Parliamentary questions
Kezia Dugdale
1,684 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
12 Jan 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government under what circumstances the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport might (a) comment on and (b) directly intervene in an individual person’s health or care, and when such a protocol was (i) introduced and (ii) last amended.
Answer · Shona Robison: The provision and management of an individual’s NHS treatment or care is a clinical matter. When a person has concerns about their treatment or care this should be addressed at local level through the NHS complaints procedure. When that does not prove possi…
11 Jan 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it supports the training of (a) public sector workers and (b) voluntary sector organisations regarding historic sexual abuse, including providing information about services that are available to support survivors.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government has commissioned NHS Education Scotland to lead the development of a comprehensive National Trauma Skills and Knowledge Framework for anyone working with people affected by complex trauma, such as child sexual abuse. The framework will…
11 Jan 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to organisations that provide advocacy services to survivors of historic sexual abuse, and how this is aligned with the public inquiry on this issue.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government funds a number of survivor support organisations which provide support, including advocacy, to adult survivors of childhood abuse. The Scottish Government also created a support fund, run by Future Pathways, for survivors who were abu…
11 Jan 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to promote participation by (a) prisoners and (b) homeless people in the public inquiry into historic sexual abuse, and what resources it has allocated toward this.
Answer · John Swinney: The Inquiry has been set up under the Inquiries Act 2005 and is independent of government. This includes the complete independence to consider how best to engage with survivors of in care child abuse, in terms of either awareness raising or on-going communica…
10 Jan 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that children from households with an income that is 60%, or less, of the median Scottish household income are encouraged and supported to participate in (a) national and (b) local orchestras.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Youth Music Initiative offers a year of free music tuition to every school pupil in Scotland by the time they leave primary school. Individual Local Authorities design a programme of music activities to engage young people in their communities – for some …
10 Jan 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much the national youth orchestra received in funding in 2016-17, and what (a) conditions and (b) criteria were specified for funding.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government does not provide any direct support to the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland (NYOS). The level of funding, conditions and criteria set against NYOS are a matter for Creative Scotland. I have asked Creative Scotland's Chief Executiv…
10 Jan 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it funds young people's participation in (a) local and (b) national orchestras.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government’s long-standing investment of £109 million since 2007 in the Youth Music Initiative has made a huge impact helping young people across Scotland access music making opportunities, including participation with orchestras. The Scottish Go…
10 Jan 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it collects any socio-economic data regarding young people participating in national youth arts and, if so, where it is published.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government collects data on arts and cultural participation through various means, including the Scottish Household Survey, which collects data on people (aged 16 and over) who engage with culture either by attending or visiting a cultural event …
10 Jan 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what power it has to determine new protected characteristics in addition to those listed in the Equality Act 2010 and whether it plans to do so.
Answer · Angela Constance: Although section 37 of the Scotland Act 2016 allows the Scottish Parliament to introduce, in relation to the Scottish functions of Scottish or cross-border public authorities (other than board appointments), protections and requirements that supplement (but d…
9 Jan 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5T-00734 by John Swinney on 31 October 2017 (Official Report, c. 3), what steps it is taking to encourage employers to review their procedures for dealing with sexual harassment, including what guidance it provides or is planning to produce.
Answer · Angela Constance: In November, we published a delivery plan for Equally Safe, our strategy to prevent and eradicate all forms of violence against women and girls. Specific commitments include running a major national campaign on sexual harassment and sexism, to raise awareness…
9 Jan 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how its Equally Safe strategy is funded; how much of this is allocated toward promoting an understanding of the procedures and practices in place to tackle sexual harassment, and how this work is carried out.
Answer · Angela Constance: 11.8 million from the Equality Budget in 2017-18, and 20 million over 2015-18 from Justice budgets. In November, we published a delivery plan for Equally Safe, which included funding of £1 million for a range of initiatives. Specific commitments include runni…
21 Dec 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-12803 by Angela Constance on 29 November 2017, what its role is in promoting the inclusion of children and young people with people with differences of sexual development (DSD).
Answer · Angela Constance: The forthcoming consultation on people with differences of sex development (DSD)/intersex people will seek views on the role of the Scottish Government in this area, including in relation to the promotion of inclusion.
21 Dec 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government (a) how and (b) when parents or young people with differences of sexual development (DSD) can influence its forthcoming Gender Recognition Bill.
Answer · Angela Constance: There will be a consultation early this year on people with differences of sex development/intersex people. This will be a full public consultation and any interested person or party will be able to respond. This consultation may feed into future legislation,…
21 Dec 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-12804 by Angela Constance on 29 November 2017, whether it accepts that many people with differences of sexual development (DSD) do not define as being LGBTI and therefore would not benefit from or have access to this support.
Answer · Angela Constance: The forthcoming consultation on people with differences of sex development (DSD)/intersex people will seek views on what support should be available in this area and what public facing information should be provided by the Scottish Government.
