Miles Briggs

19 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many adverse incident reviews have been undertaken in (a) Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and (b) Adult Mental Health services in each year since 1999.

Answer · Maree Todd: This information is not held centrally.

19 Sep 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received any recommendations from the independent reporter to consider any outstanding objections to the development of the A720 Sherrifhall roundabout, in light of the public local inquiry, which took place at the beginning of February 2023.   

12 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in improving information gathering for psychological therapies waiting times, as set out on page 2 of its report, Psychological Therapies Waiting Times in NHS Scotland, which was published on 6 June 2023.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government published a new national Specification for Psychological Therapies (PT) and Interventions on 29 September 2023. This follows a two-year period of development working closely with partners, including the workforce, and other key stakeho…

11 Sep 2023 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to statistics reportedly showing that the number of complaints against Social Security Scotland has increased by 350% in one year.

11 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that commissioners of the Poverty and Inequality Commission have resigned from the body over a loss of confidence in the Commission’s chair.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The reasons for the Commissioners’ resignations are a matter of public record as set out in letters to the Social Justice and Social Security Committee. I am grateful to the Chair and Commissioners for their contributions to the Commission and thank them fo…

11 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that children do not remain in temporary accommodation for long time periods.

Answer · Paul McLennan: Part of the Temporary Accommodation Task and Finish Group’s remit was to consider ways to reduce the high number of children in temporary accommodation, some of whom are in temporary accommodation for long periods. In our response to the Temporary Accommodati…

7 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how much funding has been made available by NHS boards for hospices in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) NHS board and (b) hospice.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. The funding and commissioning of palliative and end of life care services, including hospices, is a matter for Integration Authorities using the integrated budgets under their control.  

7 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish a timeline for the development of its Palliative and End of Life Care Strategy.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is in the process of agreeing a timeline for the development of the Palliative Care Strategy with the Strategy Steering Group for Palliative Care, and will publish this once agreed.  

7 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it will allocate to the implementation and delivery of its Palliative and End of Life Care Strategy.

Answer · Jenni Minto: As part of the work to develop a new Palliative and End of Life Care Strategy, the Strategy Steering Group for Palliative Care will consider the financial implications of delivery.  

7 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the long-term rent controls proposed in its Programme for Government 2023-24 will apply to all housing sectors, or to specified sectors only.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: Our Programme for Government confirmed the intention to introduce a Housing Bill to deliver a New Deal for Tenants, including the introduction of long-term rent controls which will apply to homes rented privately.

7 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its progress towards the health and social care elements in its 2019 publication, 5G: strategy for Scotland, particularly those relating to the adoption of 5G in hospitals and care settings.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government’s 2019 5G Strategy included an action to develop a series of 5G use cases across several industrial sectors, including health and social care. The Scotland 5G Centre has led this work through their network of 5G Innovation Hubs and dev…

7 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its progress towards the publication of updated Planning Advice Note 62 guidance to support telecommunications providers in building both 4G and 5G infrastructure.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Guidance relating to digital communications infrastructure is currently being developed to replace Planning Advice Note 62. We intend to publish this updated guidance before the end of 2023.

7 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it plans to run a public consultation on its Palliative and End of Life Care Strategy.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government aims to publish a draft strategy for consultation in Spring 2024.  

7 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it estimates would have been raised by a social responsibility levy in each year since the introduction of minimum unit pricing, and whether it plans to introduce a social responsibility levy.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: While the Scottish Government keeps legislation under review, we have no current plans to introduce a social responsibility levy. There are no available estimates on the amount of funds that could be raised on the section 14 provision contained within The Al…

7 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will bring forward a new national funding framework for hospices, following its meeting with Hospice UK in March 2023.

Answer · Jenni Minto: I met with representatives of the hospice sector on 3 October to discuss funding and the development of a new framework. I have committed to holding a round table later this year to discuss the development of a framework with health and social care partners…

7 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what inspection programme is in place to review the quality of temporary accommodation.

