Angus MacDonald

10 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider the role of electric vehicles as an energy storage mechanism in the integrated energy strategy that it plans to publish later in 2016.

Answer · Derek Mackay: On 15 March 2016, the Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism updated Parliament on the Scottish Government’s plans to develop a new energy strategy for Scotland. As part of the new approach, the Scottish Government will take a whole system view of the cha…

10 Mar 2016 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when its second land use strategy will be laid before the Parliament.

Answer · Aileen McLeod: Scotland’s Land Use Strategy 2016-2021 will be laid before the Parliament today (22 March 2016) setting out our priorities for the next five years. The accompanying consultation report sets out how the strategy benefitted from stakeholder input during the con…

7 Mar 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to provide guidance to teachers of religious, moral and philosophical studies on Islam and Islamaphobia.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: Through Education Scotland we provide support materials and resources which offer guidance to teachers on Islam and many other religions. These are available on the Education Scotland website. For example, Education Scotland has worked with the Muslim Council…

3 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many nursing staff there are in (a) NHS Forth Valley and (b) the rest of Scotland, and how this compares with 2007.

Answer · Shona Robison: We currently have the highest NHS staffing levels ever under this Government, with record numbers of nurses and midwives. The number (whole time equivalent) of nursing and midwifery staff for NHS Forth Valley, bands 1-4 and bands 5-9 as at 30 September 200…

3 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much VisitScotland has spent on promoting (a) the Falkirk district, (b) Forth Valley, (c) Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park and (d) Stirling in each year since 2011.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Since 2011, VisitScotland has spent considerable resources on promoting Falkirk, the Forth Valley, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park and Stirling. As the Forth Valley geographical area includes Clackmannanshire alongside Falkirk and Stirling Council…

2 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it promotes and supports credit unions in schools.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Credit Unions: Investing in our Future report was published on 10 February 2016. It outlined the findings of the government’s Credit Union Working Group established in 2014. The working group was set up to consider how best to promote the credit …

22 Feb 2016 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the next steps are in its ambition to create a more circular economy.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I am pleased to announce that the Scottish Government’s first circular economy strategy entitled Making Things Last – A Circular Economy Strategy for Scotland was published today (23 February 2016). The strategy will build on Scotland’s progress on its zero …

16 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of retirements and the reported increase in the number working part-time, how many GPs are being recruited by NHS Forth Valley.

Answer · Shona Robison: As independent contractors GP practices are responsible for managing the resource required to provide primary medical services to their patients including the number of GPs required to provide services to its registered patients. NHS Forth Valley, in respect …

5 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-04339 by Alex Neil on 20 May 2015 (Official Report, c. 6), what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the Human Rights Act 1998.

Answer · Alex Neil: I have recently written to Michael Gove, the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, to re-iterate our publicly-expressed opposition to repeal of the Human Rights Act and to make clear that it would be unacceptable for the UK Government to consult…

5 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding for service delivery it has introduced for the transitional period between the existing service providers for the In Care Survivors Service Scotland being replaced by the providers of the new broker model, and what consideration it has given to splitting the funding between …

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government has offered the current In Care Survivors Service Scotland (ICSSS) provider, Open Secret, grant funding of £100,000 for the financial year period of 1 October 2015 to 31 March 2016, which they have yet to accept. The Scottish Governme…

5 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which NHS boards have met the Childsmile Fluoride Varnish targets.

Answer · Maureen Watt: NHS boards were required by March 2014 to meet a target of 60% of children aged three years old and four years old receiving two or more fluoride varnish (FV) treatments in 2013-14 for all quintiles of deprivation. The target required a 60% achievement rat…

5 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it is giving to spraying (a) coal and (b) other vessels arriving from areas affected by the Zika virus.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Environmental health officers in local authorities have well-established procedures in place for monitoring risks to health at ports. Ships are subject to regular inspection for infectious and other hazards under the International Health Regulations. Health …

18 Jan 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Falkirk Council to discuss education matters.

11 Jan 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the refreshed infrastructure investment plan will help to tackle climate change.

