Fergus Ewing

15 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what grants have been paid to Summerhall Arts in Edinburgh in each of the last five years, broken down by the (i) value and (ii) specific purpose of each grant.

Answer · Angus Robertson: Summerhall Arts, set up in 2023, was awarded Multi Year Funding by Creative Scotland in January 2025. Over 2025-26 it will receive grant funding of £168,254 which will support its core operating costs.The previous operator of the Summerhall venue, Summe…

15 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported declarations made by Summerhall Arts in Edinburgh regarding its policy on politicians appearing on stage at the venue, what its position is on the declarations, and whether it will continue to provide any public funding to the venue. 

Answer · Angus Robertson: The Scottish Government has no decision-making role in the allocation of funding through Creative Scotland. It is for Creative Scotland to allocate funding based on its assessment of the artistic and cultural merits of proposals it receives and to ensure that…

30 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what risk assessments have been carried out on the possible effects on patients if there is any further removal of NHS specialist treatments for chronic pain services.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Decisions about the planning and delivery of NHS services, including specialist pain treatments, are the responsibility of individual Health Boards. Boards are expected to consider the available evidence, local population needs and clinical advice when making…

30 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who has been appointed to the Evidence Review on Chronic Pain, which is being handled by the Pain Management Task Force; what the remit of the review is, and when the findings will be published.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The review for specialist interventions for managing chronic non-malignant pain in adults was commissioned by Scottish Government but is being led by the Scottish Health Technologies Group (SHTG), part of Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS). HIS and SHTG op…

15 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in the event of any deaths as a result of any failures in relation to vaccinations, what its position is on whether it would have any legal liability regarding the families affected.

Answer · Neil Gray: The question of liability in relation to any healthcare matter will depend on the particular facts and circumstances. This is a legal matter for the relevant parties involved in the provision and receipt of healthcare.

15 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when GP vaccination services will be fully restored to GPs in NHS Highland; whether it anticipates that this will happen by the end of 2025, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Neil Gray: In January of this year, Scottish Minsters agreed to Highland HSCP putting in place a mixed-model for vaccinations. GP delivery is likely to be key in some aspects of this model, however, the aim is to take a collaborative approach to delivering vaccinations.…

15 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the provision of a centralised vaccination service, such as that in NHS Highland, is safe, in light of reports that NHS Highland is not able to share data with GPs on the vaccinations being provided.

Answer · Neil Gray: Since April 2022, Health Boards have been responsible for delivering vaccines. The vast majority of adult vaccinations, including flu, Covid, RSV, shingles and pneumococcal are visible to GPs via their GP-IT system.Currently, childhood and non-routine vaccina…

15 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made an estimate of any potential savings that could result from NHS Highland restoring the vaccination services to GPs that were previously administered by them prior to 2023, and, if so, what any such estimate is.

Answer · Neil Gray: Highland HSCP are putting in place a mixed-model for vaccinations. GP delivery is expected to be key in some aspects of this model, but the plan is for a collaborative approach rather than one that relies solely on GP delivery.Oversight of how the mixed model…

15 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will propose a ministerial statement for after the summer recess 2025 on vaccination policy and any need for action to prevent deaths in relation to this matter.

Answer · Neil Gray: There are currently no plans for a Ministerial statement on vaccination.The 5-year Scottish Vaccination and Immunisation Framework and Delivery Plan was published in November 2024. This lays out our vision, mission, goals and priorities for the Programme, wit…

15 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of any fatal accident inquiries being undertaken in relation to any infant deaths due to whooping cough, and, if so, whether it will (a) publish details of these and (b) propose a ministerial statement on the matter.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Lord Advocate has responsibility for the investigation of all sudden, suspicious, accidental and unexplained deaths in Scotland, including the deaths of children. Such investigations are conducted by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service on behal…

15 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the most recent statistics are on the level of immunisation in the relevant population for (a) measles, (b) whooping cough, (c) mumps, (d) polio, (e) meningitis and (f) rubella, broken down by NHS board area; what its position is on whether these levels of immunisation are acceptabl…

Answer · Jenni Minto: Public Health Scotland provide quarterly updates of immunisation uptake rates for children in Scotland. The most recent release was published on 24 June 2025 and provides uptake statistics for all childhood vaccines, including: the measles, mumps and rubella …

15 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether NHS Highland was aware that its system could not share data on vaccinations with GPs prior to the board taking over responsibility for vaccinations from GPs.

Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-39383 on 28 July 2025. 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/…

15 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any impact on its vaccination policies in Scotland, whether it has received any information from the UK Government regarding measles deaths in England, and, if so, what information, and whether it will make it publicly available.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Scottish Government officials continue to work closely with colleagues across the four UK nations to ensure cooperation and, where appropriate, alignment on vaccination policy, but we have received no specific information from the UK Government regarding meas…

15 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in the event of any deaths as a result of vaccinations not being administered in NHS Highland prior to the service being shared with GPs as planned, what its position is on whether (a) it and (b) NHS Highland would be responsible for any deaths.

Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-39386 on 28 July 2025. 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/…

15 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether NHS Highland informed it that it could not share data on vaccinations with it prior to the board taking over responsibility for vaccinations from GPs, and whether it will publish any documentation on this matter.

Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-39383 on 28 July 2025. 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/…

24 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the ministerial statement on the 2024-25 provisional outturn on 24 June 2025, and the response by the Minister for Public Finance regarding whether he will report to the Parliament before making any awards under phase 2 of the Public Sector Heat Decarbonisation Fund, which cl…

Answer · Gillian Martin: This funding supports public bodies to lead by example and take early and sustained action to achieve the priorities of the forthcoming Heat in Buildings Bill and decarbonise the public sector estate to reach net zero by 2045. It is anticipated that funding a…

3 Jun 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when GP vaccination services will be fully restored to GPs in NHS Highland, in light of reported concerns that the proposed hybrid model is less safe and more expensive.

17 Apr 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the net zero secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the potential impact on Scotland of the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas developments not proceeding, including on jobs, GDP, tax revenue and funding for public services from the UK Government.

15 Apr 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that gulls can cause serious human injury, whether it will direct NatureScot to issue licences to control the birds and help prevent such injuries.

24 Mar 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it was aware that, prior to NHS Highland taking over responsibility for vaccination services from GPs, there were reported concerns that the NHS board’s system did not allow GPs to know their patients’ vaccination status and that this could lead to a heightened patien…

18 Mar 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will direct NHS Highland to return vaccination services solely to GPs, in light of reported calls for this to happen on the basis that it could deliver a safer, more efficient and less expensive health provision delivered locally.

Answer · Neil Gray: The model of Health Boards being responsible for delivering vaccinations is working well across Scotland, but I recognise the need for flexibility to account for specific circumstances that might negatively affect vaccine uptake.That is why I have agreed to H…

17 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the reasons for the Lord Advocate and Solicitor General having recused themselves from any role in relation to consideration of possible proceedings resulting from Operation Branchform.

Answer · Dorothy Bain: There is a long standing convention that Law Officers will not be involved in decision making where an accused is a politician. In such cases decisions as to whether to take action will be taken by an Advocate Depute, who is an independent prosecutor.

17 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on whether the Lord Advocate plans to name the Advocate Depute who has lead responsibility in relation to consideration of possible proceedings resulting from Operation Branchform; if it has this information, whether it will provide the name of the Advocate Depute…

Answer · Dorothy Bain: As head of the system for the prosecution of crime as Lord Advocate, I remain accountable and responsible for every case, regardless of not being personally involved.Prosecutors take decisions independently, free from political influence or external interfere…

3 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on whether the Lord Advocate plans to name the Advocate Depute who has lead responsibility in relation to consideration of possible proceedings resulting from Operation Branchform; if it has this information, whether it will provide the name of the Advocate Depute…

3 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the reasons for the Lord Advocate and Solicitor General having recused themselves from any role in relation to consideration of possible proceedings resulting from Operation Branchform.

3 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what system is being used to select the new head of the civil service in Scotland; who and which organisations are involved; whether it will set out the procedure in detail, and what the timespan for the appointment is.

Answer · Ivan McKee: All civil service appointments are governed by the Civil Service Commission (Civil Service Commission (independent.gov.uk)) whose remit is to ensure that selections for appointment to the UK Civil Service are made on merit on the basis of fair and open compet…

28 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the reported comment of its former Permanent Secretary, Leslie Evans, at a recent Institute for Government conference, that, in the civil service, the "middle management is often quite weak".

Answer · Shona Robison: We regularly monitor the performance of the organisation, including our managers, and have a comprehensive offer, in line with our Leadership Development Strategy, to develop the capabilities of managers at all levels to deliver ministerial priorities.

27 Jan 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how much it estimates will be paid in compensation for the properties to be compulsorily purchased to further the progress of the dualling of the A96 between Inverness and Auldearn, including the Nairn Bypass, and when that process will be completed.

20 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the judgement of Lord Pentland in the case of The Scottish Ministers v The Scottish Information Commissioner (case reference number XA10/23), which states that the Scottish Ministers accepted that they (or their officials) could gain access to the information held by James H…

Answer · Kate Forbes: As set out in the information disclosed by Scottish Government on 26 October 2024, several Scottish Government officials had permissions to access the mailbox used by Mr Hamilton’s secretariat. The reason they were granted access was for business contin…

20 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the fifth supplementary question to question S6T-02254 by Jamie Hepburn on 17 December 2024, when the Minister for Parliamentary Business will issue the response that he stated would be provided "in due course".

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: In his question to me in the chamber on 17 December, the Member asked about the handling of a Freedom of Information request made to the Scottish Government in April 2021, which sought information regarding James Hamilton's investigation under the Ministerial…