Parliamentary questions
Alison Johnstone
905 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
25 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the NHS estate is meeting the energy performance and emissions requirements set out at section 63 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The NHS estate is meeting the energy performance and emissions requirements set out at section 63 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009. Section 63 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 refers to the measurement of energy performance and emissions da…
25 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish House Condition Survey 2015.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS) is a National Statistics publication for Scotland and includes statistics on fuel poverty, energy efficiency, the condition of housing, the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) and other key descriptors of the oc…
11 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has examined the correlation between changes in applications for Scottish Welfare Fund Crisis Grants and the roll-out of universal credit and, if so, what its conclusions are.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government receives regular feedback from local authorities about the interactions between the Scottish Welfare Fund and reserved benefits and we are aware of the increased pressure on the Fund as a result of the UK Government’s welfare reforms, …
11 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has excluded research postgraduate courses, including research masters degrees, from its package of postgraduate student support announced on 19 December 2016, and whether it plans to include research masters degrees in future support packages.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The recently announced expansion of the existing support package for eligible taught postgraduate students was informed by an independent review, led by Professor Bryan McGregor of Aberdeen University, of Scottish Government support for taught postgraduate st…
22 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it assesses the status of wild pollinators.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Bumblebees, butterflies and moths are subject to regular, structured monitoring in Scotland. This monitoring is undertaken by the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Butterfly Conservation and the Light Trap Network (Rothamsted) respectively. Use is also made of t…
22 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will be providing funding to the UK Pollinator Monitoring and Research Partnership and, if so, how much.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: We are currently in discussions with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs regarding potential funding for this project. I will ensure that the Member is updated once a decision has been made.
22 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its pollinator strategy and action plan.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Pollinator Strategy for Scotland 2017–2026 and associated Implementation Plan are currently being finalised by SNH, in conjunction with key organisations linked to pollinator conservation. The objective is to have the Strategy and Implementation Plan publ…
13 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it anticipates the per-head spending will be on the (a) Work First Scotland and (b) Work Able Scotland programme, and how this compares to per-head spending on the same types of participants on the UK Work Programme and Work Choice schemes.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government are committed to delivering value for money within both the Work First Scotland and Work Able Scotland programmes. Actual spend per head on individuals engaging on both programmes will be based on a range of factors once both programm…
13 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers Work First Scotland to be a supported employment scheme.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government has committed to providing continuity of service for disabled people in the transition to devolved services in a transitional year from April 2017, and in advance of a full programme beginning in April 2018. To do that, on 6 September …
13 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what rights to support (a) Work First Scotland and (b) Work Able Scotland will have, and how these rights will be ensured.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Both Work First and Work Able have eligibility criteria, and key indicators and standards will determine the level of service every customer should receive, such as integrated skills and health support according to individual needs. These will be underpinned …
13 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what quality assurance processes will be in place to monitor the quality of support offered by the (a) Work First and (b) Work Able Scotland programme.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: For Work First Scotland (WFS) the Scottish Government have designed a robust performance management framework to ensure that key performance indicators (KPIs) are met, providing quality of support to all customer. Key products and tools have been developed to…
13 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what review it has carried out or plans on the impact of the introduction of personal independence payments on disabled people in Scotland who need support for costs associated with their disability.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Welfare Reform (Further Provision) (Scotland) Act 2012 places an obligation on Scottish Ministers to report annually to the Scottish Parliament until 2017 on the impact that the UK Welfare Reform Act 2012 is likely to have on the people of Scotland. These…
13 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many young people have (a) requested and (b) been provided with continuing care in each year since 2014, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Shona Robison: We do not yet have detailed information on the number of young people who have requested continuing care but I understand that initial uptake has been less than the anticipated 74 per annum. The entitlement to Continuing care came into force on 1 April 2015 s…
13 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on expanding Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) loans to cover masters degrees.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: I announced on the 19 December that from next academic year, we are making postgraduate study more affordable for students domiciled in Scotland by increasing the maximum level of available loan support to £10,000 and greatly widening the range of eligible ta…
17 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-03222 by Derek Mackay on 19 October 2016, in light of the cabinet secretary's comment that the government was "fully committed to working with all interested parties at local, national and UK level, including the trades unions, to mitigate the impac…
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work wrote to David Gauke, MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 27 October 2016 seeking a meeting to discuss HMRC’s transformation programme in detail and explore what can be done to mitigate its impact in Sc…
17 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether local, specialist services are best-placed to support women and children affected by domestic abuse.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government recognises and values the significant contribution that local, specialist services make to supporting women and children affected by domestic abuse. We are committed to working with Scottish Women's Aid, CoSLA and key partners to ensur…
17 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on moving to competitive tendering processes for specialist frontline services that support women and children affected by domestic abuse.
