Kezia Dugdale

23 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made with improvements to the culture of management in NHS Lothian.

Answer · Shona Robison: An internal audit was undertaken by NHS Lothian regarding organisational culture in January 2017. Part of this process was to review the implementation of the recommendations from the Investigation into Management and Culture in NHS Lothian Report of 2012. …

23 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to (a) prevent, (b) reduce and (c) tackle (i) bullying and (ii) harassment within NHS Lothian.

Answer · Shona Robison: A lot has been done over the past few years to tackle workplace bullying and harassment through the policies and arrangements we`ve developed for staff in our NHS. The Scottish Government continues to work in partnership to further develop and promote an open…

23 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Lothian regarding sexual harassment in the workplace.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has made it clear to all Boards, including NHS Lothian, that there should be a zero tolerance approach to sexual harassment in the workplace, and, where any concerns are raised, that they must be fully investigated. We recently asked…

23 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Lothian regarding bullying in the workplace.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government continues to make it clear to all Health Boards, including NHS Lothian, that there should be a zero tolerance approach and that everything must be done to eradicate bullying and harassment in the workplace, and, where concerns are rais…

23 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the public interest in the sentence given to the person convicted of the culpable homicide of Shaun Woodburn, what its position is on a sentencing statement being published.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Sentencing in any given case including decisions relating to the publishing of sentencing statements is a matter for the independent court.

23 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what constitutes a matter being in the public interest with regards to the judiciary publishing a sentencing statement.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Sentencing in any given case including decisions relating to the publishing of sentencing statements is a matter for the court. In general terms, a judge will often give reasons for imposing a particular sentence in court at the time of sentencing, or where …

15 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it considers the needs of people with differences of sexual development (DSD) who do not identify as LGBTI.

Answer · Angela Constance: We recognise that people who have a difference of sexual development may not identify with the term 'intersex'. My answer to S5W-12802 on 29 November 2017 explains that the Scottish Government will publish a consultation seeking views about the actions need…

15 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support it provides agencies that support people (a) who are intersex and (b) with differences of sexual development (DSD), broken down by (i) organisation and (ii) sum involved.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government has not provided any direct financial support to organisations that support intersex people/people with differences of sexual development. In 2014, the Scottish Government added intersex (I) to its sexual orientation and gender identi…

15 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports children and young people with differences of sexual development (DSD).

Answer · Angela Constance: Scottish Ministers have no direct role in the support of children and young people with differences of sexual development. The medical treatment or support of children, adolescents and adults with differences of sexual development is an operational matter for…

15 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it is undertaking to scope the needs of people (a) who are intersex and (b) with differences of sexual development (DSD).

Answer · Angela Constance: In the Fairer Scotland Action Plan, we committed to reforming gender recognition law so it is in line with international best practice for people who are transgender or intersex. Intersex people/people with differences of sexual development face issues that…

15 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it considers the difference is between people who are intersex and those with differences of sexual development (DSD).

Answer · Angela Constance: 'Intersex' and 'differences of sexual development' both refer to variations in the chromosomal, genital or other physical sexual characteristics that people are born with. These may differ from the conventional ideas about male or female bodies. The Scottis…

15 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it funds and supports public electric car charging bays in (a) town centres and (b) areas of public interest.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: In ChargePlace Scotland (CPS) (www.chargeplacescotland.org), we already have one of the most comprehensive EV networks in Europe, with over 700 public charge points, including over 175 rapid chargers. Since 2012 the Scottish Government has invested approximat…

15 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to encourage electric car ownership among people who (a) live in tenements and (b) do not have private driveways.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: As set out in September’s Programme for Government announcement, we plan to expand our electric charging infrastructure between now and 2022. This is one of a number of actions to meet the target to phase out the need for new petrol and diesel cars and vans b…

15 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to give local authorities the power to designate electric car charging bays.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Over the past 6 years the Scottish Government has grant funded all 32 Local Authorities a total of nearly £10 million to install electric vehicle charge points across the country. In addition to monetary support, we also offer help and advice on the charge po…

14 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to expand the role and responsibilities of fire service crew.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The role and responsibilities of fire service crew are operational matters for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

14 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much the fire training facility at Newbridge will cost, and by what date it will open.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The costs of the fire training facility will be market tested by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) prior to commencement of the works. The SFRS estimate that the cost will be between £11m and £12m. Planning permission for this project has not yet …

