Neil Findlay

11 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) on The Institute for Statecraft, and whether it considers that the organisation should be removed from the Scottish Charity Register.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) is a Non-Ministerial Office and part of the Scottish Administration. OSCR is an independent regulator and does not form part of the Scottish Government. Under the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, it …

7 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times in each year since 2016 Charlotte Street Partners has invited (a) a cabinet secretary, (b) a minister and (c) its officials to a meeting, broken down by reason for the invite, and what its response was.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

7 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times in each year since 2016 (a) a cabinet secretary, (b) a minister and (c) its officials invited Charlotte Street Partners to a meeting, broken down by reason for the invite, and what response it received.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

7 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it complies with the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) regarding the offering of all vaccines.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government is advised by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) on vaccination policy and uses their advice to inform vaccination policy in Scotland.

7 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason pharmacies are reportedly running out of flu vaccine supplies, and what action it is taking in response.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Since 2016, flu vaccines for NHS use have been centrally procured by NHS National Procurement and distributed direct to GP Practices. Community pharmacies are not involved in purchasing vaccines on behalf of the NHS. Some community pharmacies may offer flu v…

7 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to promote access to the flu vaccine programme in 2020 to everyone with asthma.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Each year the seasonal flu vaccination campaign promotes the flu vaccine to those in eligible groups. Eligibility criteria for the flu vaccination programme is based on advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The Committee is …

7 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to deviate from the advice given by the Chief Medical Officer to GPs regarding eligibility for the flu vaccine for people with asthma and, if so, for what reason.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government currently has no plans to deviate from the advice given by the Chief Medical Officer to clinicians regarding eligibility for the flu vaccine for people with asthma.

7 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported vote of no confidence in the Chief Executive of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh by its Executive Committee.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: This is a matter for the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, it would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to comment on their decision.

1 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people will be employed by the Scottish National Investment Bank.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The number of staff that will be employed by the Scottish National Investment Bank has not yet been finalised, as work is ongoing to finalise the Target Operating Model and structure. The Financial Memorandum published alongside the Bill estimated the Bank wi…

1 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether bonus or long-term incentives (LTI) payments of any kind will be paid to any Scottish National Investment Bank staff.

Answer · Derek Mackay: There will be no annual financial-target based bonuses within the Bank. The Chief Executive and other staff will have access to medium/long term incentive schemes, linked to the delivery of mission and objective based targets. This will ensure that an element…

1 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many Scottish National Investment Bank staff will be transferred from other Scottish Government directorates, agencies and NDPBs.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Implementation Plan set out the ambition for the Bank to build on the positive foundations laid by the work of the Scottish Government and its agencies. Where activities transition to the Scottish National Investment Bank from Scottish Government director…

1 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether pay and conditions for Scottish National Investment Bank staff will be analogous to its own.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish National Investment Bank will have a pay and terms and conditions framework that takes into account its business needs for recruitment and retention.

1 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making to complete the restoration of public sector pay, following previous pay restraints.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Public Sector Pay Policy is continuing the journey since the 1 per cent cap was lifted, through its progressive focus on fairness, sustainability and value for money. The Scottish Government’s approach diverges positively from that of the UK Government, …

1 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether all Scottish National Investment Bank staff will be covered by a defined benefits pension scheme.

Answer · Derek Mackay: In line with other UK development banks and financial services institutions the Scottish National Investment Bank will enrol all new hires in a Defined Contribution pension scheme. Any staff who transfer to the Bank, as part of a TUPE or Cabinet Office Statem…

1 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its pay policy will apply to executive pay for Scottish National Investment Bank staff.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Bank Programme Team have been working with the Scottish Government Remuneration Group to agree specific exceptions and adaptations that will allow the Bank to operate within the overall Public Sector Pay Policy envelope, while ensuring it can attract and …

1 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to reduce the working week for public sector staff.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Decisions on working hours are set by individual employers within the public sector. Our Fair Work Action Plan sets out the range of action we will take to embed fair working practices in Scottish workplaces including flexibility of working hours. While empl…

29 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-25662 by Graeme Dey on 29 October 2019, in light of the webpage publishing only limited details of ministerial meetings, whether it will confirm how many times each (a) cabinet secretary and (b) minister has met a representative of Charlotte Street …

Answer · Graeme Dey: The answer for S5W-25662 provides a link to all Ministerial engagements broken down by month/year with the subject of each engagement included. As per section 4.22 of the Scottish Ministerial code, “Private Offices should arrange for the basic facts of forma…

28 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent in each of the last five years on advertising on (a) Facebook, (b) Twitter, (c) Instagram, (d) YouTube and (e) other social media.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The table containing the answer to this question has placed in The Parliament’s Information Centre (bib number 61177).

