Kenneth Gibson

31 Oct 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to help boost the Ayrshire economy.

2 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the outcome of the BBC Loneliness Experiment, which indicates that levels of loneliness are highest among 16- to 24-year-olds, with 40% saying they often or very often feel lonely.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: We recognise that particular groups, like young people, can be at greater risk of social isolation and loneliness than others. Analysis of responses to our public consultation highlighted issues specifically relevant to young people. These range from the impo…

25 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-18698 by Derek Mackay on 25 September 2018, what information it has on how much revenue has accrued to the Treasury from alcohol duty on Scotch whisky, at today’s prices, over the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Answer · Derek Mackay: As set out in response to S5W-18698, there are no official statistics showing the extent of revenue raised from the Scotch whisky industry. Over the last 10 years, the UK government has collected £32 billion in revenue from alcohol duty levied on spirits (in …

18 Sep 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to develop an industrial strategy for the River Clyde and its adjacent communities.

10 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has been consulted by the Treasury regarding proposals to increase employers’ national insurance contributions, and what impact the implementation of these proposals would have on Scotland’s (a) budget and (b) public services.

Answer · Derek Mackay: HM Treasury has not consulted the Scottish Government on any changes to National Insurance Contributions. The potential impact of any such change on the Scottish Budget and Scottish public services will not be known until further detail is available.

10 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how much revenue has accrued to the Treasury from Scotch Whisky, at today’s prices, over the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scotch whisky industry is of vital importance to the Scottish economy, with exports worth £4.36 billion in 2017. Like any industry, the whisky industry’s activity in Scotland generates tax revenue through a range of sources, such as corporation tax on pr…

3 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received assurances from the UK Government that it will compensate farmers in Scotland for the reported £160 million owed to them in convergence payments.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The CAP convergence review into the £160 million in CAP funding owed to Scottish farmers has yet to get underway, despite the fact that almost 10 months ago the UK Government agreed to conduct the review, following pressure from the Scottish Government. At ev…

28 Aug 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in the last year in establishing a west of Scotland specialist unit for the treatment of endometriosis.

17 Aug 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made regarding the delivery of the Ayrshire Growth Deal.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is fully committed to the Ayrshire Growth Deal. Tripartite discussions commenced in April, shortly after the UK Government announced their commitment to the Deal. Scottish Government officials convened a series of policy engagement wo…

15 Aug 2018 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the delivery of the two new vessels being built by Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd for operation on the Clyde and Hebrides ferry network.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd (FMEL) has advised that the first vessel, the MV Glen Sannox (801), will be delivered during Summer 2019, and the second vessel (802) in Spring 2020. Following delivery, Calmac Ferries Ltd require around two months for trials …

18 Jul 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding how the AI Sector Deal will benefit Scotland.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government was only consulted by the UK Government on the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Sector Deal shortly before it was published and a number of relatively small changes were made as a result to reflect Scotland's strengths in AI and data. We c…

4 Jul 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether companies bidding for public contracts a legally obliged to provide truthful information in bid submissions and, if so, what legal action a company and its directors should face if they do not.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Under procurement legislation, companies that have been found to have submitted false information as part of a procurement exercise can be excluded from further exercises. Whether there are other legal consequences or implications regarding a bidding process…

4 Jul 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is illegal for a company bidding for a public contract to misrepresent its status and structure by falsely claiming to be a subsidiary of a major overseas corporation.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Under procurement legislation, companies that have been found to have misrepresented information as part of a procurement exercise can be excluded from further procurement exercises in circumstances which are specified in the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regul…

4 Jul 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is illegal for a company bidding for a public contract to use the accounts of an unrelated company, without that company's permission, as part of its bid submission.