14 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to provide a three-year funding cycle for the fire brigade.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: Due to the continued importance of the UK Government Block Grant in determining the full package of resources available to the Scottish Government, the Scottish Government only has resource DEL funding allocations for the period covered by the UK Spending Rev…

14 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) firefighters, (b) fire brigade appliances and (c) fire stations there are, and what estimate it has made of the number for each of the next three years.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: Details on the number of firefighters, appliances and fire stations are included in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Fire Safety and Organisational Statistics and is published on its public website. http://www.firescotland.gov.uk/about-us/fire-and-rescu…

14 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many fire brigade training facilities it supports, brokien down by location.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has 21 training facilities. National SFRS National Training Centre, Westburn Drive, Cambuslang, G72 7NA. North Service Delivery Area SFRS College Perth, 401 High St, Perth, PH1 1PL. Dundee Airport Training Facility,…

14 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to link any pay increase for the fire service to service changes.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Scottish Government is not a participant in pay negotiations with the Fire Brigades Union. Pay is a matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service as the employer.

2 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the decision on whether to allow the community interest buyout by London Road Church in Edinburgh to go ahead has been delayed. 

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The decision on the application by InSpire East End Ltd. was issued on 2 November 2017. Full details of the decision and all other documentation relating to the case can be found on the Register of Community Interest in Land, which is held by the Registers …

1 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will publish its review of student support.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Jayne-Anne Gadhia, CEO of Virgin Money UK, was appointed Chair of the independent review of student support in October 2016. The Programme for Government published earlier this year stated that the review will report this autumn. The review is on track to pub…

1 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether any statutory right to advocacy would have to be linked to ring-fenced funding to ensure that it could be realised.

Answer · Maree Todd: Under Section 122(5) of the Children's Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011, Scottish Ministers have the power to enter into arrangements (contractual or otherwise) with any person other than a Local Authority, Children's Hearings Scotland or the Scottish Children's …

1 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-11416 by Mark McDonald on 3 October 2017, which research projects on advocacy it has funded since 2015, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Maree Todd: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-12412 on 15 November 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…

1 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-11416 by Mark McDonald on 3 October 2017, for what reason it does not collect national data on the number of care-experienced young people who receive independent advocacy.

Answer · Maree Todd: The scope and intention of the statutory provisions do not map across directly to children with existing care experience. Rather, they relate to those children who are involved in a children's hearings referral, which may be for the first time. Two mapping ex…

1 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-11416 by Mark McDonald on 3 October 2017, which advocacy providers it has been working with to develop a sustainable model of advocacy provision for care-experienced young people.

Answer · Maree Todd: Since 2015 the Scottish Government has worked closely with Who Cares? Scotland, Barnardo's and Your Voice. In addition we have consulted with the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance (SIAA), the national membership body for independent advocacy organisation…

1 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-11416 by Mark McDonald on 3 October 2017, what its estimated timescale is for implementing statutory advocacy for care-experienced young people.

Answer · Maree Todd: The answer to S5W-11416 set out our intention to make significant progress over the next two year period. The Scottish Government will be making an announcement soon on the next steps. The commencement of section 122 pertains to the availability of advocacy…

1 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-11406 by Jamie Hepburn on 3 October 2017, what assessment it has made of the capacity that is required to deliver statutory advocacy for care-experienced young people.

Answer · Maree Todd: The member refers to question S5W-11406 answered by Jamie Hepburn on 3 October 2017. It is assumed the reference should be to question S5W-11416 answered by Mark McDonald on 3 October 2017. In partnership with Who Cares? Scotland, the Scottish Government is…

1 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-11406 by Jamie Hepburn on 3 October 2017, what approaches with the aim of providing statutory advocacy to care-experienced young people are being tested.

Answer · Maree Todd: The member refers to question S5W-11406 answered by Jamie Hepburn on 3 October 2017. It is assumed the reference should be to question S5W-11416 answered by Mark McDonald on 3 October 2017. In considering a sustainable and effective model of advocacy provis…

1 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-11406 by Jamie Hepburn on 3 October 2017, how many of the care-experienced young people being recruited by Our Hearing-Our Voice for the children’s hearing system will be in (a) full- and (b) part-time permanent positions.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: 'Our Hearings Our Voice' is aimed at recruiting around 30 young people who have had, or continue to have, experience of the children's hearings system. These positions will not be permanent employment opportunities. They will be appointments which will provid…