Parliamentary questions
Lewis Macdonald
2,224 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
23 Feb 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made with the 50 mph speed limit trial for HGVs on the A9 between Dunblane and Inverness, and when the results of the trial will be published.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The A9 HGV speed limit trial was introduced in October 2014 and the 50 mph limit will remain in place as the route is dualled. The Scottish Government published the evaluation of the A9 HGV speed limit pilot in June 2018, following three years of operation.
23 Feb 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the impact of a 50 mph speed limit for HGVs on single-carriageway trunk roads in England and Wales.
Answer · Michael Matheson: My officials have had continued engagement with officials from the UK Government ahead of the publication of the Department for Transport three year evaluation of HGV Speed Limit Increase in England and Wales. The recently published Road Safety Framework to 2…
23 Feb 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with external organisations regarding extending the 50 mph speed limit trial for HGVs on the A9 to other single-carriageway trunk roads.
Answer · Michael Matheson: We have not had any discussions with external organisations on extending the 50 mph speed limit trial for HGVs on the A9 to other single-carriageway trunk roads. The recently published Road Safety Framework to 2030 has committed to undertaking a National Spee…
22 Feb 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide a substantive answer to question (a) S5W-34138, (b) S5W-34139, (c) S5W-34140 and (d) S5W-34141, which received a holding response on 14 January 2021.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-34138 on 22 February 2021. 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/parliamentarybusine…
12 Feb 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people are waiting for cataract operations.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Data at sub-specialty level on patients waiting for cataract surgery is not currently available. However, information on patients awaiting treatment across all surgical sub-specialties in ophthalmology is available and is published quarterly by Public Healt…
12 Feb 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that people waiting for cataract operations can access surgery at the earliest possible date.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Health boards have resumed cataract services as far as possible however due to the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for infection prevention control measure to be in place, is it inevitable that fewer patients are being treated. To supp…
12 Feb 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many cataract operations have been carried out in each of the last three years by (a) NHS Golden Jubilee, (b) the other NHS boards and (c) other providers of services to the NHS.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The following table outlines details of the number of Ophthalmology procedures carried out in all treatment settings from 2017 to the most recent published data in 2019-2020. The Scottish Government does not currently hold sub speciality data on cataract pro…
10 Feb 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is carrying out an analysis of what impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the (a) delivery and (b) cost of the A96 dualling project and, if so, whether it will publish the findings of this before a decision is made on the East of Huntly-Aberdeen route.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Where it is possible to do so, our consultants continue to advance design work during the COVID-19 pandemic, whilst complying with current restrictions. While we continue to progress as much as we can during this time, there have been some delays to progressi…
10 Feb 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what statutory procedures must be completed before the delivery timetable for the A96 dualling project can be set.
Answer · Michael Matheson: As is the case with all major trunk road projects, the authority to construct new roads is given by virtue of Scottish Statutory Instruments made under powers in the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984. When design and assessment work has been completed to a level nec…
10 Feb 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether a review has been carried out of the (a) scope and (b) timescale of the A96 dualling project.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government remains committed to providing a dual carriageway between Inverness and Aberdeen. All Major trunk road projects are subject to detailed review and assessment work to ensure we deliver the right schemes and keep impacts on the environm…
10 Feb 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the projected cost of the A96 dualling project.
Answer · Michael Matheson: At this early stage of development it is difficult to give an accurate estimate of the cost of the A96 Dualling programme, however it is estimated that it will be in the region of £3 billion. As the design and preparation stages progress, a more detailed esti…
10 Feb 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Managed Isolation Welfare Fund will be launched for travellers in enforced quarantine; what level of financial support applicants to the fund will be able to receive, and when eligible travellers will receive their funding.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is actively working with the UK Government to ensure that financial support can be provided to eligible travellers. The UK system that enables travellers to book managed isolation facilities and pay associated fees has been set up at p…
28 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many suicides were recorded in (a) 2018, (b) 2019 and (c) 2020.
Answer · Clare Haughey: In 2018 there were 784 suicides registered in Scotland, and in 2019 there were 833. Further information, including a breakdown by age, sex, and suicide coding is available at the Scottish Public Health Observatory website at the following link: https://www.s…
28 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to (a) track and (b) address the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on mental health.
