Liam McArthur

1 Aug 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the roles and settings included in the "other settings" category of the quarterly performance updates for action 15 of the mental health strategy.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: In respect of other settings and through the quarterly reporting templates agreed with Integration Authorities (IAs), we have specifically asked what recruitment is being undertaken, the roles involved and where exactly the workers will be based. The level o…

31 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the report required by section 29 of the Inquiries into Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc. (Scotland) Act 2016.

31 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the final neurological conditions national action plan 2019-2024 will be published, in light of the consultation period on the draft plan ending in February 2019.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: We've been considering the consultation responses and engaging with stakeholders, and partners, to refine the National Action Plan on Neurological Conditions, which will be published in final form later this year.

25 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-19491 by Humza Yousaf on 15 November 2018, how many people in Orkney have accessed (a) Cyber Essential Scheme, (b) Take 5 To Stop Fraud, (c) Cyber Aware and (d) Get Safe Online resources in the last year, and how effective these resources have been.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. These initiatives aim to raise awareness of cybercrime and fraud, and provide advice to help people improve their online and telephone safety. I would encourage everyone to make the most of the resources…

25 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-19491 by Humza Yousaf on 15 November 2018, what progress it has made with Police Scotland to reduce the harm caused by online crime in Orkney since November 2018.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government supports the efforts of Police Scotland and partners to tackle fraud and cybercrime, and reduce the harm such crimes inflict upon communities across Scotland. The investigation of fraud and cybercrime is an operational matter for Polic…

8 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to prevent all types of microplastics in Scotland’s waters, including microbeads and secondary microplastics, from entering the food supply chain.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Microplastics are present nearly everywhere in modern life; in the air we breathe and in the water environment. They have been found in fish, shellfish, table salt, beer, honey and chicken, and have been intentionally used in goods such as toothpaste and chew…

8 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to tackle all types of microplastics in Scotland’s waters, including microbeads and secondary microplastics.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has taken action on primary microplastic pollution. In June 2018 we introduced legislation to ban the manufacture and sale of plastic microbeads in rinse-off personal care products which passed through water treatment systems and enter…

8 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action has been taken as part of its Marine Litter Strategy to tackle marine litter in Scotland’s waters by 2020.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The many actions under our Marine Litter Strategy, published in 2014, support our obligations for OSPAR and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive to achieve Good Environmental Status. These include; Strategic Direction 1 – Improve public and business attit…

5 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-22716 by Humza Yousaf on 16 May 2019, how many times it has met the SPFL in the last two years; what was discussed on each occasion, and whether the (a) agreement for confidentiality outlined in its answer and (b) data compiled by the SPFL on unacce…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: We meet the SPFL – and other stakeholders in Scottish football – regularly and therefore do not have a record of how many times we have met in the last two years. Unacceptable conduct – and the data provided by the SPFL in confidence – was discussed at a num…

5 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-22716 by Humza Yousaf on 16 May 2019, how many times it has (a) requested and (b) accessed the data compiled by the SPFL on unacceptable conduct in Scottish football.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Following the 2016 Scottish Cup Final, the SPFL agreed to our request to provide data on unacceptable conduct. To date, we have only received in confidence data for the 2017-18 season. We do not have a record of how many times this document has been accessed.

5 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-22716 by Humza Yousaf on 16 May 2019, whether there is a contract relating to the agreement detailed in its answer; which minister approved this agreement, and whether it will place a copy of it in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe).

Answer · Humza Yousaf: There is no contract.

5 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-22716 by Humza Yousaf on 16 May 2019, which other stakeholders have had access to the data compiled by the SPFL on unacceptable conduct in Scottish football.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The SPFL also shared the data – with the same conditions attached – with the Scottish FA and Police Scotland.

2 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-22506 by Fergus Ewing on 23 April 2019, what progress it has made toward plans for schoolchildren's farm visits, and by what date it will announce the details.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish Government plans to increase the number of farm visits and event opportunities for young people were announced at the Royal Highland Show on 21 June as part of the new Good Food Futures programme. The farm visits and events will be delivered in part…

28 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action has been taken to improve testing and treatment for Lyme disease and associated tick-borne diseases since June 2014.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government, through Health Protection Scotland (HPS) is committed to working with experts to keep evidence and guidance relating to the diagnosis, testing and treatment of Lyme disease under constant review to ensure patients in Scotland receive …

28 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many confirmed cases of Lyme disease there have been in each NHS board area since June 2014.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The table shows the number of laboratory confirmed cases of Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria which causes Lyme disease , reported to Health Protection Scotland (HPS) between June 2014 and May 2019. NHS Board Laboratory confirmed cases of Borrelia burgdorf…

