Parliamentary questions
Alison Johnstone
905 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
9 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5O-00981 by Angela Constance on 17 May 2017 (Official Report, c. 18), how the Scottish Social Security Agency will seek to maximise incomes.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: In recognition of the Scottish Government’s commitment to help maximise peoples’ incomes and encourage the take-up of all benefits to ensure that those who are eligible receive the benefits to which they are entitled, the Social Security (Scotland) Bill inclu…
9 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Social Security Agency's offices will offer childcare provision.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The detailed set up and facilities within the Social Security Agency’s offices have yet to be determined. We are at an early stage of understanding requirements and then specifying the layout of our buildings. There are a number of work streams associated wit…
9 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will report the findings of the social security experience panels.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Experience Panels research will be analysed and reported by Scottish Government researchers working on Social Security. The findings of Experience Panels research will be shared with Experience Panel members, and published as part of the Scottish Government’s…
9 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to how the findings by Sheffield Hallam University, which suggest that £800 million in benefit reductions in the UK will fall on households with dependent children between 2015 and 2020, will impact on its strategy to reduce child poverty.
Answer · Angela Constance: The report by Sheffield Hallam University, and the Scottish Government’s own report on the impacts of welfare reform published in June 2017, set out a concerning picture of the impacts of social security cuts imposed by successive UK Governments. The Scottis…
3 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) financial support and (b) non-financial support such as endorsements and training it has given to the Scottish Country Sports Tourism Group, including through VisitScotland and Scottish Natural Heritage, in each of the last three years.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: There is no Scottish Government funding given directly to the Scottish Country Sports Tourism Group. In December 2016 VisitScotland approved a grant of £17,925 to the Scottish Country Sports Tourism Group to promote Scotland as the destination of choice for a…
3 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on non-departmental government bodies endorsing large-scale killings of mountain hares in situations where there is an absence of evidence that this practice is sustainable and an absence of animal welfare standards.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government is not aware of any non-departmental public bodies endorsing large-scale killings of mountain hares. The Scottish Government does not support large-scale culls of mountain hares.
3 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is on large-scale recreational killing of mountain hares, in light of reports of one estate claiming to have shot up to 2,000 in the course of a season.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government recognises that mountain hare numbers need to be controlled in some circumstances but does not support large-scale culls.
26 Jun 2017 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that inpatient paediatric services are permanently available at St John’s Hospital in Livingston.
7 Jun 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people in prison have dementia; what support is given to people with dementia in prison, and, in light of an ageing population, what plans it has for the provision of support to people with dementia in prison in the future.
Answer · Maureen Watt: A report published in December 2016, commissioned from NHS National Services Scotland's Information Services Division by the Scottish Government, provides estimated and projected diagnosis rates for Dementia in Scotland 2014-2020 by Health Board area: http://…
7 Jun 2017 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to introducing legislation on the installation of CCTV in abattoirs.
30 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it made of the cost of each of the stage 2 options considered in the assessment for improvements to the Sheriffhall roundabout, and how these were calculated.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The total scheme cost estimates for each of the options considered are as follows; Option A £94.163m; Option B £87.325m; and Option C £90.318m. These estimates include VAT and are based on 2016 prices. Further details on the total scheme cost estimates for e…
30 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration was given to the views expressed by Sustrans Scotland on the stage 2 options for the improvements to the Sheriffhall roundabout.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Transport Scotland consulted and considered the views of Sustrans, alongside other stakeholders throughout the option assessment process. Whilst Sustrans considered Option C to be favoured specifically for active travel this option showed poor operational per…
30 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it gave to the recommendation by South East of Scotland Transport Partnership for a walking and cycling bridge to be included in the stage 2 options for improvements to the Sheriffhall roundabout.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: SEStrans favoured the Option B preferred option arrangement but highlighted that the ability to accommodate a segregated cycle link would be important. Suitable provision for all users, including cyclists, is an important part of the proposed scheme and thi…
30 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what rationale it used in selecting its preferred option at stage 2 of the assessment for improvements to the Sheriffhall roundabout.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Each route option was considered in terms of value for money and risk and ability to meet overall scheme objectives. When taking all of these factors into consideration Option B was assessed to be the preferred option. Further details on the options assessme…
30 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how its preferred option at stage 2 of the assessment for improvements to the Sheriffhall roundabout aligns with the “Hierarchy of Measures” set out by Transport Scotland in the report, Cycling by Design.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Suitable provision for all users, including cyclists, is an important part of the proposed improvements to Sheriffhall Roundabout. By allowing Edinburgh City Bypass traffic to pass over it will significantly reduce congestion and improve accessibility for all…
30 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its recommendation in the maternity and neonatal services review, what steps it has taken toward leading a detailed review of neonatal transport services.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: Scottish Ministers have appointed Jane Grant, Chief Executive of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, as Chair of the Implementation Board. The Board met for the first time on 9th June 2017 and will be taking forward the implementation of all of the recommendations…
30 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many nationals of other EU states (a) started and (b) left employment in the NHS in the latest year for which figures are available.