27 Dec 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to renew the Help to Buy (Scotland) scheme.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Programme for Government, published on 1 September 2015, committed to spend £195 million pounds over the next three years on a new shared equity scheme to help around 6,500 households buy a new build home. The successor to the existing Help to Buy (Scotla…

16 Dec 2015 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it can provide regarding the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and Environment’s recent visit to the United States and Canada.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I travelled to Canada and the USA from 8 to 14 November 2015, where I undertook a series of meetings with key retailers, importers and government ministers primarily focussed on the promotion of Scotland’s food and drink. The visit was designed to support th…

9 Dec 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the European Commission regarding legislating to limit industrial trans fats in food.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has had no discussions with the European Commission regarding legislating to limit industrial trans fats (TFAs) in food. We are aware of the European Commission’s recent report to the European Parliament and European Council regarding…

7 Dec 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to ensuring that local authorities provide mental health support to pupils experiencing (a) stress and (b) depression during and in advance of exam periods.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) Act (Scotland) 2007 places a number of duties on local education authorities including ensuring that schools are health promoting. This includes promoting physical, social, mental and emotional wellbeing by support…

7 Dec 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle Islamophobia in schools.

Answer · Angela Constance: There is no place in Scotland for any sort of discrimination, prejudice or bullying in schools or elsewhere, and this includes Islamophobia. This government wants every child and young person in Scotland to grow up as respectful, responsible global citizens,…

7 Dec 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-28645 by Maureen Watt on 2 December 2015, whether it plans to increase the rate payable to opticians for carrying out sight tests.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of regular eye examinations to patients’ overall health and the essential role played by optometrists who deliver a quality level of eye care in the community, meeting the needs of a high number of patients an…

30 Nov 2015 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the road haulage industry regarding reported driver shortages.

24 Nov 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to raise sight test fees.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The current NHS eye examination was introduced in Scotland on 1 April 2006. This examination is free to all UK residents and those exempt from charges under the NHS (Charges for Overseas Visitors) (Scotland) Regulations 1989 who receive an NHS eye examination…

18 Nov 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of a Community Heartbeat Trust report suggesting that public access defibrillation is around 10 times more effective than cardiopulmonary resuscitation alone, whether it will (a) take action to increase the number of portable defibrillators in communities and (b) introduce trai…

Answer · Maureen Watt: Increasing the accessibility of public access defibrillators (PADs) is a key part of the Scottish Government’s goal to reduce the number of out of hospital cardiac deaths. On-going activities to increase access to PADs across Scotland are supported by our out…

18 Nov 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent communication it has had with NHS Forth Valley regarding GP shortages at Kersiebank Medical Practice in Grangemouth.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government keeps in regular contact with NHS Forth Valley about GP services. NHS Forth Valley is working with GPs to look at new and innovative ways to deliver services to patients in order to meet their healthcare needs.

10 Nov 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the reported shortage of HGV/LGV drivers in the (a) general haulage and (b) livestock haulage sector.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Road Haulage Association (RHA) is engaged with Skills Development Scotland (SDS) in exploring a range of options to address the driver shortage. This has included SDS presenting at RHA members' briefing events during National Lorry Week. SDS has a dedic…

30 Oct 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with upstream oil and gas producers regarding minimising methane emissions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector by 2020, as recommended by the International Energy Agency.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Gas flaring (and venting) on offshore oil and gas installations is regulated by the Oil and Gas Authority, which is committed to eliminating all unnecessary or wasteful flaring and venting of gas. Emissions occurring from offshore oil and gas exploration and…

29 Oct 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many carbon storage permits it has issued for the North Sea region.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change is the licensing authority for offshore storage except within the territorial sea adjacent to Scotland, for which Scottish ministers authorise. In order to undertake a CO2 storage project on the continenta…

28 Oct 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding An Comunn Gàidhealach has received from (a) the Scottish Government and (b) Creative Scotland and its predecessor in each year since 2007.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The funding which An Comunn Gidhealach has received from the Scottish Government and Creative Scotland is listed in the following tables: Scottish Government 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 0 £1k £36k £31k…

21 Sep 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that its Infrastructure Investment Plan will help to deliver a low-carbon Scotland.

20 Sep 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21092 by Keith Brown on 27 May 2014, which (a) ports and (b) vessels in the CalMac fleet now have a wi-fi connection available to passengers.

Answer · Derek Mackay: At present, CalMac Ferries Ltd provides public wi-fi on the Wemyss Bay to Rothesay route, which covers those two ports and the MV Argyle and MV Bute. The service has been available on this route since February 2015. The rollout of wi-fi across the Clyde and …