Parliamentary questions
Miles Briggs
4,209 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
5 Oct 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many patients have had an emergency presentation for cancer in each year since 1999.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: PHS collate data on Direct Cancer Referrals. This includes self, GP or NHS24 referral to A&E or other, where the signs and symptoms are consistent with the cancer diagnosed as per the Scottish Referral Guidelines. Data on these patients are only available fro…
5 Oct 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to unpaid carers after a bereavement.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government is taking forward a wide range of support for all bereaved people, including unpaid carers. This comprises our new Mind to Mind website set up in partnership with NHS Inform which includes a dedicated section on grief and bereavement w…
5 Oct 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of its Budget has been allocated to local government spending in each year since 1999.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government provides funding to Local Government annually through the Local Government settlement. This is made up of a combination of the general revenue grant, general capital grant, income from non-domestic rates as well as specific revenue and…
5 Oct 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had regarding its definition of homelessness.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government had not had any recent discussions about the definition of homelessness. A person is homeless under section 24 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 if (s)he has no accommodation in the UK or elsewhere which (s)he is entitled or permitted…
5 Oct 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with industry to inform the development of its new cancer strategy.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: We held a public consultation for the new cancer strategy from 12th April – 7th June. Anyone who wished to submit a response was welcome to through Citizens Space, this includes members of the public, professionals working with cancer services, and organisati…
5 Oct 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how its next cancer strategy and earlier diagnosis vision will address any health inequalities and promote equitable access to cancer services.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: As set out in our public consultation we are considering how to address health inequalities and promote equitable access to cancer services. We have outlined ‘reducing inequalities’ as one of our main aims in the consultation. With over 250 responses received…
27 Sep 2022 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates a conclusion to the Edinburgh Tram Inquiry.
22 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to housebuilding organisations in order to build net zero housing.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: Transforming our homes and buildings to be net zero carbon is one of the most important steps we can take to help end Scotland’s contribution to climate change and will require action from all of us. New homes currently delivered through the Affordable Housi…
22 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide any reskilling or training initiatives to train workers to install net zero heating mechanisms such as heat pumps.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: We recognise that installer skills for zero emissions heating systems and energy efficiency measures will need to scale up significantly to support the scale of ambition in our heat in buildings strategy. Since publishing our draft Heat in Buildings Strategy…
22 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to complete (a) property and (b) disclosure checks for properties and individuals hosting people through its Super Sponsor scheme.
Answer · Neil Gray: We are working closely with local authorities and COSLA to speed up the matching process and increase the numbers of displaced people moving into host accommodation. We are asking councils to ensure all private offers in their area have been subject to disclo…
20 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many (a) refugees and (b) asylum seekers who arrived in Scotland before 24 February 2022 are still in temporary accommodation.
Answer · Shona Robison: Asylum is reserved to the UK Parliament and handled by the Home Office. The Scottish Government does not have access to Home Office systems or hold data on individuals who are in the asylum system or who hold refugee status, which could be used to identify ho…
19 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people were screened for lung cancer in (a) 2019, (b) 2020 and (c) 2021.
Answer · Maree Todd: Prior to 29 September 2022, the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) did not recommend screening for lung cancer. Therefore, there is currently no lung screening programme in Scotland or indeed data on the number of people who have been screened for lung …
19 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out any analysis on the number of lung cancer cases that could be diagnosed sooner with a national screening programme.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government has not carried out any analysis on the number of lung cancer cases that could be diagnosed sooner with a national screening programme, but has kept up to date with emerging evidence that led to the UK National Screening Committee’s re…
19 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many properties have been registered for rental in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Landlord Register came into effect following the Antisocial Behaviour Act 2004, with associated monitoring information available from 2007. Local authorities are responsible for the administration and enforcement of landlord registration, and are the data…
19 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for a national lung cancer screening programme.
Answer · Maree Todd: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-10989 on 3 October 2022. 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-committe…
19 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has held with NHS boards to expand lung cancer screening.
Answer · Maree Todd: At present, and in line with previous UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) recommendations, there is no lung screening programme in Scotland to expand. I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-10989 on 3 October 2022, regarding the UK NSC’s recent…
16 Sep 2022 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out regarding the implementation and potential impact of short-term lets legislation.
8 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review access to regular scans for patients who have been treated for primary breast cancer.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Follow-up scans are agreed on a local basis. Women over 71 who have a history of breast cancer have the option to self-refer for screening. However, with the development of the Scottish Cancer Network we are working towards the development of clinical manage…
8 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what employability support is provided to help people with interview techniques and provide appropriate clothing for job interviews.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Whilst we continue to face economic challenges and a cost of living crisis the Scottish Government remains committed to investing in employability and training to help the economy recover. We are committed to transforming employment support to simplify the la…
8 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much has been raised by the Additional Dwelling Supplement in each year, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Tom Arthur: As the tax authority with responsibility for the collection and management of Scotland’s devolved taxes, Revenue Scotland publishes monthly and annual data on its website regarding the number of property conveyances and non-residential leases subject to the L…
8 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had regarding the development of a single UK-wide missing persons database.
Answer · Ash Regan: The Scottish Government has not held discussions about a single UK-wide missing persons database. Since 2016, Police Scotland has recorded detailed statistical information on their National Missing Persons Database (NMPD) of every missing person investigatio…
8 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many incidents of fraud committed against pensioners' households have been reported in each year since 1999.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government does not hold information on the number of reported fraud incidents committed against pensioner households. Some information is available from a 2018-19 study into police recorded fraud in Scotland, the findings of which were presented…
8 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the new flood risk management works funded by SEPA for the period 2022-2027, including the local authority areas in which the works are taking place.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: SEPA, as required by the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009, prepared Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMPs) for the period 2022-2028. These were approved by Scottish Ministers and published in January 2022. The FRMPs have been developed to ensure all eff…
8 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the process is for re-matching Ukrainian refugees from one household to another through the Super Sponsor scheme.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government recognises that there may be instances where a host relationship breaks down. Where a relationship breaks down, the displaced person can make contact with their local authority who will re-enter them to the matching process and find a …
8 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many Ukrainian refugees have been re-matched with different households through the Super Sponsor scheme.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government recognises that there may be instances where a host relationship breaks down. Where a relationship breaks down, it is the responsibility of local authorities to re-enter a displaced person into the matching process and find a suitable …
8 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it will take in (a) 2022 and (b) 2023 to support the social enterprise sector.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government’s Social Enterprise Strategy was launched in 2016 and sets out a wide-ranging, ambitious and long-term programme to develop the potential of Scotland's social enterprise sector. The latest Social Enterprise Action Plan was published o…
8 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it will take in (a) 2022 and (b) 2023 to tackle isolation.
Answer · Christina McKelvie: The Scottish Government recognises that Social Isolation and Loneliness is a public health issue, which has been exacerbated because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and will continue to be affected by the ongoing cost crisis. As part of the COVID response, £1 mill…
8 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to increase the single person's council tax discount from 25% to 35%.
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-09651 on 19 July 2022. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written…
6 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its review of housing for people with varying needs.
Answer · Shona Robison: We are continuing to work on the review of the Housing for Varying Needs design guide, including engagement with stakeholders, with a view to publishing a consultation on proposed updates to the guide before the end of the year.
6 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to small and medium-sized enterprises in order to build rural housing.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is committed to deliver 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, of which at least 70% will be available for social rent and 10% will be in our remote, rural and island communities. This is backed by £3.6bn funding available in this Parliamen…