Parliamentary questions

Pauline McNeill

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

15 Mar 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to mitigate the impact that welfare reforms have had on access to free school meals.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government took decisive, pre-emptive action in 2013 to protect access to free school meals from the effects of the roll out of the UK Government welfare reforms and its introduction of Universal Credit. By doing this, this Government has ensured…

6 Mar 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the NHS tackles health issues resulting from cold homes and fuel poverty.

6 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) individuals, (b) organisations and (c) the UK Government regarding legislation to prevent ticket touting.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government fully appreciate the concerns expressed about the deliberate resale of tickets for profit, known as “touting” and recognise that some events do sell out quickly and ticket touts or online sellers take the opportunity to sell tickets at…

2 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its new social security system will ensure that a higher proportion of assessment reports for claimants of disability benefits are carried out by qualified doctors.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government is committed to introducing a social security system that is founded on dignity and respect. Throughout the consultation we heard many issues around how the assessment process works, including concerns raised about who is delivering as…

2 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making with the proposed introduction of a young carer's allowance.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government is aware that young carers face challenges to their health and well-being, and many are unable to access opportunities that are available for other young people. That is why we committed to considering the introduction of a Young Carer…

2 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its new social security system will ensure that claimants with (a) speech and (b) hearing problems have greater flexibility in the format of assessment for applying for disability benefits.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Yes we are committed to ensuring that Scotland’s social security is designed with and around the people who use it and that it is accessible to everyone, including those with different speech and hearing requirements. To achieve this we are continuing our ext…

2 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its new social security system will exempt claimants with brain tumours from being re-assessed for (a) personal independence payments and (b) employment support allowance.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: In relation to Personal Independent Payments, the Scottish Government has already committed to introducing longer-term awards for people whose conditions are unlikely to improve. We plan to do this across all disability benefits that are being devolved. How b…

2 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its new social security system will allow high-grade brain tumour patients with a terminal prognosis of fewer than six months to be exempted from assessments.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: We said in our consultation on social security that as a minimum we will replicate the current special rules for people with terminal illnesses which establish an urgent approach to providing benefits without the need for the standard assessment process. I am…

8 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Scottish Medicines Consortium regarding the use of cannabidiol (CBD), in light of the recent statement by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approving the product's use.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) operate independently of the Scottish Government and provides advice to NHSScotland on newly licensed medicines. The independence of SMC decisions on individual drugs is well established. Regulation for the licensing, …

7 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-06198 by Kevin Stewart on 30 January 2017, whether it will provide further details of the "novel proposals" that it is assessing in relation to the building of new mid-market rent homes, and at what stage these assessments are.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Mid-Market Rent Invitation, launched in 2016 as part of the More Homes Scotland approach, was open to prospective mid-market rent providers to submit proposals that will expand mid-market rented housing and contribute to the target to deliver at least 50,…

7 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-06198 by Kevin Stewart on 30 January 2017, what discussions it has had with the housebuilding industry about the "novel proposals" that it is assessing in relation to the building of mid-market rent homes.

7 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce a Scottish version of "Florrie’s Law", which caps the amount that councils can charge leaseholders for repairs to their homes.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government has no current plans to introduce legislation equivalent to the Social Landlords Mandatory Reduction of Service Charges (England) Directions 2014 commonly known as “Florrie’s Law”. This will be considered further when legislation in th…

7 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-03905 by Humza Yousaf on 28 October 2016, what delays there have been to its plans to introduce single smart cards for travel on all public transport.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Through partnership working, the Scottish Government continues to work with transport operators across all modes in Scotland to deliver the vision of compatible smart ticketing. This programme is proceeding as planned. The ScotRail network is already equippe…

7 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-03905 by Humza Yousaf on 28 October 2016, for what reasons Scotland continues not to have single smart cards for travel on all public transport, similar to the Oyster card in London.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: As noted in response to S5W-03905, in partnership working with the Scottish Government, Scottish transport operators have committed to accept a national pay-as-you-go e-Purse which is similar in function to the Oyster card system in London.

7 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-03905 by Humza Yousaf on 28 October 2016, whether the saltirecard is still the basis for its plans for single smart cards for travel on all public transport.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Yes. The Scottish Government is working in partnership with Scottish transport operators so that almost all operators will use the saltirecard system brand to indicate the ability to load smart tickets on other operators' smartcards.

7 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-03905 by Humza Yousaf on 28 October 2016, on what date it will introduce single smart cards for travel on all public transport in each city.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: As noted in the response to question S5W-03905, city schemes have been launched in Aberdeen and Dundee, and operators have committed to introduce compatible schemes in Glasgow and Edinburgh in 2017. The Scottish Government continues to work with operators acr…

7 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-03905 by Humza Yousaf on 28 October 2016, what discussions it has had with Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) regarding building on its model of a smart card for underground travel.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government continues to work in partnership with Scottish transport operators to deliver the vision that all journeys on Scotland's bus, rail, ferry and tram network can be made using some form of smart ticketing or payment. Transport Scotland a…

7 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-03905 by Humza Yousaf on 28 October 2016, what information it has on any discussions that Abellio has had with (a) Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) and (b) bus companies regarding a single smart travel card.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Abellio ScotRail is a member of the Smart and Integrated Ticketing Steering Group which meets regularly and is also attended by SPT and a number of bus operators. It is now possible to use ScotRail saltirecards to purchase Glasgow Subway tickets, and vice ver…

7 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-03905 by Humza Yousaf on 28 October 2016, what the obstacles are to introducing single smart cards for travel on all public transport.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is promoting one compatible system across all modes, the 'ITSO' system specification. This system provides for integration across modes as different operators roll out their new ticketing equipment. Currently, bus operators in Glasgow …

6 Feb 2017 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to reduce the amount of time families are spending in emergency accommodation.

2 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide its first annual statement on the progress towards its target of delivering at least 50,000 affordable homes by the end of the Parliamentary session.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Statistics relating to the progress of the Affordable Housing Supply Programme are published quarterly on the Scottish Government website. These figures relate to the number of approvals, site starts, and completions of units. They can be accessed using the f…

24 Jan 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports food banks.