Parliamentary questions

Michael Russell

1,207 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

13 May 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will launch a consultation on revising the planning system and, if so, whether this would provide an opportunity to comment on how the system of neighbour notification for planning applications operates.

Answer · Alex Neil: The planning system has undergone significant modernisation in recent years and there are no plans at present to undertake a fundamental review. We continue to engage with stakeholders to ensure that planning remains efficient, effective and inclusive and we…

13 May 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the system of neighbour notification in the planning system to ensure that people with an interest in a development but who are temporarily absent from their property when the notification is delivered are fully consulted.

Answer · Alex Neil: The current system aims to ensure that whoever is living in a property, whether owner, occupier or lessee, has opportunity to comment on proposals which may affect that property. Neighbour notification is only one way in which the public can find information …

13 May 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether neighbour notifications for planning applications being delivered to properties, but not specifically addressed to each owner, ensures that all affected parties in the immediate vicinity of the development are informed.

Answer · Alex Neil: The neighbour notification system aims to strike a balance between ensuring public engagement whilst at the same time ensuring efficient processing. Any requirement for planning authorities to undertake a property search, for example, would introduce new obli…

13 May 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there are deficiencies in how the system of neighbour notification for planning applications operates.

Answer · Alex Neil: Following changes made in 2009 and more recently in 2013, we consider the current system of neighbour notification is proportionate and fit for purpose, and strikes the appropriate balance between public engagement and efficient processing. However we are alw…

13 May 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has received in the last year regarding how the system of neighbour notification for planning applications operates, and how many of these were classified as complaints.

Answer · Alex Neil: Correspondence and complaints concerning the operation in practice of planning procedures are a matter for the relevant planning authority in the first instance. The Scottish Government does not hold information centrally on how many complaints local authorit…

13 May 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the evidence given at Oban Sheriff Court in May 2015 suggesting that, at the time of a fatal accident in August 2013, the A85 at Connel was uneven, had a low texture depth and a severe deficiency in skid resistance and that Transport Scotland was aware of such con…

Answer · Derek Mackay: Whilst aware of recent press reports, the Scottish Government was not a party to the proceedings at Oban Sheriff Court and is not, therefore, in a position to comment on those. Condition surveys of the A85 at Connel were undertaken in the three year period pr…

3 May 2015 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to secure lifeline flights from Oban to the islands of Colonsay, Coll and Tiree, which are to be withdrawn by the operator from 16 May.

28 Apr 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Argyll and Bute Council informed it that, in 2002, it granted a 25-year lease to Actual Reality Ltd regarding Castle Toward instead of the 99-year lease period agreed by ministers after consent by Glasgow and East Renfrewshire councils and, if so, when.

Answer · Marco Biagi: There is no information available to confirm whether Argyll and Bute Council informed ministers of the change in lease period.

28 Apr 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what commercial value was put on Castle Toward by Argyll and Bute Council when it approached ministers to seek permission to grant a 99-year lease on the castle to Actual Reality Ltd; on what date the council (a) sought and (b) received ministerial permission to grant it at a peppercorn …

Answer · Marco Biagi: The council sought ministerial permission to lease Castle Toward to Actual Reality Learning and Leadership Company at less than best price in September 2002, and permission was granted on 18 December 2002. In line with normal practice at that time, ministers …

28 Apr 2015 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in ensuring that the ambulance and health services on Mull meet the needs and expectations of the local community as expressed to the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport at a meeting in March 2015.

2 Apr 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure the (a) continuation, (b) growth and (c) health of rural general practice in (i) Scotland and (ii) NHS Highland.

Answer · Shona Robison: Scottish Ministers are fully committed to ensuring that all communities in Scotland, including remote and rural communities, receive safe, reliable and sustainable health care services. We are working with the Scottish General Practitioners’ Committee to rev…

2 Apr 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the proportion of the NHS budget spent on rural general practice has fallen or risen over the last decade.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government invests additional funding in general practice every year, in a way which aims to support all of general practice. Rurality is one of the factors on which funding is weighted through the Scottish Allocation Formula for general practice…

2 Apr 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many GPs in rural practices in (a) Scotland and (b) NHS Highland offer out-of-hours cover and what proportion that is of all GPs in that area.

Answer · Shona Robison: The delivery of GP services during the out-of-hours period is the responsibility of health boards in accordance with National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Scotland) Regulations 2004. Scotland’s 14 health boards report having a total o…

2 Apr 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many GPs work in the NHS Highland area; how many work in rural practices, and how many vacancies there were for posts in rural practices as of 31 March 2015.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Highland has confirmed there are 450 GPs noted on their performers list, with around 70 of these being locums. Statistics on the number of GPs per region are published by NHS Scotland and are available via the following link:http://www.isdscotland.org/Hea…

2 Apr 2015 · Written Question

Answer · Shona Robison: Latest figures show that there are 4,918 GPs working in the 993 GP practices in Scotland, 21% of these practices are classed as being rural. In Scotland, for each of the following years below, are total number of GP numbers of general practices and the propo…

