Parliamentary questions
Liam McArthur
3,646 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
30 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-01402 by Michael Matheson on 9 August 2016, whether it has reconsidered any aspect of its policy on armed policing since 12 July 2016.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-02233 on 28 September 2016 which is available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.
30 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-01402 by Michael Matheson on 9 August 2016, for what reason this did not address the matter of the remarks made on Radio Scotland on 12 July 2016.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Since 12 July 2016, the Scottish Government has received one representation from a member of the Scottish Parliament only. Senior officials from the Scottish Government meet regularly with senior officers to discuss a range of issues including armed policing.…
30 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-01402 by Michael Matheson on 9 August 2016, what steps are being taken to inform and engage the public regarding the use of armed police.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-02233 on 28 September 2016 which is available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx
30 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-01402 by Michael Matheson on 9 August 2016, for what reason the answer did not address steps to "inform and engage the public regarding the use of armed police."
Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-02233 on 28 September 2016 which is available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx
30 Aug 2016 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with SSE regarding the possibility of fibre being laid as part of planned work to upgrade sub-sea cabling in Orkney.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I recognise and welcome Mr McArthur’s sustained interest in this issue. Scottish Government officials have had preliminary discussions with SSE on this subject, with further talks planned in the coming weeks. I have asked to be kept updated on progress, and I…
29 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many freedom of information requests it is dealing with, and what percentage of these has not been answered within 20 working days of receipt.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The numbers of requests being dealt with by the Scottish Government vary from day to day as requests are received and answered. Information about the number of requests made to the Scottish Government, and how many were answered within 20 working days, is ava…
29 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of correspondence each (a) minister and (b) cabinet secretary received (i) since May 2016 and (ii) from January to April 2016 (A) has not been answered, (B) received a holding response only and (C) received an initial holding response before being responded to in full.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Cabinet Secretary/ Minister Correspondence Received between 1 May and 31 August 2016 Total added to MACCS Reply not yet issued (%) Interim Reply – no final reply issued (%) Interim Reply – Final reply issued (%) First Minister 2439 23.0 0.4 1.0 DFM…
26 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the special team set up by Police Scotland to examine the the implications of the EU Referendum vote (a) will report to Parliament and (b) will provide a timeline of its meetings and reports, and if so, when.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is aware that Police Scotland has established an EU Measures review team to consider the implications of the referendum result. The review team reports to the Chief Constable and the timing of its meetings and reports is a matter for P…
18 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been (a) charged, (b) prosecuted and (c) convicted in each year since 2010-11 for a suspected drug trafficking or drug supply offence.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Information on number of people charged is not held centrally. For information on number of people charged, I would refer the member to contact The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. The available information is shown in the following table. Perso…
16 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of all ministerial visits to (a) Orkney and (b) Shetland since May 2007.
Answer · Derek Mackay: All official Ministerial visits are published at: http://www.gov.scot/About/People/14944/Events-Engagements/MinisterialEngagements/MinisterialEngagements Visits from May 2016 onwards will be published shortly on: https://beta.gov.scot/
9 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-01347 by Annabelle Ewing on 2 August 2016, how much it allocated to the programmes and how this was spent.
Answer · Annabelle Ewing: Between 2013 to 2015 the Scottish Government provided £195,500 to Sacro. This funding was used to research and develop the Sacro Anti-Sectarian Service (SASS), a six module cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) programme to tackle sectarianism and to pilot a si…
9 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-01347 by Annabelle Ewing on 2 August 2016, what its position is on the number of people participating in the programmes, and what action it is taking to increase this.
Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The ability to refer those who have or who are likely to commit offences related to the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Act nationwide is still new and these schemes inevitably take time to prove their worth. The initial number …
9 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-01347 by Annabelle Ewing on 2 August 2016, what guidance it gives to stakeholders regarding referring people convicted under the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Act (Scotland) Act 2012 to the programmes.
Answer · Annabelle Ewing: As a condition of funding from the Scottish Government, we require Sacro to promote and provide guidance to potential referrers to ensure that awareness of these programmes is high. The scheme is designed for individuals accused of offensive behaviour at foo…
1 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what provision it has made regarding negotiations on the forthcoming Northern Isles ferry services contract in light of the Brexit vote.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: At present, the UK remains a Member State of the European Union. The Scottish Government's priority is to protect all of our interests, and we are considering all options to protect Scotland's relationship with Europe. At present, trade and business should co…
1 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the potential impact of the Brexit vote on the next Northern Isles ferry services contract tendering process and future such tendering exercises.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-01754 on 23 August 2016. 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…
1 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the next Northern Isles ferry services contract will be subject to EU state aid rules in light of the Brexit vote.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-01754 on 23 August 2016. 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…
25 Jul 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) black and minority ethnic and (b) gender pay gap was among its staff expressed in (i) percentage and (ii) real-terms prices in each year since 2011-12, broken down by (A) age and (B) directorate.
