Rhoda Grant

22 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to protect dispensary services for GPs on 17C contracts.    

Answer · Shona Robison: Statutory responsibility for the provision of primary medical services rests with health boards and it is for each board to put in place those services that best meet the reasonable needs of their patient populations. Under the provisions set out in the NHS …

22 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to protect the terms and conditions of GPs on 17C contracts.  

Answer · Shona Robison: Section 17C of the 1978 NHS (Scotland) Act contains the regulations which govern locally managed GP contracts. These regulations govern the terms and conditions of locally managed GP practices.

22 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to encourage NHS boards to recruit and retain GPs on 17C contracts.  

Answer · Shona Robison: Health boards have a range of options at their disposal in ensuring appropriate service provision: in addition to securing provision through independent contractors under the terms of the nationally negotiated general medical services contract, or through sec…

20 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which (a) local authority and (b) private care homes in each local authority area are subject to admission restrictions set by the Care Inspectorate, and how long these have been in place.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Care Inspectorate has a restriction in place in Marine House Care Home in Forfar at present. This restriction is to limit admissions to no more than one older person every 14 days up to a maximum of 45 older people. This restriction came into effect on 28…

20 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which hospitals were placed on red alert between 1 December 2014 and 15 January 2015 and for how long; how many beds were available during the red alert period, and how this compared with demand.

Answer · Shona Robison: While hospitals have experienced pressures this winter, none has needed to declare a major incident because of the demands that it was facing. Boards have been keeping the Scottish Government informed daily about the pressures that they face and the actions t…

16 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many crossings on the Lochboisdale – Mallaig ferry service in each month since November 2013 have been (a) scheduled and (b) cancelled, and what the reason was for each cancellation.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Details of the number of Lochboisdale to Mallaig a) scheduled and b) cancelled sailings each month since November 2013 to date, and the reason for the cancellation are set out in the following table: Year/Month Scheduled Sailings Weather cancellations T…

16 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to operate a year round Lochboisdale – Mallaig ferry service.

Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-24070 on 28 January 2015. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentar…

16 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on extending the Lochboisdale – Mallaig ferry service to include summer crossings.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Current vessel deployment considerations mean that it is not possible to introduce a summer Lochboisdale to Mallaig ferry service at this stage, as this would impact on existing services elsewhere on the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services network. The winter p…

8 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government in which NHS boards mental health first aid training took place in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Scottish Mental Health First Aid courses are run by partners from across public services on behalf of NHS Health Scotland. The number of courses ran during 2012–13 and 2013–14 classed in each health board is as follows: Board Area 2012-13 2013-14 Ayrshire…

8 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many mental health first aid courses took place in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The number of Scottish mental health first aid courses that took place are as follows: 2012-13 2013-14 Number of courses: 267 283

8 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many trained mental health first aid instructors there are.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Since Scotland’s Mental Health First Aid was introduced, 484 people have undertaken the instructor training. There are currently 322 trainers on NHS Health Scotland’s database.

8 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) NHS staff and (b) other people attended mental health first aid training in (i) 2012-13 and (ii) 2013-14.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The total number of attendees for mental health first training in 2012-13 and 2013-14 is broken down as follows: 2012-13 2013-14 NHS staff 140 123 Other people 2200 2274

11 Dec 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce an authorisation system for disabled people or people with a disabled baby allowing them to take non-folding buggies on buses.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Legislation governing technical standards for buses and the obligations of bus operators in relation to disability is reserved to the UK Parliament. The UK Government has no plans for changes to legislation to introduce such an authorisation system.

11 Dec 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce a system limiting styles and sizes of buggies and mobility scooters on buses and trains.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Legislation governing the obligations of bus and train operators in relation to disability has not been devolved to Scottish Ministers and remains a matter that is reserved to the UK Government. Any wheelchair, mobility scooter or buggy larger than the refer…

11 Dec 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it (a) has provided and (b) will provide information to the public regarding public transport etiquette in relation to disabled people.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government does not currently provide information to the public regarding public transport etiquette in relation to disabled people. Encouraging good behaviour on buses is primarily a matter for operators, including through their conditions of ca…