Answer · Shona Robison: As there has been no requirement to collect nationality data, information on the number of nationals of other EU states is not routinely collected by NHS Boards and is therefore not held centrally. However, data available from the Annual Population Survey es…
30 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made toward the compulsory fortification of flour with folic acid.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government maintains that the introduction of mandatory fortification of bread or flour with folic acid is a worthwhile step that would be beneficial to public health. As part of their remit, Food Standards Scotland (FSS) is currently consideri…
30 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent study by Queen's University Belfast, which suggested that almost half of baby rice food products contain illegal levels of inorganic arsenic, what action it can take to ensure that food products for infants and younger children are safe.
Answer · Shona Robison: I am advised by Food Standards Scotland (FSS) that there have been maximum limits for inorganic arsenic in rice for use in foods for infants and young children since January 2016. These limits were established through EU food law, and apply across all EU Memb…
30 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the Child Poverty Action Group, Poverty and Child Health, which suggested that over 40% of doctors that it surveyed had difficulty discharging children from hospital due to concerns about housing …
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to warm, safe, good quality housing and is taking this forward through a range of measures. The tolerable standard is the minimum standard for all living accommodation in buildings in …
30 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when its review of the money advice sector will be published.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is currently undertaking an internal strategic policy review of its support for advice services. The aim of the Review is to develop a coherent strategic policy framework for the Scottish Government’s support to advice services that di…
30 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce a nationally-recognised training route for money advice workers.
Answer · Keith Brown: A nationally recognised training route for money advice workers is currently in operation with courses and on-going consultancy support delivered by Money Advice Scotland and Citizens Advice Scotland. The training delivered under Wiseradviser Scotland has gai…
30 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent pilot schemes in Lothian and Dundee, what plans it has to co-locate money advice workers in GP surgeries, and how many advisers will be placed.
Answer · Shona Robison: The assessment of the pilot schemes on co-locating money advisers in GP surgeries has drawn some valuable conclusions. These will be used to inform the Scottish Government’s internal strategic policy review of its support for advice services. It is important …
24 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on having a centralised database of all people involved with the breeding and selling of animals.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish local authorities are the statutory regulatory bodies for licensing the breeding and sale of pet animals and keep records for their individual areas. The Scottish Government has no plan to duplicate that process by requiring a centralised database of…
24 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with trade bodies regarding its plans to update the regulations on the licensing of dog, cat and rabbit breeding and dealing.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has already held a number of meetings with stakeholders regarding the ongoing review of pet welfare. Representatives from the Pet Industry Federation, Pets at Home, The Kennel Club, The Scottish Kennel Club, General Council of the Cat …
10 May 2017 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will encourage the uptake of all of the devolved benefits to which people might be entitled.
18 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported concerns regarding animal welfare, what its position is on ending the sale of kittens and puppies in pet shops.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Pet Animals Act 1951 regulates the sale of puppies and kittens from pet shops. The potential benefit to animal welfare of prohibiting such sales is being considered as part of an ongoing review of pet welfare.
23 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will report on its review of legislation governing small landholdings under Section 124 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016, and whether it will provide details of the consultation it carried out.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: A review on the legislation governing small landholdings was laid before Parliament on 30 March 2017 and published on the Scottish Government website on 31 March 2017 http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2017/03/4234
17 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-04602 by Shona Robison on 21 November 2016, how the review that it has commissioned to review general practice funding, pay and expenses will be informed by the review of the Scottish allocation formula.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Review of the Scottish Allocation Formula highlighted that more evidence was needed to accurately inform new options for general practice funding. To this end, with the agreement of the BMA, we have commissioned a review of general practice funding, pay a…
17 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of the £60 million it allocated to support general practice will be given to practices in areas of high deprivation.
Answer · Shona Robison: The specific details of the Primary Care Fund are being determined at present, but it will include measures to build the primary care workforce, address GP workload, improve infrastructure and transform primary care. This will include investment in areas of h…