Parliamentary questions
Mary Scanlon
4,514 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
18 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has now developed outcome measures related to older people’s mental health.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Work to develop outcome measures for older people’s mental health will be completed this year. The work has been embedded in the ‘Active and Healthy Ageing Action Plan for Multi-Morbidity for Scotland 2014-16’, and is informed by engagement with the range of…
18 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in relation to its mental health strategy commitment "to more effectively link the work on alcohol and depression and other common mental health problems to improve identification and treatment".
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: We are aware that people can use alcohol as a means of coping when they are depressed or in distress. Discussions are ongoing with specialist services, the Royal College of General Practitioners and primary care partners as to the most appropriate way to tack…
18 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the number of children admitted to adult wards rose in 2013-14 from 177 to 202 and how this relates to its commitment to reduce this number.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Data from the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland Young person monitoring 2013-14 document published in October 2014 shows that there were 202 admissions to non-specialist inpatient facilities involving 179 young people. The increase may be due to an incr…
18 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19861 by Michael Matheson on 20 February 2014, whether the Mastermind project has now been rolled out across Scotland.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Mastermind project is being implemented in the four participating health boards in Scotland – NHS Grampian, NHS Fife, NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Shetland. NHS 24 are project managing this. By 30 September 2014, all four health boards were live with their fir…
18 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19860 by Michael Matheson on 28 February 2014, whether the follow up to the Sandra Grant Report is still on course to be published by the end of 2014.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: We commissioned the Mental Health Foundation and Voices of Experience to undertake the 10 year follow up review of the state of mental health services in Scotland. Work continues and the report is now expected to be published before summer 2015.
18 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether agricultural tenants who established their tenancies prior to the commencement of the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 2003 with no written lease or agreed terms of tenancy should have their tenancies reviewed.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Agricultural tenancies established prior to 2003 are already supported by the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 1991. We would suggest that tenants and landlords should review their leases regularly as part of their normal regular business discussions. Wh…
18 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether agricultural tenants who established their tenancies prior to the commencement of the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 2003 with no written lease or agreed terms of tenancy should be (a) entitled to compensation to vacate a holding and (b) allowed to p…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Agricultural tenancies established prior to 2003 are already supported by the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 1991; this Act includes a range of provisions such as compensation at waygo and succession. The details of each agricultural lease are a privat…
11 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17646 by Paul Wheelhouse on 22 September 2013, whether the review of literature on use of herbicide for the control of ranunculus has been completed and, if so, what the outcome was.
Answer · Aileen McLeod: The literature review on the use of herbicide to control aquatic plants, including ranunculus in rivers, was commissioned by the Spey Fishery Board. The Spey Fishery Board has published the review on their website: http://www.speyfisheryboard.com/wp-content…
11 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14802 by Paul Wheelhouse on 28 May 2013, in light of the freshwater pearl mussel being considered one of the world's most endangered species and numbers in the River Spey and other Scottish rivers deteriorating, whether it considers that Scottish Na…
Answer · Aileen McLeod: The staff member referred to in the question is working for the ‘Pearls in Peril’ (PIP) project. Although Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is leading the project, the person is employed by the Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland, who are a key partner in t…
11 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14802 by Paul Wheelhouse on 28 May 2013, what the outcome of the survey was and what subsequent action has been taken by the police, including how many additional cases were reported to the Crown Office.
Answer · Aileen McLeod: The national survey that has been underway since 2013 is due to report by the end of March 2015, with the outcomes published later in the year. During the survey a number of potential incidents were reported to Police Scotland, which have been, or are being,…
11 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20170 by Paul Wheelhouse on 26 March 2014, given the proposed increased abstraction of water from the River Spey for housing developments, whether it will publish the scientific evidence stating that there will be "no significant adverse impact" on …
Answer · Aileen McLeod: All applications are assessed using criteria agreed with Scottish Natural Heritage. In determining the River Spey abstraction application, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, using the agreed criteria, undertook a hydrological assessment of the potent…
11 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22147 by Paul Wheelhouse on 12 August 2014, in order to avoid infraction proceedings, what further measures it plans to introduce to reverse the deteriorating trend and status of freshwater pearl mussels in the River Spey, which was designated with …
Answer · Aileen McLeod: Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) recently published the results of its most recent condition assessment of the freshwater pearl mussel feature in the River Spey Special Area of Conservation. The Report of Site Condition Monitoring survey of freshwater pearl mu…
11 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to questions S4W-14151 and S4W-14155 by Paul Wheelhouse on 5 April 2013, how many of the 72 suspected criminal incidents were reported as wildlife crime and, in light of only two of the incidents being reported to the Crown Office, whether it considers this reflect…
Answer · Aileen McLeod: It is unknown how many of the 72 suspected criminal incidents were reported as wildlife crime over the past 14 years. This statistic was sourced from the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) when the unit recorded incident data. Since 2012, the unit has record…
11 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14153 by Paul Wheelhouse on 1 May 2013, whether the good practice guidance has been published and, if so, what sanctions can be imposed on those who damage freshwater pearl mussels because they have not followed it.
Answer · Aileen McLeod: The good practice guidance on Constructed tracks in the Scottish uplands was published in June 2013 and is available here: http://www.snh.gov.uk/publications-data-and-research/publications/search-the-catalogue/publication-detail/?id=513 The sanctions that c…
11 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14153 by Paul Wheelhouse on 1 May 2013, what plans there are to hold further "sharing good practice" events aimed at regulators and developers of hydro electric schemes.
