Parliamentary questions

Michael Matheson

1,154 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

26 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to the electricity transmission networks in Scotland to build infrastructure to meet its net zero targets.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government established a Transmission Network short life working group with Transmission Owners in Scotland to consider the challenges around the consenting of electricity network developments. The group made recommendations for both industry and…

26 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported collapse of McClure Solicitors, what action it can take to (a) support the firm's clients and (b) prevent similar situations occurring in the future.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government is aware of this matter and appreciates the distress this will have caused to those affected. The Scottish Government encourages those with concerns to seek advice from the Law Society of Scotland or the Scottish Legal Complaints Comm…

26 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to further support local authorities to address any antisocial behaviour in social housing.

Answer · Paul McLennan: The Scottish Government is committed to tackling the problem of antisocial behaviour in our communities. Local authorities (as landlords) and Registered Social Landlords have a wide range of powers to deal with antisocial behaviour by their tenants that occur…

3 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what costs were associated with biopsy for and treatment of cervical cancer in the last year for which information is available.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not centrally available. Information detailing the costs of these biopsies for treatment of cervical cancer may be available at NHS board level.

3 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what costs are associated with performing a colposcopy and how many were performed in the last year for which information is available.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not collected centrally. Information detailing the number of colposcopy''s undertaken and the associated costs may be available at NHS board level.

3 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what costs are associated with the cervical screening programme.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS boards currently meet the costs associated with the Scottish cervical screening programme, therefore this information is not held centrally. However, as part of a cervical cytology laboratory review a detailed exercise took place to identify …

3 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) sensitivity and (b) specificity is of the cervical screening programme.

Answer · Shona Robison: The sensitivity and specificity of the Scottish Cervical Screening Programme is set out within the NHS Cancer Screening Programme Publication: Achievable standards, Benchmarks for reporting, and Criteria for evaluating cervical cytopathology which can…

3 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce triage for human papilloma virus (HPV) into the cervical screening programme in order to reduce the number of women requiring repeat screening after detection of borderline abnormalities.

Answer · Shona Robison: In January 2011 the Breast and Cervical Screening National Advisory Group recommended that a sub group be established to consider HPV testing within the cervical screening programme in Scotland. The sub-group will use its expertise to consider the available e…

3 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the sub-group of the Breast and Cervical Screening National Advisory Group will report its findings on the review of the integration of human papilloma virus (HPV) testing in the cervical screening programme and when the findings will be published.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-40156 on 16 March 2011. 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/Apps2…

3 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who the members are of the sub-group of the Breast and Cervical Screening National Advisory Group who will review the integration of human papilloma virus (HPV) testing in the cervical screening programme.

3 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will announce additional support for people infected with hepatitis C or HIV through NHS treatment with blood or blood products.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I have made an announcement on 4 March 2011 to extend the current support provisions in line with the recently published Contaminated Blood Review report, to: Introduce an annual payment of £12,800 for those living with hepatitis C who quali…

21 Feb 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider changing the terms of reference of the Penrose inquiry investigating the circumstances in which patients were infected with hepatitis C or HIV following treatment, in light of evidence found by the inquiry.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: After consultation with Lord Penrose, I have decided to amend the terms of reference on the basis of new evidence that has come to light in the form of medical reports which do not support a link between Mr Neil Mullen''s death and any treatment received by t…

26 Jan 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to overcome the delay in wind farm projects due to radar issues and when the matter will be resolved with aviation stakeholders

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government (SG) has been very proactive in overcoming delays to wind farm developments due to radar issues. The SG formed the South West Scotland Aviation Solution Group in March 2009 which has met seven times and brings together all the relevant…

20 Dec 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the report, A Community and Landowner Renewable Energy Loan Fund, by the Scottish Agricultural College.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government welcomes the report and notes how such a fund could help deliver its objectives for increased local ownership of energy by communities and rural enterprises. Proposals for funding a community renewables loan scheme are included in the …

5 Nov 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff in each local authority are involved in providing care for older people.

