Parliamentary questions
Pauline McNeill
2,364 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
4 Sep 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average rate paid for locums filling GP vacancies was in each NHS board area in (a) 2013, (b) 2014, (c) 2015, (d) 2016, (e) 2017 and (f) 2018 to date.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The majority of Scotland's GP practices (94%) are run by independent contractors. As such it is for practices to agree terms and conditions with the locums whom they engage, and so information on average GP locum rates is not held by the Scottish Government. …
4 Sep 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) lowest and (b) highest rate is that GPs can offer for locum cover.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government does not set a minimum or maximum rate for GP locum cover. It is for locums to agree their rates of pay with the GP Practice or Health Board which engages them.
4 Sep 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a maximum time for which a locum can be employed to cover GP vacancies, and what the average time for a locum providing GP cover has been in each of the last five years.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government does not set a maximum time for which a GP locum can be engaged. Locums can be engaged to provide cover for a variety of reasons, such as maternity or paternity leave, long-term study leave and sickness cover. It is for locums to agree…
4 Sep 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last audited the rates that can be charged by locums providing GP cover and how they compare with GP salaries.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The majority of Scotland's GP practices (94%) are run by independent contractors. As such it is for practices to agree terms and conditions with the locums who they engage. However, the Scottish Government is committed to greater transparency on how investmen…
29 Aug 2018 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that it has an ethical international relations strategy.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Our International Framework is underpinned by a commitment to Good Global Citizenship. Through our bilateral relationships with other nations we seek to make distinctive contributions in addressing global challenges, sharing our knowledge, skills and technica…
1 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome was of any reviews that have been accepted of an initial ruling on rent increases by the First Tier Tribunal for Scotland.
Answer · Ash Denham: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who reply in writing within 20 days.
1 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome was of each of the First Tier Tribunal for Scotland’s rulings on rent increases, and what methodology was used to determine each ruling.
Answer · Ash Denham: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who reply in writing within 20 days.
1 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has examined the consistency of methodology used by the First Tier Tribunal for Scotland to determine its rulings on rent increases.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government has not examined the consistency of methodology used by the First Tier Tribunal (FTT) for Scotland to determine its rulings on rent increases as it is an independent judicial body and it would not be appropriate to do so.
1 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many appeals against rent increases the First Tier Tribunal for Scotland has overseen, and how many of these resulted in the rent (a) not increasing, (b) increasing by the amount proposed by the landlord and (c) increasing by an amount greater than that proposed by the landlord.
Answer · Ash Denham: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who reply in writing within 20 days.
1 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many appeals for a review of the initial ruling of the First Tier Tribunal for Scotland have been accepted.
Answer · Ash Denham: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who reply in writing within 20 days.
17 Jul 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what provision Social Security Scotland has made to retrain staff on the social security charter once it is agreed.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Officials leading on the design and delivery of staff training are being kept closely informed of progress on developing the charter and will put in place any necessary additional training as quickly as possible. For example, links are already being made with…
17 Jul 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when Social Security Scotland staff are due to receive training on the social security charter and whether this will take place before they handle claimant applications.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: All Social Security Scotland staff will receive training on the purpose, legislative background and practical use of both the social security principles and charter prior to handling applications. Once the content of the charter is finalised and approved by …
17 Jul 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People has reconsidered its decision to rule out an interim social security charter.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Ministers continue to believe that an interim charter is unnecessary for the reasons noted in answer to question S5W-17720 on 2 August 2018. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for whic…
17 Jul 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the production of an interim social security charter was ruled out and for what reason.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: An interim charter was suggested as a possible means of extending the timeline for developing the charter in discussion with the Disability and Carer’s Expert Advisory Group in March. Ministers considered this unnecessary given the intention to submit a chart…
17 Jul 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the social security charter does not apply to the first payments of the carers allowance supplement.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Following its approval by Parliament the charter will apply to recipients of Carer’s Allowance Supplement. In the meantime, agency procedures and staff training are being designed to closely align line with the social security principles that the charter is l…
17 Jul 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the timetable is for the development of the social security charter; when its evaluation of stakeholder feedback will be completed and when it will publish this.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The intention is to submit the charter for Parliamentary approval by the end of the year. In line with Ministers’ legal duty to co-design the charter with the people of Scotland, people with lived experience of the system will have the primary role in decidi…
15 Jun 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what public expenditure there has been on (a) vessel and (b) passenger facilities at (i) Hunter's Quay and (ii) McInroy's Point since 2006.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Western Ferries (Clyde) Ltd received a development grant of £398,400.36 from Argyll and Islands Enterprise for improvements to the infrastructure at Hunter’s Quay, Dunoon involving the construction and installation of a new linkspan, improved passenger facili…
15 Jun 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the annual income derived from harbour dues at all harbours on (a) subsidised and (b) non-subsidised ferry routes between Inverclyde and the Cowal Peninsula has been since 2006.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The undernoted table details the harbour dues paid by Cowal Ferries Ltd (to June 2011) and Argyll Ferries Ltd (from June 2011) in respect of the Gourock-Dunoon ferry service. Year Period Harbour Dues 2007 1 April 2007 - 31 March 2008 £608,2…
15 Jun 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what contracts Transport Scotland has with external consultants that include the provision of advice on the contract specifications in the next public contract for ferry services on the Gourock-Dunoon route, and what the (a) duration and (b) value is of any such contracts.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-17258 on 3 July 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/parliamentarybusiness/28…
30 May 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on recent changes to the terms and conditions of interpreters used by the courts service.
