Richard Lyle

12 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason sound-proofing barriers have not been installed as part of the M8 M73 M74 Improvement Plan near (a) the M74 and (b) residential houses.

Answer · Keith Brown: The environmental assessments undertaken as part of the development of the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements Project considered the change in traffic noise level expected as a result of the project and consequently any requirement for noise mitigation measures…

12 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason sound-proofing barriers have been installed as part of the M8 M73 M74 Improvement Plan at Maxim Park, Eurocentral; how much these cost, and what (a) consideration it made of the costs and (b) noise levels were recorded at the site prior to making the decision.

Answer · Keith Brown: For sound proof barrier, I also refer to the answer to question S5W-03724 on 2 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/pa…

10 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to ensure that NHS boards optimise the savings made from HCV discounted medicines in order to treat more patients.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government has established the Treatment and Therapies sub-group to provide Ministers with advice on the use of new highly effective therapies for hepatitis C. As a result of the sub-group’s advice the Government has committed to an elimination o…

5 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding was provided to each NHS board from the £6.6 million investment in the Scottish Vision Strategy; how much of this funding has been spent by each NHS board, and what was it spent on.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government recognises the huge part played by the Scottish Vision Strategy in developing eye care services across Scotland over the last few years. This strategy was created in partnership by a number of key stakeholders such as RNIB, Eyecare Sco…

26 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the support that energy supply companies offer to vulnerable customers in Scotland, as part of their Priority Services Register obligations, to help maintain the safety of (a) gas and (b) electrical appliances and installation at home.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The information requested is not held centrally. Ofgem, the energy regulator, maintain license conditions which electricity and gas suppliers must adhere to. Under license condition 26 suppliers must have a Priority Services Register (PSR) that offers specif…

26 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the online sale of counterfeit electrical goods.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government welcomes the work of bodies such as the Scottish Anti-Illicit Trade Group, Scottish Business Resilience Centre and Trading Standards Scotland in tackling the online sale of counterfeit electrical goods. The Scottish Government's Cyber …

26 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on collecting more detailed reporting of house fires, including details of housing tenure, to better inform the direction of home safety policy.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: In the Fire and Rescue Framework for Scotland 2016, Scottish Ministers require Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) to collect, produce and analyse data and other intelligence to promote the safety and well-being of communities. SFRS works with partners i…

26 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many children have been admitted to hospital as a result of being burned by an electrical product in each of the last five years, broken down by type of product.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: For annual totals of children admitted to hospital as a result of being burned by an electrical product over the last five years, the combined contact with hot household appliances (not necessarily electrical) and contact with hot heating appliances, radiator…

26 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it helps older people to live safely in their homes.

Answer · Shona Robison: Approximately 77,000 older people in Scotland benefit from the policy of Free Personal and Nursing Care which allows them to receive personal care at home without charge, and through the Social Care (Self-Directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013, we are embeddin…

26 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has carried out of (a) gas safety, (b) domestic electrical installation, (c) fire safety and (d) carbon monoxide safety in homes in the social-rented sector.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Social Landlords must ensure that their tenants’ homes meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) which includes under the section ‘must be healthy, safe and secure’ criteria on safe gas/oil system and appliances (element 46), safe electrical systems (…

26 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on introducing five-yearly electrical safety checks in homes in the social-rented sector.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The introduction of five-yearly electrical safety checks in the social rented sector will form part of wider Scottish Government discussions on a common housing quality standard, with a view to conducting a formal public consultation in 2017.

26 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action (a) it and (b) its agencies can take to reduce the number of house fires caused by electricity.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has a statutory duty to promote fire safety across Scotland. Additionally, in the Fire and Rescue Framework for Scotland 2016, Scottish Ministers require SFRS to fully contribute to improving the safety and well-bei…

26 Sep 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it is having with universities to encourage the study of medicine and general practice.

8 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications it has received in response to its invitation to prospective providers to submit proposals for expanded mid-market rented housing.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Mid-Market Rent Invitation closed on 29 July 2016 with Scottish Government receiving five proposals that are now being assessed.

29 Aug 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it and its agencies are taking to promote Eurocentral at Newhouse as a place for business and innovation.

20 Jul 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what contingency plans there are to deal with incidents that lead to traffic being brought to a standstill on stretches of the (a) A8 and (b) M8 that are being upgraded.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Scottish Roads Partnership (SRP), the contractor for the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements Project, has an emergency response plan in place that has been agreed with Transport Scotland. The plan details SRP’s response for various incidents that can occur on th…

20 Jul 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how Transport Scotland redirects traffic on the (a) A8 and (b) M8 following incidents that lead to lanes being blocked.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: When a situation arises that requires closure of part of the trunk road and motorway network, the relevant operating company implements the agreed standard incident diversion routes. These contingency routes are part of a clear strategy for all trunk roads an…

20 Jul 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the accident involving a lorry and the central reservation of the M8 on 19 July 2016 was handled; how many lanes were closed and for how long, and what action was taken by (a) Transport Scotland and (b) other departments to inform the public about the incident.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The incident on 19 July 2016 led to the closure of three lanes of the M8, two eastbound and one westbound, from 11:29 am to 8:23pm. Travel information was provided through the Transport Scotland and Traffic Scotland websites, variable message signs, media out…

20 Jun 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what issues were discussed at the first meeting of the Joint Ministerial Working Group on Welfare.

26 May 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support the PAMIS campaign, Changing Places Toilets.

19 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in developing guidance to assist licensing authorities that are considering funfair applications.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Scottish Government officials are engaging with stakeholders with a view to developing guidance to assist licensing authorities in their consideration of funfair applications. To that end, a meeting has been arranged with the Showmen’s Guild on 31 May 2016.

14 Mar 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the People and Communities Fund and how it supports community organisations.

9 Mar 2016 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what future financial support it will provide to people with hepatitis C or HIV as a result of infected NHS blood or blood products.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is accepting all of the key financial support recommendations in the final report of the Financial Review Group. The group involved a range of affected groups, both infected individuals and family members. They provided their recommend…

9 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support it will provide to people with hepatitis C or HIV as a result of infected NHS blood or blood products.

7 Mar 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it has done to protect the provision of speech and language therapy services.

2 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to consider innovative and flexible pricing schemes in light of the independent review of access to medicines by Dr Brian Montgomery.

Answer · Shona Robison: The option of flexible pricing of medicines has existed since the 2009 Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme. The Scottish Government does not have a role in considering applications for flexible pricing. The new medicines review will relate only to issues w…

2 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendation by NICE in relation to the use of nivoluma for advanced melanoma treatment for people in England and Wales, when the drug will be made available in Scotland.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) provides advice to NHSScotland on newly licensed medicines. The independence of SMC decisions on individual drugs is well established. The SMC publish their advice at: www.scottishmedicines.org.uk

29 Feb 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it considers the benefits to Scotland are of the UK's membership of the EU.

28 Feb 2016 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government has done to encourage people to access modern apprenticeships.

19 Jan 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements Project and its implementation.