Dennis Robertson

24 Feb 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government to what extent it considers Scotland's farmers are being disadvantaged by Scotland remaining part of the UK.

24 Feb 2014 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to strengthen and support the energy industry.

10 Feb 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the curriculum for excellence is providing an effective pathway for young people to enter a career in the energy industry.

4 Feb 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made toward the reopening of Kintore railway station.

Answer · Keith Brown: As specified in the Scottish Government's High Level Output Specification (HLOS) in 2012, Kintore Station forms part of phase one of the Aberdeen to Inverness Rail Improvements Project. Delivery of phase one is anticipated to begin in 2016 and will be comple…

6 Jan 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the recommendations of the interim report by Sir Ian Wood on the oil and gas industry.

16 Dec 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the next steps are following the moratorium on rural school closures.

9 Dec 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work being carried out to improve broadband infrastructure in Aberdeenshire.

20 Nov 2013 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many parking spaces for disabled people there are in the car park and whether their use is monitored.

18 Nov 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the oil and gas sector about improving employment opportunities for women.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Supporting women to fulfil their potential in the labour market is a key aim of the Scottish Government. The Scottish Government continues to be in close engagement with both industry and industry bodies on this important matter, and at the most recent Offsho…

11 Nov 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to make non-emergency calls from both landlines and mobiles to 101 numbers free of charge.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The operation of the 101 emergency number is a matter for Police Scotland. However the Scottish Government has been made aware that the projected annual cost of running the 101 emergency number are in the region of £54,000. 101 will replace all of the lega…

5 Nov 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to ensure that the railway infrastructure is prepared for the winter.

Answer · Keith Brown: Network Rail is working closely with First ScotRail and other industry partners to ensure all reasonable steps are being taken to minimise any disruption and ensure the delivery of a safe and robust rail service for passengers throughout the winter months. Dr…

5 Nov 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support the development of improved pregnancy care for women with adult congenital heart disease.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Congenital Cardiac Network, which was launched on 1 April 2013, is considering a range of issues relating to the care of people with congenital heart disease in Scotland. As part of this, the network is considering effective transitions among hea…

5 Nov 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that adult congenital heart disease patients receive comparable care provision to patients with other long-term conditions.

Answer · Michael Matheson: In April 2013, the Scottish Congenital Cardiac Network (SCCN) was established as a National Managed Clinical Network to seek to improve services for children and adults with congenital heart disease. The SCCN will wish to consider learning opportunities, good…

5 Nov 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there are not more congenital heart disease nurse specialists.

Answer · Michael Matheson: It is the responsibility of NHS boards to plan and provide services to meet the needs of the population they serve. The Scottish Adult Congenital Cardiac Service (SACCS) is commissioned by NHS National Specialist and Screening Services Directorate (NSD) on be…

5 Nov 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the number of adult congenital heart disease consultants to ensure adequate care for patients in need of full-time access to specialist accident and emergency care.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Congenital Cardiac Network (SCCN) is considering a range of issues in relation to the care of people with congenital heart disease patients, including out-of-hours access to specialist advice from the Scottish Adult Congenital Cardiac Service (SA…

5 Nov 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will look into lowering the ratio of adult congenital heart disease consultants to patients to one consultant per 1,200 patients.

Answer · Michael Matheson: It is the responsibility of NHS boards to plan and provide services to meet the needs of the population they serve. The Scottish Adult Congenital Cardiac Service (SACCS) is commissioned by NHS National Specialist and Screening Services Directorate (NSD) on be…

5 Nov 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to adapt the standards developed in England and Wales regarding grown-up congenital heart disease and to what timescale.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Congenital Cardiac Network, which was launched on 1 April this year, is considering a range of issues relating to the care of people with congenital heart disease in Scotland. As part of this, the network is looking at standards of care for peopl…

4 Nov 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to keep rural theatres open as accessible cultural hubs.

15 Oct 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to preserve fishing stocks in the River Dee and what its position is on whether netting at Montrose impacts on the level of these stocks.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Multiple factors impact on salmon and freshwater fish stocks, including fishing in both international and domestic waters, marine mortality, habitat quality, predation, climate change and approaches to conservation at a local level. Statutory responsibility …

30 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when improvement works to the Inveramsay Bridge will be completed.

Answer · Keith Brown: Construction of the A96 Inveramsay Bridge scheme is estimated for completion in early 2016 subject to satisfactory completion of the statutory process.

25 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact would be on NHS boards of UK legislation to make HIV home testing kits available.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Allowing the sale of HIV self-testing kits is a positive step towards addressing undiagnosed HIV and late diagnosis of HIV in Scotland. However, self-testing is not a replacement for the testing that takes place in sexual health clinics and other NHS services…

16 Sep 2013 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the economic impact will be on Scotland of the privatisation of the Royal Mail.

11 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made regarding improvement works on the Inveramsay bridge.

Answer · Keith Brown: Draft Road Orders were published for the A96 Inveramsay bridge scheme in April 2013 which signalled the start of the formal consultation period. A number of objections were received and it was recently confirmed that the last outstanding objection has been wi…

27 Aug 2013 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that people in Aberdeenshire West will have access to high-speed broadband by 2020.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government’s Step Change programme, building upon commercial deployment by BT and other operators, will bring next generation broadband to at least 85% of premises in Scotland by 2015 and 95% by 2017. The Scottish Government and its partners are…

1 Aug 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the UK Government's programme for privatisation of the Royal Mail will have on blind and visually impaired people in Scotland and their free access to the Articles for the Blind Service, and whether an independent Scotland will uphold the right to free access delivered by a p…

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The provision of free postal services to blind or partially sighted people forms part of the current UK Universal Service Obligation. It is the responsibility of the UK Government to ensure that provision continues to operate under a privatised Royal Mail. We…

3 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider introducing a requirement for quiet hybrid and electric cars to carry safety devices to protect guide dog users and pedestrians.

Answer · Keith Brown: Scottish Ministers are committed to safer road travel and aim to further reduce the number of fatalities and injuries on all of Scotland’s roads in partnership with key road safety partners throughout Scotland. The power to introduce a requirement for quiet h…

27 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it can do to tackle crimes to wildlife and rare breeding animals.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Scotland has a robust legislative framework to deal with wildlife crime which includes the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994, the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotla…

25 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the timetable is for its proposed consultation on the compulsory microchipping of dogs.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has not yet set a date but aims to issue the consultation on compulsory microchipping before the end of 2013.

4 Jun 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has given to NHS boards in relation to cardiac rehabilitation.

28 May 2013 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what steps it has taken to ensure that people with a sensory impairment can take a full and active part when visiting the Parliament or attending external events.