Hanzala Malik

10 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the reported rise in incidence of kidney cancer will be prioritised in its updated cancer strategy for Scotland.

Answer · Shona Robison: One of the main ways we can reduce the incidence of cancer is by helping people reduce their risk of developing it in the first place. Beating Cancer: Ambition and Action, which was launched by myself on 15 March 2016, sets out a broad range of actions inclu…

10 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) organisations and (b) individuals have been and will be consulted in order to update the cancer strategy for Scotland.

Answer · Shona Robison: Our cancer strategy, Beating Cancer: Ambition and Action, was launched by myself on 15 March 2016. In developing this strategy we engaged with a range of stakeholders including members of the Scottish Cancer Coalition and other third sector organisations as w…

9 Mar 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Students' Association of the University of the West of Scotland's report, Establishing a Stronger Summer Safety Net: Promoting how we can raise retention in post 16 education.

1 Mar 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs will be attending any events in the Aye Write! festival in Glasgow.

1 Feb 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of how the reduction in the local government budget settlement could impact on the economy and inequality.

12 Jan 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will revise its winter resilience plans for transport services in light of the disruption to west coast main line services from storm damage.

1 Dec 2015 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the savings arising from the renegotiation of the price for new hepatitis C medicines will be used to increase the number of people receiving treatment.

23 Nov 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that the ethnicity of 25% of local government staff is recorded as unknown, whether it considers that local authorities are meeting their statutory obligation under the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012 “to gather and use employee inform…

Answer · Marco Biagi: The Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012 require listed public authorities including local authorities to take steps to gather and use employee information. Local authorities are directly responsible for equality issues within thei…

11 Nov 2015 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to tackle racial discrimination and what is believed to be the underreporting of cases.

13 Aug 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the first two-yearly progress reports by listed public bodies under the public sector equality duty in relation to the Scotland-specific duties and how it will use the results of any such analysis to tackle inequality.

Answer · Alex Neil: Public authorities listed on the schedule to the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties)(Scotland) Regulations 2012 were required to publish equality outcomes and mainstreaming reports including employee information and gender pay gap information by 30 April 2013…

17 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22555 by Alex Neil on 23 September 2014, what steps it has taken to consult Prostate Cancer UK on its plans and whether it will invite the organisation to join the National Planning Forum's Robot Assisted Surgery Implementation Group.

Answer · Shona Robison: As I announced in March 2015, in addition to the robot in Aberdeen which will go live later in 2015, we are committed to introducing two further robots in the central belt over the next three years. The Robot Assisted Surgery Implementation Group is currently…

26 May 2015 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support the treatment of people with hepatitis C in Glasgow.

2 Mar 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to announce details of a new film and TV studio in Scotland.

25 Feb 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it will do in Glasgow to promote the contributions of ethnic minority communities to Scottish cuisine for the Year of Food and Drink Scotland 2015, such as the reported creation of Chicken Tikka Masala by the Shish Mahal restaurant.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scotland’s natural larder will be showcased over the next 12 months at events the length and breadth of the country to raise awareness of the role food and drink plays in the country’s cultural identity and in shaping the nation’s economic success. The Scott…

14 Jan 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to minimise disruption to passengers and businesses during the renovation of Glasgow Queen Street station.

3 Dec 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that all workers in the education sector are being paid at least the living wage.

26 Nov 2014 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is developing statutory guidance for minimum standards in temporary accommodation and, if so, when it will be published.

18 Nov 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what actions it is taking to reduce the number of households in temporary accommodation.

4 Nov 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on holding a public inquiry on historic child abuse allegations.

29 Oct 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact budget reductions in the college sector will have on the Scottish economy.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government Draft Budget 2015-16 delivers an increase in college funding to £526 million in 2015-16. College reform, together with our plans for developing Scotland’s young workforce, means that colleges are now more focussed than ever before on …

21 Oct 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to stem the reported decline in the number of female students studying part time vocational courses.

6 Oct 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22556 by Alex Neil on 1 October 2014, what decision regarding Prostate Cancer UK’s call for a national cancer patient experience survey that will carry analysis by (a) region, (b) ethnicity and (c) age was reached at the October meeting of the Scott…

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Cancer Taskforce agreed to develop a Scottish cancer patient experience survey in collaboration with third sector partners when they met on 3 October 2014. This commitment was announced on 12 October 2014. Details on the specific methodology th…

24 Sep 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to use its International Development Fund to provide support to the Kurdistan region of Iraq.

16 Sep 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what evaluation it is undertaking of the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework 2011-15 and when it will publish the framework for work beyond 2015.

11 Sep 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will implement Prostate Cancer UK’s call to (a) increase (i) GP and (ii) patient awareness of the Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme and (b) develop national guidelines on the management of each of the possible life-changing side effects of prostate cancer treatment, an…

Answer · Alex Neil: A Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme information pack was issued to GPs across NHS Scotland, urologists and histopathologists working in Scottish hospitals, and also those working in Scottish prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing laboratories in 2009…

11 Sep 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will implement Prostate Cancer UK’s call for (a) a national cancer patient experience survey that will carry analysis by (i) region, (ii) ethnicity and (iii) age and (b) the inclusion of prostate cancer in the next phase of the Detect Cancer Early Initiative, and what the reas…

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Cancer Taskforce discussed the possibility of a cancer patient experience survey in Scotland in their meeting on 27 June 2014. The taskforce agreed that further investigation should take place, including examination of the methodology behind the …

10 Sep 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its announcement that robot-assisted surgery is to be introduced by the NHS for prostate cancer patients, whether it will include Prostate Cancer UK as part of the group of charities to be consulted on the second facility proposed for the central belt.

Answer · Alex Neil: Yes. Prostate Cancer UK will have an opportunity to comment on plans once they have been developed.

10 Sep 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on each of the findings of the Prostate Cancer UK report, Men United v Prostate Cancer: Five inequalities, five solutions.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government welcomes the findings of the Prostate Cancer UK report. Cancer remains a high priority for the Scottish Government and we have a number of on-going work streams which will help to address the inequalities highlighted by the report, inc…

6 Aug 2014 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to address the gender balance in science and maths in schools to increase the number of female students studying science, technology, engineering and maths at degree level.

24 Jul 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it approved the flyer sent out by Practitioner Services Division with NHS schedules advertising an MSc course in restorative dentistry stating that it would help NHS practitioners increase their private income.

Answer · Michael Matheson: No, the Scottish Government did not approve the flyer sent out by Practitioner Services Division. Approval of the issue of flyers with NHS schedules is a matter for Practitioner Services Division, not the Scottish Government.