Liam McArthur

17 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the current average waiting time is for cataract surgery across Scotland.

Answer · Neil Gray: The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.Public Health Scotland (PHS) uses the national waiting times datamart to collect electronic patient records covering the waits that patients experience waiting for treatment as an inpa…

12 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an updated timeline for the roll-out of body-worn cameras to all Police Scotland officers.

Answer · Angela Constance: The introduction of Body Worn Video is a priority for Police Scotland, and it is working to introduce it as soon as possible. The decision on how and when to roll out body-worn video is a matter for the Chief Constable with oversight provided by the Scottish …

11 Sep 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work to explore the feasibility of an islands scholarship to support higher education students studying in Scotland’s islands.

10 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-27210 by Angela Constance on 13 May 2024, whether two prisoners are ever required to share a cell against the recommendation of the Cell Sharing Risk Assessment.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:A Cell Sharing Risk Assessment (CSRA) is conducted on every occasion where two (or more) individuals are required to share one cell.A CS…

10 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-27210 byAngela Constance on 13 May 2024, on how many occasions two prisoners have beenrequired to share a cell against the recommendation of a Cell Sharing RiskAssessment, in each year since the introduction of the current Cell SharingRisk Assessmen…

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-29797 on 19 September 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are availabl…

3 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects the electrification of Intercity passenger routes between Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Inverness to be complete.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government is committed to decarbonising its passenger rail network and is continuing with the rolling programme of electrification as funding permits.This is set out in Transport Scotland’s Decarbonisation Action Plan, which is planned as …

3 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the implementation of the Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The route from Glasgow to Barrhead was electrified in December 2023. Electrification from Glasgow to East Kilbride is due to complete in December 2025. Plans to decarbonise the Fife Circle and Borders are in development.I refer the member to the answer to que…

3 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains committed to removing all diesel passenger trains from the Scottish network by 2035.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-27663 on 3 June 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-an…

28 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when data beyond 2021-22 will be made available on the Scottish Energy Statistics Hub.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Energy Statistics Hub is an interactive tool which compiles data from over 70 different sources with different time lags for each data source. The Hub currently contains data beyond 2021-22, such as renewable electricity projects within the plann…

27 Aug 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the development of its Green Industrial Strategy and its commitment to leverage up to £500 million over the next five years for Scotland's offshore wind supply chain.

22 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many air weapon licence applications made since 1 November 2016 have been (a) received, (b) processed, (c) approved and (d) rejected.

Answer · Angela Constance: Air Weapons licensing statistics are published by Police Scotland annually. Most recent statistics were published in August 2024 .A table has been provided below noting the number of Air Weapons Licence applications made since 1 November 2016 including the nu…

16 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on (a) its engagement with the UK Government regarding the banning of plastic waste exports to non-OECD countries and (b) action it is taking to reduce the volume of waste exported from Scotland.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that we are able to manage more of our own waste within Scotland both for environmental and economic aims. As part of this, Scottish Government officials and Defra continue to engage regularly on matters regard…

19 Jun 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the delivery of 1,140 hours of funded childcare in Orkney, in light of the specific challenges faced by island authorities in meeting this requirement.

17 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many fatal accident inquiries are currently outstanding.

Answer · Dorothy Bain: As of 19 June 2024, there are scheduled court dates for 45 Fatal Accident Inquiries where proceedings have been initiated (relating to 26 mandatory and 19 discretionary FAIs). There are also a further 14 Inquiries in which evidence has been concluded and the …

17 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many fatal accident inquiries it expects the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to complete in 2024.

Answer · Dorothy Bain: A Fatal Accident Inquiry is concluded when the presiding Sheriff issues their Determination. COPFS has limited control over the timescale for commencing and concluding a FAI after the First Notice has been lodged. It is not possible to provide an accurate es…

12 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on expected timescales for its Heat transition: public engagement strategic framework, which was published on 13 December 2023.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Framework sets out a longer-term approach on how we will engage with homeowners, tenants and landlords over the next decade. In addition, we have outlined a number of shorter-term actions over the next three years to help build a strong foundation of publ…

12 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the appointment of members to the proposed Strategic Public Engagement Delivery Partnership as set out in its Heat transition: public engagement strategic framework, which was published on 13 December 2023.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Development of the Partnership is progressing, with work on-going to identify membership from a wide range of organisations from across the Public, Private and Third Sector. As outlined in the Heat in Building’s Public Engagement Strategic Framework, we have …

12 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will involve (a) industry and (b) key stakeholders in the design of policies, as set out in its Heat transition: public engagement strategic framework, published on 13 December 2023.