28 Oct 2019 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what its position is on whether the rules regarding MSPs having more than one job are fit for purpose.

Answer · Andy Wightman: The rules on Members undertaking work outside their role as an MSP are set out in the Code of Conduct for MSPs and relevant related legislation. Any decisions on whether these rules are fit for purpose are a matter for the Parliament.

25 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it expects the new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in Edinburgh will cost for the design, build and operation over its lifetime, and who is accountable for the current situation at the hospital.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in Edinburgh is estimated to cost £414.6 million for the design, build and operation over the 25 year lifetime of the contract. In September, I published the review of governance by KPMG which found that t…

24 Oct 2019 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it considers that being employed as a corporate lobbyist is compatible with being a member of the SPCB.

21 Oct 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to reports that some women are having "total" or "full" mesh removal recorded on their medical records following surgery at centres of excellence only to later learn they still have mesh in their body.

15 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether a Minister using a (a) private and (b) political party email account for Scottish Government business (i) is a breach of (A) GDPR legislation and (B) the Ministerial code and (ii) increases the risk of a security breach, and what the reasons are for its position on this.

Answer · Graeme Dey: There has been no breach of GDPR legislation or the Ministerial code and there is no increased risk of a security breach. Ministers do not routinely use private or political email accounts for substantive government business. Such business is generally condu…

15 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action, other than legal action, can be taken by a complainant against a private factor company, following the rejection of a complaint by the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber).

Answer · Kevin Stewart: A homeowner can appeal to the Upper Tribunal for Scotland on a point of law only if they are aggrieved by the decision of the First-tier Tribunal. Before an appeal can be made to the Upper Tribunal, the party must first seek permission to appeal from the Firs…

15 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance and support is available to individuals who are in dispute with their private factor company, and what advice is provided to those who cannot afford to take legal action in this regard.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: A homeowner who is unhappy about the service provided by their property factor should, in the first instance, raise the matter with the factor directly and follow the factor’s own internal complaints procedure. If the property factor refuses to resolve or un…

8 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-25444 by Fiona Hyslop on 3 October 2019, in light of its webpage, Ministerial engagements, travel and gifts, not recording data about ministerial bus travel, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding the last 10 bus journe…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Where practical to do so, Ministers use public transport or walk to their engagements. Due to the nature of engagements and the requirement to carry out sensitive Government business, the First Minister has not used the bus as a means of transport when on off…

7 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the process is for commissioning partners in international mesh expertise, and how it ensures that bias is not an influencing factor.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The continued sharing of learning and experience is an accepted part of a clinician’s role. UK clinicians will seek to work with other clinicians or academics based on their reputation amongst peers and an assessment of the specific learning or technical prac…

7 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5F-03625 by Nicola Sturgeon on 10 October 2019 (Official Report, c.12), what action it plans to deal with the volume of women who have had partial mesh removal and now seek the remainder removed.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Any woman who is experiencing difficulties, including where she suspects this may be due to partial mesh removal, should not hesitate to speak to her GP or other clinicians involved in her case. Those clinicians are fully expected to treat the patient’s conce…

7 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how many legal cases related to mesh injury have been settled out of court.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: NHS Central Legal Office confirms that no cases that are part of a large group action have been settled out of court. It is understood a small number of individual clinical negligence cases involving mesh have settled in this way; however for reasons of confi…

7 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether it is ethically bound to grant legal aid to the mesh-injured women seeking legal recourse for their injuries.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government would encourage any woman who is pursuing a case to apply for Legal Aid should she feel she may qualify. Advice on Legal Aid is available here .