Jackie Baillie

3 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the proportion of all student loans paid to Scottish-domiciled students that will not be repaid, expressed as a percentage.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government estimates that 22.4% of student loans drawn down in 2018-19, and 30.2% of the total historic loan book, will not be repaid. These estimates have increased from 13.5% and 20.1% respectively in 2017-18, please see the answer to question…

3 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what estimates it has made of how many unpaid student loans there will be in the next (a) 5, (b) 10 and (c) 15 years, based on the (i) previous and (ii) latest Scottish student loan repayment thresholds, expressed in (A) cash and (B) percentage terms.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The following table shows the cash value of student loans that are estimated to be unpaid and written-off in the next 5, 10 and 15 years for both the previous and latest student loan repayment thresholds. (A) Cash value of unpaid student loans Real terms (2…

3 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent government accounts reclassification decision by the Office for National Statistics, whether it has agreed with the Treasury how student loans and debts are to be treated in Scottish Government accounts, and, if so, what changes it will make.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The reclassification decision affects the UK National Accounts, a statistical publication which is prepared under the European System of Accounts (ESA 10). The Scottish Government annual accounts are prepared under the International Financial Reporting Standa…

19 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made in implementing appropriate rest facilities for anaesthetic staff who work at night, and how the effectiveness of this implementation is being measured.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: This is a matter for Health Boards to manage and monitor at a local level. As employers NHSScotland Boards are required, under the 1974 Health and Safety at Work Act, the 1992 Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations and the 1998 Working Time Regula…

19 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans there are to develop rest facilities for all medical specialities that meet the standards that have been set for anaesthetic staff who work at night.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Since 2004, NHS Scotland guidance has recognised the necessity for appropriate on-call facilities for anaesthetists and this was extended in 2007 to include all senior on call staff. HBN 26 - 'Facilities for surgical procedures (2004)' says: 5.59 Anaesthetis…

18 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to the children of survivors of domestic abuse.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: The Scottish Government is investing over £12 million from the Equality Budget to tackle all forms of violence against women and girls. This includes funding for local services to support children who have experienced domestic abuse, such as children's suppor…

18 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to services that specialise in supporting male survivors of domestic abuse.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: The Scottish Government recognises that all victims and survivors of domestic abuse deserve access to support. Funding for domestic abuse services includes support for services who work with male victims. Over 2017 to 2020, these include nearly £85,000 to ru…

18 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase the support services available to male survivors of domestic abuse.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: The Scottish Government recognises that all victims and survivors of domestic abuse deserve access to support. We will hold a roundtable this year to consider the impact on men of gender based violence, looking at their roles as victims of violence, as perpe…

18 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-15902 by Angela Constance on 26 April 2018, for what reason the ethnicity evidence workshop with stakeholders did not take place in 2018 as stated; what plans it has to hold one in 2019, and how it will ensure that all relevant groups are included.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: The Scottish Government held an evidence and analysis workshop entitled ‘How do we measure/report success indicators for the framework and action plan’ during Scotland’s Race Equality Conference on 11 December 2018. The conference updated partner organisation…

18 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it will issue to local authorities to specify that at least the living wage must be paid to overnight support workers for all directly provided and commissioned services from the start of 2019-20.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government announced the extension of the real living wage commitment to staff undertaking overnight support in October 2017, with the expectation that this should be implemented during 2018-19. Guidance setting out the range of ways the extensio…

18 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether funding to allow for the payment of the living wage in full for overnight support workers is contained in the draft Budget.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Since 2016 the Scottish Government has provided funding to support the delivery of the real living wage commitment for staff working in adult social care, all of which has been baselined annually. This includes £30 million of funding provided to Local Authori…

12 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to establish a national lung cancer screening programme in 2019.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) is the independent expert advisory group which advises Ministers and the NHS in the four UK countries about all aspects of screening policy. The NSC uses the international research evidence base to inform recommend…

12 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent on the respiratory action plan.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Respiratory Action Plan for Scotland is in the early stages of development. Once finalised we will have a better understanding of the financial challenges and opportunities lying ahead and this will inform funding decisions.

