘Scotland’s Long COVID Service’.The guideline ‘Managing the long-term effects of COVID-19' was first issued by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the Scottish Int…

16 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to ensure that (a) local authorities and (b) housing associations provide housing adaptations for people with disabilities, when other accessible homes are not available.

Answer · Paul McLennan: As set out in our Housing to 2040 strategy, we are committed to streamlining and accelerating the housing adaptations system and to take action to reduce the time it takes for disabled people to apply for and receive support and maximise the available resourc…

9 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much public money has been spent on the administration of Sheriff Officer fees for the recovery of water and sewage charge debts from those in receipt of full Council Tax Reduction (CTR) in each year since CTR was introduced, broken down by year.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Water and Sewerage Services to Dwellings (Collection of Unmetered Charges by Local Authority) (Scotland) Order 2023 provides a mechanism for Scottish Water to pay Local Authorities for the costs of billing and collecting water and sewerage charges. The Sc…

9 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered any further increase in the rate of relief available via the Water Charges Reduction Scheme.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government recognises that the cost of living crisis continues to place pressure on household budgets. However, previous industry research has shown that customers facing affordability issues can be found across all Council Tax bands. Therefore, …

9 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has assessed the contribution of the cost of administering Sheriff Officer fees for recovering water and sewage charge debts to public sector debt.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government has not undertaken such an assessment.

4 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the housing emergency, what action it is taking to ensure that child refugees arriving in Scotland through family reunification (a) have access to suitable housing and (b) are not required to present as homeless and stay in temporary accommodation for extended periods.

Answer · Kaukab Stewart: We understand that reunion and contact with family members are vitally important to refugees living in Scotland. Although asylum and immigration are reserved matters, we want the process of family reunion to be simpler and safer for refugees in Scotland. The…

1 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to create a delivery plan for the announced £100 million towards culture in Scotland, including (a) when the funding will be delivered to cultural organisations and (b) how it will be decided where the funding is allocated.

Answer · Angus Robertson: The Scottish Government is increasing funding to the culture sector by £15.8m this financial year to £196.6m. This is the first step on the route to investing at least £100m more annually in culture and the arts by the financial year 2028-29. In 2025-2026 we …

26 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to directly (a) fund and (b) engage with (i) experts and (ii) organisations in black and multi-ethnic communities.

Answer · Kaukab Stewart: The Scottish Government approved £21 million of funding for the 2021-2024 period to support equality and human rights in Scotland through the Equality and Human Rights Fund Equality and Human Rights Fund: projects funded - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) . Of that …

26 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to (a) ensure equal access to community assets for and (b) address the current lack of access faced by organisations serving black and minority ethnic and migrant communities, in light of the important role that a stable venue can play in enabling such groups to effecti…

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government introduced asset transfer legislation as part of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015. This landmark policy is the first of its kind in the UK and since its enactment on 23 January 2017 there has been more than 225 successful …

26 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many type 1 diabetic adults are expected to be started on insulin pumps in NHS Lothian in the 2024-2025 period as a direct result of the recently announced funding of up to £8.8 million for diabetes technology.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government’s recent investment into diabetes technologies will allow all children living with Type 1 diabetes to get access, should they want it. This funding will also support increased provision to adults. Exact numbers in each NHS board area w…

17 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) A1, (b) A2, (c) A3, (d) B and (e) J26 NHS hospitals have closed in the last 17 years.

Answer · Neil Gray: The hospital group codes that have been quoted in the question are only present in data that are used for the Public Health Scotland ‘Costs Book’. Therefore, the figures quoted below are based on hospitals that have been assigned with one of the hospital grou…

17 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS boards are currently consulting on the future of any (a) A1, (b) A2, (c) A3, (d) B and (e) J26 hospitals, and which hospitals they are.

Answer · Neil Gray: Currently there are no territorial NHS Boards consulting on major service change proposals on the future of hospitals. Any major service change proposals being considered by NHS Boards are subject to at least three months formal public consultation and, ulti…

17 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the number of NHS boards that provide psychosocial support training for renal healthcare professionals.

Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-28205 on? 5 July 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…

17 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of psychosocial support for people with chronic kidney disease.

Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-28205 on? 5 July 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…

11 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-27769 by Kaukab Stewart on 5 June 2024, which stated that 35% of successful external applicants declared a disability, what the exact number is of external recruits to Scottish Government jobs who declared a disability. 

Answer · Kaukab Stewart: Latest figures from our Diversity and inclusions statistics of the Scottish Government workforce 2023 official statistics publication show that there were 473 external recruits to core Scottish Government directorates between 1 Jan 2023 and 31 Dec 2023, exc…

6 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of the suspension of the GP sustainability loan scheme on health inequalities.

Answer · Neil Gray: The GP Sustainability loan scheme was paused in March 2024 due to a greater than anticipated number of loans having completed this year with the result that our budget for loans was oversubscribed. The Scottish Government’s position on GP premises remains th…

4 Jun 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with local authorities regarding any further allocation from its Budget, including for housebuilding.

3 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact that its recent announcement of up to £8.8 million for diabetes technology will have on waiting times for an insulin pump for type 1 diabetic adults in NHS Lothian, which are reportedly expected to increase to 10 years by the end of 2024.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government’s recent investment into diabetes technologies will specifically support children and adults to access closed loop systems. Alongside this additional investment, we will also encourage all NHS Boards including NHS Lothian to utilise t…

28 May 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide further details of how it is working to ensure free music tuition to pupils in schools across Scotland.