Answer · Derek Mackay: A company must be excluded from bidding for public contracts if it, or any person that has powers of representation, decision or control in relation to that company has been convicted of one of the offences set out in the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulatio…

4 Jul 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is illegal for a company bidding for a public contract to give the names of professionals in related industries and academia as referees without their permission as part of its bid submission.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Businesses bidding for public contracts must submit a European Single Procurement Document (ESPD) response as part of the selection process and provide a public body with evidence for the fulfilment of the selection criteria when requested. The ESPD requires …

4 Jul 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is illegal for a company bidding for a public contract to use insurance documents from an unrelated company, without that company's permission, as part of its bid submission.

Answer · Derek Mackay: A public body may exclude a company which has been found guilty of serious misrepresentation in supplying the information required for the selection stage of a tendering exercise. A public body must exclude from a procurement process, any bidder which has be…

2 Jul 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce civil partnerships for heterosexual couples and, if so, when.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government consulted in 2015 on civil partnership. Details of that consultation are at http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Justice/law/17867/cpreview There has now been a UK Supreme Court judgment on civil partnership, following a judicial review in Eng…

2 Jul 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people in the NHS Ayrshire and Arran board area were attended to at accident and emergency departments and how many of those waited less than four 4 hours from arrival to admission, discharge or transfer for accident and emergency treatment in each year since 2006-07.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The following table shows the number of attendances at Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments in NHS Ayrshire and Arran and of those, how many spent four hours or less in the department from time of arrival to admission, discharge or transfer since July 200…

25 Jun 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has cost each NHS board to proved free eye examinations in each year since 2006-07.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The total cost of providing free NHS funded eye examinations carried out in Scotland in each financial year since 2006-07 for each NHS Board is outlined in the following table. Cost of free eye examinations in each year since 200607 by Health Board (£000)   …

25 Jun 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) adults and (b) children have had a free eye examination in each year since 2006-07, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The total number of free NHS funded eye examinations for children and adults carried out in Scotland in each financial year from 2006-07 is outlined in the following tables. Number of free eye examinations in each financial year since 2006/07 for children  …

19 Jun 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact of universal credit has been in North Ayrshire.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Universal Credit Full Service was introduced in North Ayrshire in November 2017. Since then North Ayrshire Council has reported that they have seen rent arrears increase by 19.5%. There has also been an increase in people applying as homeless and in use of f…

6 Jun 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government which Scottish colleges carry a PFI burden and what it is doing to alleviate this.

30 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people who have been diagnosed with a sleep disorder have been referred for (a) cognitive behavioural therapy or (b) other non-drug based interventions disorders in each of the last three years, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Maureen Watt: This is a matter for NHS Boards. The information requested is not held centrally.

30 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the cost of prescriptions for sleeping pills has been in each of the last three years, broken down by (a) drug type and (b) NHS board.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Dispenser Payments and Prescription Cost Analysis report provides, on an annual basis, information on the volume and cost of drugs prescribed in the community, including hypnotics for the treatment of sleeping disorders. The report is published on the Na…

30 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many prescriptions for sleeping pills have been dispensed in each of the last three years, broken down by (a) drug type and (b) NHS board.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-16971 on 12 June 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/2…

30 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have consulted a GP or practice-employed nurse regarding a sleep disorder in each of the last three years, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Maureen Watt: This is a matter for NHS Boards. The information requested is not held centrally.

30 May 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the level of recorded crime was in 2006-07 and the last year for which figures are available.

23 May 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the environmental impact is of using wholly-recycled retread lorry tyres compared with new ones.

10 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported concerns of EU citizens that they will lose their right to vote in local government and Scottish Parliament elections and referenda following Brexit.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Scottish Ministers have been clear that the rights of EU citizens to vote in elections in Scotland should be protected after Brexit. It is right that people who make their lives here and contribute to society should have the right to vote, wherever they are f…

9 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has provided in each year since 1999 to support the building of council (a) houses and (b) flats in North Ayrshire, broken down by the number of units that this has helped build.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government Council House Build Programme was introduced in April 2009, the aim being to incentivise local authorities to build new homes. This was the first such central government support to councils in a generation. The following table shows t…