Parliamentary questions

David Stewart

1,651 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

10 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects an enhanced passenger information system to be introduced at all Northern Isles Ferry Services terminals, and what estimate it has made of the cost of this project.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-25784 on 30 October 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.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentar…

10 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-25290 by Paul Wheelhouse on 3 October 2019, whether it will list the fare structures and discounts that were in place for passengers on the (a) Scrabster-Stromness and (b) Aberdeen-Kirkwall route on 30 June 2018, and what subsequent changes have bee…

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Current fare structures including discounted fares are available on the NorthLink Ferries website at the attached link; https://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/fares/ The full fare structures for 2018, including the fare change in June 2018 and full current 20…

10 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-25471 by Paul Wheelhouse on 3 October 2019, on what dates it last corresponded with the (a) European Commission and (b) RMT regarding using a Teckal exemption to take public contracts for lifeline ferry services permanently in-house, and whether it …

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Following publication of the interim report on the future approach to the procurement of ferry services on 20 December 2017 Interim Report - Emerging Findings Humza Yousaf, then Minister for Transport and the Islands, sent a letter to the European Commissio…

9 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-25418 by Kevin Stewart on 30 September 2019, whether it will confirm that desktop studies, which use data from previous BS 8414 large-scale tests to extrapolate how an external system would perform if it were tested, are supported and recognised as …

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The term “desktop study” has commonly been used to describe an assessment in lieu of a fire test. Desktop studies have never been recognised or supported as a route to compliance with Scottish building regulations. Direct application rules for cladding syste…

9 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-25418 by Kevin Stewart on 30 September 2019, whether it will confirm that the alternative BS 8414 test is a large-scale fire test, rather than a full-scale fire test.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: BS 8414 is a large-scale test of a full-scale cladding system though neither of the terms ‘large-scale’ or ‘full-scale’ are used in the document itself. BS 8414 tests the vertical fire spread performance of an 8 metre tall external wall cladding system. The …

9 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-25418 by Kevin Stewart on 30 September 2019, whether it will clarify if the requirement for external wall cladding systems on assembly and entertainment buildings and to hospitals and residential care buildings, regardless of height, to have a fire …

Answer · Kevin Stewart: I refer the Member to the answer to question S5W-25755 on 29 October 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/parliamentarybusine…

9 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-25418 by Kevin Stewart on 30 September 2019, and in light of a range of industry experts who have reportedly criticised the BS 8414 large-scale fire test, including expert witnesses to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, which has led to an ongoing review o…

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government will consider the recommendations of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry when they are published. National and International members of the Building Standards Fire Safety Review Panel fully supported the continued use of the BS 8414 large scale…

9 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-25418 by Kevin Stewart on 30 September 2019, whether it will clarify if the requirement for external wall cladding systems on buildings with a storey at more than 11 metres above ground level to have a fire classification of either A1 (non-combustib…

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The BS 8414 large scale fire test is one of the most robust fire tests used for external wall cladding systems in the world. The test has been cited in building regulations since 1 May 2005 as a means of compliance with mandatory standard 2.7 which requires t…

2 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is on the accountability for the follow-up care of patients who have received private health screening that has not been authorised by the UK National Screening Committee.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: All screening programmes which are offered by NHS Scotland are done so following recommendations made by the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), and are supported by expert advice and robust evidence. We cannot provide the same assurances of private hea…

24 Sep 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the letter of 1 April 2016 from the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work to the European Commissioner for Transport, what stage has been reached in the joint case for an exemption for the Northern Isles ferry contracts from EU procurement and state aid legisla…

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Scottish Ministers continue to engage with the European Commission on the final approach we intend taking in relation to the future procurement of our lifeline ferry services. A final decision on whether it would be possible to make a direct award in future …

23 Sep 2019 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to a new study, which suggests that young people in the poorest parts of the country are three times more likely to die before their 25th birthday than those in the most affluent areas.

19 Sep 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the commitment in its Programme for Government to “put in place more stringent fire safety provisions for external wall cladding systems”, what plans it has to stop the alternative route of (a) desktop studies and (b) BS 84814, which allows combustible materials onto the outs…

Answer · Kevin Stewart: More stringent fire safety provisions for external wall cladding systems were developed from the recommendations of the Building Standards Fire Safety Review Panel. Revised Technical Handbooks were published on 12 July 2019 and apply from 1st October 2019. P…

12 Sep 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its geographical differences with the rest of the NHS Highland area, what its response is to calls for an inquiry, similar to that of the Sturrock review, to be carried out into alleged bullying and harassment in the Argyll and Bute area, and what discussions it has had with…

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Following publication of the Sturrock Review, I visited NHS Highland in June to meet with the Board and staff-side partners to discuss progress. At those meetings I asked the Chair and Chief Executive of NHS Highland to consider further the options for taking…