17 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many affordable homes it has built during the current parliamentary session.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government publishes statistics on affordable housing completions each quarter. The latest set of figures was published on 13 March in the Quarterly Housing statistics update, and covered activity over the time period up to end December 2017. Th…
3 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many households have received a grant from the Warm Homes Scotland scheme each year.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Warmer Homes Scotland is the Scottish Government’s national fuel poverty scheme. The contract for the scheme was awarded to Warmworks Scotland LLP in April 2015. Warmer Homes Scotland opened for applications on 1 September 2015 and was formally launched by th…
2 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) private sector landlords and (b) owner-occupier households have used the Home Energy Scotland loan scheme each year.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Home Energy Scotland (HES) Loan scheme launched in May 2017 offering interest free loans of up to £32,500 per home to owner occupiers and eligible registered private sector landlords in Scotland to install energy efficiency measures, renewable systems or …
2 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in dealing with the appeal from WH Malcolm regarding a proposed gasification plant in Scotstoun, which was called in by ministers in October 2016; for what reason it has not met its target of issuing a decision within three months; by what date it will announce…
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Ministers are currently giving full and proper consideration to the proposal for a waste recycling facility to incorporate an energy recovery facility at South Street, Glasgow. You will appreciate that I cannot provide a specific date, but I will make a decis…
30 Apr 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the cost of studying for a diploma in legal practice.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Tuition fees for postgraduate study are not regulated by the Scottish Government and each individual higher education institution is responsible for setting their own fee rates for postgraduate courses, including the Diploma in Legal Practice. However, the …
30 Apr 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it offers to people from poorer backgrounds who are seeking to study for a degree in law.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government is committed to providing students with the support they need to enter and remain in Higher Education. The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) funds the Access to High Demand Professions Access Programme, which helps to increase the number…
30 Apr 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-16012 by Alasdair Allan on 26 April 2018, whether any of the people who identified their ethnic group as "Caribbean or Black" or "African" have approached it to (a) discuss concerns regarding the threat of possible deportation and (b) advise that th…
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government remains in contact with stakeholders and partner organisations to ascertain whether anyone in Scotland may be at risk. At the moment, no one has come forward indicating that they risk being removed from Scotland or that they have been …
17 Apr 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on not using the mobility test 20-metre threshold as an assessment tool for Personal Independence Payments when this benefit is devolved.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government is committed to co-designing the social security system with people who receive benefits. We will ensure that the assessment process, including any thresholds used, is built around the needs of clients to deliver dignity and respect. …
9 Apr 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had had with Police Scotland regarding the force using mobile phone data that has not been collected (a) through a warrant and (b) under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Scottish Government officials have confirmed with Police Scotland the legal basis on which mobile phones and other electronic devices are searched using cyber kiosks, as set out in response to S5W-15845 which was answered on 26 April 2018. All answers to wri…
9 Apr 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the police searching mobile phones without (a) a warrant and (b) having the power to do so under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000.
Answer · Michael Matheson: When the police seize a phone or another electronic device under the authority of a judicial warrant, statutory power or following a suspect’s arrest, it is lawful for them to examine that device for evidence. A person may also voluntarily provide their elect…