Parliamentary questions
Ken Macintosh
1,334 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
5 Nov 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what data it collects regarding problem gambling and (a) risks to health and (b) suicide rates.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Health Survey (SHeS) uses two methods to assess problem gambling, the Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) and the Diagnostic and Statistics manual-IV (DSM-IV) screening tool. In 2014, 0.7% of the adult population were identified as problem gamblers ac…
5 Nov 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported health risks from problem gambling, what action it is taking to address the issue (a) generally and (b) in connection with fixed-odds betting terminals.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government believes that the effective regulation of gambling is a key means to reducing levels of problem gambling. However gambling legislation remains reserved to the UK Parliament.
28 Oct 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure the provision of suitable housing for the 20,000 disabled people reportedly on local authority waiting lists.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: Addressing housing need is the responsibility of the local authority. A Housing Need and Demand Assessment (HNDA) will help the local authority understand current and future need for housing and housing related services, including for those with a disabilit…
28 Oct 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether and, if so, how it plans to improve building regulations to meet the needs of older and disabled people.
Answer · Marco Biagi: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-28172 on 11 November 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…
28 Oct 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to undertake a review of building regulations related to housing in light of the finding by Leonard Cheshire Disability that many of the current standards do not meet the needs of older and disabled residents.
Answer · Marco Biagi: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-28172 on 11 November 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…
28 Oct 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated cost to the economy is of inaccessible housing.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: The information requested is not held centrally.
28 Oct 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people were discharged late from hospital in 2014-15 due to a lack of suitable or accessible housing.
Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Information Services Division publishes a census of patients delayed in hospital in Scotland. These showed the following delayed discharges in 2014-15: Reason code Apr 2014 Jul 2014 Oct 2014 Jan 2015 Awaiting completion of social care arrangements –…
28 Oct 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated cost to the NHS is of avoidable injuries associated with unsuitable or unadaptable housing.
Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested is not held centrally.
28 Oct 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many of the lifetime homes standards are covered by Scottish building regulations.
Answer · Marco Biagi: The Lifetime Homes Design Guide is a good practice document that sits out with a regulatory framework. The Domestic Technical Handbook is written in such a way that enables it to support minimum building regulations for Scotland. The changes made in 2007, to …
6 Oct 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether legislation proposed by the UK Government placing a duty on private landlords to evict illegal immigrants will apply in Scotland and whether a legislative consent motion will be required to introduce this measure.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Immigration Bill as introduced applies the measures to restrict access to private rented accommodation in England only. The Bill includes regulation making powers which enable UK Government ministers to extend their application to Scotland (and Wales and …
23 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has acted on the recommendation of the Task Force for the Future of Residential Care in Scotland to carry out financial modelling of the costs of paying the living wage throughout the care sector.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government accepts the main recommendations of the Task Force for the Future of Residential Care in Scotland report in principle and has been working with COSLA and the other stakeholders on implementing many of those recommendations. We are com…
23 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how much it would cost to pay the living wage throughout the care sector in Scotland.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: We have met with COSLA and other stakeholders and are currently undertaking analysis to better understand the cost implications of making progress towards the living wage in the social care sector.
23 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the First Minister's statement at Glenboig Community Centre on 14 September 2015, what the annual cost is of the Warmer Homes Scotland scheme; how it calculated the "over half a billion pounds" that it has allocated since 2009 "to make Scotland's homes more energy efficient";…
Answer · Margaret Burgess: HEEPS: Warmer Homes Scotland Warmer Homes Scotland has a contract value of £16-32 million per year with the Scottish Government committed to making at least £16 million available per year. The contract is for five years with the potential to extend to seven …
23 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has budgeted for support for the onshore wind energy sector in (a) 2015-16 and (b) 2016-17.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Expenditure on policies to support renewables, including onshore wind, is paid for through UK consumers’ energy bills and governed by the Levy Control Framework cap set by HM Treasury. The Scottish Government does not have any budget that would enable us to p…
23 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome was of the Scottish onshore wind sector emergency summit in Glasgow on 9 July 2015 to discuss the impact of the UK Government’s decision to end the Renewable Obligation scheme early, in April 2016, and what action the Scottish Government (a) has taken and (b) plans to ta…
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The onshore wind summit held on 9 July 2015 was attended by over 200 representatives from the onshore wind sector and provided an opportunity to hear first-hand the many concerns and impacts the UK Government proposals will have on businesses and communities …
23 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the effectiveness of its health prevention messages on skin cancer.
