Miles Briggs

18 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any implications for child protection issues and policy in Scotland, what assessment it has made of the Sara Sharif case.

Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: Sara Sharif experienced unimaginable abuse during her life and was murdered by someone she trusted. It is essential children and young people are protected from harm and the Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that robust child protection measures ar…

18 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been allocated to chronic pain services in its draft Budget 2025-26.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government’s role is to set the strategic policy for the NHS in Scotland and provide core funding to NHS boards. NHS boards have responsibility for deciding how to use this core funding to deliver services locally based on the needs of the …

18 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent on the Best Start Grant School Age Payment, and how many payments have been made, in each year since the payment was introduced, also broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Social Security Scotland routinely releases information on Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods including the number and value of payments.Since the introduction of Best Start Grant School Age Payment in June 2019, £34,086,106 has been paid to eligible…

18 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many kinship care payments have been made in each year since the national kinship care payment was agreed by local authorities.

Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally as local authorities are responsible for paying the Scottish Recommended Allowance for Foster and Kinship Carers.

18 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent on the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA), and how many pupils have received the EMA, in each year since the policy was introduced, also broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) statistics are published annually with latest data covering the 2022-23 academic year - https://www.gov.scot/publications/education-maintenance-allowances-2022-23/Information broken down by local authority area, back to 2…

18 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many children have been home-schooled in each year since 1999.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Scottish Government does not collect information on the number of children and young people home educated in Scotland.

11 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that young people with cancer are included in the delivery of the ambitions set out in the Cancer Strategy for Scotland 2023-2033.

Answer · Neil Gray: The ambitions set out in our Cancer Strategy 2023-2033 align with those of ‘The Collaborative and Compassionate Cancer Care - The Cancer Strategy for Children and Young People in Scotland 2021–2026’. This sets out Scottish Government’s…

11 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much unspent funding has been returned to it from other public bodies in each year since 1999.

Answer · Shona Robison: All public bodies sit within the Scottish Government budgeting boundary and public bodies underspend forms part of the overall Scottish Government financial position for each financial year. Individual public bodies may not spend their full allocated budget e…

11 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent on reading books in schools in each year since 1999, broken down by (a) local authority and (b) each (i) primary and (ii) secondary school.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Data on the amount local authorities spend on reading books is not collected centrally. The delivery of education is devolved to local authorities and funding is provided to local authorities via the “block grant”. Each local authority will have t…

11 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on delivering action (a) 1, (b) 4, (c) 5 and (d) 6 in its cancer strategy for children and young people 2021-26.

Answer · Neil Gray: Progress against all actions of the Collaborative and Compassionate Cancer Care The Cancer Strategy for Children and Young People in Scotland 2021–2026 continue to be taken forward by the Managed Service Network for Children and Young People with Cancer…

11 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many Protecting Vulnerable Group (PVG) checks have been undertaken for people working with young people in sport in each year since 1999.

Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: I have asked Gerard Hart, Chief Executive of Disclosure Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:YearPVG applications from sport/leisure organisations201110830201218909201329172201429147201535371201639675201746391201839515201933207202015165202125403202…

11 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it has provided to help develop free children’s libraries near primary schools.

Answer · Angus Robertson: Scotland has a network of 468 free public libraries and 37 mobile libraries which help to provide access to library provision for schools in rural areas or where there is no public library nearby.Additionally, the Scottish Government provides annual funding t…

11 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many librarians have been employed in schools in each year since 1999.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government publishes annual statistics on support staff in schools, including school library staff. From 2010-2016, figures were published as part of the Teacher census supplementary statistics - gov.scot. From 2017 onwards, figures on school lib…

11 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates work on the new Edinburgh eye hospital will commence.

Answer · Neil Gray: The 2025-26 draft budget provides £139 million additional investment for health infrastructure, allowing some work to resume on delivering new acute facilities, including the Princes Alexandra Eye Pavilion.NHS Lothian have been invited to progress the b…

11 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it estimates the new Edinburgh eye hospital will be completed.

Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-32247 on 18 December 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committ…

11 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to rejoin the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS).

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Scotland will take part in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) at two grade levels - P5 and S2 - and we have confirmed our participation with the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement, which admi…

11 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its current estimate is of the revised costs of upgrading the A720 Sheriffhall Roundabout.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government is committed to delivering the grade separation of Sheriffhall roundabout as part of its £300 million commitment to the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal.The latest scheme cost estimate, current at Quarter 4 2018…

11 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has given to Sustrans in each year since the organisation was established.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The following table represents funding Sustrans has received directly from the Scottish Government or Transport Scotland, and does not reflect any monies that Sustrans may have secured from indirectly. In future years Active Travel funding will be distributed…

3 Dec 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what resources are being allocated from the City and Regional Growth Deals to fund the A720 Sheriffhall Roundabout.

26 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what review it has undertaken of the number of sports coaches working with children who have not had full disclosure checks.

Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: I have asked Gerard Hart, Chief Executive of Disclosure Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:Membership of the PVG Scheme is available for an individual coaching or training children in sports. It is the responsibility of the recruiting organisatio…

26 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it plans to provide to third sector organisations to mitigate the financial impact of the increase in employer national insurance contributions, in light of reported concerns that many are already experiencing financial difficulties and facing the prospect of redundancies, o…

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: We are disappointed that the UK Government failed to engage with us on this change and are concerned about the additional pressure this decision places on third sector organisations across Scotland. It is not right that these organisations should be disadvant…

22 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what patient pathways have been developed for people diagnosed with fibromyalgia, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested.We are committed to ensuring that everyone living with fibromyalgia in Scotland is able to access clinically appropriate, safe, effective and person-centred healthcare, treatment and support.In N…

22 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve HIV education and awareness among mental health practitioners.

Answer · Jenni Minto: To support delivery of the HIV Transmission Elimination Delivery Plan the Scottish Government has allocated funding of £93,588 over three years to NHS Education for Scotland to develop education and training materials which will raise awareness, knowled…

22 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the cancer, clear cell carcinoma, in Scotland, and what support and treatment is provided to people with the condition.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Through our 10-year cancer strategy, the Scottish Government continues to focus on improving cancer survival rates and provide excellent and equitable care for all people facing cancer.As clear cell carcinoma is not confined to one organ, there is no single m…

22 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each local authority have reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in their buildings.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Although it is the statutory responsibility of local authorities to manage and maintain their school estate, Scottish Government and Scottish Futures Trust continue to engage with local authorities about Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC).In Septem…

22 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses have received funding for training from the Apprenticeship Levy in each year since the levy was introduced.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The UK Government Apprenticeship Levy is a reserved tax on employers which was implemented by the UK Government. Scotland receives a proportionate share of tax revenues via the block grant as per the Fiscal Framework agreement with UK Treasury.On 14 November …

22 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether HIV services in Scotland meet the British HIV Association psychological standards, and how it is addressing any gaps identified.

Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-31648 on 4 December 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-co…

22 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what advice has been provided to GPs regarding women who have been potentially exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES).

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government has not provided any advice to GPs regarding women who have been potentially exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES).The regulation for the licensing, safety and efficacy of medicines is reserved to the UK Government and is the responsibil…

22 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many children and young people have been placed in informal kinship care arrangements in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: The Scottish Government does not collect information on how many children and young people have been placed in informal kinship care arrangements in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority. We do, however, hold figures for the number of children …

22 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people living with HIV in Scotland are not engaging with care or specialist HIV services; what research it has conducted into the reasons for this, and what funding is available to support programmes that are aimed at their re-engagement.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The latest data on people living with HIV in Scotland and not attending for HIV treatment and care can be found in Public Health Scotland’s HIV in Scotland surveillance report, which is available at: https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/hiv-in…