26 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what dates the working group on internal ferry services in the Northern Isles has met over the last 12 months, and who chaired each meeting.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Working Group meets in Edinburgh on a monthly basis. The meetings are normally chaired by Michael Craigie (Shetlands Islands Council), in his capacity as lead officer for ZETRANS, however officials from both Orkney Islands Council and Transport Scotland …

26 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) improvements have been made to, (b) progress has been made with the purchase of new vessels for and (c) planning it has carried out for the future provision of internal ferry services in Orkney since September 2018, and what action it has taken over this period to ensure that th…

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Orkney Islands Council (OIC) are, and remain, wholly responsible for the inter-island ferry services which they provide. Consequently, OIC remain wholly responsible for the vessels and their maintenance. However, the Scottish Government understands the signi…

21 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to remediation projects in rural and island communities to help tackle fuel poverty and extreme fuel poverty.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Since 2013 we have provided support every year for a wide range of local projects to tackle fuel poverty and improve domestic energy efficiency delivered by councils as part of our Area Based Schemes (ABS). For example, the overall amount of ABS funding al…

21 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when its new fuel poverty strategy will come into effect, and what provisions will be included to tackle extreme fuel poverty in rural and island communities.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Once the new fuel poverty strategy has been prepared, it must be laid in draft before the Scottish Parliament. In the case of the first strategy, that will be done within one year of section 3 of the Bill coming into force. There is then a standstill period o…

19 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-21383 by Clare Haughey on 18 June 2019, whether it has any provisional projections of the proportional allocation in 2022, broken down by (a) A&E, (b) custody suite, (c) GP, (d) prison and (e) other setting, and whether it will place a copy of the d…

Answer · Clare Haughey: As advised within the answer to S5W-21383, we expect to have over 800 additional mental health workers within the key settings of this commitment by 2022. However it must be noted that the planning around workforce is evolving and can change for a variety of …

19 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-21383 by Clare Haughey on 18 June 2019, what the estimated timeline is, broken down by quarter, for it fulfilling the commitment in its mental health strategy to hire 800 additional mental health professionals, and whether it will place a copy of th…

Answer · Clare Haughey: As advised within the answer to S5W-21383, we expect to have over 800 additional mental health workers within the key settings of this commitment by 2022. However it should be noted that the planning around workforce is evolving and can change for a variety o…

19 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-20601 by Jeane Freeman on 7 January 2019, what data on waiting times and standards for people in prison has been published.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: People who are in prison are subject to the same waiting times standards as those in the community. Their waiting times are included in the figures published routinely by ISD Scotland, including the Treatment Time Guarantee, New Outpatient Standard and 18 Wee…

17 Jun 2019 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has reportedly agreed with the SPFL to keep information regarding the extent of sectarianism at football confidential, and whether it will publish this data.

17 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government in how many instances children have been used as covert human intelligence sources in Scotland in each of the last 10 years.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The authorisation of covert human intelligence sources, including any under 18 years of age, is an operational matter for the relevant public authorities. The Scottish Government has not authorised the use of any person under 18 years of age as a covert huma…

14 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it encourages probationer teachers to consider teaching in islands and rural communities.

Answer · John Swinney: Probationer teachers are allocated to local authorities through the Teacher Induction Scheme (TIS) primarily on the basis of student choice. The TIS includes a Preference Waiver Payment (PWP) system whereby students taking up this option waive their right to…

14 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what percentage of probationer teachers are to be allocated to island and rural communities in 2019-20.

Answer · John Swinney: A high proportion of local authorities have rural communities. The following table provides information on (a) how many and (b) what percentage of probationer teachers are allocated to each Local Authority for the 2019-20 Teacher Induction Scheme. Local Auth…

14 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in installing new mobile phone masts in Orkney under the 4G infill programme.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Our Scottish 4G Infill Programme is currently working to progress three mast locations in Orkney. These are located in the vicinity of Burray, Stromness and Hoy. At all three sites, planning consent and agreements with landowners are being sought by our deli…

10 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication in June 2018 of the report, Scottish greenhouse gas emissions 2016, whether it can provide a breakdown of which companies or other parties in each sector were responsible for the most emissions.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government does not hold company-level emissions data. The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) maintains records of emissions from individual installations in Scotland when these exceed reporting thresholds. These data are published i…

10 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-21383 by Clare Haughey on 21 February 2019, what the estimated timeline is, broken down by quarter, for it fulfilling the commitment in its Mental Health Strategy to hire 800 additional mental health professionals, and what it estimates the final pr…

Answer · Clare Haughey: We expect to have over 800 additional mental health workers within the key settings of this commitment by 2022. As part of the Reporting Framework with Integration Authorities, we receive quarterly updates from them which form the basis of the national updat…

5 Jun 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides for college students regarding fees encountered for starting a course and then withdrawing.