Answer · Clare Haughey: Following engagement with stakeholders and in line with emerging needs, we published the Mental Health Transition and Recovery Plan on 8 October 2020. The Plan outlines the Scottish Government’s response to the impacts of COVID-19 and addresses the challenges…
27 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether prisoners are routinely tested for COVID-19 before being transferred to other prisons.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: In line with Health Protection Scotland guidance, individuals in custody are not routinely tested for COVID-19 prior to transf…
27 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) prisoners and (b) staff have received COVID-19 tests in each prison during each month since April 2020, and how many tests provided (i) negative and (i) positive results.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: Since 25 May 2020 all NHS Health Boards have tested those in custody who are showing signs of Covid-19. SPS does not hold info…
27 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken within prisons to ensure that prisoners who have tested positive for COVID-19 are isolated from the rest of the prison population.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: When someone shows signs of COVID-19 they are immediately isolated and tested. If the test results confirm they have COVID-19,…
27 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what COVID-19 testing regimes are in place in prisons for (a) prisoners and (b) staff.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: Any individual in custody who displays symptoms of Covid-19 is isolated and tested by NHS. Any SPS member of staff who displa…
20 Jan 2021 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements are in place for supply teachers during the current lockdown period.
15 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what powers are available to the management of Glasgow Prestwick Airport to decline any proposed visit by private or military aircraft from the United States.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Glasgow Prestwick Airport operates at arms length from the Scottish Government. Any arrangement between the business and customers or potential customers is a commercial matter for Glasgow Prestwick Airport. The use of UK airspace is reserved to the UK Govern…
15 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to ensure full compliance with quarantine regulations by passengers and crew of any private or military aircraft arriving at Glasgow Prestwick Airport.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Requirements for passengers arriving at any port in Scotland are set out in The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (International Travel) (Scotland) Regulations SSI2020/169; The Health Protection (Coronavirus Public Health Information for Passengers Travelling t…
23 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on safe drug consumption sites.
Answer · Angela Constance: We support the use of overdose prevention facilities as an effective and evidence-led intervention in our fight to save lives and reduce drug related harm. There is a strong body of evidence from other countries that these facilities can not only prevent fat…
23 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-33545 by Clare Haughey on 7 December 2020, by what date it expects the data to be (a) finalised, (b) validated and (c) peer-reviewed.
Answer · Clare Haughey: A study by the Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory is underway to investigate death rates from COVID-19 for the population with learning disabilities in Scotland compared with a 5% sample of the general population. This study will provide robust eviden…
23 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has committed any specific resources to addressing the reported shortfall in the recruitment of consultant physicians in the North of Scotland NHS region.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: In December 2019, we published the first Integrated National Health and Social Care Workforce Plan in the UK. Developed in partnership with COSLA, the Integrated Plan sets out how health and social care services will meet growing demand to ensure the right nu…
22 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will adjust training allocations in (a) geriatrics, (b) neurology, (c) renal, (d) respiratory and (e) rheumatology medicine in the North of Scotland NHS region to ensure that these programmes meet the region’s 15% allocation of higher specialty training places.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: While the allocation of trainees in these medical specialties in the North of Scotland is below the 15% allocation, there are a number of other training programmes in this region with an allocation above the agreed 15% of training posts, for example Acute Med…
22 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to revise the allocation of medical trainees to better reflect the population levels and needs of each NHS region.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The current distribution of medical trainees across Scotland was agreed in consultation with NHS Board Chief Executives, does reflect population levels. Such matters are kept under regular review and are taken account of in annual assessments of medical workf…
22 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the finding of the consultant census 2019-20 that 84% of consultant physicians in the North of Scotland NHS region do not receive compensation for covering rota gaps.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: National terms and conditions are clear that all staff should be appropriately compensated for undertaking any extra work. This includes when covering rota gaps. Appropriate compensation can include additional/overtime payments or time in lieu, and are detail…
22 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to address concerns that the North of Scotland NHS region reportedly receives lower numbers of trainee doctors than its allocation.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: An allocation of 15% of trainees to the North of Scotland was agreed with NHS Boards Chief Executives which reflects population levels in the area. At present, the North of Scotland has 15.9% of overall training posts in Scotland, marginally exceeding the tar…
22 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what work it is doing to invest in the medical workforce in order to reduce medical agency spend in the North of Scotland NHS region.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: In December 2019, we published the first Integrated National Health and Social Care Workforce Plan in the UK. Developed in partnership with COSLA, the Integrated Plan sets out how health and social care services will meet growing demand to ensure the right nu…
22 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will adjust internal medical training allocations to ensure that the North of Scotland NHS region receives its 15% allocation of higher specialty training places.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The allocation of Internal Medicine Training posts in the North of Scotland currently stands at 14.8%. The precise allocation of specialty training posts into training programmes also depends on the capacity to both deliver such training and provide appropria…