Claire Baker

28 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times the National Drugs Mission Implementation Group has met in 2022, what dates any meetings took place, and whether it will publish the minutes for any such meetings.

Answer · Angela Constance: The National Drugs Mission Oversight Group has met three times. Meetings took place on 30 June, 22 September, and 8 December. Minutes for the group’s meetings will be published on a regular basis and can be founded here: National Drugs Mission Oversight Grou…

28 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its National Drugs Mission Oversight Group has met since its June 2022 meeting, and, if this is the case, whether it will publish the minutes for any subsequent meetings.

Answer · Angela Constance: I refer to the member to the answer to question S6W-12709 15 December 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-commit…

28 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in each of the last three financial years, how many remand prisoners have been assessed for (a) substance use and (b) mental health issues; what proportion of those on remand this represents, and, of those assessed, how many have accessed (i) drug treatment services and (ii) mental heal…

Answer · Maree Todd: This is a matter for matter for individual health boards who are responsible for providing prisoner healthcare. The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

9 Nov 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring adequate support provision is available for staff and pupils in schools.

18 Oct 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to support the museum and gallery sector during the cost of living crisis. 

3 Oct 2022 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland's report, Ending the exclusion: Care, treatment and support for people with mental ill health and problem substance use in Scotland.

29 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is marking the 20th anniversary of the Youth Music Initiative.

Answer · Neil Gray: There is a range of activity being delivered by Creative Scotland to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Youth Music Initiative, which is delivered by Creative Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government. This includes activity to spotlight the successes …

29 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide a list of any initiatives for which funding distribution has been paused while the Emergency Budget Review is completed, in light of reports in The Scotsman on 16 September 2022 that Creative Scotland was told by ministers that, in relation to the Youth Music Initi…

Answer · John Swinney: An update was provided to Parliament and the Finance and the Public Administration Committee on 7 September in relation to the Emergency Budget Review. This set out over £500 million of savings in order mitigate the impact of the cost crisis, to meet increase…

29 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when distribution of funding for the Youth Music Initiative will be resumed following the “brief pause” reportedly advised in September 2022 by the Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development.  

Answer · Neil Gray: Contracting letters were issued by Creative Scotland to local authority delivery partners on 21 September. Creative Scotland have also contracted successful applicants from the first round of the Access to Music Making and Strengthening Youth Music Funds and …

28 Sep 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring the availability of affordable housing, including for students at Scottish universities.

26 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the senior leaders who will "take responsibility for driving the necessary changes and reporting on progress" of the implementation of the Medication Assisted Treatment Standards, as announced by the Minister for Drugs Policy to the Parliament on 23 June 2022, have now been appoi…

Answer · Angela Constance: In the letter of direction I issued to delivery partners on 23 June 2022 on implementing the MAT Standards, I asked for timed, specific plans for implementing the standards to be submitted and published. I also requested a lead officer be nominated to take re…

5 Sep 2022 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is responding to the report, Drug-related Deaths in Scotland in 2021, which was published on 28 July 2022.

3 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the 1,330 drug-related deaths recorded in 2021, in how many of these cases were toxicology results outstanding after (a) one month (b) three months (c) six months (d) nine months, (e) 12 months and (f) 15 months, broken down by (i) alcohol and drug partnership and (ii) NHS boa…

Answer · Keith Brown: All toxicology results relating to drugs-related deaths recorded in 2021 were reported within 9 months of receipt of the sample, with 2 cases being reported within one month; 1,313 cases within 1 to 3 months; 9 cases within 3 to 6 months; and one case within …

1 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what advice and support the Never Use Alone phone line, run by the charity We Are With You, provides.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Never Use Alone phone line is a number that an individual can call when they are about to use drugs alone. The staff will ask for some basic information before the person uses, including: what you want to be called; the number you are calling from, so the…

1 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have used the Never Use Alone phone line, run by the charity We Are With You, since its launch, and, of those, how many have been referred to (a) drug treatment services and (b) other forms of support.

