Kenneth Gibson

19 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of reported cybercrimes were successfully prosecuted in the last year for which figures are available.

Answer · Angela Constance: There is no agreed upon definition of cyber-crime and a range of different types of crime may be either cyber-dependent or cyber-enabled. The table below shows people prosecuted and convicted in Scottish courts in 2020-21 where the main charge is under either…

20 Jun 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to tackle antisocial behaviour on public transport.

15 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many fishers there are in Scotland, and how many of these are migrant workers.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The National Statistics publication Provisional Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics: 2022 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) provides information on the number of fishers on Scottish registered vessels. On 31 December 2022, there were 4,117 fishers employed on Scottis…

5 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are taken to monitor the cardiovascular health of women who have experienced pre-eclampsia.

Answer · Jenni Minto: All women diagnosed with pre-eclampsia should receive monitoring and management of their condition in line with local NHS Board clinical pathways for both antenatal and postnatal care. The Women’s Health Plan 2021-2024 recognises the need to address inequal…

25 Apr 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reduce the number of people who are economically inactive by improving their employability.

14 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is giving consideration to establishing an endometriosis specialist treatment unit in Ayrshire.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The role of specialist endometriosis centres in Scotland is to provide coordinated, multidisciplinary treatment to individuals with complex symptoms of endometriosis and to those requiring complex surgery. Most individuals with endometriosis can be treated by…

14 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many women are currently living with endometriosis in the NHS Ayrshire and Arran area.

Answer · Jenni Minto: This is a matter for NHS Ayrshire and Arran. The information requested is not held centrally.  

14 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to bring derelict and empty homes in rural and island communities back into habitable use.

Answer · Paul McLennan: The Scottish Government funds the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership to work with local authorities, empty homes officers and private owners to return homes to active use. The range of tools available to help incentivise owners to take action include the counci…

14 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to reduce the incidence of pre-eclampsia.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government commissioned The Scottish Health Technologies Group (SHTG) to adapt the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) diagnostics guidance, to inform a Scotland-specific approach on placental growth factor (PlGF) based testing whic…

12 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether foster carers, including those providing short-term or emergency foster care, must obtain a short-term let licence in order to continue to provide this service.

Answer · Paul McLennan: Arrangements where a person occupies accommodation as their only or principal home are not considered short-term lets. Interpretation and application of the licensing scheme to specific circumstances is a matter for licensing authorities. We continue to monit…

3 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce a complete and enforceable ban on the use of electric shock collars on dogs.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Animal Welfare Commission recently investigated the use of electronic dog training collars at our request. We will consider their findings carefully as part of our ongoing commitment to improve and enhance animal welfare.

3 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that schools (a) provide parity of esteem for and (b) encourage pupils to take up apprenticeship opportunities.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government’s Youth Employment Strategy – Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) has, since its inception in 2014, remained committed to supporting young people by ensuring that a wide range of pathways and routes into apprenticeships are open to yo…

3 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the number of apprenticeships, including graduate apprenticeships.

Answer · Graeme Dey: Apprenticeships are a vital resource for employers to invest in their workforce and for people to develop their skills. Investing in skills across people’s lifetimes is critical to our future productivity and success, underlining our commitment to a skilled w…

21 Mar 2023 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the 2023-24 Public Sector Pay Strategy.

Answer · John Swinney: I am pleased to confirm that we have today published the 2023-24 Public Sector Pay Strategy on the Scottish Government website.

13 Mar 2023 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the UK Government's Spring Budget.

6 Mar 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to increase employment opportunities within the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector, in light of the recent Fraser of Allander Institute report, The economic contribution of the Pharmaceuticals Sector in Scotland.

27 Feb 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the cost to the public purse will be of private finance initiatives and public private partnerships in 2023-24, and how this compares to 2022-23.

22 Feb 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to tackle cybercrime.

14 Feb 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to its cross-government co-ordination on islands policies, what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding any impact on rural and island communities of the closure of outdoor education centres.

30 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any interim findings will be made available by Police Scotland regarding its ongoing pilot project in the west of Scotland to train officers to recognise gambling addiction and screen people in custody.

Answer · Maree Todd: This is a matter for Police Scotland. The information requested is not held centrally .

25 Jan 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what specific training is provided to help serving police officers deal with members of the public who have mental health issues.

16 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Amey, North Ayrshire Council or both are responsible for keeping the A78 free of detritus from Gailes to Skelmorlie.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, litter collection and clearing detritus is the responsibility of the Local Authority even when the road is a trunk road (but not a motorway or specified a ‘Special Road’ that has particular regulations which dictat…

16 Jan 2023 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to encourage people to become foster carers, following reports that only 40 of 400 children referred to Barnardo’s fostering service in Glasgow and Edinburgh have been placed with families in the last year.  

19 Dec 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it considers to be the educational impact of open plan classrooms on primary school children.

12 Dec 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact of air pollution is on mental health.

5 Dec 2022 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether any changes to the current devolution settlement should only be implemented with the explicit democratic consent of the Scottish people.

30 Nov 2022 · Inspired Question

To ask Scottish Government what progress has been made towards the 2023 revaluation of non-domestic properties.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The next non-domestic property revaluation will take effect on? 1 April 2023. The draft valuation roll was published on 30 November and draft valuation notices will be issued by Assessors from then. Final valuation notices in respect of 1 April 2023 will be i…

23 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the potential impact on Scotland will be of the closure of the UK Office of Tax Simplification.

Answer · Tom Arthur: Whilst the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) is a UK Government body, many of the taxes within its remit apply across the whole of the UK, including Scotland. The OTS provides an independent and objective perspective on taxes such as Inheritance Tax and Capi…

23 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether infrared-sensitive cameras placed in hospital patients’ rooms to measure pulse and breathing rates remotely are being rolled out across NHS Scotland.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Scottish Government is not aware of any plans to roll out the use of infrared-sensitive cameras placed in patients’ rooms to measure pulse and breathing rates remotely across NHSScotland. It is ultimately for the 14 Territorial Health Boards across Scotland…

22 Nov 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to integrate gender identity and mental health services.