21 Dec 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on establishing a risk-based approach to reduce parental rights if there is a background of abuse.
Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Scottish Government plans to launch a consultation in spring 2018 on the review of part 1 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995. This consultation will cover issues in relation to parental responsibilities and rights, child contact and residence, alongside …
21 Dec 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce attempts by domestic abuse perpetrators to exert power and influence over their victims, including after a relationship has ended.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has introduced into Parliament a new domestic abuse offence. This offence relates to abusive behaviour between partners and ex-partners and, if approved by Parliament, will strengthen the ability of the justice system to respond effect…
21 Dec 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on domestic abuse child safety reports being used more widely in family courts.
Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Scottish Government plans to launch a consultation in spring 2018 on the review of part 1 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995. This consultation will cover issues in relation to parental responsibilities and rights, child contact and residence, alongside …
21 Dec 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to establish a safe contact provision for children who have a parent or guardian who has been convicted of domestic abuse.
Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Scottish Government plans to launch a consultation in spring 2018 on the review of part 1 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995. This consultation will cover issues in relation to parental responsibilities and rights, child contact and residence, alongside …
20 Dec 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported concerns that the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service does not always prosecute dog owners whose animal has allegedly attacked a person walking another dog, despite the victim and the dog being walked being injured.
Answer · James Wolffe QC: The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service considers the facts and circumstances of any case reported to it by the police in order to assess whether or not there is sufficient evidence in law to take prosecutorial action and, if so, what action would be i…
20 Dec 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported concerns that the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service does not always prosecute dog owners whose animal has allegedly attacked a postal worker, despite the postal worker being injured.
Answer · James Wolffe QC: The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service considers the facts and circumstances of any case reported to it by the police in order to assess whether or not there is sufficient evidence in law to take prosecutorial action and, if so, what action would be i…
20 Dec 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its interpretation is of the definition of an "out of control dog", as described in the Dangerous Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010.
Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Scottish Government does not offer an interpretation of the law. Interpretation of the law is a matter for our independent courts. There is no legislation called the Dangerous Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010. There is however the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 which i…
20 Dec 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported claims by the Communication Workers Union (CWU) that the Dangerous Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 has (a) not been implemented adequately by it and (b) been interpreted inconsistently and incorrectly by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, and wh…
Answer · Annabelle Ewing: There is no legislation called the Dangerous Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010. There is however the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 which introduced a civil regime for the issuing of dog control notices for owners of dogs who allow their dogs to be out of contro…
19 Dec 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-12982 by Shona Robison on 13 December 2017, by what date the findings of the Dignity at Work Survey will be published.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Health and Social Care Staff Experience Report, which will contain both the national Dignity at Work Survey and iMatter results, will be published in February 2018.
19 Dec 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-12986 by Shona Robison on 13 December 2017, whether any independent agencies are involved in drawing up how the Dignity at Work survey will be reported and, if so, which.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has commissioned an external organisation, Webropol to run the survey and produce the Health and Social Care Staff Experience report, which will include the results for the iMatter and Dignity at Work surveys and accompanying analytica…
14 Dec 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to make any changes or further announcements regarding City of Edinburgh Council Wave 4 school funding through the Schools for the Future Programme.
Answer · John Swinney: In Edinburgh, the Scottish Government's Scotland's Schools for the Future programme is replacing three secondary schools and one primary school and there are no plans to make any changes to the Government's support to these projects. The Government intends …
14 Dec 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide clarification on the deadline by which it must receive submissions of bids for support through the Schools for the Future Programme.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scotland's Schools for the Future programme is currently fully committed supporting 117 school projects. However, the Scottish Government intends to build upon the success of the Scotland's Schools for the Future programme and options are currently being …
23 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with trade unions regarding bullying within NHS Lothian.
Answer · Shona Robison: We have a well-established national policy for staff in our NHS to support them in raising concerns about bullying and harassment. As with all policies to support our workforce in the NHS in Scotland these have been developed in partnership with trade unions …
23 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with NHS Lothian regarding the recommendations in the 2012 report, Investigation into Management and Culture in NHS Lothian, since its publication.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government meets with NHS Lothian on a regular basis to discuss matters of interest to the people of the Lothian's. The Scottish Government has been advised that an internal audit was undertaken by NHS Lothian regarding organisational culture in…
23 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps have been taken to ensure the (a) implementation and (b) monitoring of NHS Lothian’s management culture since the publication of the 2012 report, Investigation into Management and Culture in NHS Lothian.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-12983 on 12 December 2017. 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…
23 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether all of the recommendations in the 2012 report, Investigation into Management and Culture in NHS Lothian, have been met, and what the reasons are for its position on this.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-12983 on 12 December 2017. 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/parliamentarybusines…