John Swinney

18 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of staff currently employed by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner were previously employed by (a) Police Scotland, (b) any other police service and (c) the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

Answer · Angela Constance: Of the 95 staff currently employed by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner: a) 41% are former police officers, from Police Scotland or the Scottish legacy police forces. b) 4% were previously employed by the Royal Military Police. c) 2% were p…

18 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many staff are currently employed by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner, and in what roles.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Police Investigations and Review Commissioner employs 95 members of staff as detailed in the following table. PIRC Team Number of Staff Roles Operations 1 Director of Operations (1) Legal Services 1 Head of Legal Services (1) Reviews and Policy …

18 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of staff currently employed by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner were previously serving police officers.

Answer · Angela Constance: The number of staff currently employed by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner is 95, of which 39 (41%) are former police officers.

20 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the review of the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer will be completed.

Answer · Neil Gray: The 2024 Clinical Review of the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer has commenced, with clinical peer review sessions running from April to October 2024. A consultation period will then follow to allow stakeholders across NHS Scotland to comment…

20 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the necessary genetic tests are available in all NHS board areas to enable the prescribing of Olaparib to treat prostate cancer.

Answer · Neil Gray: Prostate BRCA1/2 genetic testing to support access to Olaparib is available to all eligible patients in Scotland. The testing has been implemented with funding from Scottish Government in 2023-24. In Scotland genomic testing is provided through a network of …

20 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether consideration is being given, as part of the review of the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer, to risk factors such as family history and ethnicity in improving the early detection of prostate cancer.

Answer · Neil Gray: A wealth of evidence is being collated and analysed as part of the 2024 Clinical Review of the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer, including from key partners Cancer Research UK and Healthcare Improvement Scotland. All factors that are relevant…

20 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions the treatment Olaparib has been prescribed in each NHS board area since it was approved for use by the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) in 2021.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Neither the Scottish Government nor Public Health Scotland (PHS) hold this information centrally. The majority of data held by PHS on Olaparib (Lynparza®) is on the quantity issued within hospital settings rather than on the number of prescriptions, only a ve…

19 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to any implications of recent flooding events for wild salmon populations.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government has not given specific consideration to the implications of recent flooding on wild salmon populations. High river flows potentially wash out salmon eggs from nests on the riverbed and displace juvenile fish downstream. However, resear…

19 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to measures to increase the wild salmon population through stocking initiatives.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: A Government report on the scientific considerations in stocking policy development for river managers was published last year Science of salmon stocking: report . In summary, the supplementation of wild populations with salmon raised in hatcheries can pla…

19 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on the implementation of the Scottish Wild Salmon Strategy.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government published a progress report on 25 March 2024, which outlines the work undertaken to progress over 50 of the actions in the first year since publication of the Wild Salmon Strategy Implementation Plan.  

20 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to provide guidance on physical restraint in educational settings.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government held a public consultation on the draft of new physical intervention in schools guidance in 2022. We are carefully considering all responses received on this sensitive topic and a consultation analysis report is being prepared for m…

1 Aug 2023 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will update the Scottish Parliament on the Fiscal Framework review.

Answer · Shona Robison: I met with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury John Glen on 20 July to discuss the review of the Scottish Government’s Fiscal Framework. Following a series of negotiations, we have agreed on an updated Fiscal Framework, which will be published today. This fo…

16 Jun 2023 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the next paper in the Building a New Scotland series.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: I am pleased to inform the Parliament that the Scottish Government is continuing to deliver on its commitment to give people the information they need to make an informed choice about their future, and is today publishing Creating a Modern Constitution for an…

18 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to enhance continuous professional development (CPD) among clinicians, in relation to awareness of the treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME).

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government’s Neurological Care and Support Framework 2020-25 sets out our vision to ensure everyone with a neurological condition, including Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), can access the care and support they need to…

18 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to enhance medical education in relation to myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) in medical schools.

Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-18221 on 5 June 2023. 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/…

21 Mar 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve signage for access to the Cairngorms from the A9.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Transport Scotland is liaisingwith the National Park on its signing proposals for the A9 and other trunk roads.Transport Scotland is also liaising with Perth and Kinross Council regardingits proposals for visitor attractions at Blair Atholl associated with th…

29 Jan 2007 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how much it expects the Scottish Information Commissioner to apply for from the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body’s central contingency fund for (a) legal costs and (b) court costs in defending the case of The Scottish Ministers v The Scottish Information Commission…

Answer · John Scott: Whether or not anapplication to the contingency fund is likely to be made is dependent on anumber of factors including any award of costs determined by the courts and ifan appeal is marked.</p>

29 Jan 2007 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how much expenditure the Scottish Information Commissioner has incurred from the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body’s central contingency fund to date in (a) legal costs and (b) court costs in defending the case of The Scottish Ministers v The Scottish Information Co…

Answer · John Scott: No legal or court costs havebeen incurred to date from the SPCB’s central contingency in relation to the Scottish Information Commissioner defending the case referred to in the question.</p>

26 Jan 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much expenditure it expects to incur in (a) legal and (b) court costs in pursuing the case of The Scottish Ministers versus The Scottish Information Commissioner (William Alexander’s application).

