Parliamentary questions

Pauline McNeill

2,364 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

24 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many haematology clinical nurse specialist posts are currently unfilled.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Information on the number of haematology clinical nurse specialists posts are currently unfilled is not centrally held.

24 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider including blood cancers as a grouping as part of the (a) Detect Cancer Early Programme and (b) Get Checked Early website.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government has committed to developing a new earlier cancer diagnosis vision, which will form part of the new cancer strategy under development and expected to publish Spring 2023. Based on a wealth of evidence and clinical expertise, the vision …

24 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will reflect any particular needs of blood cancer patients as part of its earlier diagnosis vision, as set out in its consultation on a new cancer strategy.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government’s consultation process for the new cancer strategy, which will include the earlier diagnosis vision, completed in June 2022 with over 250 responses. An independent analysis was then undertaken throughout July to September to ensure a b…

24 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the number of clinical nurse specialists in NHS Scotland, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Information on the number of clinical nurse specialists in NHS Scotland broken down by NHS board is not centrally held.

22 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to endorse the Hospitality Rising recruitment campaign, and, if so, what specific help it will give to the campaign.

Answer · Ivan McKee: We welcome the industry-led, UK-wide Hospitality Rising recruitment campaign as an important initiative to help attract more people into the sector. The Scottish Government recognises the acute challenges for the sector posed by the current labour shortages…

22 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it will do to help the hospitality sector with recruitment.

Answer · Ivan McKee: We recognise that hospitality, alongside other sectors within the economy including construction and food and drink are hampered by difficulties in attracting, recruiting and retaining workers. This has been exacerbated by Brexit and the loss of people from t…

11 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many (a) Ukrainians who came to Scotland through (i) its Super Sponsor Scheme, (ii) the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme and (c) seasonal worker visas and (b) Afghans who came to Scotland through the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and Afghan Citiz…

Answer · Neil Gray: Under the current constitutional arrangements in the United Kingdom immigration, including data related to arrivals, is fully reserved to the UK Government and is dealt with by the Home Office. The UK Government published quarterly immigration statistics her…

2 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the reasons are for its decision to end child fares on trains at 16 rather than 18 years old.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government does not set the age ranges for child fares on the railway, and has not made any decision to end child fares for any group. These fares are defined in the GB-wide Ticketing and Settlement Agreement – over which the Scottish Government …

29 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether a summit between unions and COSLA could be held to facilitate further discussions on potential pay increases for public sector workers

Answer · John Swinney: Pay for council workers, excluding teachers, is determined through negotiations at the Scottish Joint Committee (SJC). These negotiations take place between the trade unions (UNISON, Unite and GMB) and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA), who…

29 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings (a) it has had recently (b) are planned with COSLA to explore all options available regarding the funding by local authorities of any pay increases.

Answer · John Swinney: A series of meetings to explore the issues and options available were held between officials on 30 June, 13 July and 1 August. Following these meetings, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government and myself met with a delegation o…

11 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which schools in the Glasgow region are running the Equally Safe at School programme.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: Our Equally Safe Strategy for preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls emphasises the importance of challenging the underpinning attitudes which enable such violence to take place. Education settings have an important role in challenging th…

29 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether a system could be introduced to monitor the impact on people's welfare of the operation of the asylum and detention system in Scotland.

Answer · Shona Robison: Asylum and immigration are matters reserved to the UK Parliament. This includes the operation of the UK asylum system and immigration detention. An effective system to monitor the impact of the asylum system or immigration detention on people’s wellbeing wou…

29 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will support the grassroots music industry through ventures such as the Music Venue Trust, which seeks to raise funds to build community ownership of grassroots music venues to ensure a sustainable and resilient model of support of grassroots music across the UK.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that there is a thriving music industry in Scotland, including grassroots music venues, which are key to supporting emerging Scottish talent. That is why the Scottish Government’s Grassroots Music Venues Stabi…

29 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6O-01292 by Patrick Harvie on 29 June 2022, whether it will publish the referenced data on heat pumps.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The answer to question S6O-01292 does not directly reference any data on heat pumps. However, the answer to the supplementary question does: "the experience that we have and the comparable data that we have from countries that already have a long history of …

27 Jun 2022 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reports that the Scottish Solicitors’ Bar Association say that the impasse on legal aid payments has meant that the entire criminal justice system is in “imminent danger of collapse”.

