Parliamentary questions
Neil Findlay
2,296 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
19 Jun 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the minutes of the accountable officer group meeting on 22 February 2019, which discussed issues relating to transvaginal mesh, and whether it will publish the minutes of all meetings of this group where these issues are discussed.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The minutes of the 22 February meeting have been published here . The minutes of any further such meetings will also be published.
18 Jun 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-23593 by Humza Yousaf on 18 June 2019, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding whether it expects the Scottish Prison Service to have a budget shortfall in 2019-20 and, if so, how much.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: As set out in the answer to S5W-23593, Scottish Government recognises a range of inflationary and other cost pressures on the SPS corporate budget. This position is being robustly managed as part of the on-going monitoring of the 2019-20 Justice portfolio and…
17 Jun 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will conduct an independent review of all of the issues around the use of new psychoactive substances in prisons.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government has no current plans to conduct an independent review of the issues surrounding the use of psychoactive substances (PS) in prisons. The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) continues to effectively manage the risk that PS poses to prisons. I…
14 Jun 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on waiving the statutory time limitations to enable the families of people who were affected by infected blood products to seek redress through the courts.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government will take account of any findings of the UK Infected Blood Inquiry in relation to legal actions relating to infected blood.
14 Jun 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it supports the families of people who were affected by infected blood products.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-23805 on 26 June 2019, which is available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/ormain.aspx .
14 Jun 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on offering (a) medical social workers, (b) social care and counselling services and (c) other additional NHS resources to people who were affected by infected blood products, and their families.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government provides financial support to those infected and affected by infected blood through the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme (SIBSS). In addition to specific lump sum payments and regular annual payments, the scheme allows for paymen…
14 Jun 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on paying compensation to (a) the children of and (b) children who cared for parents who were affected by infected blood products.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government makes ex-gratia financial support payments through the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme (SIBSS). The scheme provides lump sum payments to the estates of those who have died, where the infected person was unable to claim their l…
10 Jun 2019 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what work it has done to plan for the lifting of the ban on mesh implants.
5 Jun 2019 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body when it last reviewed its rules regarding holding events that are hosted by external organisations.
Answer · Liam McArthur: The SPCB last reviewed the guidance regarding holding events by external organisations in June 2018 - when it took a decision to cease the commercial events pilot. In light of the requirements introduced by the Lobbying (Scotland) Act in 2017 for organ…
4 Jun 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-23350 by Derek Mackay on 4 June 2019, in light of the comment by the cabinet secretary that “we are transparent about details of ministerial engagements and events, and routinely publish this information online as per the Scottish Ministerial Code, …
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government can confirm that as this event took place in March 2019 the expectation is that this will be published in line with normal practice on the Scottish Government website by the end of June 2019. In the meantime details of the dinner of 12…
4 Jun 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-23350 by Derek Mackay on 4 June 2019, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding whether the cabinet secretary registered the meeting and dinner that he attended in Cannes in March 2019 and, if so, on what date he registere…
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government can confirm that Private Offices arrange for the basic facts of formal meetings between Ministers and outside interest groups to be recorded, setting out the reasons for the meeting, the names of those attending and the interests repre…
4 Jun 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it expects the Scottish Prison Service to have a budget shortfall in 2019-20 and, if so, how much.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government budget 2019-20 provided SPS with a Resource Allocation of £312.2m, Non-cash of £34.0m and a Capital Allocation of £47.5m.
4 Jun 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much the Scottish Prison Service has spent on consultants in each of the last 10 years.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows: In accordance with the Scottish Public Finance Manual, financial records are retained for 6 years, therefore the total spend on c…
4 Jun 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government who carried out the Scottish Prison Service job evaluation scheme; whether consultants were involved with it and, if so, how much they were paid; how much the scheme cost each year; what analysis it has carried out of its impact, and whether it will provide a breakdown of the scheme's ac…
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows: SPS use a Job Evaluation Scheme known as Equate, which was developed by KPMG in 1995 and incurs no annual cost. Although Equate contin…
30 May 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many procedures intended to be a complete removal of a mesh device subsequently became a partial mesh removal in each month since June 2014.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Since June 2014 fewer than five procedures that were intended to be full removals subsequently became partial removals.
30 May 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-17831 by Jeane Freeman on 9 August 2018, how many (a) transobturator mesh tape, (b) prolapse mesh, (c) retropubic mesh tape for incontinence, (d) transobturator mesh tape for incontinence, (e) transvaginal mesh for prolapse, (f) transabdominal mesh …
Answer · Jeane Freeman: As indicated in reply to S5W-17831, information broken down to the level requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. However, in line with the answer given to that question, the total number of operations for SUI and POP involving mesh tape in…
29 May 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its support for a second referendum on Brexit, what its position is on supporting a second confirmatory vote by referendum following the result of any future independence referendum.