11 Dec 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to ensure that wheelchair users are given priority in designated wheelchair-user bays on all bus and train services.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Legislation governing the obligations of bus and train operators in relation to disability has not been devolved to Scottish Ministers and remains a matter that is reserved to the UK Government. The Conduct of Drivers, Inspectors, Conductors and Passengers R…

11 Dec 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what help it has provided to each local authority to ensure that all bus and train services are accessible to wheelchair users.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The primary responsibility for ensuring bus and train services are accessible rests with the operators of such services. Legislation governing technical standards for buses and the obligations of bus operators in relation to disability is reserved to the UK …

9 Dec 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the level of support available under the croft house grant scheme has not increased since 2005.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: In the years of its operation, this valuable support has helped enable the construction of over 900 new croft houses and the improvement of a further 200 existing croft houses. The Scottish Government has held informal discussions with a number of crofting s…

9 Dec 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to update the level of support available under the croft house grant scheme and, if so, when.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Public consultation on a review of the croft house grant scheme was launched on 6 January 2015. The consultation period will conclude on 31 March 2015 and we would encourage as many contributions as possible.

1 Dec 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the value of sporting rates collected was in the last full year of their operation, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · John Swinney: An exemption from business rates for ‘shootings, deer forests, fishing and fish counters’, often referred to as ‘sporting rates’ has been in place since 1995-96. The Scottish Government does not hold records of the amount of sporting rates collected, broken …

25 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19628 by Alex Neil on 20 February 2014, what steps it has taken in light of the delay in the publication of the report of the Scottish Public Inquiry into Hepatitis C/HIV, and what further steps it will take.

Answer · Maureen Watt: My predecessor wrote to Lord Penrose on 11 November 2014 asking if he was yet in a position to provide an update on the publication of his report. A reply has now been received from Lord Penrose and he has advised that the warning letter process is still on-…

25 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19629 by Alex Neil on 4 March 2014, what discussions it has had with the Department of Health regarding the Scottish Public Inquiry into Hepatitis C/HIV.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The warning letters stage of the Penrose Inquiry, which is a complex and detailed part of the process, is not yet complete. I have recently received a letter from Lord Penrose providing a progress update on the work of the inquiry. Lord Penrose has advised th…

25 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22278 by Alex Neil on 19 August 2014, whether it will provide an update on the progress of the publication of the report of the Scottish Public Inquiry into Hepatitis C/HIV.

Answer · Maureen Watt: My predecessor wrote to Lord Penrose on 11 November 2014, asking if he was yet in a position to provide an update on the publication of his report. A reply has now been received from Lord Penrose and he has advised that the warning letter process is still on…

12 Nov 2014 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with The Highland Council about the A890 Stromeferry bypass.

5 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how overdue the MV Loch Seaforth is in entering (a) sea trials and (b) service.

Answer · Keith Brown: The original delivery date of the MV Loch Seaforth was 30 June 2014. Owing to a number of factors, including storm damage to the yard, dry docking of the vessel to resolve a problem with the propeller system and partial sea trials, the delivery date was delay…

5 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects the MV Loch Seaforth to enter commercial service on the Stornoway to Ullapool route.

Answer · Keith Brown: The construction of the MV Loch Seaforth has now been completed and was handed over to CalMac Ferries Ltd on 24 October 2014. The necessary infrastructure works to enable the MV Loch Seaforth to berth at Stornoway have to be completed before the new vessel …

5 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether recent negotiations over the ownership of the Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft shipyard have delayed the final fitting out and preparation of systems on the MV Loch Seaforth.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23020 on 20 November 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliament…

5 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the change in ownership of the Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft shipyard in Germany had on the completion time of the MV Loch Seaforth.

Answer · Keith Brown: Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd took overall control of the MV Loch Seaforth on 10 October 2014. The vessel’s completion date was not impacted by negotiations over the acquisition of Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft.

5 Nov 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to establish domestic abuse courts across the country.

20 Oct 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to reduce the gender pay gap.

Answer · Angela Constance: From 2007 to date the Scottish Government has committed £3.9 million to fund projects aimed at tackling the gender pay gap and occupational segregation. Under the public sector equality duty in the Equality Act 2010, the Scottish Government introduced a spec…