Neil Findlay

21 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported criticism of this model of financing from stakeholders, reports that other European nations no longer favour such an approach and issues such as the delay to the opening of the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in Edinburgh, for what reason the variou…

Answer · Derek Mackay: The constraints and tight limits on Scottish Government capital borrowing under the Fiscal Framework make revenue finance a necessity to build the infrastructure we need. Were broader borrowing powers available to the Scottish Government, as with the comparat…

21 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the implications are of using the mutual investment model for public projects, rather than direct borrowing.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The use of the Mutual Investment Model (MIM) will be kept within our self-imposed limit that revenue-financed investments will not exceed 5% of the Scottish Government resource budget (excluding social security). The model increases the range of financing too…

21 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether local authorities could benefit from direct borrowing for public projects, rather than financing them through public private partnerships.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Local authorities are entitled to use all resources available to them including their existing borrowing powers and support from the Scottish Government. It is however up to local authorities to decide how they wish to borrow and any commitments made by them …

21 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what research it has undertaken into problems associated with hernia mesh.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-27042 on 3 February 2020. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusines…

21 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what research the NHS has undertaken into the efficacy of hernia mesh.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Last year the Scottish Government asked the Scottish Health Technologies Group (SHTG) to undertake an assessment of the evidence on the use of surgical mesh for elective repair of primary inguinal hernia in male patients, comparing such repairs with those car…

21 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many patients have reported complications as a result of hernia mesh procedures in each NHS board in each of the last five years.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. As the member was informed in response to S5W-17809, on 11 September 2018, NHS Information Services Division (ISD) confirmed that routine health data records hernia operations, bladde…

20 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to reduce reliance on opioids and antidepressants.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government will shortly be publishing prescribing strategy best practice on use of opioids and a paper on antidepressants which will contain key information and advice on prescribing. Both will complement existing strategies, which are derived fr…

20 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action the NHS takes against companies suspected of using exaggerated claims to promote opioids and antidepressants.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The matter of licensing of medicines is reserved to the UK government. Should any new medicine receive a marketing authorisation (or license) then, in Scotland, we have a clear and consistent route for these licenced medicines to be appraised through the Scot…

20 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action the NHS is taking to reduce the number of people reliant on opioids and antidepressants.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: In 2018 the Scottish Government published the Polypharmacy Guidance and Quality Prescribing in Chronic Pain strategies, which promote a systematic holistic review of all patients on potentially high risk medicines. These aim to identify whether the risks outw…

20 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action the NHS is taking to advise people about the risks of addiction and overdose associated with opioids and antidepressants.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: While the use of opioid medications can be highly effective for a number of purposes, including managing severe pain, we are becoming increasingly aware that these type of drugs can be highly addictive, both through legitimate and illicit use. We are also sup…

20 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what research is being carried out on the impact of the use of opioids and antidepressants.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Chief Medical Officer for Scotland has convened a Short Life Working Group to examine the prescribing landscape in Scotland, looking at five classes of prescribed drugs which have the potential to cause addiction and withdrawal symptoms. This includes opi…

20 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which groups are on the Police Scotland list of terrorist organisations.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: A list of organisations proscribed by the Home Secretary as terrorist organisations under the Terrorism Act 2000 (the 2000 Act) is available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/proscribed-terror-groups-or-organisations--2. There are currently 75 organisat…

16 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the average class size has been in (a) P1 to P3, (b) P4 to P7, (c) S1 to S3 and (d) S4 to S6 in each of the last 10 years.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government does not collect information on class sizes in the secondary sector. Information on average class sizes for P1-P3 and P4-P7 is presented in Table 1.   Table 1 - average class size for P1-P3 pupils and P4-P7 pupils, 2010-2019 Year P…

16 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many pupils in (a) S1 to S3 and (b) S4 to S7 have been taught in class sizes of (i) fewer than 18, (ii) 19 to 25, (iii) 26 to 30 and (iv) more than 30 pupils in each of the last 10 years.

Answer · John Swinney: The information requested is not available as the Scottish Government does not collect data on class sizes in the secondary sector.

16 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many pupils in (a) P1 to P3 and (b) P4 to P7 have been taught in class sizes of (i) fewer than 18, (ii) 19 to 25, (iii) 26 to 30 and (iv) more than 30 pupils in each of the last 10 years.

