Parliamentary questions

Jackson Carlaw

1,088 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

15 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome was of its cost benefit analysis of its £38,013 payment to Christian Engineers in December 2015.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The payment of £38,013 to Christian Engineers was the final grant instalment from the Scottish Government's international development fund to the project in Pakistan 'Community level drought resistance in Thar'. The project, which began in June 2013 and ended…

15 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome was of its cost benefit analysis of its £68,000 payment to the Scottish Mining Museum Trust in December 2015.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The payment of £68,000 to the Scottish mining museum trust in December 2015 was a regular bi-monthly payment which was part of a total available grant of £410,000 over the financial year 2015-16. This annual grant is to enable the national Mining Museum of Sc…

15 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome was of its cost benefit analysis of its (a) £82,628, (b) £70,032 and (c) £149,940.95 payment to Tearfund in December 2015.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The three payments to Tearfund relate to the Scottish Government's international development programmes in South Asia, Malawi and Sub-Saharan Africa. The payments were the second of a biannual grant made to the projects in the year 2015-16 to deliver agreed p…

10 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities' Jewish Objects for Education in Scotland boxes initiative.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government welcomes the 'Jewish Objects for Education in Scotland' boxes initiative which supports learning and teaching about Judaism and understanding of religious and cultural diversity in Scotland. This initiative was developed by the Scot…

9 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support and encourage growth in the food and drink sector as a means of promoting and developing tourism.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government recognises that food and drink is an important part of the visitor experience in Scotland, and is working in partnership with the food and drink industry leadership organisation, Scotland Food and Drink, to help increase the value of t…

9 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the higher production costs, what support it provides to island-based distillers.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government and its agencies provide a range of business support to Island based distillers through various schemes and initiatives. Through Highlands and Islands Enterprise we provide a range of support measures to island businesses including …

9 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support and encourage growth in the whisky sector, and whether it has recently carried out a review of the economic impact of the sector.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish Ministers regularly meet with the Scotch whisky industry to discuss issues of interest - the latest of which was 15 June 2016 when I met with David Frost, the Chief Executive of the Scotch Whisky Association. The Scottish Government also works wi…

9 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has commissioned research on the factors that tourists take account of when considering coming to Scotland and, if so, what the outcome was.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The important contribution of Scotland's tourism industry to the Scottish economy is recognised through it being designated as a key sector in the Scottish Government Economic Strategy - and associated economic research. The most recent example of Scotland’s …

9 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which events it has provided with grant funding in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) the amount awarded and (b) description of event.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The detail of cultural and sporting events provided with funding support in each of the last five years, either directly through the Scottish Government's tourism and major events budget or VisitScotland's events directorate EventScotland, is available from t…

9 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the legacy has been of the 2014 Commonwealth Games on (a) culture, (b) tourism and (c) external affairs.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014 were always about more than 11 days of spectacular sport and culture. The games provided an opportunity to create a lasting legacy for the host city, host country and the Commonwealth. Culture: The Glasgow 2014 Cu…

9 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what review it carries out of the effectiveness of Scotland House in Brussels on (a) culture, (b) tourism and (c) external affairs.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government and Scotland Europa offices based in Scotland House contribute to the delivery of the Scottish Government’s priorities across portfolios. The Scottish Government regularly reviews its operations and priorities in all areas where there …

9 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its proposed new legislation regulating solicitors will (a) allow solicitors to opt out of membership of and (b) separate the responsibility for both regulation and representation from the Law Society of Scotland.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: Scottish Ministers have a manifesto commitment to take forward a consultation to review the regulation of the legal profession in Scotland and to support a modern and effective legal sector, including new forms of business model. The Scottish Government i…

9 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the impact of reform of succession legal rights on the right of testators to choose their own beneficiaries.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Scottish Government consulted on the Law of Succession between June and September 2015. The consultation focused on reforms to modernise succession law, based on the removal of the distinction between heritable and moveable assets, as recommended in the S…

9 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will introduce its draft bill on the technical reform of succession law.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Scottish Government introduced the Succession (Scotland) Bill in the Scottish Parliament on 17 June 2015. It provided, in the main, for changes to technical areas of the law. It was passed on 28 January 2016 and Royal Assent was granted on 3 March 2016. C…

2 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding was provided to each NHS board in 2015-16 and is being provided in 2016-17 to support the rehabilitation of people recovering from a brain injury.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00480 16 June 2016. 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/2887…

2 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the current levels of funding available to NHS boards to support the rehabilitation of people recovering from a brain injury are sufficient.

