Parliamentary questions
Jenny Marra
379 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
29 May 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many inmates there have been in the prison estate in each year since 2006, and how this compares with prison capacity.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows: “The following table shows the average total design capacity across the SPS prison estate, and the average prisoner population, for ea…
29 May 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) serious and (b) other assaults there have been on Scottish Prison Service staff in each year since 2006.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: “The following tables illustrate the total number of prisoner on staff assaults since 2006 broken down by establishment and the nature of in…
29 May 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on nurses carrying out portering duties at NHS Tayside and how this might impact on patient care.
Answer · Shona Robison: It is for individual health boards to decide how best to deploy available resources to meet the healthcare needs of their local population, and we expect safe, effective and person-centred care to lie at the heart of all such decisions whatever the circumstan…
29 May 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether NHS Tayside has enough (a) nursing and (b) other staff in place to provide safe patient care.
Answer · Shona Robison: Scotland has led the UK in developing ground-breaking evidence based workload and workforce planning tools – covering 98% service areas. These tools help determine the right number of nurses depending on clinical needs of the patients and the particular speci…
29 May 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on staffing levels at NHS Tayside and the possible impact of this on patient safety.
Answer · Shona Robison: Patient safety continues to be the highest priority for the Scottish Government and NHS boards. We expect boards to ensure that their staffing levels provide patients with high quality and safe care at all times. Under this government, staffing levels in NHS…
29 May 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has been asked by NHS Tayside to provide additional support to address problems with staffing and recruitment and, if so, what action it has taken.
Answer · Shona Robison: Recruitment of staff is a matter for each NHSScotland board as an employer. NHSScotland boards are required to have the correct staff in place to meet the needs of the service and ensure high quality patient care. The Scottish Government works closely with bo…
29 May 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the report in the Evening Telegraph on 22 May 2015 that “the number of concerns raised by NHS [Tayside] workers over staffing levels is nearly 50 times higher than it was five years ago” and whether it will investigate this issue.
Answer · Shona Robison: Under this government, staffing levels in NHS Tayside have increased by 915.6 whole time equivalent, or 8.3% since September 2006. The Scottish Government is clear that it is right for any member of staff in NHS Scotland with concerns about any aspect of del…
30 Mar 2015 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there has been a reported 300% rise in the number of NHS patients treated in private hospitals.
26 Mar 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-24432 by Michael Matheson on 25 February 2015, what action the Lord Advocate takes to ensure that such prosecutions comply with article 8 of the EU directive.
Answer · Lesley Thomson: Full guidance is available for all Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service staff on how to deal with cases involving potential victims of human trafficking. This guidance outlines the process which must be followed which includes the referral of all of the…
26 Mar 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-24432 by Michael Matheson on 25 February 2015, how many times since April 2009 an accused person has been identified as a possible victim of human trafficking; how many "further inquiries" as set out by the guidance were instigated; how many of thes…
Answer · Lesley Thomson: The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service have considered a number of prosecutions in relation to seven different individuals who have been reported as victims of human trafficking. The National Lead Prosecutor for Human Trafficking made the final decisi…
26 Mar 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-24432 by Michael Matheson on 25 February 2015, whether it will publish the Lord Advocate’s guidance to prosecutors.
Answer · Lesley Thomson: The approach taken and the factors to be considered by all prosecutors in any case are outlined in the Prosecution Code which is published at: http://www.copfs.gov.uk/publications/prosecution-policy-and-guidance. In relation to victims of human trafficking …
26 Mar 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-24432 by Michael Matheson on 25 February 2015, for what reason the information is not held centrally.
Answer · Lesley Thomson: The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service central case management system does not hold information in a format which specifically identifies cases which involve victims of human trafficking. The information is recorded informally and further detail is pr…
11 Mar 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Live Active Exercise Referral Scheme is a national programme; whether there has been a reduction in funding for the scheme and, if so, on what basis and whether it has considered the impact on deprived areas; for what reason there has been a reduction in service in certain ar…
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: There are a number of exercise referral schemes in Scotland. There is no single national programme.
