Parliamentary questions

Kezia Dugdale

1,684 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

28 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with NHS Lothian regarding A&E waiting times at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and, in light of recent ISD Scotland figures, which recorded that 62.7% of people waiting at the department were seen within four hours, what action (a) it and (b) the NHS …

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-15737 on? 10 May 2018. 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/2…

28 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with NHS Lothian regarding A&E waiting times at the NHS board's hospitals and, in light of recent ISD Scotland figures, which recorded that an average of 79.3% of people waiting at the departments were seen within four hours, what action (a) it and (b) …

28 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on setting up a task force to address A&E waiting times performance at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

28 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to recent ISD Scotland figures, which recorded an average of 79.3% of people waiting at A&E at hospitals in NHS Lothian being seen within four hours, and when it expects the NHS board to reach the 95% target.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-15737 on 10 May 2018. 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…

28 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to recent ISD Scotland figures, which recorded 62.7% of people waiting at A&E at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh being seen within four hours, and when it expects the hospital to reach the 95% target.

Answer · Shona Robison: Apologies for the delay in responding. I have responded to all seven questions within this response. The Scottish Government recognises that performance against the four hour A&E target at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh is unacceptable - long delays are no…

28 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it to protects vulnerable and older tenants from cold callers seeking to sell products related to new fire alarm standards.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The new standard will be introduced in Autumn 2018, with a two-year period for compliance once the regulations are in force. We are working with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) and relevant private and social landlord organisations to raise awaren…

28 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how new fire alarm standards will be enforced, and what the penalties will be for failing to comply.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The proposed new standards for fire and smoke alarms extend those which currently apply in the Private Rented Sector (PRS) to housing of all tenures. In the PRS, landlords should therefore already be complying, and the standard is enforced by the right of ten…

28 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it plans to provide to home owners and tenants of properties whose fire alarm systems require to be upgraded in line with new legislation.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: As a general principle, home owners are responsible for the costs of on-going work needed to protect and preserve their own property. As with other housing standards, it will be the responsibility of the homeowner, or landlord if the property is rented, to me…

23 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14498 by Jeane Freeman on 27 February 2018, whether the UK Government has confirmed that the supplement will be taxable and, if so, what instrument will be used to give that effect.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The UK Government has confirmed that Carer’s Allowance Supplement will be taxable. As set out in our responses to S5W-14498 and S5W-15050 on 23 March 2018, the legal definition of income for tax purposes remains reserved to the UK Government and legislation …

21 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5O-01913 by Jeane Freeman on 21 March 2018 (Official Report, c. 23), whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding whether, under the terms of the fiscal framework, it has asked the UK Government to transfer the money to it and, …

Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-15424 on 18 April 2018. The Scottish Government is working with the UK Government to understand the impact on households across the income distribution of the combined income tax and UC policies before deciding…

21 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its obligation under the Fatal Accident and Sudden Deaths (Scotland) Act 2016, by what date it will publish its annual report into fatal accident inquiries.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Scottish Government will work with the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service to gather and publish the data required under the Inquiries into Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc. (Scotland) Act 2016 as soon as practicable after the conclusion of the fin…

21 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the Lord Advocate determines what is “expedient in the public interest” when deciding whether a non-mandatory fatal accident inquiry should take place.

Answer · James Wolffe QC: Assessing whether it is in the public interest to hold a discretionary fatal accident inquiry in relation to a death will depend very much on the particular facts and circumstances surrounding the death. In terms of section 4 of the Inquiries into Fatal Accid…

20 Mar 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, when considering awarding contracts, what importance its procurement process attaches to whether a company has signed the Business Pledge.

20 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on amending the legislation that governs the licensing of sky lantern displays, and whether it is considering taking steps to help prevent the reported side effects to livestock that can arise from these displays.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: We understand the concerns raised in relation to the use of fire lanterns and we are working with stakeholders to avoid all sources of litter. A number of Scottish Local Authorities already have a release ban in place on balloons and sky lanterns. Issues rel…

20 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out on the impact that sky lantern displays can have on livestock.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: There is very little recorded evidence of sky lantern displays having a harmful impact on livestock in Scotland.

20 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14643 by Keith Brown on 15 March 2018, whether it will list the 300 companies that the cabinet secretary has written to.