Answer · Gillian Martin: We already work with a range of stakeholders to design heat in buildings policies. The Scottish Government has established a number of expert groups including the Green Heat Finance Taskforce, EPC External Reference Group and the Strategic Advisory Group, who…

12 Jun 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the potential link between agricultural support and rural depopulation.

29 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the 2018 GP contract, which moved vaccination services from the remit of GPs to NHS boards, means that emergency vaccinations for tetanus and other conditions can no longer be provided in GP surgeries.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The 2018 GP contract does not mean that emergency vaccinations for tetanus and other conditions can no longer be provided in GP surgeries. In 2017, as part of the commitment to reduce GP workload and refocus their role onto more complex care, the Scottish Go…

27 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding fatal accident inquiries, what the average length of time has been between the conclusion of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service investigation and the issuing of the determination by a sheriff, in each of the last five years.

Answer · Angela Constance: The information requested is not held by Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service or Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service.

27 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on how many days court business has included time dedicated to hearing fatal accident inquiries in each court in Scotland in each of the last five years.

Answer · Angela Constance:    Financial year Court 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 Aberdeen 4 22 41 4 0 Airdrie 0 0 0 0 0 Alloa 2 2 8 6 10 Ayr 4 13 14 4 0 Banff 0 9 6 2 0 Campbeltown 0 0 0 0 2 Dumbarton 0 5 2 3 0 Dumfries 2 8 …

27 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the effectiveness of the Inquiries into Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc. (Scotland) Act 2016, and what its position is on whether further changes might be needed. 

Answer · Angela Constance: The Lord Advocate is constitutionally responsible for the investigation of sudden, unexpected and suspicious deaths in Scotland. These functions are exercised independently of government. Parliament considered and modernised the law on FAIs in 2016 and there …

27 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-36131 by Maree Todd on 23 March 2021, what percentage of the 435 equity and excellence leads are in post; how many of the posts are vacant, and on what date all posts were filled, including to where the post-holder has since moved on.

Answer · Natalie Don: Snapshot figures of graduate level posts in early learning and childcare (ELC) are published annually in Summary Statistics for Schools in Scotland 2023. Data in the tables is gathered from centres (either local authority or partner provider centres) with chi…

22 May 2024 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on work to extend the application of Road Equivalent Tariff to Northern Isles ferry routes.

15 May 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any accessibility issues in relation to the inter-islands air service in Orkney and similar public service obligation operations in other island communities.

14 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-27215 by Angela Constance on 13 May 2024, whether it will provide a breakdown of the figures by (a) remand and (b) convicted population, also broken down by those aged (i) under 16, (ii) between 16 and 18 and (iii) between 19 and 21.

Answer · Angela Constance: On the morning of 6 May 2024 there were 192 people under the age of 21 held in the prison estate, and a further 96 aged 21. This population is broken down by index offence group, age group and legal status as defined in the question in the following table. T…

8 May 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its engagement with stakeholders in the legal sector regarding the provision of legal aid.

1 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many young people are currently housed in the prison estate, broken down by the category of offence for which they have been charged or convicted.

Answer · Angela Constance: On the morning of Monday 6th May 2024 there were 192 people under the age of 21 held in the prison estate. This population is broken down by index offence group in the following table. Where individuals in custody are accused or convicted of multiple offence…

1 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people are currently being held in Scotland's prison estate for non-violent offences, broken down by offence type.

Answer · Angela Constance: The prison population on the morning of 6 May 2024 was 8,203 in custody. Excluding people held for index offences in Group 1 (Non-Sexual Crimes of Violence) or where the index offence could not be classified or originated outwith Scotland, provides a populati…