11 Sep 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the average saving would have been for passengers on Northern Isles Ferry Services' routes serving Orkney if Road Equivalent Tariff had been in place on these routes since 30 June 2018.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Road Equivalent Tariff was not introduced for passengers on Northern Isles Ferry Services' routes serving Orkney due to the ongoing complaint from Pentland Ferries to the European Commission. The RET mechanism is still to be approved, finalised and implemente…

11 Sep 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the average saving has been for passengers on Northern Isles Ferry Services' routes following the reductions in fares since 30 June 2018.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government implemented a 20% fares reduction on passenger and car fares for all Northern Isles Ferry Service routes to and from Shetland. All other fare structures and discounts have been retained. The actual savings for passengers on Northern …

3 Sep 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many people under the age of 18 have (a) smoked and (b) vaped in each year since 2014.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: We do not collect this information annually. The latest estimates of smoking and e-cigarette use among 13 and 15 year old school pupils in Scotland are available from the 2015 Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey and are shown in t…

3 Sep 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many people under the age of 18 who use vaping products have (a) previously smoked or tried smoking and (b) never smoked, in each year since 2014.

2 Sep 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to protect the live music scene in Inverness, in light of the anticipated closure of The Ironworks.

29 Aug 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to develop the park and ride at the new Dalcross Railway Station, and what capacity of car parking spaces there will be.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government, remains committed to providing a new Dalcross railway station as part of the Aberdeen to Inverness Improvement Programme. This will include a car park with 50 spaces, however, we will keep this under review in line with demand once th…

8 Aug 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase resilience in the Highlands and Islands' (a) rail, (b) roads, (c) air and (d) NHS board infrastructure to ensure the long-term wellbeing of communities and businesses.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government recognises that planned and unplanned events, including severe weather, can cause disruption across Scotland, including the Highland and Islands. We have taken a wide range of steps to improve our resilience to the challenges in this a…

23 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what programmes it is considering to add value to existing research to support the evidence for lung cancer screening.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government is currently exploring what further opportunities exist for Scotland to contribute to the emerging evidence base. Officials have recently met with academics, the Chair of the UK National Screening Committee, and the Scottish Screening …

23 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the value of introducing care plans for cancer patients.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-24020 on 22 July 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/…

23 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what activity it is planning to raise awareness of melanoma.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government is committed to the early detection of cancer – this is reflected in our £42 million Detect Cancer Early (DCE) Programme that aims to improve cancer survival rates in Scotland by finding and treating the disease at an early stage. The …

23 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what occasions it has introduced (a) screening programmes and (b) criteria for screening programmes before they were recommended by the UK National Screening Committee.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: All Screening programmes implemented by the Scottish Government have been introduced following the advice of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), an independent expert advisory group which advises the Scottish Government, along with the rest of the U…

10 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) clinical and (b) health economic evaluations of palliative and end of life care models have been carried out since December 2015.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Good care at the end of life requires collaborative, multi-disciplinary support, which is why Integration Authorities have been given statutory responsibility for meeting this need. The Scottish Government continues to work with Integration Authorities to he…

10 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment in the Strategic Framework for Action on Palliative and End of Life Care, whether the Palliative and End of Life Care National Implementation Advisory Group’s annual learning and improvement reports for each year since 2016-17 have been published and, if not, …

Answer · Jeane Freeman: In 2016, the Palliative and End of Life Care National Implementation Advisory Group discussed how best to communicate learning and improvement work associated with the Framework for Action. The Group agreed to maintain a living workplan document that capture…

10 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on commissioning an audit of end of life services, and whether it plans to join the National Audit of Care at End of Life, which is currently reviewing such services in the rest of the UK.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: We recognise the value of robust and sensitive processes for capturing and utilising feedback on the quality of end of life care. Earlier this year, the Scottish Government asked an NHS Lothian based project team to take forward work to provide options on ho…

25 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to bring in new IT systems across the NHS to reduce paperwork for medical staff.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Reducing paper usage and manual administration is a priority for NHS Scotland. Current initiatives include Paper-Lite programmes, the introduction of Regional Clinical Portals and the roll out of HEPMA ( Hospital Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administr…

25 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many nursing vacancies there have been in each year since 2015, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Nursing Vacancy data can be found by selecting the Nursing and Midwifery Vacancies Tab where the drop down can be used to select Total Vacancies in the Non-medical trend table published on the ISD website available here: https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-To…

10 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many emergency hospital admissions there have been for diabetic ketoacidosis and hypoglycaemic coma in each year since 2015-16, broken down by (a) age, (b) gender and (c) NHS board area.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: It is not possible to reliably identify cases of diabetic ketoacidosis or hypoglycaemic coma from hospital admissions data. This relates to the way that complications of diabetes are coded in the international ICD10 coding system. The following tables show t…