Answer · Aileen McLeod: The programme of ‘Sharing Good Practice’ events organised by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) for 2015 is still to be finalised. However, SNH plan to hold an event in March 2015 focused on the monitoring and enforcement of conditions associated with renewable …
11 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14154 by Paul Wheelhouse on 2 May 2013, what further reintroduction of freshwater pearl mussel beds has been carried out.
Answer · Aileen McLeod: Since the response to question S4W-14154 on 2 May 2013, there have been no further reintroductions of freshwater pearl mussels in Scotland. Scottish Natural Heritage remains unclear why some previous reintroductions have been unsuccessful and intend to invest…
11 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14802 by Paul Wheelhouse on 28 May 2013, what information it has on where the illegally-acquired freshwater pearls are sold; what action the police has taken to tackle such sales; how many cases have been reported to the Crown Office, and how many s…
Answer · Aileen McLeod: The National Wildlife Crime Unit carried out an operation to look at the trade in freshwater pearls. This operation confirmed that pearl fishers do not appear to be selling illegally taken pearls to jewellery outlets within the UK. Historically, freshwater p…
11 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many freshwater pearl mussel reports have been recorded in the Environmental Impact Register in each year since 2006.
Answer · Aileen McLeod: The Scottish Government is not aware of the Environmental Impact Register.
11 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-15017 and S4W-15018 by Derek Mackay on 28 May 2013, what guidance is being given to (a) the planning authorities, (b) the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and (c) Scottish Natural Heritage regarding planning applications that might threaten …
Answer · Alex Neil: Scottish Planning Policy is the Scottish Government’s policy on how nationally important land use planning matters should be addressed across the country. As a statement of ministers’ priorities, we expect it to carry significant weight in the preparation of …
11 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17646 by Paul Wheelhouse on 22 September 2013, whether the good practice guide has been published and, if so, what analysis it has carried out on whether it is being adhered to.
Answer · Aileen McLeod: The proposed good practice guide on Ranunculus management for river managers has not been produced. Following the literature review of herbicides that could be used to control Ranunculus, Scottish Natural Heritage felt that the preparation of a good practice …
11 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22462 by Paul Wheelhouse on 25 September 2014, whether the information and guidance arising from the research has been published.
Answer · Aileen McLeod: The research commissioned by Scottish Natural Heritage is due to be published in March 2015. It is understood that the research conducted by the Integrated Aquatic Resources Management between Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland project has yet to be fina…
11 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22462 by Paul Wheelhouse on 25 September 2014, whether the research that is being conducted includes sea lice.
Answer · Aileen McLeod: The research referred to in the answer to question S4W-22462 is solely to identify the host salmonid species of particular freshwater pearl mussel populations. As such, the research is focused on the freshwater environment and does not examine sea lice or any…
11 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22462 by Paul Wheelhouse on 25 September 2014, whether fish farms are included among the “barriers to fish migration” that are to be removed.
Answer · Aileen McLeod: Fish farms are not included among the ‘barriers to fish migration’ that are to be removed. In the answer to question S4W-22462, the “removal of barriers to fish migration” referred to the removal of physical obstacles to fish migration within rivers such as w…
11 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS staff are (a) suspended or (b) on "gardening leave" because of ongoing (i) investigations and (ii) disciplinary cases.
Answer · Shona Robison: As at 16 December 2014 the Scottish Government has been notified of 14 NHS medical staff who are currently suspended. In relation to these medical staff we do not have information on the reason for the suspension. Relevant statistics for suspensions relating…
11 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to NHS staff who want to give evidence in disciplinary cases but whose views might differ from that of their managers.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Management of Employee Conduct PIN Policy sets out the rights and responsibilities of boards, managers, employees and trade unions/professional organisations in respect of employees who are subject to disciplinary action resulting from misconduct relating…
11 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has put in place to ensure that the NHSScotland Confidential Alert Line is independent and impartial.
Answer · Shona Robison: The contract to run the NHSScotland Confidential Alert Line (NCAL) was awarded to Public Concern at Work (PCaW) following an open and transparent competitive tendering process. A specific requirement of this contract is “to provide confidential and impartial …
11 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what evaluation it has carried out of staff trust and confidence in the NHSScotland Confidential Alert Line, and what the outcome was.
Answer · Shona Robison: The purpose of the NHSScotland Confidential Alert Line is to complement local whistleblowing policies and provide an additional level of support to NHSScotland Staff. During the pilot phase of the line, we engaged with a range of stakeholders, to gather view…
11 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether NHS staff can be downgraded while a case arising from a whistleblowing incidence is being investigated.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Implementing & Reviewing Whistleblowing Arrangements in NHSScotland PIN was introduced in 2011. The policy makes clear that if a member of staff raises a genuine whistleblowing concern under this policy, they will not be at risk of losing their job or suf…
10 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many whistleblowing incidents have been recorded by the NHS in each of the last three years.
Answer · Shona Robison: In 2013-14, as part of the newly introduced annual staff governance standard monitoring Framework, we sought assurance from all health boards that local whistleblowing policies are in place and for the number of reported whistleblowing incidents. All boards c…
12 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the funding requirements of the mountain rescue services.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government considers Scottish Mountain Rescue (SMR) funding requirements, together with SMR, on an annual basis and, in addition to the annual grant funding of £312,000 provided in the current year, assists further if it is able to meet specific …