Answer · Derek Mackay: We remain committed to increasing the diversity of our people within the organisation and diversity and equality considerations continue to underpin all of our employment policies and practices. Ethnicity is self-declared by Scottish Government staff and has …
25 Jul 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average hourly earnings were of its (a) black and minority ethnic (BME), (b) non-BME, (c) male and (d) female employees in each year since 2011-12, broken down by (i) age and (ii) directorate.
Answer · Derek Mackay: We remain committed to increasing the diversity of our people within the organisation and diversity and equality considerations continue to underpin all of our employment policies and practices. Ethnicity is self-declared by Scottish Government staff and has …
25 Jul 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) black and minority ethnic (BME), (b) non-BME, (c) male and (d) female staff it has employed in each pay grade on 6 April in each year since 2011, broken down by (i) age and (ii) directorate.
Answer · Derek Mackay: We remain committed to increasing the diversity of our people within the organisation and diversity and equality considerations continue to underpin all of our employment policies and practices. Ethnicity is self-declared by Scottish Government staff and has …
14 Jul 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve the transfer of information regarding head injuries between A&E units and (a) police custody units and (b) prisons.
Answer · Shona Robison: When any patient attends A&E their electronic patient record in the hospital will be updated and upon discharge will receive a discharge letter outlining the treatment received. This will be the case for those transferring to police custody units and prisons…
12 Jul 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-00423 by Michael Matheson 16 June 2016, on what date it will announce its conclusion on the practical implications of introducing drug-driving limits in Scotland.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This is a very complex area with individual limits proposed for 17 different drug types. While no specific timescale has been set, we understand there is likely to be an evaluation of the new drug driving limits introduced in England and Wales that is due to …
12 Jul 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what operational disruption will be caused to ICT users as a result of the cancellation of the i6 contract between Police Scotland and Accenture.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-01428 on 27 July 2016. 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…
12 Jul 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact the cancellation of the i6 contract between Police Scotland and Accenture will have on (a) plans to reduce and detect crime and protect vulnerable people, (b) the restructuring and development of Police Scotland as a national police force, (c) plans to improve support for ope…
Answer · Michael Matheson: The information requested is a matter for the Scottish Police Authority. I have alerted the Chief Executive to your question and I have asked him to write to you.
12 Jul 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what budget implications there would be in implementing the recommendations in the National Prisoner Healthcare Network final report, Brain Injury and Offending.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: It is the role of the Scottish Government to provide policies, frameworks and resources to NHS Boards so they can deliver services that meet the needs of their local populations. The actual provision of healthcare services, including in prisons, is the respon…
12 Jul 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the recommendation in the National Prisoner Healthcare Network final report, Brain Injury and Offending, that a single question about brain injury is added to the NHS (Vision) interview in prison reception.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government welcomes the recommendation to add a single question regarding brain injury to the NHS Vision interview tool.
12 Jul 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of brain injury on the life of prisoners.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Prison Service and NHS Boards are carrying out a study to seek to identify the prevalence of head injury in prisoners in Scotland. A second study, beginning later this year, will investigate the usefulness of two screening tools, which will be pi…
12 Jul 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to develop a 6 to 8 bed low secure brain injury rehabilitation unit.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-01420 on 8 August 2016. 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…
12 Jul 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to implement preventative measures and psychological interventions for people with brain injury in (a) general and (b) offender populations.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: Where a person with a brain injury also has a mental illness, psychological therapy may be part of appropriate treatment. Whether someone is part of the offender population or not, NHS Boards are responsible for working with partners to provide mental health …
12 Jul 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the extent to which brain injuries should be taken into account as a mitigating factor in sentencing.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Sentencing in any given case is a matter for the court. They will take into account the full facts and circumstances of a case before deciding upon an appropriate sentence. This includes any relevant injuries or conditions affecting the offender. The Scottish…
12 Jul 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans there are for future training on head injury for prison NHS services and prisoners.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The National Prisoner Healthcare Network’s Brain Injury and Offending report recommendation to carry out a training needs analysis will be taken forward by the Network in collaboration with relevant organisations, such as the School of Forensic Mental Health,…