Answer · Adam Ingram: <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=152 valign=top >   </td> <td width=84 valign=top > Number </td> <td width=92 valign=top > <p align=cente…

5 Nov 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff are employed by each Special Health Board.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS workforce data is published by National Services Scotland Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland annually, as at 30 September 2009 and is available at: http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/servlet/FileBuffer?namedFile=Overall%20staff%202009_vt.xl…

10 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost of alcohol abuse is to each NHS board.

Answer · Shona Robison: The total costs to healthcare services in Scotland of alcohol misuse was estimated by the York Health Economics Consortium, University of York, to be £267.8 million (mid-point) in 2007, however, this figure is not broken down by NHS board.  …

2 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive Executive what assessment it has made of the changes to the NHS proposed by the UK Government and the impact that they might have on spending in Scotland through the application of Barnett consequentials.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Barnett consequentials of any changes to the health budget in England will become known when the Chancellor announces the outcome of Whitehall''s Comprehensive Spending Review on 20 October 2010. Scottish ministers have consistently maintained t…

2 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the changes to the NHS proposed by the UK Government and any impact that they might have in Scotland.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Health is a devolved matter and therefore changes proposed by the UK Government to NHS services in England do not have a direct impact on NHSScotland, however we are working with colleagues in the Department of Health to keep in touch with ongoing development…

22 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to extend the Wider Role Fund for a further year.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Wider Role fund for Registered Social Landlords will be considered in the work undertaken on the Scottish Spending Review.

30 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the report of the review of the UK response to the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic will be published.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The report of the Independent Review of the Government Response to the 2009 H1N1 Pandemic will be published today. The review was jointly commissioned, and the chair appointed, by all four UK Health Ministers in March 2010. Dame Deirdre Hine chaired…

16 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33310 by Stewart Stevenson on 12 May 2010, what proportion of the additional funding will be allocated to the green bus fund.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: £3.4 million has been allocated to the Scottish Green Bus Fund.

3 Jun 2010 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the chief executive of Scottish Natural Heritage.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: There is regular contact between the Scottish Government and Scottish Natural Heritage at all levels, and in relation to a wide range of matters concerning Scotland''s natural heritage. The chief executive most recently met Scottish Government officials on 26…

27 May 2010 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the chairman of NHS Forth Valley.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I met the Chair of NHS Forth Valley on 24 May 2010 at the last regular meeting of NHS board chairs, when we discussed a wide range of matters affecting the delivery of patient services. Officials from the Scottish Government Health Directorates also …

13 May 2010 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the cancellation of the renewal of the Trident nuclear missile system would have on the Scottish budget.

Answer · John Swinney: Cancellation of the Trident nuclear missile system would create an opportunity to spend a significant sum of public money on other public spending priorities. Scotland would be entitled to the consequentials if there were any increases to comparable spending …

29 Apr 2010 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to make a submission to the EU consultation on sport policy.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government will be responding to the EU consultation on sport policy. The UK Government is co-ordinating the response. However, Sport is a devolved responsibility and Scotland is recognised as having a different approach and the Scottish…

22 Apr 2010 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will measure the success of its India plan.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The government''s India plan sets out three clear objectives consistent with the government''s international framework; to attract talented people in India to Scotland, to bring a sharp economic growth focus to the promotion of Scotland in India and to enhanc…

21 Apr 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive following the announcement on 14 April 2010 on the provision of an additional £10 million for sustainable transport initiatives in 2010-11, when details on how this funding is to be allocated will be published.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: As announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, the additional funding will support a range of sustainable transport initiatives, including a green bus fund, provision for the development of low carbon vehicles and cycling infrastruc…

31 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many central heating systems were installed from (a) May 2007 to April 2008 and (b) May 2008 to April 2009 and have been installed from May 2009 to date, broken down by (i) local authority area and (ii) parliamentary constituency.

19 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what capital funds are being made available to NHS boards and Special Health Boards in 2010-11.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS boards have been given a formula capital allocation of £279 million for 2010‘11. Details of NHS boards formula allocations together with Special Board minor works allocations for the period 2010-11 are as follows: <table border=1 cellspac…