Hugh Henry

1 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements are in place for a seven-days-a-week public transport service between Glasgow Prestwick Airport and Glasgow city centre onwards for passengers travelling on late night flights.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-30233 on 9 March 2016. 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/parliamentarybus…

1 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the operators of Glasgow Prestwick Airport regarding whether there can be a guaranteed provision of public transport between the airport and Glasgow city centre onwards for passengers travelling on late night flights.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has had no discussions with the operators of Glasgow Prestwick Airport regarding a guaranteed provision of public transport. In compliance with European Union State aid rules, the airport is operated on a wholly commercial basis and at…

1 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what constitutes the onshore revenues referred to by the First Minister on The Andrew Marr Show on 24 January 2016 and what the projections are for 2016 and each of the following five years.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Onshore revenues constitute all current receipts except those from offshore corporation tax, supplementary charge and petroleum revenue tax. Projections for the five years 2015-16 to 2019-20 were published by Fiscal Affairs Scotland in August 2015 and can be…

3 Nov 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains its position, as stated by the First Minister on 30 September 2015 (Official Report, c. 8), that it “will not have the ability to do anything about the cuts to working tax credits”, given the comment of Iain Duncan Smith MP to the Work and Pensions Committee that the S…

Answer · Margaret Burgess: We proposed an amendment to the Scotland Bill to devolve tax credits to put beyond doubt our ability to mitigate impacts of all the tax credit changes proposed for all families impacted, including those losing their entitlement entirely. This would have been …

3 Nov 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to using existing powers and any additional powers to introduce a scheme of welfare benefit payments to mitigate any loss arising from reductions to tax credits.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: I refer the member to the answer to question S4F-03036 on 5 November 2015. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s Official Report, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/par…

2 Nov 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to determine whether Police Scotland or its predecessor forces have monitored the activities of political activists, trade unionists and environmental campaigners.

2 Nov 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will investigate reports that keyhole surgery is being refused at Gartnavel General Hospital because it is too expensive.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has confirmed that it does not know of anyone being advised that keyhole surgery was too expensive or should be avoided or minimised due to costs. The board has advised the Scottish Government that no concerns have been raised wi…

2 Nov 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether people seeking gender reassignment are considered under the adult exceptional aesthetic referral protocol, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Shona Robison: People requiring gender reassignment will go through the gender reassignment protocol which was issued in July 2012. A copy of the gender reassignment protocol can be accessed at: http://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/mels/CEL2012_26.pdf For procedures not exclusive t…

28 Oct 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Renfrewshire Council or any local authority that decides to reduce its business rates would have to pay an equivalent amount to the Scottish Government.

28 Oct 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has raised concerns with NHS boards regarding the cost of keyhole surgery procedures and, if so, when.

Answer · Shona Robison: I am not aware of any concerns about the costs of keyhole surgery within NHS Scotland nor of any such concerns being raised with NHS boards. In general terms I am advised that minimally invasive surgery often requires a shorter stay in hospital and more rapid…

28 Oct 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has instructed NHS boards to limit the use of keyhole surgery procedures and, if so, when.

Answer · Shona Robison: Scottish Government has not issued any general instruction(s) to NHS boards "to limit the use of keyhole surgery procedures". Minimally invasive, sometimes called "keyhole" surgery is commonly used across NHS Scotland in a wide variety of surgical procedures…

28 Oct 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidelines it has issued to NHS boards since 1 April 2015 regarding whether to carry out keyhole surgery procedures.

Answer · Shona Robison: Minimally invasive surgery, sometimes referred to as "keyhole" surgery, is the preferred method for carrying out a wide variety of surgical procedures across NHS Scotland, as is the case in many other countries. Scottish Government is not responsible for th…

28 Oct 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many keyhole surgery procedures (a) were carried out in 2014-15 and (b) have been carried out in each month since 1 April 2015, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Shona Robison: The number of keyhole surgery procedures performed during April, May and June 2015 by NHS board of treatment is shown in the following table: NHS Board of Treatment April May June NHS Ayrshire and Arran 204 188 197 NHS Borders 62 46 69 NHS Dumfri…

23 Sep 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4T-01109 by Michael Matheson on 22 September 2015 (Official Report c. 3), in light of the cabinet secretary's comment that he has "no idea" whether Police Scotland or any predecessor force monitored the activities of political activists, trade unionist…

Answer · Michael Matheson: The authorisation of police surveillance is an operational matter for the Police Service of Scotland. Scottish ministers have no role. Surveillance activity is overseen by the independent, judicially-led Office of Surveillance Commissioners (OSC). The OSC car…

23 Sep 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the forthcoming devolution of some tax powers, where income tax will be collected for a person who is in receipt of a (a) Scottish public sector pension but is resident elsewhere in the UK and (b) rest of the UK public sector pension but is resident in Scotland.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scotland Act 2012 defines who will be a Scottish taxpayer for the purposes of the Scottish rate of income tax which is being introduced in April 2016. The definition of a Scottish taxpayer is focused on where an individual lives, or resides, in the course…

23 Sep 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to invest in the road network in Renfrewshire South, including access to and from Glasgow Airport.

