Parliamentary questions
Graham Simpson
867 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
6 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S6W-12054 and S6W-12392 by Jenny Gilruth on 17 November 2022 and 6 December 2022, whether it has the power to extend the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service contract after its conclusion in September 2024, and for what reason it has not provided this inf…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Further to the answers to questions S6W-12054 and S6W-12392 we would reiterate that we are currently considering the most appropriate approach for continuity of these services and will provide further advice once our plans have been finalised.
2 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the recommendation in the 2016 report, Good College Governance, what plans it has to develop a national governance portal, and when any such plans will be published.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: At present, the Scottish Government has no immediate plans to develop a national governance portal, however, Scottish Government officials will work with the SFC, Colleges Scotland, regional strategic boards, trade unions, student associations, and the Colleg…
2 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the recommendation in the 2016 report, Good College Governance, what plans it has to review how best to ensure appropriate direct observation of college board meetings, and what new approaches any such review could consider.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: In his 2019 letter to the Education and Skills Committee, the Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science proposed to undertake the introducing of the ability for the SFC to attend the board meetings of assigned colleges. Given the recent re…
2 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the 2016 report, Good College Governance, what consideration it has given to the recommendation that appointing bodies should provide comprehensive information for prospective college board members.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-12954 on 20 December 2022. 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/parliamentarybusine…
2 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12775 by Jamie Hepburn on 1 December 2022, when an announcement will be made about the additional recommendations agreed by the college good governance task group.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: In 2016, the then Education Secretary’s Good Governance Task Group reported back on the lessons learned at Glasgow Clyde, North Glasgow and Coatbridge Colleges. The Task Group made a series of recommendations to improve governance in Scotland’s colleges. As …
2 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12775 by Jamie Hepburn on 1 December 2022, what plans it has to consult on a range of measures to remove college board members who are not governing effectively, and when any such consultation will be published.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: At present, the Scottish Government has no plans to consult on measures to remove college board members. I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-12954 on 20 December 2022. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliamen…
23 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many tree preservation orders Scottish Forestry or its predecessor, the Forestry Commission Scotland, have been notified of in each year since 2011.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: Scottish Forestry does not hold information on the numbers of tree preservation orders that they have been notified of. When assessing applications for tree felling Scottish Forestry checks for the presence TPOs using the Scottish Local Government Spatial Dat…
23 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many times the Scottish Ministers have been informed that a property factor has failed to comply with a property factor enforcement order in each of the last five years.
Answer · Keith Brown: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who will reply in writing within 20 days.
23 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many failures to comply with property factor enforcement orders have subsequently been complied with as a direct result of follow-up action taken by the Scottish Ministers in each of the last five years.
Answer · Keith Brown: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who will reply in writing within 20 days .
23 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many times the police have been informed that a property factor has failed to comply with a property factor enforcement order in each of the last five years.
Answer · Keith Brown: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who will reply in writing within 20 days.
23 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether work is underway to deliver on its commitment to produce an ancient woodland register.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: We are working closely with NatureScot and Scottish Forestry in exploring the best approach to developing a new National Register of Ancient Woodlands. A new National Register of Ancient Woodlands is part of a suite of initiatives that will be underpinned by …
23 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many failures to comply with property factor enforcement orders have subsequently been complied with as a direct result of follow-up action taken by the police in each of the last five years.
Answer · Keith Brown: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who will reply in writing within 20 days .
23 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many property factor enforcement orders have been issued by the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland in each of the last five years.
Answer · Keith Brown: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who will reply in writing within 20 days.
23 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish an ancient woodland register.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: We are working closely with NatureScot and Scottish Forestry in exploring the best approach to developing a new National Register of Ancient Woodlands, which will be published when that work is complete. A new National Register of Ancient Woodlands is part of…
23 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what enhancements to the Forestry Grant Scheme it plans to bring forward in order to improve the condition of ancient woodland.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Forestry Grant Scheme already provides an extensive package of support to help landowners improve the condition of ancient woodlands. This funding is available through the Woodland Improvement Grant Habitats and Species option. This offers capital grant s…
23 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many times the Scottish Ministers have used their powers to make tree preservation orders in each year since 2011.
