Parliamentary questions
Kezia Dugdale
1,684 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
5 Feb 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to simplify the funding arrangements regarding home adaptations.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Officials are reviewing existing legislation and guidance relating to adaptations. This work has a practical focus which will identify barriers and potential areas for development. We intend to issue revised and updated guidance and support to Integration Joi…
5 Feb 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making with the review of the legislation and guidance regarding home adaptations, and by what date it will publish the findings.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: This work is progressing as planned and we intend to issue updated support materials and guidance to Integration Joint Boards later this year.
4 Feb 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-21002 by Derek Mackay on 23 January 2019, how many of the 125 unique suppliers, which have either provided a copy of their Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement or identified one on their website, are for the current financial year, and how regula…
Answer · Derek Mackay: Suppliers are not required to publish a Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement within the current financial year. Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act states that a commercial organisation must prepare a slavery and human trafficking statement for each finan…
29 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the letter by the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform to the Convener of the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee on 31 May 2018, what progress has been made with its investigation into wood burning habits among the general publi…
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: This investigation is being undertaken on a UK wide basis, led by Defra. The work is currently still ongoing and an update on when a final report might be published will be provided in due course.
29 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce particulate matter pollution in line with World Health Organization guidelines.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government's measures to reduce particulate matter pollution are set out in the Government's air quality strategy 'Cleaner Air for Scotland - The Road to a Healthier Future' (CAFS). The Scottish Objectives for particulate matter are at least as s…
29 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had or plans with stakeholders regarding whether to ban most domestic wood burning stoves.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The independently led review of the air quality strategy 'Cleaner Air for Scotland - The Road to a Healthier Future' held a stakeholder workshop in January which included representatives from the wood burners industry. Domestic wood burning stoves are a speci…
29 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release of 6 November 2018, Tackling air pollution, whether the independent review will consider banning most domestic wood burning stoves.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The review, which is currently on ongoing and will conclude later in 2019, will consider this issue as part of its remit.
29 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is regarding the banning of most domestic wood burning stoves by 2022, in light of plans by the UK Government to do so.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government launched an independently led review of its air quality strategy 'Cleaner Air for Scotland - The Road to a Healthier Future' in November 2018. The issue of domestic wood burning stoves will be considered as part of the review. The revi…
24 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it expects its agencies to take to ensure their full compliance with the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government produced a leaflet on the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 which was issued to all employers in Scotland in 2006. It explains the implications of the Act for employers and employees and encourages employers to offer assistance to…
24 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it would expect the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to provide breastfeeding facilities for women while waiting to give evidence in court proceedings.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who reply in writing within 20 days.
24 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has provided to registered social landlords in each year since 2007 to carry out home adaptions for (a) older and (b) disabled people, also broken down by the number of homes that have received this support.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government provides an annual funding allocation to help Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) meet the needs of their tenants who require housing adaptations. Funding is not ring-fenced for specific client groups and no target number of adaptations…
24 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service facilitates the breastfeeding needs of mothers who are compellable witnesses.
Answer · James Wolffe QC: The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has a published commitment to all witnesses that prosecutors will try to agree a witness’ evidence with the defence or to resolve the case before it proceeds to trial. In situations where this is not poss…
24 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many recorded breaches of the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 there have been in each of the last five years.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Recorded crime data is a matter for Police Scotland.
24 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it gives to collaborative working by NHS boards to improve universal cover for, and access to, early medical abortions, in particular for people in rural and remote areas.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government welcomes collaborative working by NHS Boards. In particular, the island NHS Boards work closely with NHS Grampian, NHS Highlands , and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to provide services for their patients.
24 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on allowing the use of electronic remote signatures as part of the two-doctor signature process in the abortion process, and how such an approach could impact on accessibility to services, particularly in rural and remotes areas.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Electronic signatures can be used where appropriate, as long as NHS Boards comply with the requirements of the Abortion (Scotland) Regulations 1991.
