Elaine Smith

12 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what preventative measures it put in place to reduce congestion on the A725 Shawhead flyover/Bellshill bypass, particularly during rush hours.

Answer · Keith Brown: The newly improved lanes as part of the new A725 Shawhead junction are due to open in the coming weeks and are anticipated to reduce journey times through the junction by 15 minutes. These final works to allow opening are only now possible following the early…

12 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it gave to residents in Coatbridge, Bellshill and the surrounding areas when (a) deciding not to include a direct exit from the M8 to these towns and (b) continuing to limit access for people travelling to and from these areas.

Answer · Keith Brown: The main access point to and from Coatbridge to the A8 remains unchanged at Shawhead junction. The opening of the new M8 motorway has also provided a significant reduction in traffic flow and congestion on the A8. This reduced A8 congestion and substantial im…

12 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when signs to Coatbridge will be installed on the westbound lane of the M8.

Answer · Keith Brown: The permanent signs to Coatbridge will be installed on the approach to the M8 westbound junction six Newhouse in the coming weeks as part of the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements Project.

12 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to (a) taxi companies and (b) other local businesses that may be losing money as a result of continuing road closures and works at Shawhead flyover/Bellshill bypass.

Answer · Keith Brown: When undertaking work of this nature, some disruption is unfortunately unavoidable and any inconvenience caused is regretted. We would like to thank road users and local communities for their ongoing support and patience during these necessary works. There i…

12 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Shawhead flyover at Coatbridge will close, and what diversions will be in place as a result.

Answer · Keith Brown: The A725 and A8 APR off-slips at Shawhead Junction were closed the weekend of Friday 12 May to Monday 15 May 2017 to continue essential construction works on the A725 and A8 All Purpose Road slip roads at Shawhead. Works included road surfacing, completion of…

12 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to stop night time closures of the M8 and M74, and what (a) consideration it has given to the extra time required by drivers reach their destination and (b) diversions are in place, during these closures.

Answer · Keith Brown: Scottish Ministers have a duty to ensure the Trunk Road network is as safe as possible for site staff and road users alike. To this end, all traffic management schemes are designed and coordinated with input from consultees including Police Scotland and the l…

12 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when works on the A725 Shawhead flyover/Bellshill bypass will be completed.

Answer · Keith Brown: Traffic management will remain in place until the scheme is open to traffic in the coming weeks. Transport Scotland and the contractor, Scottish Roads Partnership are working closely together to remove restrictions where possible. Once the new roads are open,…

25 Apr 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Colleges Scotland regarding its ongoing dispute with the EIS Further Education Lecturers' Association over the promised national pay deal.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: I have separately met both sides in this dispute on a number of occasions and my position has been consistent in these discussions.  I want the dispute to be resolved because strike action in our colleges is in no one’s interest. It is certainly not in the i…

18 Apr 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission regarding the 12.5% increase in the solicitor levy.

28 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the right of parents to educate children in Catholic schools, and whether it plans to review this.

Answer · John Swinney: Section 30 of the Education (Scotland) Act places a duty on the parents of every child of school age to provide an efficient education suitable for the age, ability and aptitude of the child and whether that is in a local authority school or by other means. T…

28 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the work carried out by Catholic schools in communities across the country.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government welcomes the positive contribution that Catholic schools make to all of Scotland’s communities. Modern Scotland is a multi-faith and multi-cultural society. The Scottish Government’s aim is that Scotland should be a place where young …

14 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding compliance with (a) seafarer welfare  and (b) maritime safety regulations on new vessels ordered by private operators in the ferry industry.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: No recent discussions have taken place with the UK Government regarding compliance with (a) seafarer welfare and (b) maritime safety regulations on new vessels ordered by private operators in the ferry industry. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency regulates v…

9 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the report commissioned from Peter Brett Associates as part of the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance study of the Arran ferry service; how much the report cost, and when it will announce its final decision on the future of these services.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The report by Peter Brett Associates was published on the Transport Scotland website on 20 March 2017. The port operators and Councils have been invited to make comments on the report by 3 April 2017. The PBA report was commissioned through Lot 4 (Maritime) …

1 Mar 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to retain and recruit teachers to tackle shortages.

27 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to increase the number of donor milk banks.

Answer · Mark McDonald: The Scottish Government currently has no plans to increase the number of donor milk banks in Scotland. However, a Scotland-wide donor milk bank was launched in 2013 to provide equitable access to donated breast milk for the smallest and sickest infants across…

20 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people in the NHS (a) Lanarkshire and (b) Greater Glasgow and Clyde area have multiple sclerosis.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-03352 on 27 October 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness…

20 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many specialist nurses there are in NHS (a) Lanarkshire and (b) Greater Glasgow and Clyde who are responsible for helping people with multiple sclerosis in their own home.

