Parliamentary questions
Liam McArthur
3,644 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
10 Jul 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will introduce road equivalent tariff on ferry routes across the Pentland Firth.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: As the member is aware, the implementation of our preferred ferry fares policy of Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) on Northern Isles ferry services has not yet been possible because of a State aid complaint that was made to the European Commission. The Scottish …
26 Jun 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it is making for the distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine should one be developed; what groups it has identified for priority distribution, and how it will ensure that people in island, remote and rural areas will have adequate access to the vaccine.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Access to a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccination is dependent on success in at least one of over 170 vaccine trials underway worldwide in terms of both development and manufacture. Vaccine availability in Scotland, and considerations about delivery and pri…
26 Jun 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it is making for the stockpiling of a COVID-19 vaccine should one be developed, and how it will ensure that communities in island, remote and rural areas will have adequate supplies of the vaccine.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-30268 on 16 July 2020. Procurement and storage arrangements for any COVID-19 vaccination will depend in part on which if any vaccine candidate(s) are identified as safe and effective. All answers to written par…
26 Jun 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-27593 by Maree Todd on 10 March 2020, what arrangements were made for the delivery of the service from 1 April 2020 onwards.
Answer · Maree Todd: An application for grant funding for delivery of the Intervention for Vulnerable Youth (IVY) service from April 2020 to March 2021 was submitted to the Scottish government by Kibble in December 2019. Further to this, a grant letter was issued to Kibble in Mar…
23 Jun 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish guidance on the safe use of toilet facilities for accommodation providers ahead of a possible reopening of the tourism sector on 15 July 2020.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government has released guidance on how public and customer toilets can open safely. This includes toilets in accommodation settings. We are reviewing current policy on an on-going basis taken into account the latest scientific and medical eviden…
18 Jun 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, following the reopening of the tourism sector, what action accommodation providers should take where a guest shows symptoms of COVID-19; what requirement there will be for (a) that guest and (b) other customers to prolong their stay in order to self-isolate and, if a pro-longed stay is …
Answer · Fergus Ewing: If a guest develops symptoms, they should book a test through NHS inform. People with symptoms must self-isolate along with everyone in their household. If the test is negative, everyone can end isolation. If positive, isolation should continue. If guests who…
18 Jun 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what health and safety guidance will be provided for accommodation providers ahead of the proposed reopening of the tourism sector on 15 July 2020, and by what date this will be published.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish Government sector guidance for tourism and hospitality, published on 18 June, has been developed in partnership with industry, unions and regulatory bodies. Businesses should refer to the ‘assessing risk’ section of the guidance for advice on managin…
16 Jun 2020 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on having a localised approach to COVID-19 testing and tracing.
15 Jun 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how road equivalent tariff (RET) is being applied to passengers and vehicles travelling on Serco Northlink services between Aberdeen, Kirkwall and Lerwick, and whether it will provide a breakdown of how any fare reductions have been applied.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: As the member will already be aware, from our previous interactions, it has not yet been possible to introduce RET on Northern Isles Ferry Services routes as planned for June 2018, due to an official State aid complaint made, by a commercial operator, to the …
9 Jun 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to ensure coordination across NHS board areas for setting up COVID-19-protected sites for cancer diagnostic and treatment services in hospitals.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government and NHS colleagues have been working hard to ensure that patients in, and who enter hospital for non-covid related treatment, remain as safe as possible. By utilising private sector capacity we ensuring that urgent cancer procedures a…
3 Jun 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what safeguards are in place for ensuring that the island impact assessment being carried out for Highlands and Islands Airports Limited's (HIAL) Air Traffic Management Strategy is conducted objectively.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Island Impact Assessment process that HIAL has engaged in thus far has been open and transparent and it is HIAL’s intention that this continues. This will extend to publishing all submissions and all relevant correspondence on the HIAL web site.