Answer · Tom Arthur: Both Scottish Ministers and the planning authority have a duty to ensure, whenever appropriate, that in granting permission for any development adequate provision is made for the preservation or planting of trees. In addition, a planning authority or the Scot…
23 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many property factor enforcement orders have not been complied with in each of the last five years.
Answer · Keith Brown: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who will reply in writing within 20 days.
21 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6F-00752 by Nicola Sturgeon on 3 February 2022, what consultation had taken place with island communities on the issue of unbundling the ferry network before 3 February 2022, and what consultation has taken place since.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Further to the answer to S6W-12451 on 6 December 2022 - Consultation was carried out in developing the Ferries Plan 2012-2022, we continue to have regular engagement on general ferry issues with island communities and appropriate consultation with all relevan…
21 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6F-00752 by Nicola Sturgeon on 3 February 2022, what its position is on whether the decision to verbally rule out unbundling Scotland’s ferry network went against the regulations set out in the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 on consulting island communiti…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The current policy position regarding unbundling of Clyde & Hebrides Ferry Service network was clearly expressed by the First Minister in February 2022, and we have no plans to split up the network. Future ferries policy will be developed in accordance with a…
18 Nov 2022 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will consider providing insurance for MSPs, similar to the policies offered to MPs, including professional indemnity insurance.
Answer · Jackson Carlaw (on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body: The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body currently maintains the following types of insurance that extend to MSPs: Employers’ liabilityPublic / Products LiabilityTravel and personal injury There is currently no provision for Members in respect of profession…
17 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12054 by Jenny Gilruth on 17 November 2022, whether the Scottish Government has the power to extend the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service contract after its conclusion in September 2024, and for what reason it did not provide this information in its …
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Further to our response to S6W-12054, the Scottish Government has the power to operate lifeline ferry services and has been doing so through the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service contract since 2007. We are currently considering the most appropriate route for …
14 Nov 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is assisting delivery firms to decarbonise heavy goods vehicles.
13 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Minister for Transport (a) last met Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, and what issues were discussed and (b) will next meet Strathclyde Partnership for Transport.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I met with the Chair and Vice Chairs of SPT on 23 November 2022, during a visit to see progress on the Subway Modernisation programme. We discussed that programme, in addition to our mutual interest and shared desire to support the continued recovery of publi…
8 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-11710 by Jenny Gilruth on 8 November 2022, what actions and processes ScotRail has put in place to improve its arrangements for passengers requiring travel assistance.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: ScotRail and Network Rail teams have reinforced to staff the importance of passenger assistance adhering to the correct procedures when a passenger is being assisted onto or off a train. In the event there is no ticket examiner on board the train to deploy t…
8 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of GP practice patients are currently being seen by (a) GPs, (b) advanced nurse practitioners, (c) physiotherapists, (d) pharmacists, (e) occupational therapists, (f) link workers, (g) mental health nurses and (h) phlebotomists.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The data requested is not centrally held by the Scottish Government. The Scottish Government have commissioned Public Health Scotland (PHS) and National Services for Scotland (NSS) to undertake a programme of work to extract regular GP in hours activity data…
8 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is in favour of increasing the length of future Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service contracts beyond eight years.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The contract duration for future Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service contracts has yet to be determined, and will be informed by an evidence-led process including, consultation with key stakeholders; supplier engagement, and a review of international comparators…
8 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what power it has to extend the current Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service contract after its conclusion in September 2024; if it has the power, whether it plans to do so, and, if so, for how long.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is currently considering various options for the continuity of these lifeline ferry services to ensure that we continue to support the communities they serve. The services will be secured in accordance with all relevant legal provision…
8 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service contract, which is due to end in September 2024, will be retendered.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-12054 on 17 November 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-commit…
8 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will define what constitutes "a session" in general practice.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: While GP sessions have sometimes been defined for the purposes of various payments, there is no overall contractual definition of GP sessions. GP contract regulations require practices to ensure provision of services from Monday- Friday, 08:00 - 18.30. It is…
8 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what data it holds on the number of appointments currently offered per full-time equivalent GP, and how many of those appointments are (a) face-to-face, (b) video and (c) telephone appointments.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government does not hold data on the number of appointments offered per full time equivalent GP. Public Health Scotland (PHS) will publish data on activity levels in General Practice on 6 December 2022. This will include activity by encounter t…