Ross Thomson

16 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the standard of accommodation for workers employed on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route project.

Answer · Keith Brown: Aberdeen Roads Limited (ARL), the project contractor, has advised that the vast majority of the workforce has privately procured their own accommodation. ARL has also provided a small purpose built site-based accommodation area at Craibstone. This is a priva…

11 Jan 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will clarify what the Education and Skills secretary meant by "radical reform of Scotland's education system", following publication of the recent PISA results.

20 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to alleviate any negative impact to businesses in (a) North East Scotland and (b) the rest of the country arising from the increase in business taxes.

Answer · Derek Mackay: In my Draft Budget 2017-18 announcement to Parliament on 15 December I set out a comprehensive package of action in light of the revaluation to deliver a highly competitive business rates regime that will benefit businesses in the North East and across Scotla…

15 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the letter by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work to the Convener of the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee of 9 December 2016, for what reason Transport Scotland did not make public that the contractor advised it on 9 November 2016 that there would be…

Answer · Keith Brown: The Public Audit and Post-legislative Scrutiny Committee asked about the overall costs and timeline and officials confirmed that “we are where we expected to be on costs, and winter 2017 is still achievable for the overall programme”. Given that Transport Sco…

15 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what dates in the last 12 months (a) ministers and (b) officials met Transport Scotland regarding the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, broken down by attendees.

Answer · Keith Brown: Transport Scotland is part of the Scottish Government and meetings with Ministers occur regularly in the course of normal business. Transport Scotland Directors attend monthly meetings with Ministers to discuss issues including progress of major infrastructur…

15 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date (a) ministers and (b) officials were informed of recently-announced delays to the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and by whom.

Answer · Keith Brown: The project contractor advised Transport Scotland on the rescheduled plans for the opening of the Balmedie to Tipperty section of the project on 9 November 2016. Transport Scotland worked with the contractor to establish the facts of the situation, provide i…

1 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what incentives it is providing to fill long-term teacher vacancies in (a) Aberdeen City, (b) Aberdeenshire and (c) Angus.

Answer · John Swinney: Whether to offer incentives in order to recruit teachers is a decision for each local authority as their employer. The Scottish Government is supporting teacher recruitment by increasing student intake targets, by supporting the creation of new routes to teac…

1 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many teachers trained through the planned fast-tracked process are expected to work in the north east, and whether there will be an incentive for new recruits to work in (a) Aberdeen City, (b) Aberdeenshire and (c) Angus.

Answer · John Swinney: It is not yet possible to say how many teachers will work in each local authority. Given the expansion of distance learning routes we expect to see an increase in the number of students entering teacher education on the basis that they will ultimately work lo…

1 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many teacher vacancies in (a) Aberdeen City, (b) Aberdeenshire and (c) Angus are expected to be filled as a result of the £1 million allocation from the Attainment Scotland Fund to recruit new teachers.

Answer · John Swinney: We expect that at least 200 student teachers will be recruited through the new routes. However, the employment of teachers is a matter for local authorities and its not possible for the Scottish Government to determine how many vacancies in individual authori…

30 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the number of police hours that are spent handling offences by people under the age of 18 that involve (a) antisocial behaviour, (b) vandalism, (c) violence, (d) alcohol or (e) other domestic issues.

Answer · Michael Matheson: This information is not held by the Scottish Government. The deployment of police officers is the responsibility of the Chief Constable of Police Scotland.

30 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding local authorities provided for social services in each year since 2007-08, also expressed in real terms.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The information requested is in the following table: Local Authority Net Revenue Expenditure on Social Work, 2007-08 to 2014-15, £thousands £thousands 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 Cash term…

30 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it estimates local authorities will provide for social services in 2016-17.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Local authorities have set a net revenue budget of £3.09 billion for social work in 2016-17.

24 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported concerns of residents in Ellon regarding speeding and the potential for accidents on the section of the A948 that passes through the town and, in light of these, what its position is on reclassifying this section from a rural to an urban area road.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Every life lost on our roads is one too many and the recent tragic fatality on the A948 is a reminder that we still have a way to go before our vision of a Scotland where there are no deaths on Scotland’s roads is realised. This vision, set out in Scotland’s …

22 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it offers local authorities to introduce supported bus services where commercial network changes have left a social need for a service.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government provides local authorities with block funding through the local government finance settlement. For 2016-17 this amounts to over £10.3 billion with each local authority receiving a share of this total sum. It is the responsibility of …

17 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to (a) protect fathers' rights and (b) promote a greater recognition of shared parenting.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Scottish Government believes that both parents should be fully involved in their child's upbringing as long as that is in the interests of their child. Our National Parenting Strategy included several commitments to support fathers. To deliver on these …