11 Mar 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether referrals to the Centre for Integrative Care in Glasgow have ceased and, if so, (a) for what reason and (b) what alternative provisions are being made for the centre’s service users.
Answer · Shona Robison: Individual NHS boards decide what services they make available locally, and what services they refer patients to, based on the needs of their resident population in line with national guidance.
2 Mar 2015 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to suspend the use of transvaginal mesh implants since the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing called for this on 17 June 2014.
23 Feb 2015 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to ensure that children and adolescents receive the mental health services that they need as quickly as possible.
17 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many deaths by suicide have been recorded in each of the last five years, also broken down by (a) age, (b) gender and (c) local authority area.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The information which has been requested can be found on the National Records of Scotland (http://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/vital-events/deaths/suicides) and Scottish Public Health Observatory (http://www.sco…
17 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many deaths by suicide have been recorded in psychiatric units in each of the last five years and how many have led to the holding of a fatal accident inquiry, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Every suicide is a tragedy that has a far reaching impact on family, friends and the community long after a person has died. The annual report of the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicides and Homicides by People with Mental Illness (July 2014) indicates…
17 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) psychiatric and (b) other consultant posts there are, and how many are (i) filled and (ii) vacant, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Shona Robison: Numbers of (a) psychiatric and (b) other consultant posts and how many are (i) filled and (ii) vacant, broken down by NHS boards, are detailed below. Table 1 provides details of the number of psychiatric consultant posts, including staff in post and vacancies…
11 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many suspected or confirmed survivors of trafficking have been (a) arrested, (b) charged and (c) reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service on suspicion of committing a crime in each year since April 2009; what the (i) offence and (ii) outcome was, also broken down by…
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government does not hold the requested information. In his letter of 21 January 2013 to the Convener of the European and External Relations Committee, the Lord Advocate explained the system which prosecutors must follow when it is identified tha…
11 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many cases raised with the NHSScotland Confidential Alert Line concerned A&E.
Answer · Shona Robison: There is no requirement for a caller to the National Confidential Alert Line to provide personal information such as their name or work location. This is to give confidence to callers who wish to raise their concerns confidentially. This information is theref…
11 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many calls the NHSScotland Confidential Alert Line has received, broken down by month.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government only receive information on the number of cases raised each month. However, each case could generate a number of calls relating to that same case. I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-24428 on 19 February 2015. All answers…
11 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many cases have been raised with the NHSScotland Confidential Alert Line, broken down by month.
Answer · Shona Robison: Since the launch of the NHSScotland Confidential Alert Line on 2 April 2013 to 31 January 2015, the latest date for which figures are available, there have been a total of 213 cases raised with the NHSScotland Confidential Alert Line from individuals who have…
9 Feb 2015 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Dundee City Council, Scottish Enterprise, Forth Ports and Decom North Sea about the opportunities in Dundee for decommissioning oil and gas facilities.
2 Feb 2015 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister when the Scottish Government will introduce its accident and emergency target to see 98% of patients within four hours.
29 Jan 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what dates the Task Force on Seven Day Services across the NHS has met since 14 October 2013.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-24234 on 4 February 2015. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamenta…
29 Jan 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Task Force on Seven Day Services across the NHS is scheduled to report.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-24234 on 4 February 2015. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamenta…
29 Jan 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what decision the Task Force on Seven Day Services across the NHS reached at its first meeting regarding how often it should meet.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-24234 on 4 February 2015. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamenta…
29 Jan 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what date the Task Force on Seven Day Services across the NHS last met.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Sustainability and Seven Day Services Task Force held their first meeting on 10 April 2014 and agreed to meet bi-monthly thereafter. Subsequent task force meetings were held on 12 June 2014, 13 August 2014 and 6 October 2014. The meeting scheduled for 10 …
12 Jan 2015 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government when a Community Justice Centre as recommended by the Commission on Women Offenders will open in Dundee, given that Dundee has the highest percentage of female problem drug use in Scotland.