Answer · John Swinney:  A) Pupils in P1-P3 by class size and year. P1-P3 pupils by class size and year Year Class size Total P1-P3 Pupils 1 – 18 19 – 25 26 – 30 >30 2010 35,176 84,619 38,623 249 158,667 2011 32,580 91,620 36,679 757 161,636 2012 31,101 95,898…

13 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the associated costs are of recruiting the new Chief Executive of the Scottish National Investment Bank.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The cost of recruiting the new Chief Executive of the Scottish National Investment Bank is £40,000.

8 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which organisation is contracted to provide (a) GP and (b) nursing services at HMP Addiewell.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Healthcare provision in prisons is the responsibility of local Health Boards and Integration Joint Boards. In the case of HMP Addiewell, GP and nursing services in are provided by NHS Lothian.

6 Jan 2020 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will establish a mesh-injured women’s fund.

6 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set up a fund to provide financial assistance to women injured or disabled by transvaginal mesh.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5O-04011 on ? 16 January 2020. The answer to the oral parliamentary question is available on the Parliaments website, the Official Report can be viewed at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.…

17 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been paid back to (a) it and (b) each of its agencies each year from fines levied on the operators of private prisons for breach of contract.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows: I refer the member to the answers provided for S5W-26118 on 14 November 2019 and S5W-26341 on 26 November 2019. All answers to written…

16 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will respond to the independent review of the policing of the miners' strike in Scotland.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government have received the report from the independent review and are giving it careful consideration. The report and the Scottish Government’s response will be published following further engagement with key stakeholders.

10 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has set aside to bring the mesh surgeon, Dr Veronikis, to Scotland.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the Member to the answer to question on S5W-26679 on ? 23 January 2020 . All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentaryb…

9 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what progress is being made in bringing the mesh surgeon, Dr Veronikis, to Scotland, and whether (a) his visit has received GMC approval and (b) a contract of employment been drawn up.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Since December discussions continue with Dr Veronikis around the range of dates for his initial visit in the spring and the programme he will be engaged in. The proposed programme and dates are currently with Dr Veronikis for his consideration. GMC approval …

6 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress there has been on implementing the results of the report into investigating deaths in custody; what work the oversight group has carried out, and when the group will report.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I announced on 7 November 2019 that an independent expert review of the handling of deaths in prison custody is to be established. It will identify areas for improvement to ensure appropriate and transparent arrangements are in place in the immediate aftermat…

3 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on Scotland-based companies relocating abroad to so-called tax havens.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government has taken a firm stance against tax avoidance activity wherever it has the power to do so and our anti-avoidance position is intrinsic to the Scottish approach to taxation. The majority of tax powers, however, remain reserved to Westm…

3 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the recently-appointed Chair of the Scottish National Investment Bank had been the Chief Executive of Martin Currie Investment Management Limited and Martin Currie Inc, when they were fined £8.6 million by financial regulators in 2012.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Selection Panel, which oversaw the appointment of the Chair of the Scottish National Investment Bank on behalf of the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work, were aware of the Financial Conduct Authority investigation of Martin Currie Invest…

3 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what due diligence it carried out prior to appointing the Chair of the Scottish National Investment Bank.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The appointment of the Chair of the Scottish National Investment Bank followed the Ethical Standards Commissioner’s Code of Practice for Ministerial and Public Appointments, which includes due diligence practices. The Code ensures that an open, transparent an…

27 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will introduce 12 weeks maternity leave for all (a) its employees and (b) workers in devolved public bodies.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Staff employed by the Scottish Government are entitled to 52 weeks maternity leave regardless of length of service. Where staff satisfy eligibility criteria for Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) they are also entitled to contractual maternity pay of 27 weeks at f…

25 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the ongoing issues in Scotland, what its response is to the recent ruling in the Australian courts against Johnson & Johnson in favour of over 1,500 mesh-injured women.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government notes the ruling by the Australian courts. The regulation of medical devices for the whole of the UK is undertaken by the MRHA, and the Agency confirms it is aware of the ruling.

11 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether registered charities should be allowed to criticise politicians and political parties.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: Charities play a key role in civil society and we welcome the insight and challenge they bring to public policy. The Scottish Government welcomes this debate and challenge, and see it as an essential part of the democratic process. Charities can campaign on …