Answer · Paul McLennan: As the legal duty to accommodate homeless households lies with local authorities, the responsibility for ensuring that the temporary accommodation provided meets the temporary accommodation standards framework rests with local authorities. These standards r…

7 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its target is for the number of affordable homes to be built in each local authority by 2040.

Answer · Paul McLennan: The Scottish Government’s target is to deliver 110,000 affordable homes by 2023, of which at least 70% will be available for social rent and 10% will be in our remote, rural and island communities. We do not have targets by local authority area.

7 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many children and young people are currently attending independent schools in each local authority area, also given as a percentage of all school-age children in each local authority area.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Local Authority Number of children in independent schools Number of children in publicly funded schools Total number of children in school Proportion of children in school that are in independent school Aberdeen City 1,522 24,260 25,782 6% Aberdee…

7 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date the next review of fire safety regulations in Scotland will commence.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: As referred to in answer to question S6W-21174 on 15 September 2023, the Scottish Government continue to keep the Fire (Scotland) Act (2005), related Fire Safety (Scotland) regulations (2006) and all relevant fire safety guidance under continuous review. All …

7 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the next review of fire safety regulations in Scotland will incorporate changes that are already in place in England and Wales.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government continues to keep the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, Fire Safety (Scotland) regulations 2006 and all relevant fire safety guidance under continuous review. The legislative regime relative to fire safety in Scotland is different to that in …

7 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the report by Shelter Scotland, Minoritised ethnic access to social housing in Scotland at key transition points.

Answer · Paul McLennan: We welcome the report by Shelter Scotland. The Scottish Government is committed to including ongoing consideration of what more can be done to improve outcomes for BAME people within social housing. Our Housing to 2040 strategy continues to provide the frame…

7 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any local authorities have yet to settle any equal pay claims, and, if so, which ones.

Answer · Tom Arthur: As pay negotiations are a matter for local authorities as the employer and trade unions representing the local government workforce, the Scottish Government has no role in negotiations in relation to equal pay claims. Whilst the Scottish Government remains c…

7 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any local authorities have expressed concerns to it regarding their future financial sustainability, and, if so, which ones.

Answer · Tom Arthur: Scottish Government Ministers and officials regularly meet with local politicians, council Chief Executives and Directors of Finance to discuss national priorities and local issues. In those meetings, in parallel with ongoing engagement with COSLA Leaders and…

7 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been raised by the single-use carrier bag charge in each year since its introduction.

Answer · Lorna Slater: This information is not held centrally. The Single Use Carrier Bags Charge (Scotland) Regulations 2014 (legislation.gov.uk) sets out the record-keeping requirements in respect of bags charged for. There is no requirement to report the data to a third party,…

7 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities its ministers have met with to discuss any concerns regarding their future financial sustainability.

Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-21182 on? 22 September 2023. 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-com…

7 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is currently providing to children’s hospices.

Answer · Jenni Minto: In 2021-22, the Scottish Government made a Programme for Government commitment to “ensure provision of high quality child palliative care, regardless of location, supported by sustainable funding of at least £7m per year through Children’s Hospices Across Sco…

4 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total value of any cash settlements awarded to defenders in any civil or criminal cases regarding Low Emission Zones has been to date.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: To date, there have been no cash settlements awarded to defenders in any civil or criminal cases regarding Low Emission Zones.

4 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many legal challenges have been brought to date regarding Edinburgh’s Low Emission Zone.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: There have been no legal challenges brought to date regarding Edinburgh’s Low Emission Zone.

4 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to resolve any formal legal challenges regarding Low Emission Zones that have been or may be brought, and what funds it has available to settle any decision against them.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: It is inappropriate to comment on live proceedings or speculate on any possible outcomes and how they will be managed. The Scottish Government’s response to any challenges to Scotland’s Low Emission Zones will be considered on a case by case basis.

15 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many complaints of antisocial behaviour in short-term let properties have been recorded in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Paul McLennan: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02253 on 2 September 2021. The Scottish Government does not hold information on the number of complaints of antisocial behaviour in short-term let properties, but Police Scotland continue to publish general rec…