Fiona Hyslop

14 Mar 2022 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to reduce the waste of unsold, durable goods in Scotland, in line with the net zero targets.

8 Mar 2022 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to Ukrainian communities in Scotland.

28 Feb 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on identifying support and aid that it can provide for people in Ukraine and Ukrainians leaving their country and seeking refuge.

1 Feb 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to review and assess the pilots conducted as part of the strategy, The best start: five-year plan for maternity and neonatal care.

25 Jan 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how measures in the Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill will support the Covid Recovery Strategy.

13 Dec 2021 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take in response to the British Academy of Audiology report on NHS Lothian's Paediatric Audiology Services, which was requested by NHS Lothian following a review by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.

8 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, what support is available for wraparound child care services that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but remain essential to its new wraparound plans.

Answer · Clare Haughey: We know that childcare providers are concerned about the impact of the new Omicron variant on their businesses. The Scottish Government is working as a matter of urgency to assess the implications of the most recent public health interventions on the sector. …

8 Dec 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the emergence of the Omicron variant has influenced its discussions with the UK Government regarding the four-nation approach to vaccine procurement, particularly in relation to the Valneva vaccine and any potential need to deploy different vaccine formulations both domestically …

22 Nov 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what teaching and resources schools are providing to encourage pupils to engage in climate issues and ensure their experiences and ideas are acted on, including through the Climate Assembly.

8 Nov 2021 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether she will provide an update on the work of the Under2 Coalition at COP26.

5 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the funding of up to £40 million for the culture sector that was announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy on 2 June 2021 (Official Report, c. 16); how much of this funding has been distributed, and in what form; how much funding …

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The additional £40 million for the culture sector was announced in light of the consequential funding expected from the £300 million uplift to the Culture Recovery Fund in March 2021 UK Budget. The Scottish Government has so far only received £9 million of th…

27 Oct 2021 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what role Scotland is playing during COP26 in relation to innovation and economic activity.

22 Oct 2021 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Scottish Government and Scottish Green Party shared policy programme commitment to "undertake a programme of work and analysis to better understand our energy requirements as we transition to net zero".

Answer · Michael Matheson: A robust, impartial procurement process has been undertaken in accordance with regulations and best practice to identify a partner to undertake work on this commitment. Following the procurement exercise, EY has been awarded the programme of work and analysi…

23 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its commitment to removing non-residential social care charges, whether it will provide an update on its work with (a) COSLA and (b) other stakeholders to identify the most effective way of achieving this, and what the timescale is for the implementation of the policy.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Work to develop the policy of removal of non-residential social care charging is progressing and charges will be removed as soon as is practicable The Scottish Government’s approach is to work with key stakeholders to achieve the best outcome for the people o…

23 Sep 2021 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the evaluation of the Scottish Strategy for Autism 2011-21, and how it plans to respond to this.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government has published the Evaluation of the Scottish Strategy for Autism 2011-21 today. In response I am delighted to announce £650k this financial year, for tests of change on adult neurodevelopmental pathways. Additionally I can announce new…

22 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on how competitive projects in Scotland can be compared with those in England and Wales, and how disadvantaged they may be in future Contracts for Difference auctions, whether it will consider raising the cap on floating offshore wind innovation projects…

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Sectoral Marine Plan – Offshore Wind for Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (“INTOG”) is at an early stage and the Scottish Government is currently consulting on the Areas of Search, areas where projects under this planning process may be located, and on…

20 Sep 2021 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what engagement the Scottish Government has had with the UK Government and energy providers in light the reported increase in wholesale prices.

15 Sep 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the commitments in the Programme for Government will help secure a net zero nation.

7 Sep 2021 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether COVID-19 funding for bus operators will be extended beyond 3 October 2021.

Answer · Graeme Dey: Bus services played an essential role in keeping Scotland moving safely during the coronavirus pandemic – and have an equally important part to play as we gradually start to return to some sense of normality. Today I am announcing that up to £42 million in f…

6 Sep 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information and resources schools will provide to engage pupils with the issues that will be discussed at COP26.

