Liam McArthur

11 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will respond in full to the UK Climate Change Committee report, Reducing emissions in Scotland 2017 Progress Report to Parliament, and, in particular, to the claims that (a) the draft Climate Change Plan (CCP) “as it stands lacks credibility in meeting the emissions targets to 20…

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: A response to the recent Committee on Climate Change report on Scotland’s progress on reducing greenhouse gas emissions was laid in the Scottish Parliament on 12 October (laying number SG/2017/208). This makes clear that the Scottish Government will reflect c…

11 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to proposals in the RAC Foundation report, Ultra-Low-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure – What Can Be Done, and what steps it is taking to implement them, including raising the report with the UK Government and relevant stakeholders.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The RAC Foundation’s report, Ultra-Low-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure – What Can Be Done was published in September 2017, reflects many of the recommendations that already form part of our Switched on Scotland Action Plan. The RAC report refers to the need f…

11 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the UK Climate Change Committee recommendation in its report, Reducing emissions in Scotland - 2017 Report to Parliament, that the final version of the plan relies on low-carbon sources providing no more than 50% of heat by 2032.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: We are working through the Committee on Climate Change’s report, as well as the recommendations of Parliament and feedback from stakeholders as we finalise the Climate Change Plan, which we will publish early next year.

11 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what contingency measures it has in place should the 2018 National Care Home Contract negotiations are unsuccessful.

Answer · Shona Robison: The National Care Home Contract is negotiated annually between COSLA and care providers. If negotiations with regards to the National Care Home Contract are unsuccessful, it is expected that contracting for residential care would be negotiated at local level.

11 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that the National Care Home Contract recognises the complex clinical needs of residents.

Answer · Shona Robison: The National Care Home Contract is negotiated annually between COSLA, Scottish Care and CCPS. The Scottish Government is contributing to a range of work streams designed to reform and develop the National Care Home Contract, including in respect of workforce …

11 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects the National Care Home Contract for 2018 to be finalised.

Answer · Shona Robison: Negotiations with regards to the National Care Home Contract are taking place between local government and providers. We expect this to be finalised by March 2018.

11 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of international evidence that it understands demonstrates that access to stable, registered nurse staffing in care homes delivers positive care outcomes for residents as well as improved quality of life.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government, in collaboration with academic and other expert colleagues, is constantly reviewing research evidence to inform the development of evidence based policy in relation to nursing in the care home sector. Whilst the current UK and Interna…

11 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with independent care home providers about workforce issues.

Answer · Shona Robison: Scottish Government officials are in regular dialogue with providers and receive live updates regarding any current issues. Scottish Government officials also hold a National Workforce Planning Group. This is the main stakeholder group driving the health and …

11 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the number of places required in care homes over the next (a) 5, (b) 10 and (c) 15 years.

Answer · Shona Robison: Integration Authorities are responsible across Scotland for undertaking strategic needs assessments to inform their statutorily required strategic commissioning plans for their area. These plans are required to be prepared and reviewed on a 3 year rolling bas…

11 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the future workforce requirements of (a) registered nurses and (b) health care support workers in care homes.

Answer · Shona Robison: The National Health and Social Care Workforce Plan will strengthen and harmonise workforce planning practice, take full account of the future demand for safe and high quality services for Scotland’s people and help to more accurately identify and address gaps…

11 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the clinical care needs of people in care homes.

Answer · Shona Robison: Comprehensive assessments are undertaken prior to people being admitted to care homes and placed there by the relevant local authority/ integration authority. This incorporates a full needs assessment, including clinical needs, particularly for nursing care, …

11 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the National Care Home Contract.

Answer · Shona Robison: The National Care Home Contract defines the terms of local authority placements into private or voluntary sector homes. It is negotiated annually between COSLA, Scottish Care and CCPS.

11 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met COSLA to discuss the National Care Home Contract and what the outcome was.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government meets with COSLA regularly as part of a programme of reform of the National Care Home Contract. On 10 October meetings were held involving COSLA, Scottish Government and other stakeholders to discuss matters relating to the National Ca…

27 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many vehicles (a) there are in the ministerial car pool and (b) are allocated to (i) its and (ii) Transport Scotland's officials, also broken down by how many are electric.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Government Car Service (GCS) operates 24 vehicles of which 6 are hybrid vehicles (3 are plug-in). The Government Car Service in Scotland (GCS) provides transport for: members of the Scottish Cabinet and Ministers; Ministers of other UK Administrations wh…

27 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the recruitment process will be for the appointment of a new chief executive for NHS Orkney after the current postholder takes up a position with NHS Forth Valley; by what date the new chief executive will be in post, and whether it can confirm that the person appointed will carry o…

Answer · Shona Robison: The recruitment of a new Chief Executive is a matter for NHS Orkney as the employer. NHS Orkney is putting in place interim arrangements while proposals for the appointment of a new Chief Executive are developed.