16 Sep 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-27406 by Derek Mackay on 16 September 2015, for what reason the National Entitlement Card can be used for the Citylink service between Glasgow and Edinburgh but cannot be used on the Citylink service between Glasgow and Edinburgh Airport.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The National Entitlement Card is valid for use on both the Citylink bus service between Glasgow and Edinburgh and Citylink’s Glasgow to Edinburgh Airport bus service (Citylink Air). The Citylink Air service became an eligible service under the National Conces…

14 Sep 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding what the additional cost will be to local authorities to house refugees and what (a) support and (b) other resources it will provide to help them meet this.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: The First Minister has established the refugee taskforce, which brings together Scottish Government ministers, Scottish and UK Government officials, COSLA, local government and a range of key stakeholders to coordinate and establish Scotland’s capacity in a r…

14 Sep 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that Disclosure Scotland will have the resources required to ensure that the checks to be carried out on people planning to offer a space in their home to refugees are carried out expediently, and whether it plans to issue guidelines to (a) Disclosure S…

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is committed to the provision of quality housing for all our residents, including refugees who come to Scotland. Disclosure checks may be required on individuals with whom unaccompanied children are placed. We will monitor impact on D…

9 Sep 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on which scheduled bus services in Scotland the National Entitlement Card is not valid and for what reason.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Bus services on which a National Entitlement Card is valid under the National Concessionary Bus Travel Scheme for Older and Disabled People are set out in the National Bus Travel Concession Scheme for Older and Disabled Persons (Eligible Persons and Eligible …

9 Sep 2015 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported uncertainty caused by the transition to the European System of Accounts 2010, whether it will instruct that work should start immediately on the construction of the new Barrhead High School, with the Scottish Government bearing any risk and additional contracts, and…

28 Aug 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported uncertainty caused by the transition to the European System of Accounts 2010 (ESA10), whether it will instruct that capital projects impacted by this should go ahead as soon as possible, with it bearing any risk and additional costs, and contracts amended as nec…

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-26951 on 31 July 2015. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28…

20 Aug 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-26795 and S4W-26796 by Michael Matheson on 18 August 2015, if the information is not held centrally, what the basis is for the assertion that "Police Scotland are exceeding their service targets” and whether it will (a) publish the weekly assuranc…

Answer · Michael Matheson: As stated in my previous answers S4W-26795 and S4W-26796, since May 2015 the Scottish Police Authority has provided weekly assurance reports to the Scottish Government about the performance of Police Scotland’s call handling service centres at Bilston Glen an…

7 Aug 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Police Scotland officers had the authority to approve the (a) interception of communications and (b) acquisition of communications data prior to 25 March 2015.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Police Scotland has no authority to approve or authorise the interception of communications. Police Scotland is one of the public authorities able to authorise the acquisition of communications data in accordance with the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Ac…

7 Aug 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government to whom Police Scotland is accountable regarding any breaches of the code of practice identified by the Interception of Communication Commissioner’s Office.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Breaches of any codes of practice made under Chapter I of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 are a matter for the Interception of Communications Commissioner’s Office (IOCCO) in the first instance. It is a matter for IOCCO to decide on what, if a…

7 Aug 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what communications data can be acquired with judicial approval since 25 March 2015.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Acquisition and Disclosure of Communications Data Code of Practice which came into force on 25 March 2015 states: "Communications data that may be considered to determine journalistic sources includes data relating to: journalists’ communications addres…

7 Aug 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government in what circumstances someone other than a Scottish minister can authorise the interception of communications, and who.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 sets out who is able to authorise interception of communications and for what purposes. A UK Secretary of State may authorise interception of communications for the purpose of preventing or detecting serious cri…

7 Aug 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government in what circumstances ministers can authorise Police Scotland to intercept communications.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Ministers may authorise the interception of communications for the purpose of preventing or detecting serious crime in Scotland.

7 Aug 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Police Scotland about intercepts of communications prior to 25 March 2015 that have been approved by Scottish ministers or other relevant authorities.

Answer · Michael Matheson: There is regular discussion between the Scottish Government, Police Scotland and a number of other relevant bodies regarding the interception of communications.

7 Aug 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had contact with Police Scotland about a possible investigation by the Interception of Communications Commissioner’s Office relating to Police Scotland.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is in regular contact with Police Scotland concerning a variety of matters.