Parliamentary questions
Siobhan McMahon
301 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
20 Oct 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it helps young people with learning disabilities into employment.
8 Oct 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to (a) SFA Performance Schools and (b) the provision of 3G synthetic pitches.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government does not provide financial support or other support to SFA Performance Schools, either directly or through sportscotland. On the provision of 3G synthetic pitches, financial support is accessible from sportscotland through its Sport F…
29 Sep 2014 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met NHS Lanarkshire and what issues were discussed.
23 Sep 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on delivering a new railway station in Plains.
Answer · Keith Brown: The proposal to progress a railway station at Plains is being taken forward by North Lanarkshire Council with the involvement of Plains Community Council. Strathclyde Partnership for Transport have assisted with funds for a feasibility study, which was retur…
15 Sep 2014 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is committed to fairer pay for workers employed by private companies on public contracts.
20 Aug 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22314 by Michael Matheson on 20 August 2014, for what reason funding was reduced from £1,503,322 in 2011-12 to £439,773.50 in 2013-14.
Answer · Michael Matheson: There has been no reduction in the amount of Scottish Government funding made available to sensory impairment between 2011-12 and 2012-13. Rather, there has been a significant investment of £1 million for the implementation of See Hear, the national sensory i…
20 Aug 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what projects supporting deaf and hard of hearing adults and children it has funded in each of the last three years.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has funded the projects detailed in tables 1-3 for the years 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14, that assist deaf and hard of hearing adults and children. In addition the government allocated £1 million in each of the two years 2013-14 and 2…
8 Aug 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what projects it has funded to assist blind and partially sighted adults and children in each of the last three years.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has funded the projects detailed in Tables 1-3 for the years 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14, that assist blind and partially sighted adults and children. In addition the Government allocated £1 million in each of the two years 2013-14 an…
31 Jul 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what projects it has funded through its tackling sectarianism small grants programme since 1 November 2013, broken down by (a) group involved, (b) amount awarded and (c) local authority area.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government funds three small grant programmes to support work to tackle sectarianism. Support for all three small grants schemes forms part of our commitment to invest £9 million over three years to build our understanding of and deliver work to …
25 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what mechanism it has in place to monitor whether individual NHS boards are complying with the (a) Patient Rights (Treatment Time Guarantee) (Scotland) Regulations 2012 and (b) Patient Rights (Treatment Time Guarantee) (Scotland) Directions 2012.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government receives regular information from all boards around the delivery of the treatment time guarantee. ISD Scotland also publish quarterly information, not only on the delivery of the guarantee but also on the number and reasons of why pati…
11 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding is available specifically for mental health services for teenagers.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government sets national direction of policy on mental health and provides funding to agencies - including NHS boards and local authorities - to support implementation of policy. The management of local actions in implementing national policy, a…
11 Jun 2014 · SPCB Oral Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what security support and advice is available to members.
5 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether new rolling stock on ScotRail services will be configured to be operated by the guard.
Answer · Keith Brown: It is for bidders to propose rolling stock to meet the specifications of the ScotRail franchise invitation to tender (ITT). The ITT is available on the Transport Scotland website.
5 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with bidders in respect of guards on ScotRail services.
Answer · Keith Brown: The bidders have been made aware through presentations and at meetings of the content of the ScotRail franchise invitation to tender and the emphasis that the Government places on ensuring the safety and security of passengers and staff on our railway.
5 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether any bids received for the ScotRail franchise state that guards will be removed from ScotRail services.
Answer · Keith Brown: Under the terms of procurement exercise of the ScotRail franchise the content of any bid is commercially confidential, accordingly, I am precluded from commenting further on any matter relating to the bids.
5 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will support the retention of guards on ScotRail services.
Answer · Keith Brown: We take passenger safety and security seriously. That is exactly why the ScotRail invitation to tender (ITT) requires the franchisee to provide two members of staff for every service. In addition to the driver, the passenger facing member of staff will be req…
21 May 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has provided to update police technology in each of the last three years, broken down by division.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government does not hold information on the breakdown of funding provided to divisions for updating police technology. From 1 April 2013, the Scottish Police Authority has had overall responsibility for administering the budget for the Police Ser…
28 Apr 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether, in deciding its international development expenditure, it takes into account how developing countries balance meeting the needs and interests of business with those of people living in poverty.
14 Apr 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012 criminalises football supporters.
17 Mar 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of Skills Development Scotland and what issues were discussed.
10 Mar 2014 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in reviewing the operation of the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012.
18 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in providing specific support to grant-aided special schools.
Answer · Michael Russell: The seven grant-aided special schools in Scotland share total grant funding of £10.5 million in 2014-15. A workstream was established in September 2013 to provide support to grant-aided special schools to enable them to prepare for the implementation of a na…
18 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress the sub-group of the Advisory Group for Additional Support for Learning has made in the collection of data and measurement of outcomes for children and young people with additional support needs as set out in its response to the Strategic Review of Learning Provision for Ch…
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Advisory Group for Additional Support for Learning are scheduled to begin considering the issue of data collection and measurement of outcomes at the next meeting of the group to be held in April 2014; this is part of the Advisory Group’s two year workpla…
18 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on working with Enquire to develop an online map of information on specialist services that support children and young people with additional support needs and their families.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: Enquire has been working towards the delivery of this recommendation and the map will be complete and on their website for parents and practitioners ahead of the timescale of the end of 2014. Additionally, as part of their young people’s site Enquire has an o…
18 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its response to the Strategic Review of Learning Provision for Children and Young People with Complex Additional Support Needs (the Doran Review), what progress it has made with ensuring that the revised code of practice for additional support for learning is effective and w…
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government’s response to the Doran Review indicated that the Advisory Group for Additional Support for Learning would consider a review of the code of practice in relation to a number of recommendations of the review. The review of the code of pr…
18 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it has engaged with local authorities in their provision of resources under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004; what leadership it has provided; what direction it has given to (a) local authorities and (b) NHS boards to ensure that the transition to a…
Answer · Alasdair Allan: Funding for additional support in schools forms part of the block grant given to local authorities. It is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the total financial resources available to it on the basis of local needs and priorities having fi…
18 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its response to the Strategic Review of Learning Provision for Children and Young People with Complex Additional Support Needs (the Doran Review), what progress it has made on meeting the immediate needs of children and young people with additional support needs and their fa…
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Doran Review made a series of recommendations to support, over time, improved outcomes for children and young people with complex additional support needs. The Scottish Government is delivering against the recommendations through a range of work in partne…
18 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its response to the Strategic Review of Learning Provision for Children and Young People with Complex Additional Support Needs (the Doran Review), what progress it is making on ensuring that organisations that provide statutory services to children and young people publicise…
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government’s response to recommendation one of the Doran Review indicated that the code of practice would be reviewed in support of this recommendation. The Advisory Group for Additional Support for Learning would consider a review of the code o…
11 Feb 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning last met representatives of Universities Scotland.
5 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the possible impact on the viability of the Grangemouth petrochemical plant because of reported poor industrial relations.
Answer · John Swinney: As a result of the agreement reached at the end of last year, and continued collaboration of all parties involved we believe the site will become very competitive again. However, it is imperative that everyone works together to support the sustainability of t…