Foysol Choudhury

25 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has provided to epilepsy charities since March 2017.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government has provided a total of £755,626 to epilepsy charities between March 2017 and March 2024.

25 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-24374 by Fiona Hyslop on 19 January 2024, on what date in spring 2024 it expects the legal process regarding access to Ferrymuir Gait to be concluded.

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. An exact timescale for concluding this matter cannot be provided. However, Transport Scotland is pressing the develop…

8 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the expert advisory group’s work regarding the roll-out of a national targeted lung cancer screening programme, including what the expected timeline is, and what additional capacity and investment is required.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government has welcomed the recommendation from the UK National Screening Committee (NSC) that the 4 UK Nations should move towards implementing a programme of targeted lung screening for those between 55-74 with a history of smoking. The Scott…

6 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering sustainable and recurring funding for NHS boards for the direct provision of diabetes technology.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government’s Diabetes Improvement Plan contains a key commitment to further increase access to existing and emerging diabetes technologies. Budgets for 2024-2025 are yet to be confirmed, however we recognise the benefits that technology provid…

19 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding UK-wide legislation to exonerate sub-postmasters and mistresses who have been wrongfully convicted as a result of the reported issues with the Post Office accounting system, Horizon.

Answer · Angela Constance: On 22 February, the Under-Secretary of State for Enterprise, Markets and Small Business stated that the UK Government would introduce legislation to reverse only the convictions of sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses convicted in courts in England and Wale…

13 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out a weighted evaluation of any (a) environmental and (b) economic benefits of the proposed Winchburgh railway station compared with other regional railway stations that have been completed in the last five years, such as Reston, East Linton and Robroyston.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government acknowledges the findings of the Economic Impact Assessment paper the Developer commissioned, by SYSTRA. I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-25534 on 9 March 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are availa…

13 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to reduce waiting times for ambulances sent by NHS 24.

Answer · Neil Gray: NHS 24 do not send ambulances to patients. If NHS 24 receive a call from a patient that is deemed to be an emergency, it is passed to a SAS call handler within the Ambulance Control Centres (ACC). The Scottish Government continues to work closely with the S…

13 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the cost of the proposed Winchburgh train station development.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: As the member is aware, the Scottish Government supports a new station in Winchburgh, it is our understanding of the station proposal that it is and always has been a developer-led station, as outlined in the original Winchburgh Developments Ltd Masterplan fo…

2 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how often it monitors and reviews the decisions taken by NHS boards on safeguarding training for non-clinical staff who interact with patients.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Staff Governance Standard, which is applicable to all staff employed in NHSScotland, requires health boards to appropriately train and develop staff, as well as provide a safe working environment. The Scottish Government monitors compliance annually to en…

1 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the availability of qualified stonemasons to repair and maintain traditionally built homes, in light of Edinburgh College no longer delivering a stonemasonry apprenticeship.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government has been exploring the workforce demand for skilled stonemasons through engagement with the stonemasonry short life working group led by Historic Environment Scotland. The working group was set up to look at stonemasonry and traditiona…

1 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent to date on the legal process that began in 2022 between Transport Scotland and the developer, Ambassador Living, regarding the dispute over the use of Ferrymuir Gait to access the Forthview housing development.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Since January 2022 the amount paid by Transport Scotland for legal expenses incurred regarding the use of Ferrymuir Gait to access the Forthview housing development is £14,472.72.

31 Jan 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding actions that can be taken to preserve energy networks following periods of bad weather. 

24 Jan 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to ensure that pupils can interact with museums as part of their education to help address racism and the legacy of colonialism.

17 Jan 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it holds Social Security Scotland to account to ensure that it is fulfilling its responsibility to help claimants, who request support, to provide supporting information, including obtaining it on their behalf.

9 Jan 2024 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what safeguarding training NHS boards are required to provide to non-clinical staff who are handling interactions with members of the public.

9 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the funding set out in the NHS Recovery Plan 2021-2026 has been allocated to improving child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in the (a) NHS Lothian and (b) West Lothian Council area.