26 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its investment has been in dermatology services in each of the last 10 years, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. The allocation of spend is determined by territorial Health Boards. The Scottish Government’s role is to provide policies, frameworks and resources to NHS Boards to allow them to deliver services that me…

15 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which NHS boards work in partnership to deliver dermatology care, and how this care is delivered.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is committed to making sure that everyone living in Scotland is able to access the best possible care and support. The provision of healthcare services is the responsibility of local NHS Boards. It is for NHS Boards and Integration A…

15 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many  a) consultant and (b) professional dermatologists are employed by each NHS board, also broken down by (i) how many positions have been vacant and (ii) the longest time each board has taken to fill a vacancy in the last 12 months.

Answer · Shona Robison: Information on how many (a) consultant dermatologists are employed in each NHSScotland Board is published by ISD Scotland and is available at the following web link:- https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/2017-09-05/Consultant_Staf…

11 Sep 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its response to the Barclay Review on non-domestic rates, how the continuing consideration of the valuation methodology for licensed premises will be carried out, and when this will be concluded.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The methodology for rating valuation of licensed premises is for the Scottish Assessors, who are appointed by local government and operate independently. In my statement responding to the Barclay review last week [Tuesday 12 September], I encouraged the sect…

5 Sep 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Orkney Islands Council.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Scottish Government Ministers and officials regularly meet representatives of all Scottish local authorities to discuss a wide range of issues as part of our commitment to work in partnership with local government to improve outcomes for the people of Scotlan…

4 Sep 2017 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will provide an update on the management of Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority.

30 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to Reform Scotland’s recent publication, Reforming Prison, and its recommendations to stop the use of short prison sentences of less than six months and to introduce a pilot scheme for putting landline phones in prisoners’ cells.

Answer · Michael Matheson: In the Programme for Government published on 5 September 2017 the Scottish Government committed to extend the legislative presumption against short periods of imprisonment from 3 months to 12 months. Extending the presumption sends a clear signal that short s…

29 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-10734 by Kevin Stewart on 28 August 2017, what action it has taken to embed the evidence referred to into the policy framework of national programmes, including Home Energy Efficiency Programmes (HEEPS).

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Health is well embedded within our current fuel poverty programmes as they are focused on vulnerable and low income households which tend to contain higher levels of elderly residents or those with a long term sickness and disability. As part of Scotland’s E…

29 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-10734 by Kevin Stewart on 28 August 2017, what discussions it has had with NHS Scotland to explore how the evidence and information referred to may impact NHS health strategies.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Fuel poverty is significant to the work of NHS Scotland as it is both a health and health inequalities issue. The Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum includes two representatives from NHS Scotland. One representing the Scottish Directors of Public Health and, the ot…

28 Aug 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will respond to the recommendations of the Barclay review of non-domestic rates.

24 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is committed to adopting an "out to in" approach to the delivery of its R100 project to provide high-speed broadband to every premises in Scotland by 2021.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has set out a commitment to extend superfast broadband access to every premise in Scotland by 2021, which will primarily benefit consumers in rural areas. Our overall delivery approach is currently being finalised, and we will set out …

22 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to raise awareness of the policy guidance that was issued by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service on 4 December 2014 regarding communications sent via social media.

Answer · Michael Matheson: It is a matter for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to consider what steps, if any, should be taken to raise public awareness of the content of guidance for prosecutors which it publishes. However, the Scottish Government recognises the importa…

22 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to promote the principle that crimes committed online should be taken as seriously as those committed in person.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government works closely with Police Scotland and a range of other stakeholders in relation to cybercrime and cyber resilience. The Policing 2026 Strategy developed by Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority recognises the emerging thr…

16 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4T-01155 by Fergus Ewing on 10 November 2015, whether the Saltire Prize Challenge committee has concluded its consideration of changes to the prize and, if so, what the outcome was.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to the answer to questions S5W-10805 and S5W-10806 on 8 September 2017. 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/parli…

16 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4T-01155 by Fergus Ewing on 10 November 2015, whether it will provide an update on the awarding of the Saltire Prize for marine renewables.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Saltire Prize is being redesigned to better reflect the circumstances of the wave and tidal sectors. The Saltire Prize Challenge Committee - the independent panel that oversees the Saltire Prize - has asked for an up-to-date analysis of the marine energ…