17 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on developing an engagement strategy with Japan.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government is very pleased with the long and positive relationship we have built with Japan, which has been an important trading partner for Scotland for many years. As stated in the Programme for Government, published on 6 September 2016, we are…

17 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on promoting the teaching of the Japanese language in (a) schools, (b) colleges and (c) universities.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government recognises the value of language learning to young people and the opportunities it can open up for them as they make their way through learning and life. As stated in the Programme for Government, we are committed to strengthen and dee…

14 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether legislative reform is required to bring its mental health and incapacity legislation into line with human rights law.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Scottish mental health and incapacity legislation is based on rights and principles. The Scottish Government is working with partners including the Mental Welfare Commission, the Office of the Public Guardian and professional and human rights bodies to devel…

14 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the reported concerns that the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 does not require psychiatrists to use the capacity test approved by the European Court of Human Rights and that subsequently (a) patients are being deprived of their legal capaci…

Answer · Maureen Watt: As noted in the response to S5W-03040 on 30 September 2016, a patient’s capacity to consent to treatment is assessed by experienced, specialist clinicians subject to the safeguards in Part 16 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, and …

14 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether a mental health patient who has passed the recognised test of capacity has the right to refuse treatment.

Answer · Maureen Watt: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-04352 on 9 November 2016 and add that the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 sets out when and how people can be treated if they have a mental disorder. The Act is underpinned by a set of gu…

8 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been (a) charged with and (b) convicted of ill-treatment of a hospital patient with mental health problems in each of the last 10 years.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Information on subjects reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) with charges under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 Section 315 and Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984 S105(1)a & (3) is presented below.The nu…

8 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, when a person appeals to revoke a short-term detention in hospital certificate, for what reason a mental health tribunal is required to determine whether the conditions that led to the detention continue to be met.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The purpose of section 50 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 is to give the patient or the patient's named person the right to apply to the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland to revoke a short-term detention certificate or extensio…

8 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what factors (a) Police Scotland and (b) the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland take into account when deciding how to take forward complaints made by mental health patients alleging ill-treatment in hospital.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Any report of harm, ill-treatment or neglect by a person in a position of trust in hospital, or elsewhere, should be acted upon and passed to the relevant local authority’s health and social care services, as well as the police if criminality is suspected. A…

26 Oct 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people are in full- and part-time employment, and how this compares with 2007.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The latest official statistics, sourced from the Labour Force Survey and published by the Office for National Statistics on the 19 of October 2016 for June-August 2016 show that there were 1,905,000 people in full-time employment in Scotland, down 35,000 sinc…

25 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether a member of its Joint Housing Policy and Delivery Group (JHPDG) declared a conflict of interest with respect to their role as a company director in the private rented sector in relation to (a) a submission of 25 March 2015 as part of the JHPDG Draft Key Objections Suggestions Tab…

Answer · Kevin Stewart: (a) As explained in my answer to S5W-01782 on 24 August 2016, the Joint Housing Policy and Delivery Group includes representatives from 28 national housing related organisations. The Group offers Ministers advice on national strategic policy and delivery issu…

22 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it will give to the Aberdeen City Centre Masterplan.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government has a strong record of investment in Aberdeen and the North East of Scotland. Earlier this year the Scottish Government announced a £254 million infrastructure package for the North East on top of the commitment to provide 50:50 fundin…

21 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reports that people undergoing treatment for mental ill-health in hospitals are being ill-treated without any action being taken against the perpetrators, contrary to section 315 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, and what action it pla…

Answer · Maureen Watt: All patients receiving care or treatment are entitled to receive high-quality person-centred care in a safe setting, and the vast majority of mental health care and treatment across Scotland is provided with care and compassion. Section 315 of the Mental Heal…

21 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 does not contain a provision for appeal against a decision regarding incapacity, compared to the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000, which does contain such a provision.

Answer · Maureen Watt: There is not a test in the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 (“the 2003 Act”) which results in patients being deemed incapable generally. A patient’s capacity to consent to treatment is assessed by experienced, specialist clinicians subje…

21 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the test of capacity in the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 has reportedly not been approved by the European Court of Human Rights when the test in the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 has reportedly been approved by the court.

Answer · Maureen Watt: There is no formal test of capacity set out in the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 but in some circumstances different provisions and safeguards of the 2003 Act apply if the patient does not have capacity to make a certain decision in r…

21 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reports that the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland is failing to act impartially, and what action it plans to take on this issue.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Mental Health Tribunal Scotland is an independent organisation which reports to Scottish Ministers. The aim of the Tribunal is to provide a responsive, accessible, independent and impartial service when making decisions on the compulsory care and treatmen…