Kenneth Gibson

22 May 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its Rural Affordable Homes for Key Workers Fund will help tackle island depopulation.  

10 Apr 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how Crown Estate Scotland supports marine tourism in coastal communities.

8 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) passengers, (b) cars, (c) lorries and (d) coaches were carried on the Ardrossan to Brodick ferry route in each of the last 20 years for which figures are available.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The information requested is available on the Scottish Transport Statistics 2023, published on 27 March 2024, at Tables 9.15 and 9.16 and via CalMac’s website and can be found by following the links below: www.transport.gov.scot/publication/scottish-transpor…

8 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) passengers, (b) cars, (c) lorries and (d) coaches were carried on the Largs to Cumbrae ferry route in each of the last 20 years for which figures are available.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W- 26745 on 18 April 2024. 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-committe…

8 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) passengers, (b) cars, (c) lorries and (d) coaches were carried on the Lochranza to Claonaig and Tarbert ferry route in each of the last 20 years for which figures are available.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-26745 on 18 April 2024. 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-committee…

2 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-26239 by Shona Robison on 2 April 2024, whether it will provide the requested breakdown of these figures by year since 1 March 2006, and for what reason it did not provide this breakdown in its original answer.

Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested on annual unitary charge payments relating to both the North Ayrshire Schools PFI contract and the Largs Campus contract which formed part of the NPD/hub Programme is in the public domain. This information can be found be at the Scot…

18 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much North Ayrshire Council has paid in unitary charges for its public-private partnership (PPP) for schools project in each year since 1 March 2006, and how much it estimates it will pay in future years.

Answer · Shona Robison: The latest published data shows that North Ayrshire Council have paid a total of £187.2 million in unitary charge payments since 2007-08 for its North Ayrshire Schools PFI contract and that the total projected payments from 2023-24 onwards until contract expi…

13 Mar 2024 · General Question

Withdrawn.

11 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how women’s aid organisations that are not affiliated with Scottish Women’s Aid are funded, and what criteria are used for any such funding.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: Women’s Aid groups that are not affiliated with Scottish Women’s Aid are funded in the same ways and with the same criteria as affiliated groups. The main source of funding between 2021 and 2025 is the Delivering Equally Safe (DES) fund, the objectives for w…

1 Mar 2024 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what impact the Spring Statement will have on Scotland.

26 Feb 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on its financial planning process of the UK Government having Autumn and Spring statements, in light of reported calls for a multi-year budget approach.  

26 Feb 2024 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to ensure optimum ferry capacity to and from Arran, in light of reports that repairs to the MV Caledonian Isles are not expected to conclude before mid-June.

13 Feb 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to GP practices to help them transition to a telephone appointment queuing system.  

12 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it will allocate from its capital budget for the redevelopment of Ardrossan Harbour in (a) 2024-25 and (b) subsequent financial years.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Transport Scotland forecasts for financial year 2024-2025 include an indicative allowance for a contribution towards the Ardrossan Harbour project. Forecasts and allocations in future years will be guided by funding availability and the ongoing project review…

5 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to improve the accessibility of GP appointments.

Answer · Neil Gray: In November Scottish Government published The General Practice Access Principles. This report, which sets out a clear framework for the core principles of how GP services should be delivered – equitably, sensitively, reasonably and appropriately, making the m…

24 Jan 2024 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the UK Government regarding any charges levied by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency for converting to, and investing in, net zero fishing vessels.

22 Jan 2024 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the closure of Ardrossan Harbour’s Irish Berth for safety reasons after corrosion was reportedly uncovered during an inspection by divers.

3 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it is reportedly difficult for patients to return NHS equipment that they have been loaned back to the NHS board.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Decisions on the return and re-use of loaned equipment are made at Board level and the Scottish Government do not have access to this information.

3 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the value is of equipment that has been loaned to patients by each NHS board in the last year for which figures are available.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government does not hold this information, however, it may be available from local Health Boards.

3 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what additional social security benefits are awarded to claimants with autism, and what proof of diagnosis is required.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: There are no additional social security benefits specific to autism however when someone is diagnosed with a long-term condition which may mean that they need a range of support they should contact Social Security Scotland for advice. Social Security Scotlan…

3 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what value of NHS equipment loaned to patients has been written off in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government does not hold this information, however, it may be available from local Health Boards.

3 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps the NHS takes to retrieve equipment that it has loaned to patients.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Decisions on the retrieval of loaned equipment are made at Board level and the Scottish Government do not have access to this information.

3 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has invested in flood prevention in each year since 1999.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Local authorities are responsible for the development and delivery of flood protection schemes. The Scottish Government has made available the following amounts to local authorities for flood protection scheme and other actions. 1999-2000 £4 million 2000-2…

21 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which over-the-counter medicines are available on prescription.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Items may be prescribed within primary care where there is a clinical need with the exception of items listed on Schedule 1 of Part 12 of the Scottish Drug Tariff.

21 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much the NHS has spent on providing over-the-counter medicines via prescription in the last year for which figures are available.  

Answer · Jenni Minto: Data is not currently reported in a format which shows primary care medicines spend by licenced indication, (Prescription only Medicines (POM), Pharmacy medicines (P) and General Sale List (GSL)). A P pack medicine may be prescribed and supplied for a conditi…

15 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many rapid response fisheries compliance vessels are available at any one time to attend to issues in the Clyde marine region.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Marine Directorate is responsible for the operation of the Scottish Government's Marine Protection Vessels. It operates 3 larger vessels and 2 inshore fast patrol vessels. No marine assets are dedicated to a particular area, instead, tasking is determined…

15 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many warranted fishery officers are based in the (a) Oban, (b) Campbeltown and (c) Ayr fishery office, and how many additional warranted fishery officers were seconded to the Clyde marine region in each year from 2013-14 to 2023-24 inclusive.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government has a compliment of 2 warranted officers in Oban, 2 in Campbeltown and 4 in Ayr. Secondment records for the period requested are not retained, any secondment would be as a response to risk level and business need. In addition our Marin…

13 Dec 2023 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on negotiations with COSLA to agree a new Fiscal Framework with local government.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government and COSLA have today published a progress report on the development of a Fiscal Framework between the Scottish Government and Local Government. The document can be accessed on the Scottish Government website at the following link : ht…

4 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people (a) had to be hospitalised and (b) died as a result of paracetamol overdose in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Answer · Michael Matheson: In response to (a): Table 1 shows the number of people admitted to hospital as an inpatient or day case as a result of paracetamol poisoning, which includes overdose. Note that these figures include overdoses that were coded as accidental, intentional and of…

28 Nov 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is regarding the maximum time that a family should be expected to wait for a post-mortem report following the death of a loved one.