Answer · Keith Brown: The following table provides details of the 316 Scottish Government Suppliers who received a letter: Scottish Government Suppliers (A - H) Scottish Government Suppliers (I - X) 1 Spatial Group IBM Ltd 21 Colour Limited Idox Software Ltd 2i Testing ILX…

20 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-15063 by Aileen Campbell on 15 March 2018, where it will publish the list of the grant awards.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: I enclose a list of the grant awards for the Sexual Health and Bloodborne Virus Framework Third Sector Funding Programme, payable over the financial years 2018-19 to 2020-21 . The list has been published on the Scottish Government website at: http://www.gov.…

19 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14640 by Keith Brown on 14 March 2018, what previous contact it had with these suppliers to encourage them to sign up to the Business Pledge; what level of response it received, and what criteria it used in determining whether to contact them.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government highlights the values promoted by the Scottish Business Pledge by including a standard question in the invitation to tender, requesting that potential suppliers confirm whether they have made a commitment to the Pledge. So far 8 compan…

19 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14976 by Keith Brown on 14 March 2018, when the transition period concludes, what action it will take to inform the Parliament regarding how many of the Carillion employees working on Network Rail projects in Scotland, both directly or through a lab…

Answer · Keith Brown: Network Rail has confirmed that the Carillion transition period is expected to conclude by the end of March 2018. I will write to the member with an update once this transition period has concluded and the details of Carillion staff being employed by other co…

19 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14641 by Keith Brown on 14 March 2018, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding what consideration it gives to whether a company has signed the Business Pledge when awarding contracts to suppliers, and whether it has cons…

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Business Pledge is a voluntary commitment by business, and while a standard question in the invitation to tender asks suppliers to confirm if they have made a commitment to the Pledge, this has no direct bearing on contract awards. Whilst condit…

19 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14998 by Michael Matheson on 14 March 2018, in light of the data not being collected, how it measures the effectiveness of victims providing statements ahead of sentencing.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Victim statements allow victims and close relatives to tell the court about the physical, emotional and financial impact of a crime on them. The effectiveness of schemes piloting the use of these statements was evaluated and the findings are published ( http…

19 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14498 by Jeanne Freeman on 27 February 2018, how many people will be liable to pay tax on a payment of Carer’s Allowance Supplement, and how much it estimates will be collected in tax receipts because of this.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: HMRC are responsible for operating Scottish income tax which includes the collection of data of Scottish taxpayers. We are in discussions with HMRC regarding this data. However, work by Scottish Government analysts indicates that only a small number of people…

16 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14971 by Derek Mackay on 13 March 2018, whether it will answer the question that was asked regarding whether it would proceed with a bill for a second independence referendum without it receiving a competency certificate from the Presiding Officer, …

Answer · Derek Mackay: The response to question S5W-14971 made clear that that the situation envisaged in the question did not arise in relation to the legislation for the independence referendum in 2014. All Bills promoted by the Scottish Government are taken forward in line with …

15 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to support and encourage the installation of electric vehicle (a) charging facilities and (b) lamp post charging access.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: As set out in the Programme for Government, 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 petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2032. Over the coming m…

15 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage the uptake in Scotland of UK Government funding for the installation of electric car charging facilities.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: As detailed in the latest Programme for Government, in order to lead the way on electric vehicles, we plan to expand our electric vehicle charging infrastructure between now and 2022, whether in rural, urban or domestic settings. We will continue to build on …

15 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage local authorities in Scotland to use UK Government funding to install electric car charging facilities.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Transport Scotland supported the UK Government's Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) workshop in Edinburgh on 20th March, which aimed to encourage local authorities to use UK government funding to install electric car charging facilities. Transport Scotla…

15 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide funding for the remainder of the cost of electric car charging points, which are covered by up to 80% through UK Government funding.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: In addition to our own electric vehicle charge point initiatives, the Scottish Government already provides a maximum of £500 to cover the remaining costs of installing a home charger. We also support and encourage Scottish local authority uptake of the UK Gov…

13 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that NHS boards work in partnership with third sector organisations to reach hard-to-reach or marginalised people and groups that are affected by blood borne viruses.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The overarching purpose of the Sexual Health and Bloodborne Virus Framework is to strengthen and improve the way in which the NHS, the Third Sector and Local Authorities support and work with individuals at risk of poor sexual health or bloodborne viruses. Th…

13 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reduce barriers and stigma regarding (a) accessing prevention and (b) testing and treatment for HIV and blood borne viruses, particularly among hard-to-reach or marginalised people and groups.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government is funding a range of Third Sector organisations including Waverley Care and the Scottish Drugs Forum to challenge HIV and hepatitis C related stigma, promote good sexual health, tackle health inequalities and improve early access to t…

13 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many enterprises there are in Scotland, and what percentage is account-managed by Scottish Enterprise.

Answer · Keith Brown: Statistics on the number of enterprises operating in Scotland are included in the Businesses in Scotland 2017 publication, which is available on-line at: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Business/Corporate . The latest figures show that, as at M…