24 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps are taken to ensure that there is equitable access for everyone seeking an early medical abortion at home.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-21227 on 26 February 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…
24 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that there is adequate workforce planning in place to ensure that so-called conscientious objection by medical professionals to the provision of abortion services does not limit or inhibit access.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-21234 on 21 February 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…
24 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on so-called conscientious objection by medical professionals to the provision of abortion services, including how this can impact on people in rural and remote areas.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Medical professionals are entitled under the Abortion Act 1967 to conscientiously object to participating in the delivery of abortion services. However, NHS Boards are required to ensure that they can still provide an appropriate abortion service for patients…
24 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to meet the aspiration of Outcome (a) 4 and (b) 5 of the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework 2015-2020; what progress has been made, and what additional measures are being considered or planned.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Scottish Government continues to support work to educate and raise awareness around positive sexual health, through Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood (RSHP) Education, and through Government, NHS and Third Sector awareness and information campaigns.…
24 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps are taken to ensure that young people can access sexual healthcare, and how it takes account of the specific accessibility issues in rural and remote areas.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Scottish Government policy is that it is essential that young people have access to services and information when they require it. It is the responsibility of NHS Boards and Local Authorities to ensure that young people have access to appropriate sexual healt…
24 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to amend the legislation regarding early medical abortions that covers the type of premises that can administer the treatment, misoprostol.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government has no plans to amend legislation regarding early medical abortions.
24 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the arrangements to allow women from Northern Ireland to access abortion services in Scotland without being charged will be implemented.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Women from Northern Ireland are already able to access abortion services in Scotland free of charge. The Functions of Health Boards (Scotland) Amendment Order 2017 came into force on 6 November 2017, which enabled NHS Boards to provide abortion services free …
24 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to amend the legislation regarding women from Northern Ireland accessing abortion services in Scotland.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-21229 on 26 February 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…
24 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the timescale for the roll-out of universal cover for early medical abortions at home.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Ten out of fourteen NHS Boards, including larger Boards, already offer early medical abortion at home (EMAH) to those patients for whom it is clinically appropriate. Some other Boards are currently preparing to offer EMAH.
23 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met NHS Lothian to discuss waiting times for urgent gastroenterology and endoscopy services, and what steps were taken as a consequence.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-21041 on 1 February 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/parliamentarybusines…
16 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to concerns that people in the NHS Lothian area have been advised by the NHS board that there is a minimum five-month wait to access urgent gastroenterology and endoscopy services.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The median waiting time for an urgent diagnostics appointment within NHS Lothian is 8 weeks. For an urgent gastroenterology appointment the median waiting time is 14 weeks. The Scottish Government recognises that too many patients are waiting too long for app…
16 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the treatment time guarantee being broken, what recourse is available to people in the NHS Lothian area who have been advised by NHS Lothian that there is a minimum five-month wait to access urgent gastroenterology and endoscopy services.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to answer to question S5W-21041 on 1 February 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/28…
15 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how many in-scope businesses that it has (a) commissioned and (b) contracted are failing to comply with section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Scottish Government have contracts with around 125 unique suppliers that have an annual turnover of £36 million or more. All of these suppliers have either provided us with a copy of their Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement or we have identified one on t…
10 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what Barnett consequentials it estimates will be generated by UK Government spend on No Deal Brexit planning.
Answer · Derek Mackay: All expenditure allocated to UK Departments by the UK Government covers both deal and no-deal preparations. No-deal funding is not identified separately. The Scottish Government was awarded £37m of EU Exit preparation funding consequentials from UK Governmen…
8 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many non-EU citizens have (a) presented, (b) been treated and (c) been charged for NHS treatment in the last 12 months, broken down by NHS board, and how much each board has received for providing this treatment.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. The request for this information should be directed to NHS Boards. NHS treatment will be provided to everyone in Scotland who requires to receive treatment, and this will be based on…