3 Jun 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what community groups are being consulted as part of the island impact assessment being carried out for Highlands and Islands Airports Limited's (HIAL) Air Traffic Management Strategy.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The consultation process for the island impact assessment is a matter for HIAL. The specifics of the individual island community groups has not yet been finalised by the consultant, but those involved will include representatives of the Island Authority areas…
3 Jun 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what process was in place for appointing the independent consultant carrying out the island impact assessment for Highlands and Islands Airports Limited's (HIAL) Air Traffic Management Strategy.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The appointment of a consultant to take forward development of the island impact assessment is a matter for HIAL. HIAL sought an economist who was familiar with the Islands and selected an individual who has worked for Orkney Islands Council, Shetland Islands…
28 May 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce so-called smarter shielding and, if so, how information regarding this will be communicated to the people affected.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: We understand that ‘smarter shielding’ is a term referred to in the UK Government’s Our Plan to Rebuild: The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy. We have today updated the advice to shielded people, along with setting out the future steps on shielding…
21 May 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish full details of any work that has been done to identify and mitigate any (a) privacy risks and (b) impacts on other human rights from digital contact tracing platforms, ahead of any national roll-out.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: As part of Scotland’s Test & Protect programme, digital tools play an important part. The Scottish Government takes the rights of the people of Scotland seriously and we have published a Privacy Statement covering how data is used across a range of different …
21 May 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how its contact tracing web tool will be accessible to people (a) with all levels of digital literacy, (b) who are visually impaired and (c) whose first language is not English but another that is widely spoken in Scotland.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government has a duty under the Equality Act 2010 to consider the impact of its policies and has commissioned NHS National Services Scotland and Public Health Scotland to carry out an Equality impact Assessment to gauge any disproportionate impac…
21 May 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what safeguards have been put in place to ensure the privacy of individuals taking part in contact tracing trials in Fife, Lanarkshire and the Highlands.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: We are undertaking data protection impact assessments for each element of the Test and Protect strategy. Due to the fast pace of the programme, we have designed a fast assessment template (https://www.informationgovernance.scot.nhs.uk/covid-19-rapid-data-prot…
21 May 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information has been provided to individuals taking part in the contact tracing trials in Fife, Lanarkshire and the Highlands regarding potential risks to privacy.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government takes the Data Protection rights of the people of Scotland seriously and is working closely with the Information Commissioners Office to ensure that our Test and Protect implementation meets privacy standards. We have published a priva…
29 Apr 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the business case for the Air Traffic Management Strategy will be reappraised in light of the current and anticipated future impact on air travel of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Good air connectivity will continue to be essential to support economic recovery in all parts of Scotland. That recovery will benefit from having more reliable and sustainable air services. The COVID-19 outbreak has not changed the fundamental reasons for mod…
29 Apr 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether all major costs for the Air Traffic Management Strategy will be deferred until after an island impact assessment is completed.
Answer · Michael Matheson: HIAL has commissioned an independent draft Islands Impact Assessment. As part of this process the independent consultant will be engaging with a range of stakeholders, in addition to the engagement already undertaken by HIAL, before finalising that document. …
29 Apr 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's external training budget has been in each of the last five financial years, and what the corresponding expenditure out-turn for external training has been in the same period.
Answer · Ash Denham: The provision of training for firefighters and decisions on whether training is provided in-house or by external providers is an operational matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Training is predominately provided by expert SFRS instructors at fire…
29 Apr 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many Scottish Fire and Rescue Service personnel have attended fire engineering courses in each of the last five calendar years.
Answer · Ash Denham: The provision of training for firefighters is an operational matter for SFRS. Training is predominately provided by expert SFRS instructors at fire-stations and designated training sites across Scotland. Specialists external providers are used when necessary …
29 Apr 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many fire engineering training courses are provided annually, broken down by the providing institution.
Answer · Ash Denham: The provision of training for firefighters is an operational matter for SFRS. Training is predominately provided by expert SFRS instructors at fire-stations and designated training sites across Scotland. Specialists external providers are used when necessary …
29 Apr 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce false fire alarm signals from premises owned or occupied by public sector organisations.
Answer · Ash Denham: The Scottish Government recognises the impact of Unwanted Fire Alarms (UFAS). These are a drain on Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) resources, cause disruption to businesses and can increase risk through unnecessary blue light mobilisations. This is wh…
24 Apr 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the construction of the new women's prison estate will be considered essential to allow it to proceed under the current restrictions, and whether any delays to its completion are expected as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Consistent with all major infrastructure projects across Scotland and in line with Scottish Government guidance, work on the construction of the new Women’s National Facility and the Community Custody Units has been temporarily ceased due to COVID-19. All cap…
6 Apr 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide regular updates during the COVID-19 outbreak on staff absences within (a) Police Scotland, (b) the Scottish Prison Service and (c) the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: We are discussing with justice partner organisations how best to publish data on levels of staff absence during the COVID-19 pandemic, and anticipate providing an update on this topic in the near future. At this stage, the position regarding staff absence in …
6 Apr 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has put in place to manage the shielding of people within the prison estate who it has advised should be during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: NHS partners have identified those in our care who, as a result of underlying conditions, are placed at greater risk from COVI…
6 Apr 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide regular updates on the prevalence of COVID-19 within the prison estate, and, if so, how often.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: Testing for COVID-19 is undertaken by local NHS Health Boards, responsible for the delivery of healthcare at Scotland’s prison…
6 Apr 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many prisoners are in the category of people who, in line with its advice, should be protected through shielding during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government does not hold information on the number of people in prison who require protection through shielding. Healthcare provision in prisons is the responsibility of local Health Boards and Integration Joint Boards. The NHS has identified pe…
11 Mar 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that a prisoner who was reportedly denied medication while in HMP Grampian is in line with the guidelines set out in the 2011 Memorandum of Understanding between the Scottish Prison Service and the NHS, and, if not, what its position is on the need for an updated and…
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government cannot comment on individual cases. The responsibility for healthcare services in prisons sits with Integration Joint Boards and NHS Boards. The Scottish Government established the Health and Social Care in Prisons Programme in 2017 t…