Answer · Angela Constance: It is for local authorities and partners to determine the most appropriate approach in ensuring that women and children affected by domestic abuse received the right support. Scottish Women's Aid and CoSLA are developing guidance for local authorities on the …
17 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce earmarked funding for the provision of local and specialist services to tackle domestic abuse to ensure that such support remains a budget priority.
Answer · Angela Constance: In 2016-17, the Scottish Government has invested in direct support for front line services through the Violence against Women and Girls (3.36 million) and Children Services (3.47 million) Funds. Details of the Budget for future years will be published in Dece…
17 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with local authorities regarding moving to competitive tendering processes for specialist frontline services that support women and children affected by domestic abuse.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government has not discussed this specific issue with local authorities. CoSLA are a co-partner in the Equally Safe strategy to prevent and eradicate all forms of violence against women and girls. In relation to the work they are taking forward w…
17 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it can provide to specialist frontline services that support women and children affected by domestic abuse that they will be protected from budget reductions.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government is committed to providing support for specialist services that support women and children affected by domestic abuse. We will continue to work with the third sector local authorities and partners to ensure that such support is provided.
7 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it is giving to measures to mitigate the impact of the UK Government's revised benefit cap.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-04563 on 16 November 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/parliamentarybusines…
7 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the UK Government's revised benefit cap on (a) poverty and (b) child poverty in Scotland.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government has serious concerns about the significant increase in the number of households affected by the revised benefit cap particularly since this is yet another cut from the UK Government which will impact hardest on low income families with…
3 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the use of a nature conservation order to end large-scale culls of mountain hare in national parks.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government is not planning to use Nature Conservation Orders (NCOs) for this purpose at present. If we are advised by Scottish Natural Heritage that culls are threatening the conservation status of mountain hare, then we will consider whether NCO…
3 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to end large-scale culls of mountain hare in national parks.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government recognises that mountain hares may need to be controlled for land management purposes, but is opposed to large-scale culls of the species. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is working with key stakeholders to improve transparency and un…
3 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to ensure that estates adhere to voluntary restraint on large culls of mountain hare, as called for by the joint position taken by Scottish Natural Heritage, the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust and Scottish Land and Estates on large-scale culls of mountain…
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Natural Heritage is working with key stakeholders to improve transparency and understanding about the reasons why some moorland managers continue to wish to cull mountain hares and the numbers involved. If evidence emerges that large-scale culls are…
3 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for species licences to use snares to capture mountain hare have been made since 2006; how many have been (a) granted and (b) revoked and for what reasons licences were not granted or revoked.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government received one application in 2006 and a further application in 2007 for a licence to snare mountain hares for the purpose of preventing the spread of disease (Louping ill). The applications were refused on the basis that there was insuf…
27 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will (a) produce a public health strategy to help NHS boards focus on preventing ill health and tackle health inequalities and (b) model the cost of implementing the National Clinical Strategy, as recommended in the Audit Scotland report, NHS in Scotland 2016.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government published the report of its Review of Public Health in February this year. That Review recommended the development of a public health strategy and a set of clear priorities for public health. The Government has accepted the recommendat…
26 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how its proposals for national and regional workforce planning will help to achieve parity between mental and physical health.
Answer · Shona Robison: Our plans to introduce a national and regional workforce planning system across the NHS in Scotland will help to deliver the vision set out in the National Clinical Strategy. The production of a national health workforce plan in 2017 will be the first step in…
26 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on university medical schools introducing more flexible admissions policies to encourage a more diverse cohort of undergraduates.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Places at Scottish medical schools are highly sought after and the selection process is very competitive with applications from well-qualified and highly motivated students. Whilst the Scottish Government sets the annual intake targets for medicine, as auton…
26 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendation by the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland, what progress it is making toward establishing a managed clinical network for perinatal mental health.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government accepts and welcomes the Mental Welfare Commission’s report, published on 8 September and its recommendation to establish a managed clinical network (MCN) for perinatal mental health. An application to establish a new MCN was last mont…