Answer · Michael Russell: Scotland voted clearly against leaving the European Union in 2016, and the Scottish Government therefore supports putting the issue back to the people, with an option to remain in the EU. The Scottish Government also supports Scotland’s right to choose its ow…
28 May 2019 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people in Scotland earn less than the Living Wage.
28 May 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many prisoners have been managed under the Management of an Offender at Risk Due to Any Substance (MORS) system in each of the last five years.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: SPS’ Management of Offender at Risk Due to Any Substance (MORS) Policy was introduced in December 2014 and ensures that there is a robust process in place for managing an individual who is at risk due to concealment or ingestion of any substances, including P…
22 May 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the minutes of the short-term working group on mesh; when each member of the group's declaration of interests will be made public, and what plans it has for patients to be represented on the group.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The minutes of the short life working group on mesh complications are published on the Scottish Government website. The declarations of interest of members of the group and future minutes will be published on the Scottish Government website once approved by G…
22 May 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work registered the meeting and dinner that he attended with property developers in Cannes in March 2019 and, if not, whether this constitutes a breach of the Ministerial Code.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government can confirm that the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work attended the Investment Dinner on 12 March 2019 at MIPIM Cannes which was organised by Scottish Enterprise as part of the MIPIM 2019 programme. Attendees were co…
22 May 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to questions S5W-23022 and S5W-23029 by John Swinney on 16 May 2019, in light of the cabinet secretary’s comment that “we take the issue of the handling of asbestos within educational establishments very seriously”, what monitoring it has carried out on the impact …
Answer · John Swinney: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has UK wide responsibility for enforcement of health and safety related legislation and regulations, including the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. HSE is responsible for monitoring compliance with these regulations …
22 May 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-23029 by John Swinney on 16 May 2019, in light of the cabinet secretary’s comment that “we take the issue of the handling of asbestos within educational establishments very seriously”, what discussions it has had or plans with those responsible for …
Answer · John Swinney: HSE undertakes inspections in the education sector to provide public assurance about the management of asbestos risks, and including targeted inspections to schools and universities, colleges and healthcare premises across Great Britain to test the effectiven…
22 May 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-23029 by John Swinney on 16 May 2019, in light of the cabinet secretary’s comment that “we take the issue of the handling of asbestos within educational establishments very seriously”, whether it will provide the information that was requested regar…
Answer · John Swinney: The issues raised by NASUWT are not devolved to the Scottish Government but are the responsibility of the Health and Safety Executive, which has UK wide responsibility for enforcement of health and safety related legislation and regulations, including the Con…
22 May 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-23022 by John Swinney on 16 May 2019, in light of the cabinet secretary’s comment that “we take the issue of the handling of asbestos within educational establishments very seriously”, what discussions it has had or plans with the Health and Safety …
Answer · John Swinney: Responsibility for the control and management of asbestos in educational establishments rests with the local authority, College Board, University Court or proprietor, as the case may be, who is the duty holder for those premises. The Health and Safety Executi…
22 May 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to questions S5W-16167 by Kevin Stewart on 4 May 2018 and S5W-23022 by John Swinney on 16 May 2019, in light of Mr Stewart stating that “the Scottish Government is absolutely clear that local authorities follow Health and Safety Executive recommendations for managi…
Answer · John Swinney: As previously stated within the answers to questions S5W-23022 and S5W-23029 on 16 May 2019, information on the levels of asbestos in Scottish schools and colleges is not held centrally as health and safety legislation, including compliance with requirements …
21 May 2019 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many full-time equivalent local government employees there are, and how this compares with 2007.
16 May 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the summary of actions in the review of the arrangements for investigating the deaths of patients being treated for mental disorders, which was published in December 2018, what progress has been made on developing a system for investigating all deaths of patients who, at the…
Answer · Clare Haughey: The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland will take forward the work to develop and implement the new system to investigate the deaths of all patients, who at the time of death, were subject to an order under mental health or criminal procedure legislation. …
15 May 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people who are on the sex offenders register are employed by the NHS in each of Scotland’s health boards.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: This information is not held centrally. It is for Boards, as employers to undertake relevant checks applicable to the job roles in accordance with the Safer Pre and Post Employment Checks Partnership Information Network (PIN) Policy, which includes guidance o…
15 May 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to Eveline Lubbers' report, Political Undercover Policing in Scotland.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government has been Judicially Reviewed regarding its decision not to hold a public inquiry into undercover policing in Scotland. The decision reached by Lady Carmichael in November 2018 to dismiss the petition on all counts is currently subject …