Answer · Shona Robison: While the Scottish Government provides the policies, frameworks and resources for high quality healthcare in Scotland, it is for each NHS board to decide best how to utilise funding, facilities and staff while taking account of national and local priorities t…

2 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has fixed a (a) date and (b) time period for the proposed consultation on regulations pertaining to e-cigarettes arising from the Health (Tobacco, Nicotine etc. and Care) Scotland Act 2016.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government is currently engaging with stakeholders to inform the form and content of the proposed consultation on nicotine vapour products. No date or time period for the consultation has yet been fixed.

26 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 and the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 are fit for purpose.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Scottish Government is committed to measures to encourage responsible dog ownership to help keep our communities safe. That is why we supported, along with all other parties, the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 which includes measures to highlight the…

26 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent attack on children in Northumberland, whether it is considering introducing further measures relating to the control of dogs.

24 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the powers available to it to deal with local authority officers who wilfully mislead elected councillors to be fit for purpose and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Angela Constance: Local authority officers are required to be as open as possible in all the decisions and actions that they take and not to restrict information, except where required by council policy or the law, as set out in the national code of conduct for local governmen…

24 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what powers, and under what legislation or judicial authority, the Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities has to deal with local authority officers who wilfully mislead elected councillors.

Answer · Angela Constance: There is a national code of conduct for local government employees in Scotland. The national code requires that employees should be as open as possible in all the decisions and actions that they take, should give reasons for their decisions, and should not re…

19 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding was provided to each NHS board in 2015-16 and is being provided in 2016-17 to support the implementation of the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework and whether it contained or contains a ring-fenced component for hepatitis C.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: £28 million was provided to NHS Boards in 2015-16 to support the implementation of the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework (breakdown in the following table). NHS boards determined how best to use this funding, however, under the framework boards ar…

8 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what actions it has taken to raise public awareness of the Familial Arrhythmia Network for Scotland and what further action it is planning.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Familial Arrhythmia Network for Scotland (FANS) aims to improve outcomes in heart disease care for people with life threatening inherited cardiac conditions and their families. FANS is a national managed clinical network comprising specialist healthcare pract…

8 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will use the newly devolved powers to help people living with long-term health conditions, specifically multiple sclerosis.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Scottish Government recently published A New Future for Social Security in Scotland which sets out the vision and principles which will govern decisions on social security policy and delivery in Scotland. The document states our intention to introduce l…

8 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what level of care, support and treatment is available for people living with multiple sclerosis and whether it is person centred and available throughout Scotland.

Answer · Maureen Watt: NHS Scotland provides high quality care across a range of services and treatment for people living with multiple sclerosis. The recently published national clinical strategy makes it clear that we want everyone who needs it, including people living with neur…

8 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what provisions are in place for multiple sclerosis in the new health and social care integration system.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014 provides the legislative framework for integration of health and social care services in Scotland. The integration of health and social care will tackle the challenge of ensuring a consistent provision of …

8 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review residential care for people with neurological conditions to identify how many people are placed inappropriately in older people's care homes rather than specialist residential care.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government wants to see people receiving care in their own homes or as close to home as possible, as set out in our recently published clinical strategy. The care being delivered should be appropriate and based on their needs. It is the responsi…

8 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the timescale is for the National Neurological Advisory Group's work on developing a national data set on people with neurological conditions.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The initial two year work plan for the new National Advisory Committee for Neurological Conditions is currently being developed. The issue of data collection on neurological conditions is one which the expert group will consider, alongside other priorities fo…

8 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will develop a national strategy for the provision of health and social care services for people with neurological conditions.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The National Clinical Strategy, published on 17 February 2016, sets out a clear vision for the development of sustainable health and social care services across Scotland for the next 10-15 years. Simultaneously, the integration of health and social care will …

8 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ask Healthcare Improvement Scotland to scope out the potential to include social care in any future version of the national clinical standards for neurological health services.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The development of all future standards or indicators will reflect the integration agenda. This will be supported by appropriate collaboration between the Care Inspectorate, Healthcare Improvement Scotland and other stakeholders in the design of these measure…