Answer · Shona Robison: Information on the number of specialist nurses who are responsible for the delivery of Multiple Sclerosis care is published by ISD Scotland and is available at the following link:- https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/2016-12-06/C…

7 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its statement on Scotland’s ferry services on 2 February 2017, what steps it will take to reassure Argyll Ferries staff and their trade union representatives regarding the continuity of contractual terms and conditions of employment during the nine-month extension of the exis…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I am committed to keeping Argyll Ferries fully informed of the purpose and progress of the review, and on-going engagement with the trade unions involved. Contractual terms and conditions of employment are a matter for Argyll Ferries as the employer. I do no…

7 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, for what reason the response it received from the European Commission on 3 October 2016 regarding the requirement to tender public contracts for Scottish ferry services was not shared with the RMT union until 2 February 2017.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: As I confirmed in my statement on 2 February, the Scottish Government used the time since receiving the response to consider the complex legal and policy questions the Commission’s response raises. The response was received during preparations for the live Go…

7 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its statement on Scotland’s ferry services on 2 February 2017, what steps it will take to reassure CalMac Ferries staff and their trade union representatives that the existing contractual terms and conditions of employment for staff working on the 2016-24 contract for Clyde a…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I am committed to keeping CalMac Ferries fully informed of the purpose and progress of the review, and on-going engagement with the trade unions involved. Contractual terms and conditions of employment are a matter for CalMac Ferries as the employer. The pu…

2 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to hold to account universities that enrol students onto undergraduate and postgraduate teaching courses and subsequently fail to provide them with promised placements.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Universities are responsible for the delivery of Initial Teacher Education and it is for them to ensure that placements are provided and that complaints or concerns about courses are addressed. While the Scottish Government has no active role in allocating s…

2 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) and (b) Initial Teacher Education students have not (i) been provided with teaching placements and (ii) received their full entitlement as part of their degrees by the Student Placement System in each of the last two years.

Answer · John Swinney: The General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) is responsible for the operation of the Student Placement System alongside local authorities and universities. I understand from the GTCS that in academic year 2015-16 all students studying courses of Initial T…

2 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to compensate students who have enrolled on undergraduate and postgraduate teaching courses and subsequently not been provided with promised placements.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Universities are responsible for the delivery of Initial Teacher Education (ITE) and it is for them to ensure that placements are provided and that complaints or concerns about courses are addressed. The General Teaching Council for Scotland have confirmed th…

26 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the effect of the opening of the Queensferry Crossing on demand for (a) roll-on, roll-off freight and (b) passenger ferry services from Rosyth Port.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Ensuring high quality bridge and road links to the port could be beneficial in encouraging prospective hauliers and exporters to choose the Port of Rosyth to transport their goods. There are currently no passenger ferry services operating from Rosyth. Whilst…

26 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the viability of restoring passenger services on the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry route.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Any passenger service would have to operate on a commercially viable basis and this would be a matter for any prospective ferry operator to consider. While Scottish Government encourages ferry operators to keep the option of introducing a passenger service …

26 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase (a) road and (b) rail access to Rosyth Port.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government recognises the need to ensure good transport links with ports. The opening of the Queensferry Crossing later this year will help improve access to the port. There is an existing private rail link in Rosyth and it would be for Forth Po…

19 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether councils that do not accept the settlements resulting from its Draft Budget will be penalised and, if so, how.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Any local authority not wishing to accept the 2017-18 local government funding package on offer was required to write to the Scottish Government by 20 January 2017. No such letters were received.

19 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it is issuing councils with budget settlements before the Parliament has considered the issue.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government is required by statute to consult on the terms of the local government settlement before it can be approved by the Scottish Parliament. To allow councils sufficient time to complete their budgetary process it is necessary to carry out …

16 Jan 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people with thyroid problems are not responding well to treatment with levothyroxine and what its position is on clinical decisions by endocrinologists to prescribe liothyronine to these patients.

Answer · Shona Robison: The decisions by endocrinologists on whether or not to prescribe a particular therapeutic is entirely a matter for that clinician, based on an assessment they have made of the patient’s condition and the benefits and expected outcomes of prescribing a particu…

23 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which NHS boards have instructed GPs to stop prescribing Triiodothyronine/Liothyronine (T3) to current and future patients.

Answer · Shona Robison: Local formulary decisions are a matter for NHS boards in accordance with local and national priorities. Ultimately, the decision on whether or not to prescribe a particular therapeutic is entirely a matter for the prescribing clinician, based on an assessment…