Answer · Johann Lamont: The Opinion of the Court ofSession has been received, and its terms and implications are being considered.Any further appeal would be to the House of Lords. At this stage the level ofany expected expenditure would be speculative.</p>

26 Jan 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much expenditure it has incurred to date in (a) legal and (b) court costs in pursuing the case of The Scottish Ministers v The Scottish Information Commissioner (William Alexander’s application).

Answer · Johann Lamont: The case of The ScottishMinisters <i>v </i>The Scottish Information Commissioner (William Alexander’sapplication) was heard before the Court of Session with the case of the Scottish Ministers <i>v</i> The Scottish Information Commissioner (Mr Elstone’sand Mr …

25 Jan 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the staff turnover was at Fisheries Research Services’ (a) Marine Laboratory Aberdeen and (b) Freshwater Laboratory Faskally in each year since 2000.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Staff turnover at FisheriesResearch Services is as follows:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <tr> <td width=198 valign=top> <p align=center>Year</p> </td> <td width=205 valign=top> <p align=center>Staff Turnover –</p> <p align=center>Mar…

25 Jan 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many vacant staff posts at Fisheries Research Services’ (a) Marine Laboratory Aberdeen and (b) Freshwater Laboratory Faskally have had to be re-advertised in each year since 2000.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Details of vacant posts,applications and re-advertisements at Fisheries Research Services are asfollows:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=126 valign=top> <p>Dates</p> </td> <td width=132 valign=top> <p align=c…

25 Jan 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many applicants there were for staff vacancies at Fisheries Research Services’ (a) Marine Laboratory Aberdeen and (b) Freshwater Laboratory Faskally in each year since 2000.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I refer the member to the answerto question S2W-31404 on 6 February 2007. All answersto written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website,the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…

25 Jan 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff vacancies there were at Fisheries Research Services’ (a) Marine Laboratory Aberdeen and (b) Freshwater Laboratory Faskally in each year since 2000.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I refer the member to thequestion S2W-31404 answered on 6 February 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…

25 Jan 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what professional qualifications are held by staff employed by Fisheries Research Services at Freshwater Laboratory Faskally.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: All staff at FreshwaterLaboratory Faskally hold the qualifications required by the Scottish Executive Payand Grading Benchmark Guidance. This information is given in pages 1 and 2 of the<i>SE Pay and Grading Benchmark Guidance</i>, a copy of which has been pl…

25 Jan 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff employed by Fisheries Research Services at (a) Marine Laboratory Aberdeen and (b) Freshwater Laboratory Faskally have length of service of (i) less than one year, (ii) one to two years, (iii) three to nine years, (iv) 10 to 20 years and (v) more than 20 years.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Length of service ofFisheries Research Services staff is as follows:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=168 valign=top> <p>Lengths of Service</p> </td> <td width=216 valign=top> <p align=center>FRS Marine Labo…

25 Jan 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff are employed by Fisheries Research Services at (a) Marine Laboratory Aberdeen and (b) Freshwater Laboratory Faskally, also broken down by grade.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Staff numbers and gradeswithin Fisheries Research Services are as follows:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=114 valign=top> <p>Grades</p> </td> <td width=234 valign=top> <p align=center>FRS Marine Laboratory</…

11 Jan 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what economic, social or environmental benefits have arisen as a result of the designation and management of the Cairngorms National Park.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Cairngorms National Parkwas designated in 2003. It would not be meaningful at this early stage toattempt an assessment of the economic, social and environmental benefits arisingfrom the designation; since many of the benefits which the National Parkdesign…

6 Dec 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average time is that it takes to consider proposals for local byelaws to ban drinking of alcohol in public spaces.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The time taken to consider proposalsfor local byelaws to ban drinking of alcohol in public spaces depends on the contentand complexity of the proposed byelaws. If the proposals do not follow a recognisedmodel, scrutiny by the Executive is likely to take longe…

30 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what contracts and arrangements for the provision of insurance services it holds with (a) Royal and Sun Alliance and (b) Marsh UK.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive doesnot hold a central record of contracts and arrangements for the provision ofinsurance services. The Executive’s finance system (which covers core Executivedepartments and many Executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies) s…