Parliamentary questions
Margaret Mitchell
550 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
28 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its response to the 2020 report on the review of additional support for learning implementation, whether it plans to investigate issues regarding the qualifications and training provided for teachers to enable them to competently assess for dyslexia, in light of concerns that…
Answer · John Swinney: We are committed to ensuring that all children and young people get the support that they need to reach their full learning potential. We provide free professional learning opportunities for practitioners in order to support education authorities to meet the…
28 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether teachers, across all local authorities, who undertake assessments for dyslexia are appropriately trained and skilled.
Answer · John Swinney: We have provided a range of free professional learning opportunities for teachers aimed at supporting practitioners to further develop their knowledge, understanding and skills in supporting learners with dyslexia, and reduce barriers to learning. This includ…
28 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its response to the 2020 report on the review of additional support for learning implementation, whether it will provide evidence to show how young people will not be subject to a so-called “postcode lottery” in relation to access to support.
Answer · John Swinney: We are committed to ensuring that all children and young people get the support that they need to reach their full learning potential. The Additional Support for Learning Act 2004 (as amended) requires education authorities to identify, provide for and revie…
28 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what quality assurance measures are in place in local authorities in relation to the identification of secondary school pupils with dyslexia; what its position is on whether these measures are (a) appropriate and robust in relation to the levels of identification and (b) addressing the i…
Answer · John Swinney: We want all children and young people, including those with dyslexia, to receive the support they need to reach their full potential. The Additional Support for Learning Act places duties on education authorities to identify, provide for and review the additi…
13 Jan 2021 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the next evaluation will be carried out of the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements project, in line with the Scottish Trunk Road Infrastructure Project Evaluation guidance.
16 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many projects have been funded via the Agricultural Transformation Programme; how much funding each project has been awarded to date, and how it plans to distribute the remainder of the £40 million fund before the end of the financial year.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Sustainable Agriculture Capital Grants Scheme, funded through the Agricultural Transformation Fund (ATF) issued over 3,600 letters to eligible farmers and crofters worth a grant value of over £17.8m Through the additional ATF funding allocated to the Fore…
22 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the standards for a Barnahus response to children and young people who have been victims and witnesses of violence in Scotland will be put out for consultation.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The impact of Covid-19 resulted in the suspension of work on Barnahus Standards development whilst frontline services prioritised immediate responses to the pandemic. We have agreed with Healthcare Improvement Scotland, the Care Inspectorate and key stakehol…
3 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications there have been for legal aid under the Advice and Assistance (Proceedings for Recovery of Documents) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 in each year since they came into force, and how many of those applications have been successful.
Answer · Ash Denham: In the financial year 16-17 there were 7 applications, all were granted; In the financial year 17-18 there were 3 applications, all were granted’ In the financial year 18-19 there were 13 applications, all were granted; and In the financial year 19-20 ther…
3 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to raise awareness of the Advice and Assistance (Proceedings for Recovery of Documents) (Scotland) Regulations 2017.
Answer · Ash Denham: In 2018-19, the Scottish Government provided funding to Rape Crisis Scotland (RCS) to support the development of materials to ensure complainers were aware of their rights in response to the Advice and Assistance (Proceedings for Recovery of Documents) (Scotl…
11 Aug 2020 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the prison estate and whether it is fit for purpose.
16 Mar 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to increase the identification of dyslexia in young people and adults who were not recognised with the condition when they were at school.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government’s Disability Delivery Plan to 2021, A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People, sets out our ambitions and commitments to supporting disabled people - including those with dyslexia and other learning difficulties and disabilities. The Scot…
16 Mar 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that local authorities have suitable resources to identify secondary school pupils with dyslexia.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has supported the development and publication of the Addressing Dyslexia toolkit ( http://addressingdyslexia.org/home ) to support those working with children and young people in schools in the identification and support of pupils wi…
16 Mar 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to concerns that there is wide variability across local authorities in identifying rates of dyslexia among secondary school pupils.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is working closely with local authorities and schools to improve consistency of support across Scotland. This includes improved guidance, building capacity to deliver effective additional support, improving career pathways and providin…
16 Mar 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to increase identification of dyslexia among primary school pupils.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government understands how important an early identification of dyslexia is. The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004, (as amended) places duties on education authorities to make sure that learners with additional suppo…
12 Mar 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the total value of fines issued to people convicted of fly tipping has been in each of the last five years.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The available information is provided in the following table, which has been produced from the Scottish Government’s criminal proceedings database . Please note: Information for 2018-19 will not be available until publication of the Criminal Proceedings in S…
12 Mar 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many fixed penalty notices have been issued for fly tipping in each of the last five years, and what the total value of notices was in each year.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Dealing with fly-tipping is primarily a local authority responsibility. Scottish Government does not hold information on fixed penalty notices issued by local authorities for fly-tipping offences.
12 Mar 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many convictions there have been for fly tipping in each of the last five years.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The available information is provided in the following table, which has been produced from the Scottish Government’s criminal proceedings database . Please note: Information for 2018-19 will not be available until publication of the Criminal Proceedings in S…
25 Feb 2020 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to tackle fly tipping.
19 Feb 2020 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support the voluntary and third sectors.
16 Jan 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-18390 by Humza Yousaf on 18 September 2018, in light of the cabinet secretary's comment that the Expert Group on Preventing Sexual Offending involving Children and Young People would "report back with findings and recommendations to Scottish Ministe…
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The report of the Expert Group on Preventing Sexual Offending Involving Children and Young People is published today. I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-27078 on 23 January 2020. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on th…
14 Jan 2020 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to preserve buildings and landmarks of historic interest.
8 Jan 2020 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to identify children, young people and adults with dyslexia.
Answer · John Swinney: We provide free professional learning opportunities for practitioners in order to support education authorities to meet their duties under the Additional Support for Learning Act – including identifying, providing for, and reviewing the additional support nee…
4 Sep 2019 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support police in tackling drug use at football grounds.
19 Jun 2019 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to raise awareness of the Apologies (Scotland) Act 2016 since it came into force on 19 June 2017.
29 May 2019 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work of the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime.
22 May 2019 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it can take to ensure that customers pay a fair tariff for their home energy bills, including older people.
23 Apr 2019 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to tackle the use of new psychoactive substances in prisons.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I hope you will understand that it would be inappropriate to place into the public domain specific details about all of the responses deployed to reduce illicit drug use in Scottish prisons. I can however advise that the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has est…
14 Mar 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its outline business case for its proposed public energy company.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-22156 on 27 March 2019. 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/…
14 Mar 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the timetable is for the (a) establishment and (b) full implementation of its proposed publicly-funded energy company.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The outline business case for the public energy company is currently underway and we will publish it once we have considered the consultants final report along with our local authority partners. Once completed it will help inform the Scottish Government’s fur…
12 Mar 2019 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prevent assaults on teachers and classroom assistants.