12 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether respiratory screening programmes will be included in the respiratory action plan.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Respiratory Care Action Plan for Scotland is currently in its early stages of development. The Plan will set out the main priorities to support NHS Boards in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of respiratory conditions. Respiratory screening program…

12 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve lung cancer survival rates, and what its response is to the recent report, Long-term Monitoring of Health Inequalities, which suggests that people in more deprived areas are four times more likely to die from lung cancer.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Through our £42 million Detect Cancer Early (DCE) Programme, we aim to increase the proportion of cancers that are detected at the earliest stage when the chance of survival is higher. Public awareness of early signs and symptoms is key to driving early stag…

11 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings have been held by the Common Financial Tool Working Group, chaired by the Accountant in Bankruptcy; when these were held, and what was discussed.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Common Financial Tool Working Group has met on the following dates:7 February 201311 March 201331 July 201311 March 20142 Sept 20148 December 20145 February 201529 May 201521 March 20162 May 201719 February 201827 March 201824 July 20184 Sept 2018  A Com…

11 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which organisations and individuals are members of the Common Financial Tool Working Group, chaired by the Accountant in Bankruptcy.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The current membership of the Common Financial Tool Working Group is as follows: Graeme Perry, Accountant in Bankruptcy (Chair) Laura Barr, Accountant in Bankruptcy (Minute Secretary) Annette Burns, Accountant in Bankruptcy Mike Holmyard, Citizens Advice …

11 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish all minutes and information provided by the Accountant in Bankruptcy to the Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills in relation to the common financial tool and the standard financial statement in the last year.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: All submissions that have been provided on this matter have been to inform ongoing policy development and will not be published at this time.

11 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills has received any reports from the discussions of the Common Financial Tool Working Group, chaired by the Accountant in Bankruptcy, and in what form these communications were made.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: I have not received specific reports on discussions of the Common Financial Tool Working Group. I have received briefings from officials from Accountant in Bankruptcy regarding the policy development of the Common Financial Tool. These submissions have reflec…

10 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it takes to promote the Fair Work agenda among employers.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government is committed to fair work and consider it to be central to the delivery of inclusive growth. While progress has been made, we want to go further so that we use all of the levers and the financial power of the Scottish Government to ach…

10 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has held any discussions with the charity, Cornerstone, in relation to its recognition agreement with Unison.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government has had several discussions with Cornerstone about its dispute with UNISON. The Scottish Government has also been liaising with UNISON. Scottish ministers are keen that both parties enter into negotiations as soon as possible and offi…

10 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government in what circumstances it would support employers de-recognising trade unions.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government believes that a progressive approach to industrial relations and that trade unionism is at the very heart of a fairer, more successful society. Research suggests that workers rate collective voice exercised through trade union represen…

10 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it expects employers engaged in the delivery of public sector contracts to recognise trade unions.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014, provides for Scottish Ministers to publish Statutory Guidance on Addressing Fair Work Practices, including the Living Wage, in Procurement. This Guidance was published in October 2015, after consultation with Trade …

10 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to suggest that the charity, Cornerstone, and Unison, resolve any differences they may currently have through ACAS.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: We have encouraged Cornerstone to seek a resolution to the dispute with Unison, through the involvement of ACAS. We are offering to meet both organisations to support efforts to reach a resolution.

10 Dec 2018 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister how many people will be taken out of fuel poverty in 2018-19.

6 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-19996 by Joe FitzPatrick on 3 December 2018, whether the information requested is held by the six regional breast screening centres and reported to the National Services Division, and, if so, whether it will provide this information.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-20424 on 18 December 2018. 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/parliamentarybusin…

6 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the standard to begin treatment for people diagnosed with breast cancer within 31 days of the decision to treat following referral from a national screening programme is being met in 2018 for patients at (a) Royal Alexandria, (b) Inverclyde Royal and (c) Vale of Leven Hospital, a…

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Data is not held centrally on cancer performance by hospital site. Validated cancer waiting times by health board is published quarterly by ISD. Data for Quarter 3 2018 (July - September) will be published by ISD on 18 December 2018 and can be accessed at ht…

6 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the standard to treat suspected breast cancer cases within 62 days following referral from a national screening programme is being met in 2018 for patients at the (a) Royal Alexandria (b) Inverclyde Royal and (c) Vale of Leven Hospital, and, if not, in how many cases it has not b…

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Data is not held centrally on cancer performance by hospital site. Validated cancer waiting times by health board is published quarterly by ISD. Data for Quarter 3 2018 (July-September) will be published by ISD on 18 December 2018 and can be accessed at http…

6 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-19993 by Joe Fitzpatrick on 3 December 2018, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding which NHS boards have a backlog for breast screening examinations, broken down by length of backlog; how many women at each centre have…

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Information on delays within the Scottish Breast Screening Programme are recorded by six regional Breast Screening centres. As of September 2018, the delays range from 1 to 2 weeks ahead of schedule to 23 weeks over. A full breakdown is in the following tabl…

6 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-20080 by Jamie Hepburn on 4 December 2018, whether it will provide the information broken down by occupational sector.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Modern Apprenticeship statistical data is currently collated by Skills Development Scotland against occupational group and framework, and not by employer occupational sector.