Parliamentary questions
Richard Lochhead
2,448 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
25 Jun 2018 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the potential impact on Scotland of a trade war between the United States and Europe following the recent imposition of new tariffs.
15 Jun 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made with the implementation of the recommendations of the Mortuary Review Group.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Mortuary Review Group made 13 recommendations in its report published in January 2018 which were grouped into the following categories - Roles and Responsibilities, Mortuary Provision, Contracts, Facilities and Quality Improvements. Responsibility for imp…
12 Jun 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for registration at Land Registry Scotland in each of the last three years (a) have been complete and (b) are outstanding.
Answer · Keith Brown: This is a question for the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland. She advises me as follows: Complete Outstanding % Outstanding 2015-16 475,596 369 0.1% 2016-17 495,817 18,231 3.5% 2017-18 505,815 35,807 6.6%
12 Jun 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average waiting time for registrations is at Land Registry Scotland.
Answer · Keith Brown: This is a question for the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland. She advises me that the average waiting time for land register applications in the last financial year (2017-2018) was 26.5 days.
12 Jun 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to reduce the waiting time for registrations at Land Registry Scotland, and what the reasons are for the reported delays.
Answer · Derek Mackay: This is a question for the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland. She advises me that, in the last financial year, more than 70% of land register applications to Registers of Scotland were dealt with inside 5 days, with the majority of first registration applic…
12 Jun 2018 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to meet the new administration of the Moray Council.
29 May 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what options are being considered for the development of Dallas Dhu Historic Distillery to enhance its contribution to tourism to the area and the wider economy.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: As Richard Lochhead will be aware, Dallas Dhu distillery is owned by Diageo and is property in the care of the Scottish Ministers. Its conservation and management is handled by Historic Environment Scotland under a scheme of delegation. I understand that Fio…
21 May 2018 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of how any proposed post-Brexit trade deal with the United States could impact on the whisky sector.
9 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has taken forward the recommendation by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health in its report, The paediatric workforce: Focus on Scotland, to raise with the UK Government what the college advised was the need to ensure that, within the immigration rules, paediatrics…
Answer · Shona Robison: I can confirm that the paediatrics specialty is currently on both the UK and Scotland Only Shortage Occupation List (SOL). In using either of these lists, Boards are free to recruit internationally to any of the medical occupations listed on the UK or (SOL) L…
4 May 2018 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will provide an update on progress towards tackling excessive parcel delivery surcharges affecting parts of Scotland.
25 Apr 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of disruption caused by the A939 regularly closing due to bridge repairs, what specific support is available to local authorities to construct new bridges that are required due to listed Highland bridges on key rural routes not being fit for purpose.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Transport Scotland is a member of the SCOTS Bridges Group which shares issues from the wider bridge community with local authorities. Transport Scotland take concerns raised about various issues to the UK Bridges Board, which is a sub group of the UK Roads Li…
23 Apr 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) funding and (b) support is available for people with Huntington’s disease in Moray, and what plans it has to enhance this.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: NHS Boards are responsible for planning and delivering healthcare services, including specialist services, to meet the assessed needs of their resident populations, taking into account strategic frameworks and guidance, within the allocations provided. Specia…
23 Apr 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people are diagnosed with Huntington’s disease in each (a) NHS board and (b) local authority area, also expressed as a figure per 10,000 of the population.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: This information is not collected or held centrally. The National Advisory Committee on Neurological Conditions is developing Scotland's first National Action Plan on Neurological Conditions. As part of this project we are working closely with NHS National S…
23 Apr 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what specific funding is available to support the work of patient and community groups set up to offer advice and support for people with Huntington’s disease.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Huntington’s Association (SHA) received £120,000 in funding to develop a National Care Framework for Huntington’s Disease, plus a further £60,000 to deliver localised frameworks by 2019. The framework aims to help ensure families affected by the …
17 Apr 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can legally enforce community benefit agreements between communities and wind farm operators.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government has no direct powers to oblige developers to pay community benefits or determine how funds are spent. In 2014, in partnership with industry and communities the Scottish Government produced Good Practice Principles for Community Benefit…
21 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce its position on introducing additional and permanent Elgin-based emergency ambulance provision.