Answer · Maree Todd: Table One shows the funding allocated to NHS Lothian for improving child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in 2021-2022 and for a broader range of Mental Health Services, including CAMHS, from 2022-2023. Allocations for the current financial year,…

9 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the funding set out in the NHS Recovery Plan 2021-2026 has been allocated to improving audiology services in the (a) NHS Lothian and (b) West Lothian Council area.

Answer · Jenni Minto: We published the NHS Recovery Plan in August 2021, which sets out our plans for health and social care over the next 5 years, backed by over £1 billion of funding. The second annual progress update was published on 6 December 2023: NHS recovery plan: progres…

8 Jan 2024 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to ensure that all people who were potentially wrongfully convicted as a result of the reported Horizon scandal are supported in coming forward if they wish for their conviction to be overturned.

8 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it plans to take to bring the Ferrymuir Gait access issue to a final conclusion.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Transport Scotland remains in positive dialogue with Ambassador Living (the developer for Forthview Housing Development) to reach an agreement on the use of Ferrymuir Gait as an access. This is following a legal process in order to finalise matters, which we …

21 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prevent non-communicable diseases (NCD), in light of a recent report by a group of cross-party MSPs and NCD Alliance Scotland calling for further action on NCD prevention.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government remains absolutely committed to our Public Health agenda as well as the range of priority actions that we have set out in relation to various health harming products, including tobacco, alcohol and less healthy food. We know people li…

20 Dec 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of the proposed closure of 29 police stations across Scotland on antisocial behaviour.

18 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered expanding the Health Infrastructure Investment Plan to include funding for a new medical centre in East Calder.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has not considered expanding the Infrastructure Investment Plan to include any additional projects that were not originally included in the plan.

14 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the provision of magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) from NHS Tayside and the subsequently reported removal of the cross-border referral of Scottish essential tremor patients to NHS England services, what plans it has to redirect any funding towards aiding …

Answer · Jenni Minto: Decisions on the national designation of services are considered by NHS National Services Division as part of NHS National Services Scotland. NHS National Services Division have encouraged the MRgFUS team in NHS Tayside to submit a formal application for nat…

13 Dec 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether urban areas will be included in its land reform legislation.

30 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it has taken to date to implement the recommendations of the Report of the inquiry into Islamophobia in Scotland by the Cross-Party Group on Tackling Islamophobia, in light of it being more than two years since the report was published.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government welcomed the publication of ‘Scotland’s Islamophobia’ – the report into Islamophobia in Scotland by the Cross-Party Group (CPG) on Tackling Islamophobia, and will continue to carefully consider the recommendations made. The report shi…

28 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it has done to ensure that initiatives regarding Islamophobia in Scotland pay specific attention to any gendered nature of Islamophobia.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: Islamophobia has no place in our society. The Scottish Government is committed to tackling all forms of Islamophobia, wherever it may take place. All policy and delivery is subject to an impact assessment process which would include consideration of intersec…

28 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure scrutiny of Education Scotland and the Race Equality Action Plan, in light of the recommendations of the report of the public inquiry into Islamophobia in Scotland.

Answer · Emma Roddick: The Race Equality Action Plan concluded in 2021 with a final report outlining the progress made in implementing actions. Education Scotland play a significant part in the Scottish Government’s Anti-Racism in Education Programme, particularly in the developme…

28 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to improve the reporting and recording of Islamophobia in schools, colleges and universities.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is clear there is no place for Islamophobia or racism in our schools, colleges or universities. Discrimination or prejudice of any kind is unacceptable and must be addressed quickly whenever it arises. A consistent and uniform approac…

23 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered targeting funding to ensure that people in Scotland who have recently been granted refugee status will not become homeless and/or potentially vulnerable to trafficking, in light of the UK Government reducing the notice period for leaving asylum accommodation to …

Answer · Emma Roddick: Under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, asylum applicants are entitled to receive asylum support for a prescribed period after they have been notified of the decision on their asylum application, for positive decisions this remains 28 days. As far as the S…

21 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce the number of incidents in Scotland of children drowning, in light of data from the 2022 Active Lives Survey reportedly showing that only 34.7% of children from low-income families in some parts of the UK are able to swim 25 metres unaided, compared wit…

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government believes that every child should be given the opportunity to learn to swim, it is a life skill that can save lives. While the Active Lives Survey relates to England only, we recognise that children living in areas of deprivation may …