Parliamentary questions
Foysol Choudhury
467 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
28 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is acting to improve the safety of food delivery drivers, in light of a recent survey by Heriot-Watt University that found that 81% of food delivery drivers feel unsafe.
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-27426 on 28 May 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/…
28 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it considers workers in the so-called gig economy as part of the work that it is undertaking to make Scotland "a leading Fair Work Nation by 2025".
Answer · Tom Arthur: All workers should be paid fairly for the work they do and have the opportunity of job security. Recent research from Herriot-Watt University points to particular challenges in this regard in the gig economy. These are not unique to Scotland. According to th…
28 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what progress it has made regarding the delivery of a railway station in Winchburgh, including in relation to (a) developing the business case and (b) meeting the cost.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government remains supportive of a new station in Winchburgh and I am pleased to confirm that my officials and I met with representatives from West Lothian Council, Winchburgh Development Limited and Network Rail on 17 April to discuss the propos…
27 May 2024 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to build resilience to flooding, in light of reports that heavy rain and flooding caused drivers to be stranded on the Edinburgh City Bypass for hours.
22 May 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what forms of community engagement the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill mandates in relation to the creation of a land management plan for large land holdings.
21 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made towards meeting its target of disabled people representing 19% of its workforce, as set out in its 2019 Recruitment and Retention Plan for Disabled People.
Answer · Kaukab Stewart: The 2019 recruitment and retention Action plan for Disabled People has been superseded by the Diversity and Inclusion Employer Strategy for Scottish Government published April 2024. Having a workforce more representative of the people of Scotland it serves, r…
21 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made towards meeting its target of 25% of its external recruits being disabled people by 2025, as set out in its 2019 Recruitment and Retention Plan for Disabled People.
Answer · Kaukab Stewart: The 2019 recruitment and retention Action plan for Disabled People has been superseded by the Diversity and Inclusion Employer Strategy for Scottish Government published April 2024. Having a workforce more representative of the people of Scotland it serves, r…
15 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what medical advice it had received, regarding any risks of blood clots, prior to its decision to suspend the use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for under-30s in April 2021.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government’s decision-making throughout all COVID-19 vaccination programmes has been guided by the expert clinical advice of both the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agen…
15 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it first became aware of any dangers of aging reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: I refer the member to question S6W-20958 on 3 October 2023 . 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/written-qu…
9 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what work it has undertaken to understand the cause of the e-gate outage at Scottish airports on 7 May 2024, and what it is doing to ensure that such an incident does not occur during the upcoming summer tourist season.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The operation of e-gates at the UK Border is the responsibility of the UK Government. There is no role for the Scottish Government in the operational or policy matters relating to the UK Border.
8 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the provisions in the Housing (Scotland) Bill will aim to ensure that landlords keep their properties habitable and well ventilated.
Answer · Paul McLennan: The objective of the Housing (Scotland) Bill as introduced to Parliament on 26 March 2024 is to deliver a package of reforms which will help ensure people have a safe, secure, and affordable place to live. If passed by Parliament, the Bill will enable the del…
8 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to promote coordination between schools and mental health services.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The mental health and wellbeing of children and young people is a top priority for the Scottish Government. We continue to provide £16 million a year to ensure that every secondary school has access to school counselling services. Our guidance makes clear…
7 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has assessed the impact of the reductions in the number of police officers since 2008 on the force’s ability to respond to reports of a crime.
Answer · Angela Constance: Police Scotland implemented the THRIVE approach as part of the roll out of its Contact Assessment Model (CAM) across 2019/20. THRIVE is used to ensure a consistent response to an incident report by evaluating threat, harm, risk, investigation, vulnerability a…
6 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it has monitored the implementation of the Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care guidance, published in 2015, including in particular the monitoring of discharging patients in consultation with the patient, family and carers.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care guidance was introduced in Scotland on 1 June 2015 following a review of NHS continuing care. A key aim was to ensure that anyone who needs to be in hospital for a longer period of time is to get them well enough to re…
2 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many visitors each VisitScotland iCentre had in 2023.
Answer · Kate Forbes: This data is not held centrally by the Scottish Government but VisitScotland’s data shows that footfall to iCentres has decreased significantly over several years. The decrease from 2019 to 2023 ranges from 16% to 57% across 25 locations.
