Stuart McMillan

24 May 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in light of recent figures suggesting that, across the UK, gamblers have lost £11 billion on fixed-odds betting terminals since 2008.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The rules governing the use of Fixed Odds Betting Terminals remain largely reserved to the UK Government. The Scotland Act 2016 includes only a limited power that would allow Scottish Ministers to set the maximum number of Fixed Odds Betting Terminals in new …

17 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the (a) UK Government, (b) Welsh Government and (c) Northern Ireland Executive regarding updating the guidance on the Blue Badge scheme.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government as a matter of routine exchanges information and best practice on the blue badge scheme with UK Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive colleagues. Each Administration has its own guidance because the scheme is full…

17 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action Skills Development Scotland takes to encourage people with dyslexia to apply for modern apprenticeships, and how it supports modern apprentices with dyslexia and their employers.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: SDS is committed to improving the success of individuals with dyslexia as set out in out in their five year MA Equality Action Plan, published in December of 2015. SDS are doing this through a number of channels designed to minimise structural barriers, both…

17 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action Skills Development Scotland takes to highlight the assistance that it offers to (a) care sector and (b) other employers that have staff with dyslexia.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: SDS is committed to improving the success of individuals with dyslexia as set out in out in their five year MA Equality Action Plan, published in December of 2015. Skills Development Scotland recognise the additional supports, including in the workplace that…

17 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have left employment in the care sector in each of the last three years because they have dyslexia, and what information it has regarding how many cited an increased level of paperwork as a factor in this.

Answer · Mark McDonald: The information requested is not held centrally.

17 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people in each of the last 10 years have been granted a Blue Badge because (a) they have and (b) a family member or person that they care for has an asbestos-related condition.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The eligibility criteria for a Blue Badge do not focus on whether an individual has a particular kind of medical condition. Instead, the criteria are designed to assess the impact on a person’s mobility. For this reason, the information you request is not gat…

17 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-08941 by Jamie Hepburn on 8 May 2017, what recent discussions it has had with the care sector regarding the support available for staff with dyslexia.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: There have been no discussions with the care sector regarding this topic. A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People, our Disability Delivery Plan to 2021, published in December 2016, sets out our ambitions and commitments to supporting disabled people - includin…

15 May 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is improving infrastructure in Inverclyde.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is improving infrastructure in Inverclyde as demonstrated by our investment in school buildings over the last three years which has seen the completion of new schools in Port Glasgow and Greenock as well as a major refurbishment in Kil…

21 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) Dyslexia Scotland, (b) the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, (c) the Federation of Small Business Scotland and (d) Skills Development Scotland regarding supporting adults with dyslexia, including assistance with obtaining dyslexia assessments, and what s…

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government is engaged in on-going dialogue with our partners on these issues. Specifically, there is on-going discussion with Dyslexia Scotland regarding the information and support they offer, including a helpline, assessments and support to cli…

21 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it assists people who have dyslexia in the workplace, and their employers.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People, our Disability Delivery Plan to 2021, published in December 2016, sets out our ambitions and commitments to supporting disabled people - including those with dyslexia and other learning difficulties and disabilities - in…

15 Mar 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has taken to encourage regeneration in Inverclyde.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Scottish Government has worked closely with Inverclyde Council and Riverside Inverclyde Urban Regeneration Company to develop their local regeneration plans and we will continue to engage with them to see how we can best support their regeneration aims for th…

8 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the announcement by the Scottish Chambers of Commerce's chief executive that Scotland must have a unique migration system to respond to its lower population growth rate.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: It is essential that Scotland maintains its population growth to ensure that we have an appropriate demographic profile to sustain all of our population living full, supported and productive lives. Stimulating population growth is a key driver of sustainable …

22 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider revising the National Assistance Act 1948 regarding matters that are devolved.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government is always open to suggestions for the improvement of legislation but has no immediate plans to propose amendment of the National Assistance Act 1948.

16 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Historic Environment Scotland consultation concerning planning guidelines in conservation areas will be made available.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The designation and day-to-day management of conservation areas is the sole responsibility of Local Authorities, which produce their own local guidance and policies. Historic Environment Scotland is not producing planning guidelines for conservation areas. T…

16 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what criteria has been established by Historic Environment Scotland in its consultation on planning guidelines in conservation areas, and what its position is on the balance between conservation and issues relating to fuel poverty arising from poorly insulated and heated homes.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Historic Environment Scotland is not conducting a consultation on planning guidelines for conservation areas. Its current consultation on its Managing Change guidance relating to windows does not contain any criteria relating specifically to the installation …

16 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Historic Environment Scotland consultation on planning guidelines in conservation areas will take into consideration its Child Poverty (Scotland) Bill, in light of the links between difficult to heat homes and poor glazing and child health and child poverty.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Historic Environment Scotland is not producing planning guidelines for conservation areas. Its consultation on its Managing Change in the Historic Environment guidance relating to windows provides best practice guidance in relation to windows of all kinds in …

10 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the new bowel cancer screening kit for people who are blind or sight-impaired will be available.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is committed to introducing the new Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) into the Scottish Bowel Screening Programme by the end of 2017. The new test is considered more user friendly than the current test and is expected to help increase p…

6 Feb 2017 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what legislation is in place to deal with drug-driving.

30 Jan 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution last met Inverclyde Council.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Ministers and officials regularly meet representatives of all Scottish local authorities, including Inverclyde Council, to discuss a wide range of issues as part of our commitment to working in partnership with local government to improve outcomes for the peo…

16 Jan 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde regarding the board's maternity unit review.

Answer · Shona Robison: Ministers and Government officials regularly discuss matters of local importance such as these with Health boards. The Board of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde agreed with the view of the Scottish Health Council at its meeting in December that its proposals in…

16 Jan 2017 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what procedures are in place to ensure that the necessary treatment and care in maternity wards is provided at peak times.

9 Jan 2017 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on reports that there has been a record number of drink drivers stopped over the festive period.

5 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the importing and exporting of products made from Dalbergia species.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. CITES is reserved to the UK …

5 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Music Industries Association regarding the manufacture of instruments made from Dalbergia species since the UK signed up to new international regulations on its import and export.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has not had discussions with the Music Industries Association on this matter.

5 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the UK Government made it aware of the possibility of importing and exporting changes affecting Dalbergia species and, if so, when.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government was made aware of the changes in November 2016, after agreement was reached at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Conference of the Parties in September 2016.

5 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it was made aware of importing and exporting changes affecting Dalbergia species as a result of the UK signing up to new international regulations.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government was made aware of the changes affecting Dalbergia on 29 November 2016.

5 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action (a) it has and (b) its agencies have taken to assist businesses that use Dalbergia species to manufacture their products since the UK signed up to new international regulations on its import and export.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has not had discussions with businesses that use Dalbergia to manufacture their products. The Scottish Government is aware that there was a meeting of the CITES Sustainable Users Group (a forum for traders in CITES species to discuss …

6 Dec 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding proposals to pay for access to the single market.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government has not received any information of this sort from the UK Government. We have made clear in our engagement with the UK Government, including at the Joint Ministerial Committee on European Negotiations which met for the second time on 7…

29 Nov 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that the NHS has sufficient stocks of blood for the winter period.

25 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what provisions are in place to ensure that health information is provided in accessible formats, and what information it has regarding how many different formats have been offered by each NHS board.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Patient Charter clearly sets out patients’ rights and responsibilities and what patients can expect when they use NHS Scotland Services and receive care; that includes the right to be given the information they need in a format or language they can unders…