David Stewart

14 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how long the access to justice group that has been announced by the First Minister will run, and when it will publish its findings.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The National Taskforce for Human Rights Leadership has been asked to support the development of a radical blueprint for human rights legislation, following on from the work of the First Minister’s Advisory Group on Human Rights leadership, and is in the proce…

14 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to investigate cases where people believe that their human rights have been breached by Scottish legislation that does not comply with the Human Rights Act 1998.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government is not aware of any current legislation that is non-compliant with the requirements of the 1998 Act.

14 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has decided not to advise people who were on the shielding list to start to shield again, in light of a number having to attend their workplaces at a time when the rate of COVID-19 infection is rising.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Much more is known about the virus than at the beginning of the pandemic and our advice about how to protect ourselves has continued to adapt and evolve accordingly. We also now know that shielding had a detrimental impact on people’s lives, families and phys…

7 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it helps children to maintain contact with both parents under Article 24 (3) of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights when they have separated acrimoniously and one parent is being denied access.

Answer · Ash Denham: The Scottish Government believes that both parents should be fully involved in their child’s life, as long as this is in the child’s best interests. The Scottish Government has produced the Your Parenting Plan which is a guide for parents in making practic…

25 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-31612 by Jeane Freeman on 22 September 2020, for what reason information on the number of people in the NHS Highland area who attended out-of-area PET scans from 1 January 2016 to date in 2020 is not held centrally, when it provided this information…

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The information outlined in the answer S5W-16725 will have previously been obtained as a one off snap shot from the Health Board in 2018. At present this information is not part of any routine data collection held by the Scottish Government or Public Health …

23 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) the UK Government and (b) Scottish port authorities regarding the Freeport competition.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Ministers and officials have held regular discussions with UK Government counterparts on proposals for freeports. However, we await further, more detailed information about implementation of the UK Government’s Freeport policy, including on the reserved tax a…

23 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what independent research it has (a) commissioned and (b) consulted on regarding the role that Freeports can play in incentivising international trade, boosting innovation and regenerating disadvantaged areas post-Brexit.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government commissioned research from Edinburgh University’s School of Economics on the likely benefits and costs of freeports. This work, received in October 2019, did not focus on UK Government plans for implementation of freeports set out in a…

23 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any (a) economic and (b) social advantage of Freeports.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Assessment of any potential economic and social impacts, including advantages of freeports to Scotland, is ongoing. Ministers and officials have held regular discussions with UK Government counterparts on proposals for freeports. However, we await further, m…

23 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what role it will play in promoting the Freeport competition.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Ministers and officials have held regular discussions with UK Government counterparts on proposals for freeports. However, we await further, more detailed information about implementation of the UK Government’s Freeport policy, including on the reserved tax a…

16 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the comments by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills regarding residential outdoor learning continuing to be part of the curriculum for excellence, what its position is on local authorities commissioning specialists from outdoor education centres to visit schools t…

Answer · John Swinney: The funding of local authority outdoor education centres and decisions on the commissioning of outdoor education centre experts are matters for individual local authorities. The current Covid-19 guidelines do allow schools to invite outdoor education centre …

9 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to incorporate all international human right treaties directly into Scots Law.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: The Scottish Government is committed to being at the forefront of human rights leadership and, as such, is undertaking a range of work to ensure that human rights are fully respected, protected and fulfilled in line with Scotland’s international treaty obliga…

9 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what advice it is providing to working age adults who are on the shielding list but are currently paused, despite still being vulnerable.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: For people who had been shielding but may have returned to their place of work, we have developed guidance to help staff and managers consider the specific risk of COVID-19 in the workplace. It is relevant to all staff, but will be particularly relevant to th…

4 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Highland regarding the provision of a PET scanner in the board's area, and what representations it has received from the board in this regard.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-31615 on 22 September 2020. 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/parliamentarybusin…

4 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people residing in the NHS Highland area attended out-of-area PET scans in (a) each year since 2016 and (b) 2020 to date.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: This information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government or by Public Health Scotland. Any Information relating to patients attending a PET scans out of area will be held by the Local Health Board.