2 Apr 2015 · Written Question

Answer · Shona Robison: The following table shows the budget for primary medical services (general practice) as a percentage of the total NHS budget. Primary Medical Service (PMS) expenditure, in millions 2000-01 2005-06 2010-11 Primary Medical Services 377,534 701.009 74…

2 Apr 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of effectiveness of the campaign to raise awareness of adult harm, See Something, Say Something.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The adult support and protection social marketing activity continues to run at a local level with support from partners and local authorities. Early indications show the campaign has had a positive effect with over 5,000 visits to the Act Against Harm website…

2 Apr 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recourse is available to a member of the public who is concerned that the convener of a child protection committee (a) appears to lack knowledge of key legislation and (b) might be being unduly influenced by a local authority.

Answer · Fiona McLeod: Child protection committee chairs are either independent chairs who are under a contractual arrangement with a local authority, health board or Police Scotland, or direct employees of those agencies. It is therefore open to members of the public who have con…

2 Apr 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-24953 by Jamie Hepburn on 26 March 2015, whether it will provide (a) local authorities and (b) other stakeholders with a clearer definition of harm from failure to provide adequate care, as set out in the adult support and protection guidelines and …

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Code of Practice to the Adult Support and Protection Act 2007 gives a clear definition of harm for the legislation. This makes explicit reference to accidental or intentional neglect by a carer, and to care as one of the types of settings where an adult c…

2 Apr 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-24953 by Jamie Hepburn on 26 March 2015, how it ensures that the abuse or neglect of vulnerable adults by carers is addressed and what action it expects (a) A&E and (b) other NHS staff to take if they suspect such abuse or neglect.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Adult Support and Protection Act 2007 provides for local authorities to investigate abuse or neglect of vulnerable people by carers, or others, and to take action to protect adults at risk from further harm. The police can conduct a criminal investigation…

31 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what decisions it has made regarding the allocation of the primary care development fund announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport on 4 November 2014.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The funding will be invested in supporting primary care, and we have been discussing the best use of this with a number of partners. An announcement will be made in the near future.

18 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the finding of the recent significant case review undertaken by South Lanarkshire Council regarding the care given to Stephen Armstrong and, in light of this, whether it plans to (a) amend the legislation or guidance and, if so, when and (b) revise the Adult Prote…

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government accepts the findings of this review and is taking forward the recommendations for the Scottish Government, which are: To clarify the relationship between the role of the convenor of an adult protection committee in respect of signifi…

18 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that adult protection committees are structured in a way that allows their conveners and members to take an independent and objective view of the work of local authorities.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: An adult protection committee must include members nominated by the council, the relevant health board and the relevant chief constable and may include a representative nominated by the Care Inspectorate. The convener must not be a member or officer of the co…

18 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what safeguards there are to ensure that the convener of an adult protection committee is able to operate independently of local authority control.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: It is in the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 that the convenor of an adult protection committee cannot be a member or officer of the council. Guidance sets out that the convenor must be seen to be independent in thought and action as well as …

18 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what procedure a local authority must follow when appointing the convener of an adult protection committee.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government expects all the partner organisations on an adult protection committee to be involved in recruiting the convenor, and this is set out in the guidance for the committees.

10 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much damage is caused to (a) the seabed and (b) sustainable fisheries by the use of dredging to collect razor clams, and how this compares with electrofishing.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: A recent Marine Scotland Science report on electrofishing for razor clams suggests that electro-fishing is potentially less damaging than other traditional fishing methods, including the use of dredges, with the exception of hand gathering by divers. The stud…

10 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings regarding electrofishing for razor clams set out in Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science Volume 5 Number 14: Electrofishing for Razor Clams (Ensis siliqua and E. arquatus): Effects on Survival and Recovery of Target and Non-Target Species, whether it will esta…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The government has no plans at present to establish further pilot projects involving fishing with electricity. During the preparation of the report noted in the question, field studies were undertaken that involved the use and operation of commercial fishing …

10 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will respond to the findings in Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science Volume 5 Number 14: Electrofishing for Razor Clams (Ensis siliqua and E. arquatus): Effects on Survival and Recovery of Target and Non-Target Species.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: This report was published by Marine Scotland Science and the Scottish Government is now considering the policy implications arising from it, noting that fishing with electricity is currently illegal under the terms of EU legislation. To assist the considerati…

26 Feb 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers adequate dental services in remote rural or island communities that do not provide regular dental assistance to children in schools nor sufficient capacity to allow regular dental check-ups for all patients.

Answer · Maureen Watt: In the overwhelming majority of remote, rural, and island communities the level of provision is sufficient. Where additional capacity is required, boards can make necessary arrangements to ensure that the level of provision is adequate.

26 Feb 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what powers it has to ensure that NHS boards deliver dental services to remote rural and island communities.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 places a duty on every NHS board, in accordance with the regulations, to make arrangements with dental practitioners to provide NHS General Dental Services (GDS). In the event that service provision is inadequa…