Answer · Angela Constance: From November 2021 to 1 July 2022, and from the 3 areas used in the initial pilot (Glasgow and North and South Ayrshire), there have been: •102 calls to the line in total - 38 were outside opening hours, 24 chose to hang up before speaking with an advisor. …

25 May 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is responding to the findings of the evaluation of the Small Business Bonus Scheme that it commissioned, which was carried out by the Fraser of Allander Institute.

11 May 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress with the Levenmouth Rail Link, including the planned reopening date.

29 Apr 2022 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether the Medication Assisted Treatment Standards have been fully embedded across Scotland.

27 Apr 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting Historic Environment Scotland to deliver its inspection programme, and related remedial works, on the condition of, and impact of climate change on, heritage sites.

6 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to implement the reported upcoming UK Government’s Alcohol Treatment Guidance; if it does, whether this implementation will be supported by a framework of standards, and, if so, how, and against which indicators will outcomes be monitored in order to ensure improvement.

Answer · Maree Todd: We are committed to ensuring that alcohol treatment in Scotland is consistent and of high quality. We are supporting the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, which has been leading on the development of new UK-wide clinical guidelines for alcohol tr…

5 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support the career development of highly-skilled clinical researchers.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Chief Scientist Office as part of the Scottish Government provides fellowship schemes to support the career development of health researchers within Scotland. Details are available from the CSO website. Fellowships – Chief Scientist Office (scot.nhs.uk) …

23 Mar 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is targeting investment to improve services for people with problem alcohol use.

22 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in the light of the reported 49% decline in the index of breeding seabirds in Scotland since the 1980s, what assessment it has made of the impact of the reported increased mortality of seabirds recorded along the North Sea coasts in autumn 2021.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government has been working with other organisations across the UK, including UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, the Sea Mammal Research Unit and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science to investigate the unusually large n…

22 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to improve the prospects and resilience of Scotland’s seabird populations, in light of them reportedly being internationally important but in decline.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Seabird Conservation Strategy aims to optimise the conservation prospects of seabirds in Scotland through effective management of existing and emerging threats. We plan to consult on the Strategy in summer 2022. In February 2022 two new marine s…

22 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what research it has undertaken or is aware of on the likely causes of the reported increased seabird mortality recorded along the North Sea coasts in Autumn 2021.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government is aware of reports of unusually large numbers of emaciated and dead seabirds that were found along the North Sea costs in autumn 2021 and have been working to establish the potential causes. We have a number of dead seabird, fish, pla…

22 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider developing and funding a rolling programme of island restoration, invasive species management and biosecurity across Scotland’s islands in order to build resilience in the seabird populations, in light of them reportedly being internationally important but in dec…

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government is aware of the impact that invasive species can have on seabird populations. We are developing the Scottish Seabird Conservation Strategy, which aims to optimise the conservation prospects of seabirds in Scotland through effective man…

10 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is responding to the reported warnings of under-reporting of sexual crimes, and what action is being taken to address the reported barriers to reporting of such crimes.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government want all victims to have the confidence to report sexual crimes, including those that may have happened some time ago. A Scottish Government led Governance Group has now been established, comprising key stakeholder interests, to enable…

10 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will support and progress the recommendation of the Virtual Trials National Project Board that specialist online courts be set up to tackle domestic abuse cases.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government welcomed and supported the recommendation of the Virtual Trials National Project Board, which has the potential to deliver significant benefits for victims by reducing the traumatising impact of the court environment. The Report acknow…

10 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support increased use of online courts.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has established a justice recovery fund of £53.2m in the next financial year to be allocated to recovery, renewal and transformation activity across the justice system as we emerge from the pandemic. This includes funding of £26.5m to…

10 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the reported significant increase in sexual assault, rape and attempted rape crimes in the last ten years.

Answer · Keith Brown: Violence against women and girls is a devastating violation of human rights and any increase in reports of these types of crimes is concerning. The Scottish Government has taken robust action to help justice agencies tackle sexual offending by improving and …