4 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to reduce travel for patients requiring health services within the Highlands and Islands.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government expects Health Boards to make every effort to treat patients within their local Health Board areas where there is access to the treatment and care they need. During these unprecedented times with increased Health and Safety requiremen…

4 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce new PET scanners across Scotland.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: In 2018 a strategy was developed by the PET/CT Capital Planning Group that set out the proposed way forward for the next 5-10 years. A national approach has been taken at present with 5 PET CT scanners currently supporting NHSScotland located within the Glasg…

4 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to decentralise health services.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government expects Health Boards to make every effort to treat patients within their local area. However there will always be circumstances where patients may have to travel to larger Health Boards to receive specific treatment.

4 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost was to NHS Highland to refer patients for out-of-area PET Scans, including travel, in (a) each year since 2016 and (b) 2020 to date.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. Costs on local travel arrangements will be held by the local Health Board.

4 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the need for PET Scans for NHS Highland patients from 2021 onwards.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The location of PET scanners across NHS Scotland has been subject to national strategic planning for many years and NHS Highland is represented in these discussions. NHS Highland patients requiring a PET-CT scan who are fit and able are currently referred to…

6 Aug 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when indoor go-karting venues will be allowed to reopen to the public.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The First Minister announced on 20 August that the reopening of indoor sport and leisure facilities such as indoor karting venues, is Monday 31 August with physical distancing and enhanced hygiene measures in place. The Scottish Government have produced new …

5 Aug 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has received regarding future development of the NC500.

4 Aug 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to propose amendments to the regulations concerning fire suppression systems, including sprinklers, before the end of the parliamentary session.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government intend to lay the Scottish Statutory Instrument (SSI), The Building (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2020 in the Scottish Parliament in September 2020. The regulations will require the mandatory installation of automatic fire suppressi…

14 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether a population screening for heart valve disease for people over 65 would (a) help to improve early detection, (b) decrease the number of cardiovascular deaths attributed to heart valve disease and (c) be a cost-effective solution in the long term.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government, along with the rest of the UK, is advised on all aspects of screening including the potential for any new screening programmes by the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), an independent expert advisory group. It is the primary ob…

25 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) Highlands and Islands Enterprise and (b) the UK Government regarding continuing to operate services between Wick John O'Groats and (i) Aberdeen and (ii) Edinburgh Airport.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Highlands and Islands Enterprise have been part of regular meetings between Transport Scotland officials, the Caithness Chamber of Commerce, Highland Council and Highlands and Islands Airports Limited. We have had no discussions with the UK Government on this…

25 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) discussions, (b) consultations, (c) correspondence and (d) meetings it has had with stakeholders in the Caithness and Sutherland area regarding the nature of the services using Wick John O'Groats Airport.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I met with the Caithness Chamber of Commerce on 29 August 2019 to discuss this issue. Since then Transport Scotland officials have met with the Caithness Chamber of Commerce regularly. These meetings have also included representatives from Highland Council, H…

25 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of how uncertainty regarding the future of Wick John O'Groats Airport could impact on the Caithness and Sutherland area.

Answer · Michael Matheson: We have received the report ‘Public Service Obligation Air Services for Wick John O’Groats Airport: Business Case’ from the Caithness Chamber of Commerce which includes an assessment of the impact of the loss of scheduled air services from Wick John O’Groats …

25 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the timescale would be for introducing a public service obligation for services between Wick John O'Groats and (a) Aberdeen and (b) Edinburgh Airport.

Answer · Michael Matheson: If Public Service Obligations were to be imposed on services between Wick John O’Groats and Aberdeen and Edinburgh it would likely take around 9 to 12 months for services to start due to the regulatory and procurement processes required.

18 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much additional funding it has provided in Scotland in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and how much this represents per head of population.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: The Scottish Government published a Summer Budget Revision on 27 May 2020 which detailed an initial £4.014 billion of funding for the response to the Covid-19 pandemic. This represents around £730 per head of population based on the latest ONS estimate. This…

17 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-29100 by Jeane Freeman on 4 June 2020, when the findings from the work being undertaken to examine the effectiveness of air scrubbers and negative ion ionisers in tackling COVID-19 will be published.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: A UK-wide expert group is considering the ventilation and cleaning requirements for the resumption of activity in theatres and endoscopy suites in the context of Covid-19. The group has included air scrubbers on a list of technologies that may prove useful in…

16 Jun 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the lessons learnt from the COVID-19 outbreak will help inform future outbreaks of the virus or other pandemics.