4 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the 2019 Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS) trading standards' workforce survey, including its findings regarding the impact of (a) Brexit and (b) the greater environmental protection requirements arising from its green agen…

Answer · Ben Macpherson: Trading Standards Officers are employed by Scotland’s local authorities. Local authorities are independent corporate bodies, responsible for the management of their workforce. The outcome and response to the findings of the SCOTSS survey is therefore a matter…

4 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had or plans to hold with the Scottish Funding Council regarding supporting universities and colleges to ensure that there is capacity to grow and develop the number of trading standards officers required to meet any increase in demand arising from the (a) impact …

Answer · Ben Macpherson: The Scottish Government has not and does not plan to hold any discussions with the Scottish Funding Council on this matter unless approached or asked for support by our partners in local government. Scottish Ministers routinely engage with COSLA which provide…

4 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many additional trading standards officers local authorities will need to employ in the future to deliver (a) its agenda in response to the impact of Brexit, (b) the recovery from COVID-19 and (c) the standards expected from its environmental agenda.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: Any assessment of the number of employees required to carry out future trading standards work is a matter for councils and their national body COSLA to undertake. Trading Standards Officers are employed by Scotland’s local authorities, who are independent cor…

4 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had or plans to hold with COSLA regarding any increased demand on the organisation’s trading standards officers arising from the delivery of the (a) recovery from COVID-19, (b) economic recovery and (c) increased environmental safety standards for goods and servic…

Answer · Ben Macpherson: The Scottish Government engages regularly with COSLA, including on Covid recovery, and the well-established mechanisms in place provide an opportunity for future discussions on this matter should COSLA seek to raise this with the Scottish Government.

2 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government (a) whether and (b) when it plans to introduce a digital certificate with QR authentication for vaccine record information, in light of this being required by people working and travelling abroad where it is expected in the receiving country.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Yes, in summer 2021 our current vaccination status letters will be replaced by fully digital Covid Status Certificates to be used for outbound international travel. The World Health Organisation is currently developing international standards for this, and it…

5 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the economic impact of the decision by HM Revenue and Customs to transfer all the functions and 200 jobs from its National Compliance Risk offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh to England.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)change programme which includes major business restructuring and a review ofall of its accommodations is primarily a matter for Her Majesty’s  Government. Nodetailed discussions have taken place with the UK Government to date.…

1 Feb 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS Lanarkshire would have been legal entitled to exclude non-GP companies limited by shares from the recent tendering process for GP medical services in Harthill.

Answer · Andy Kerr: It is for NHS Lanarkshire tomake arrangements for the provision of primary medical services in its area, andto consider, and comply with, all legal requirements in doing so.</p>

26 Jan 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will reply to my letter dated 2 November 2006 regarding the safe containment of hazardous waste during demolition.

Answer · Des McNulty: We do not appear to havereceived the Member’s letter of 2 November 2006 on this issue. However,we did receive an e-mail, dated 10 November, from the Member on the same topic,and a reply to this e-mail will be issued shortly. We apologise for the delayin respo…

23 Jan 2007 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what financial contribution it will receive from the Scottish Executive towards security costs for the Microsoft Government Leaders Forum (GLF) Europe.

Answer · George Reid: All additional securitycosts incurred by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will be met byMicrosoft. Any additional costs incurred by the Executive are a matter forthem.</p>

23 Jan 2007 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what measures have been undertaken to assess and address the security implications for the Parliament building complex of the Microsoft Government Leaders Forum (GLF) Europe being held on 30 and 31 January 2007.

Answer · George Reid: The security implications ofhosting the 2007 Microsoft Government Leaders Forum have been considered veryseriously. The measures undertaken have been based on advice from Lothian andBorders Police and other security authorities and have drawn on previousexper…