22 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there are any new (a) primary and (b) secondary schools being built with exclusively gender-neutral toilets for children.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. It is the statutory responsibility of local authorities to manage their school estate.

22 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there are any (a) primary and (b) secondary schools that have exclusively gender-neutral toilets for children.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. It is the statutory responsibility of local authorities to manage their school estate.

22 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it is providing to local authorities regarding gender-neutral toilets for children within (a) primary and (b) secondary schools.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: It is the statutory responsibility of local authorities to manage their school estate. Therefore, it is for them to determine what facilities are appropriate, while complying with the School Premises Regulations and in full consultation with the school commun…

21 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported calls from COSLA, whether it will make additional funding available for local authorities to match the 5% pay offer that has reportedly been made to some other public sector workers.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government greatly values the hard work and dedication of the local government workforce. We also recognise the challenges across the public sector, including local government, in ensuring that pay increases are affordable to employers but are fa…

20 Jun 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what range of heating systems it anticipates will replace gas boilers in the near future.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Heat in Buildings Strategy identifies priority technologies available for deployment in the near term. Those relevant to homes currently using gas boilers are:Energy efficiency improvements,Individual heat pumps in certain buildings currently using mains …

15 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the supplementary question by Jamie Greene to question S6O-00660, by Ash Regan on 26 January 2022, what progress has been made on addressing the backlog of repairs to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service estate; what urgent action has been taken to address the c…

Answer · Ash Regan: Decisions on the allocation of its capital budget including fleet, equipment and buildings is a matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) Board. SFRS has a 10 year capital programme based on risk and decisions on fire station investment forms par…

14 Jun 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that any real-terms cuts in its Budget may impact most on the courts and prosecution service.

8 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many schools the Equally Safe at School programme is currently running in.

6 Jun 2022 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what steps the Scottish Government will take to ensure that victims of rape and domestic abuse are not retraumatised as a result of plans to allow them to formally meet those who harmed them.

1 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of businesses reporting increasing overheads, what its position is on extending 50% rates relief.

Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-07994 on 6 May 2022. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/w…

1 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported shortage, what action it is taking to recruit more gastroenterology clinicians.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: In March 2022 we published, in partnership with CoSLA, the National Workforce Strategy for Health and Social Care. The Strategy outlines our shared vision for the workforce, a sustainable, skilled workforce with attractive career choices where all are respect…

25 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what trials and/or pilot schemes the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service plans to carry out to address the issue of unwanted fire signals in non-domestic properties, and what impact assessment of these plans has been published.

Answer · Ash Regan: Changes to the response to automatic fire alarm signals are an operational matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. SFRS will work closely with duty holders to prepare for the change of response which will be implemented in April 2023.

25 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many non-domestic fire safety visits have taken place in each of the last 10 years and, if there has been a decline, (a) for what reason the number has reduced and (b) what impact this has had on the number of business premises at risk of fire.

Answer · Ash Regan: The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service statistics are publicly available on the services website: https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/about-us/who-we-are/statistics/ , where context on the figures is provided.

25 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many domestic home fire safety visits have taken place in each of the last 10 years and, if there has been a decline, (a) for what reason the number has reduced and (b) what impact this has had on the number of households at risk of fire.

25 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the proposed reduction in the number of fire investigators in the east and north of the country will impact on the quality of service provided.

Answer · Ash Regan: Recruitment and staffing numbers are an operational matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.