Joan McAlpine

26 Oct 2015 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what correspondence the Scottish Government has had with the UK Government on its plans to reduce tax credits from April 2016.

30 Sep 2015 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with the inquiry into the historic abuse of children in care.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Historical Child Abuse Inquiry has been launched today (1 October 2015). I welcome the announcement by the Chair Susan O’Brien QC outlining the work that she and her team have already begun and how they will take this momentous inquiry forward. In partic…

30 Sep 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will next meet the head of Scotland's Rural College.

16 Sep 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to address the shortage of GPs.

25 Aug 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making with the commitment in the Dairy Action Plan to (a) work with local authorities to increase the consumption in schools of dairy products, (b) discuss with the Grocery Code Adjudicator how it can perform its role effectively in respect of the Scottish market and…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The local authority procurement organisation, Scotland Excel, has been asked to encourage support for the relevant Dairy Action Plan recommendations among its local authority members. In particular Scotland Excel was asked to contact all of the contracted dai…

17 Feb 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is encouraging evaluation of community involvement and volunteering focused on the experience of the individual and their health.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Evaluation of the personal outcomes and impact of projects is a vital part of the process. For example, projects funded by the Self Management IMPACT Fund have included robust evaluation throughout. Details of the learning from projects to date can be found a…

17 Feb 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers self-management and volunteering as important tools to address social isolation and loneliness.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Yes. There are a number of community-led projects, including those that have been funded by the self management fund, that focus on these issues. These include befriending services and support groups whose remit is to build confidence and promote self managem…

17 Feb 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting people to self-manage long-term conditions through community involvement and volunteering.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Self Management Network, run by the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland, brings together people to share learning about self management. Through this, innovative and exciting work around self management can be captured and spread, to improve people’s…

17 Feb 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting community-led organisations to encourage community involvement and volunteering as tools for self-management of long-term conditions.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government funds a range of initiatives to support work in this area. For example, the Self Management IMPACT Fund, administered by the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland, provides £2 million per year for third sector organisations and part…

17 Feb 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether community-led approaches to (a) self-management and (b) encouraging volunteering will be aims of the refreshed 2020 vision for health and social care.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government and NHS Scotland are committed to ensuring our healthcare system is able to adapt to the changing needs of the people of Scotland and is fit for the 21st century. That is why we are committed to our shared 2020 vision of everyone livin…

7 Jan 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of the new Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary.

5 Jan 2015 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the Shelter Scotland report finding that 25% of Scots fear that they cannot meet rent or mortgage bills.

16 Dec 2014 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its review of spectator safety at motor sport events, which was set up following the incidents at the 2014 Jim Clark Rally.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The review group on motor sport event safety began work in June 2014 following the tragic deaths of three people and injuries to several others at the Jim Clark Rally in 2014. A spectator had also been killed and another injured at the Highland Snowman Rally …

9 Dec 2014 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the recruitment of consultants in Scotland could be affected by any move to privatise NHS services in England.

3 Dec 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has developed a recruitment incentive package to equip and support smaller and microbusinesses to recruit and train more young people.

17 Nov 2014 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is on the development of energy storage technologies.

3 Nov 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the environmental impacts are of fracking and coalbed methane extraction.

27 Oct 2014 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Scottish Woodlot Association submission to The Smith Commission that full powers over forestry must be devolved. 

20 Oct 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the level of the single tier pension.

6 Oct 2014 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of the review into spectator safety at motor sport events following the deaths of three spectators at the Jim Clark Rally on 31 May 2014.

Answer · Shona Robison: The review group on motor sport event safety began work in June 2014 following the tragic deaths of three spectators and injuries to several others at the Jim Clark Rally this year. A spectator had also been killed and another injured at the Highland Snowman …

29 Sep 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what evaluation will be done of the work carried out by schools to help prepare 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in the referendum.

22 Sep 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what evidence it has of a link between the UK Government’s welfare policies and the increase in the number of people using foodbanks.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Trussell Trust reported that between April and June 2014 over 6,000 people used their Scottish foodbanks due to a benefit delay, 4,000 due to low income and 4,000 due to benefit changes. These statistics reflect the conclusions of the report we published…

18 Jun 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning last visited the Crichton Campus in Dumfries and what was discussed.

28 May 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the UK Government's decision to introduce fees for employment tribunals of £250 to register a case and a further £950 before it gets to a hearing.

19 May 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is considering to support turnout at local authority elections.

3 Apr 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there are plans to control or eradicate North American signal crayfish in (a) Lochrutton and (b) the Lochfoot Burn in Dumfriesshire. 

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I am advised by Scottish Natural Heritage that they have not yet identified an effective method for the eradication of North American signal crayfish in water bodies such as Lochrutton and the Lochfoot Burn, albeit this is an objective the Scottish Government…

25 Mar 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with relevant stakeholders regarding access to finance for small and medium-sized businesses.

5 Mar 2014 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made by the independent expert scientific panel on unconventional oil and gas.

25 Feb 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what benefits independence could bring to the forestry industry.

4 Dec 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the health and wellbeing impact is of income inequality.