30 Apr 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to incorporate the ownership and management of community assets in urban areas into its Land Reform (Scotland) Bill.
29 Apr 2024 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what recent discussions the Scottish Government has had with environmental groups and communities regarding how it plans to deliver strong action on climate change, following the removal of the 2030 climate target.
22 Apr 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the adequacy of non-emergency kidney patient transport service provision for patients travelling to and from in-centre dialysis appointments across each NHS board, and when it made any such assessment.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government’s role is to set the strategic policy for the NHS in Scotland, NHS Boards are responsible for service delivery and treatment. All Health Boards should consider patient transport needs when they plan and deliver services and must ensure…
22 Apr 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the average time that kidney patients wait for non-emergency patient transport services to and from in-centre dialysis appointments.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government’s role is to set the strategic policy for the NHS in Scotland, NHS Boards are responsible for service delivery and treatment. All Health Boards should consider patient transport needs when they plan and deliver services and must ensure…
16 Apr 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the development of a national framework for school swimming following the School Swimming Phase 1 Pilots in 2023.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Phase 1 pilot programmes have now been fully evaluated and a report produced on the strengths of each approach, as well as considerations for the future. The Phase 1 evaluation is available here: https://sportscotland.org.uk/about-us/our-publications/arc…
10 Apr 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the initial fire crews that attended the Breadalbane Street fire in Edinburgh on 14 March 2024 were relieved from the incident in order to decontaminate, and, if it is the case that they were not relieved, what the duration of their attendance was.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: The movement and management of fire crews at an operational incident is entirely a matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. The safety and wellbeing of firefighters is a priority for both the Scottish Government and for the fire service.
10 Apr 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment was made of the potential risk to firefighter health, safety and wellbeing resulting from any fire contaminants at the Breadalbane Street fire in Edinburgh on 14 March 2024.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: Assessment of risk at the attendance of any incident is entirely an operational matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. The safety and wellbeing of firefighters is a priority for both the Scottish Government and for the fire service.
10 Apr 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many firefighters attended the Breadalbane Street fire in Edinburgh on 14 March 2024, broken down by how many underwent (a) full, (b) partial and (c) no decontamination following the fire.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: The number of firefighters attending any incident, and the manner in which they operate, is an entirely operational matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. The safety and wellbeing of firefighters is a priority for both the Scottish Government and f…
10 Apr 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what decontamination procedures were carried out by Scottish Fire and Rescue Service personnel (a) during and (b) after the Breadalbane Street fire in Edinburgh on 14 March 2024.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: Decontamination both during and after any incident is an entirely operational matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. The safety and wellbeing of firefighters is a priority for both the Scottish Government and for the fire service.
10 Apr 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) infrastructure and (b) equipment, including materials, kit and PPE, was provided to firefighters to support and ensure full decontamination following their attendance at the Breadalbane Street fire in Edinburgh on 14 March 2024.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: The provision of infrastructure and equipment at any incident to ensure decontamination is entirely a matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. The safety and wellbeing of firefighters is a priority for both the Scottish Government and for the fire se…
9 Apr 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether its Land Reform (Scotland) Bill will help protect communities from development on land of public importance.
9 Apr 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding it is currently providing for anti-racism education, and what organisations it is funding that carry out anti-racism education.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is absolutely committed to embedding anti-racism in education. As part of the Anti-Racism in Education Programme for financial year 2023-24 the Scottish Government provided the following funding aimed at providing anti-racist education…
27 Mar 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, when it is designing new policies, how it ensures that an assessment is made of any potential impact that a policy may have on older people.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government carries out Equality Impact Assessments on all new policies as required under the Equality Act 2010 and the associated Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED). PSED requires public authorities to have due regard to the need to eliminate dis…
27 Mar 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of the implementation of the recommendations made by the Independent Review of Inspection, Scrutiny and Regulation of Social Care in Scotland.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government response to the recommendations made by the Independent Review of Inspection, Scrutiny and Regulation of Social Care was published on 6 March 2024, accepting all 38 recommendations. The response set out that significant work already u…
27 Mar 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that the power of attorney rights of care home residents are upheld.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Governments Foreword - Health and Social Care Standards: my support, my life - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) set out what people should expect when using health, social care or social work services in Scotland including care homes. They seek to provi…