Edward Mountain

30 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the National Treatment Centre – Highland, whether a booking system is operational for all NHS boards to refer their (a) orthopaedic and (b) ophthalmic patients, and which NHS board is ultimately responsible for overseeing any such booking system; what mechanisms are currently …

Answer · Michael Matheson: There are currently no plans for a dedicated booking system for the referral of patients to the network of National Treatment Centres (NTCs). Through on-going engagement with NHS Boards, the Scottish Government’s Planned Care Team actively monitor speciality…

30 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide an estimate of how many veterans have used the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Partnership’s qualifications and skills mapping tool since its launch in February 2022.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) Partnership's military skills discovery tool formally launched in March 2023 after the completion of work to expand the number of military job roles within the tool as the result of feedback and testing …

30 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is cooperating with the UK Government’s review into welfare provision for veterans.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The independent review into UK Government welfare services for veterans is focused on the effectiveness and efficiency of reserved welfare services for Armed Forces veterans that are largely owned or funded by the Ministry of Defence. However, the Scottish Go…

30 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has provided any support to the Forces Families Jobs website.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government has worked with the Forces Families Federations to advertise our vacancies through the Forces Families Jobs website. The website is also promoted through our Welcome to Scotland guide as a route to employment for Service families.  

30 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its latest assessment is of the total number of veterans in Scotland.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The most recent estimate of the number of veterans of the UK Armed Forces resident in Scotland is 220,000, which was taken from the annual population survey conducted by the Office for National Statistics in 2017. Scotland's Census 2022 included for the first…

30 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made towards the goals set out in the joint policy paper between the UK, Scottish and Welsh governments, The strategy for our veterans.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government provides an annual update to Parliament on our support for veterans and the Armed Forces community in Scotland. This sets out progress made in delivering the commitments we have made in our Veterans Strategy Action Plan, which is focus…

30 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it next plans to meet with the Scottish Veterans Commissioner.

Answer · Graeme Dey: I was recently appointed as Minister for Veterans and will meet with the Scottish Veterans Commissioner as part of my programme of introductory meetings. Scottish Government officials have regular meetings with the Commissioner and her team.

30 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on Skills Development Scotland’s collaboration with the Ministry of Defence to support career transitions for veterans.

Answer · Graeme Dey: Following agreement of a memorandum of understanding between Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in March 2022, an action plan was agreed between SDS, MoD and the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) who deliver support to leave…

30 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many veterans have used and been encouraged to take up educational opportunities through the ADVANCE Network, previously known as the HE:FE Veterans Champions' Network.

Answer · Graeme Dey: Veterans are assets to our society and my ambition remains to make Scotland the destination of choice for Service leavers and their families, offering high living standards, great educational opportunities and a society that respects and values their contribu…

30 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses are signed up to, or have otherwise used, its toolkit aimed at encouraging businesses to proactively recruit and benefit from employing veterans, since its launch in March 2017.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government does not collect or hold information on the number of businesses that have used the Capitalising on Military Talent toolkit.

14 Mar 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will begin to set out its proposals for the NHS Scotland Infrastructure Investment Plan, post-2026, in relation to new-build hospitals.

6 Mar 2023 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent comments by the Chief Executive of CalMac, what action it is taking to prevent island residents being impacted by any reliability issues affecting their ferry services over the next two years.

21 Feb 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether all victims of crime are given notice in advance of their case going to court.

7 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13553 by Angus Robertson on 13 January 2023, when it anticipates the work will be completed.

Answer · Angus Robertson: Work on the Easy Read version of the third paper in the Building a New Scotland series is nearing completion and we expect the document will be published in due course.

25 Jan 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it will start publishing information collected via Scotland’s Census 2022.

22 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13303 by Angus Robertson on 16 December 2022, whether it will provide the full production costs, including staff costs.

Answer · Angus Robertson: On 16 Dec we published the costs associated with the third paper in the Building a New Scotland series. These costs do not yet include final Easy Read costs as the work to finalise and publish the document in this format is still underway. We will not know th…

22 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13389 by Patrick Harvie on 21 December 2022, what discussions it has had with the private rented sector regarding rent cap provisions under the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022, and whether it is its intention to expire the ren…

Answer · Patrick Harvie: Officials have met with various stakeholders representing the private rented sector including Propertymark, Scottish Association of Landlords, Chartered Institute of Housing, Scottish Land and Estates, Citizens Advice Scotland and Living Rent. Decisions on f…

20 Dec 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions have taken place with the Royal Household regarding the Coronation of His Majesty The King, in relation to events across the Highlands and Islands.

15 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when all six rural hospitals in Scotland each will have three general surgery consultants.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: While the Scottish Government provides the policies, frameworks and resources for high quality healthcare, it is for each NHS Board to decide best how to utilise funding, facilities and staff while taking account of national and local priorities to meet local…

7 Dec 2022 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the National Treatment Centre - Highland will be fully operational.

5 Dec 2022 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister how many single-crewed ambulances, responding to an emergency, have been deployed in the last six months.

29 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-10644 by Michael Matheson on 26 September 2022, whether it will provide an update on its consideration of whether the gross revenue from the option fees raised via the ScotWind leasing process should fall within the scope of the existing 9% agreemen…

Answer · Michael Matheson: We continue to engage with Crown Estate Scotland on this matter and consideration is ongoing. Timescales are dependent on the 2023-24 Budget process, which will not conclude until the 2023-24 Budget Bill is passed.

9 Nov 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when HMP Highland will become operational and whether it will accommodate female occupants.

1 Nov 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its proposed new Agriculture Bill will be introduced before 2024.

11 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what specific date it will announce the delivery timeline for the dualling of the A96 Inverness to Nairn (including Nairn Bypass) scheme.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: We continue to progress the preparation stages on the A96 Dualling Inverness to Nairn (including Nairn Bypass) scheme with a view to completing the statutory process. This includes the significant work required to prepare for publication of made Orders, inclu…

11 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total amount is that has been spent so far on the A96 Corridor Review, and what the project’s total budget is.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I can confirm that the total spent to date on the A96 Corridor Review is £2,121,858.42.

11 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what specific date it expects the A96 Corridor Review to publish its report.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Transport Scotland are conducting a transparent evidence – based review of the A96 corridor which will report by the end of this year.

5 Sep 2022 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can confirm whether Hull 801 will be delivered by May 2023 and Hull 802 by December 2023 and within the latest cost to complete budget of £123 million.

25 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to S6W-07993 by Michael Matheson on 26 April 2022, whether it will provide an update on whether Crown Estate Scotland will be permitted to keep and use for the Crown Estate 9% of the gross revenue from the option fees raised via the ScotWind leasing process.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Scottish Ministers are still considering how the ScotWind revenues should be invested to maximise the benefits for the people of Scotland. As part of these considerations, Scottish Ministers will continue to evaluate whether these revenues should fall within …

21 Jun 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what level of grant per property will be made available to assist homeowners to achieve an EPC rating of band C or better by 2025.