Answer · Shona Robison: The outcome of discussions between the Scottish Ambulance Service and NHS Grampian is expected to be concluded in the Spring and expect an announcement to follow soon after.
21 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its discussions regarding ambulance resources in the Moray area.
Answer · Shona Robison: Discussions between the Scottish Ambulance Service and NHS Grampian regarding ambulance resources in the Moray area are on-going and, as these discussions develop, a temporary additional ambulance resource remains in place in Moray to ensure patient safety.
21 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on devolving responsibility for the recruitment of staff at Dr Gray’s hospital in Elgin from NHS Grampian to the hospital's management.
Answer · Shona Robison: Whilst the Scottish Government supports NHS Health Boards in their efforts to ensure that they have the right staff in place to meet the healthcare needs of the local population, the detailed management of recruitment functions are a matter for the Health Boa…
21 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many paediatrician vacancies there are (a) nationally and (b) in each (i) NHS board and (ii) hospital, and what percentage of vacancies this represents.
Answer · Shona Robison: NHSScotland staff numbers have increased by over 10% under this Government to a record high of than 127,000 WTE, which includes an increase of over 90% in Paediatric Consultants. Information relating to paediatrician vacancies levels at NHS hospital is not c…
21 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is considering to attract trainee and junior doctors to Dr Gray’s hospital in Elgin.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government continues to encourage NHS Grampian to work collaboratively with its partners to ensure delivery of safe, patient-centred, sustainable Paediatric services, and the workforce required to deliver such services. NHS Education for Scotland…
21 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to retain the consultant-led maternity unit at Dr Gray’s hospital in Elgin.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has no plans to change the status of the consultant-led maternity unit at Dr Gray’s hospital in Elgin. Due to recent temporary changes to paediatric services at Dr Gray’s some women are currently being transferred to Aberdeen Maternit…
21 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carried out of the impact on the safety of patients of emergency transfers to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary as opposed to treatment at Dr Gray’s hospital in Elgin.
Answer · Shona Robison: It is a matter for NHS Boards, working with their partners, to plan and provide safe care to patients in line with national policies, frameworks and best practice. It is therefore a matter for NHS Grampian and Scottish Ambulance Service to ensure the safet…
21 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with its discussions with the UK Government regarding the Moray Growth Deal, and what its position is on the UK Government’s approach to the deal.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-15383 on 17 April 2018. 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/parliamentarybusiness…
19 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what progress it is making with the UK Government regarding growth deals, including that being discussed with The Moray Council.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has already agreed deals for the Glasgow, Aberdeen and Inverness City Regions, identifying over £1bn of investment over the next 10 to 20 years. A deal for the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region will be concluded soon. In ad…
13 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications it has received from Moray for the 2018-19 round of the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: No applications were received from Moray to the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund for 2018-19.
27 Feb 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government to what extent the proposed further integration of Moray, Inverness, Lews Castle and North Highland colleges will impact on the autonomy of each college.
21 Feb 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether heritage railways are able to access the new rail pipeline fund.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Organisations with an interest in improving local rail connectivity can apply to the Fund. Full details of the application process including eligibility criteria will be published in the coming weeks.
21 Feb 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what communication it has had with The Moray Council regarding a review of the local government funding formula.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Leader of The Moray Council, Councillor George Alexander, wrote to me on 24 January regarding the 2018-19 local government finance settlement. In that letter Councillor Alexander explained that he had started a dialogue with you about how on how to improv…
21 Feb 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government to what extent the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation determines the allocation of funds; what its position is on whether this adequately identifies rural deprivation, and what plans it has to review how rural deprivation is identified and better taken into account by funding formula…
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) is the Scottish Government’s official tool for identifying concentrations of deprivation in Scotland. It is a relative measure of deprivation and takes into account aspects of deprivation that affect local are…
21 Feb 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to enhance the role of school librarians and recognise their contribution to education.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government recognises the significant contribution made by school libraries and school librarians to educational attainment, as evidenced by international research. I launched the School Library Improvement Fund in September, investing £1 million…