Answer · Shona Robison: Our advice on the dangers of ultraviolet (UV) sun exposure and use of sunbeds is continually under review. We also work with charities and other organisations to identify further opportunities, where possible, to promote these key health prevention messages a…
23 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the incidence of skin cancer in Scotland is continuing to rise.
Answer · Shona Robison: Information on the number of new cases and incidence rate of malignant melanoma of the skin and non-melanoma skin cancer by year of diagnosis is published on the Information Services Division Scotland website under the cancer statistics topic area via the fol…
23 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to (a) raise awareness of the dangers of skin cancer and (b) discourage tanning, especially among young people.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government publishes advice for the public on sun safety and the use of sunbeds on the NHS Inform website. The advice stresses that over-exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun or sunbeds increases the risks of malignant melanoma and notes…
23 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out an assessment of the impact of the Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008 (Sunbed) Regulations 2009 on the use of sunbeds.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government commissioned Health Protection Scotland to undertake a survey in 2011 to review effectiveness of the regulations. The survey captured the views of both local authority regulators and of a sample of sunbed premises operators. The major…
23 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of findings from a number of press investigations that sunbed operators are continuing to allow children to use their salons.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is aware of claims that some sunbed operators allow children to use their salons. Responsibility for enforcing the provisions of the Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008 (Sunbed) Regulation 2009 lies with local authorities. The legis…
22 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release of 17 September 2015, Independent review for planning in Scotland, when the panel will first meet; whether it will take written and oral evidence from the public and stakeholders; by what date it will publish its report, and how much (a) financial and (b) adm…
Answer · Alex Neil: The independent panel will first meet on 13 October 2015. At that point the panel will finalise the review procedure, including appropriate opportunities for taking written and oral evidence from stakeholders. The review webpage will carry up to date informat…
20 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the cost of using its existing powers through the maintenance of a Scottish Renewables Obligation (RO) in the event that UK Government ends the RO early.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-27589 on 1 October 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…
20 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Sottish Government whether it will use its existing powers to set a level for Scottish Renewables Obligation (RO) certificates for onshore wind generation in the interim period if the UK Government ends the RO scheme early.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish Ministers’ existing powers to set a level for Scottish Renewable Obligation Certificates for onshore wind generation are being removed by UK legislation. The Energy Bill 2015 proposes an amendment to the Electricity Act 1989 to the effect that no R…
20 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the impact of the early ending of the Renewables Obligation scheme on its targets for growing renewable energy and the ability of generators in Scotland to access markets throughout the UK for their output (a) now and (b) after March 2017.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Recent provisional figures published by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (24 September 2015) show Scotland has generated a record 49.6% of Scotland’s gross electricity consumption in 2014, well on course to meet our interim target of 50% by 2015. …
20 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the potential lost (a) jobs and (b) investment in onshore wind energy in Scotland arising from the proposed early ending of the Renewables Obligation scheme and what it can do to protect projects adversely affected.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Figures published by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills estimate that in 2013, the onshore wind sector in Scotland supported approximately 5,400 jobs. Scotland has 8.2 GW of renewable generation projects consented, with a further 4.3 GW in p…
20 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to protect investment in Scottish onshore wind projects already in the planning pipeline in the event that the Renewables Obligation scheme is ended a year early.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Since the UK Government’s announcement, the Scottish Government hosted a summit to hear industry concerns, and followed this up with a letter to Amber Rudd, Secretary of State, seeking a flexible approach to the Renewables Obligation (RO) grace period criteri…
14 Sep 2015 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is experiencing difficulties in recruiting for the four-year GP training programme.
8 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the working group on charging for residential accommodation discussed the use of contractual care routes, in particular the variations in the use of route 3, at its meeting in July 2015, and what recommendations it made to help address the reported variations in the use of contra…
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Charging for Residential Accommodation Guidance working group met on 30 July 2015 and discussed the route three contractual route for residential care. It was agreed by the working group that greater clarity is needed in the guidance to local authorities …
31 Aug 2015 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy will provide an update on what the cost will be of the recent ruling by the Office for National Statistics regarding the use of private finance for public projects.
28 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that members of the public have confidence in the regulation of charitable donations.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 (the Act) is the statutory framework for charities operating in Scotland. The Act is reviewed regularly as part of the Scottish Government’s formal and informal engagement with the Office of the Scottis…