Parliamentary questions
Neil Findlay
2,296 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
3 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on which date it or any of its agencies were alerted to Kaiam UK or Kaiam Europe being in financial difficulty.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Kaiam notified Scottish Enterprise on 16 November 2018 that the company was in financial difficulty and seeking a buyer for the business, the Scottish Government was informed on 22 November 2018. On learning of this development, Scottish Enterprise worked wit…
24 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much (a) it, (b) Scottish Enterprise and (b) its agencies have paid to Kaiam UK or Kaiam Europe in the last 10 years.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I have passed your query on to Steve Dunlop, the Chief Executive, and asked him to respond to you directly.
24 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action is can take against companies that receive public money but then leave their employees and creditors unpaid.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Company and employment law are matters which are currently reserved to the UK Government. As such, actions which might be taken by the Scottish Government or its agencies depend on the terms and conditions associated with any grant provided from public funds,…
24 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what correspondence or communications it received from Kaiam Europe or Kaiam UK in relation to (a) the company’s failure to be able to pay its staff and (b) the sustainability of the business, and on which dates such communications were received.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government did not receive any direct correspondence or communication from Kaiam Europe or Kaiam UK. As one of their account managed companies, Scottish Enterprise lead on direct communications.
24 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take against companies that have received grants and loans from it and its agencies but which fail to fulfil the terms of the grant or loan.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Grants and loans entered into by Scottish Ministers and any public body subject to the Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM) are subject to the principles set out in the manual and have appropriate terms and conditions applied to protect public resources. Sc…
24 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has paid out in grants, loans and other finance to companies in which Bardia Pezeshki has been a director, executive officer, share holder or has had a business interest in the last 10 years.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. Scottish Enterprise have advised they are not aware of any significant interests by way of executive officer roles during the period in question beyond formal directorships. Scottish Enterprise are also u…
20 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the current funding position is with Individual Training Accounts.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Following a hugely successful year for this new Individual Training Account (ITA) programme, demand from individuals has been strong and the target of 18,500 accounts has been exceeded ahead of schedule. It is anticipated that when all verified individuals in…
20 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how (a) many people have received support from and (b) much has been paid through Individual Training Accounts in each of the last five years.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Individual Training Account (ITA) scheme was launched in October 2017. Between October 2017 and March 2018, 7,015 claims for ITA funding were made. The value of these claims was £1,305,091. In the 2018/19 financial year so far 19,812 claims for ITA fundi…
13 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to delay the expansion of freedom of information legislation to apply to registered social landlords (RSL) and RSL subsidiaries from the proposed date of 1 April 2019 and, if so, for what reason.
Answer · Graeme Dey: I intend to lay an order early this year to come into effect towards the end of 2019. The later than anticipated timescale is due to a number of factors including the range of issues raised during consultation as well as a focus on FOI performance during 2018.
10 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the charity, Cornerstone, regarding the derecognition of the trade union, UNISON, and what the outcome of these was.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government has had several discussions with Cornerstone about its dispute with UNISON. The Scottish Government has also been liasing with UNISON. Scottish ministers are keen that both parties enter into negotiations as soon as possible and offic…
10 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its Fair Work Framework, whether it considers it legitimate for an organisation operating in Scotland to derecognise a trade union, and, if so, on what grounds it considers such action is justified.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government supports a progressive approach to industrial relations and to trade unionism and regards unions as important for building constructive employer/worker relationships and for promoting a movement for fair work, both in the workplace and…
10 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the chief executive of the charity, Cornerstone, being an appropriate Fair Work Ambassador, in light of Cornerstone having derecognised the trade union, UNISON, after 24 years of a voluntary recognition agreement.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: At present there is no recognised Scottish Government post or position of “Fair Work Ambassador”. As such the Chief Executive of Cornerstone, nor any other individual has been or is recognised as such. We have taken action to ensure that the term “Scottish G…
10 Dec 2018 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what role Police Scotland has in monitoring political attacks on social media.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: If a member of the public believes that a crime has been committed on social media sites, they should report the incident to the police who will investigate appropriately as they would any other crime. There are a range of actions at their disposal if they vi…
10 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has allocated to each local authority in each year since 2007.
Answer · Kate Forbes: The annual local government finance circulars provide details of the total revenue and capital funding allocations to each local authority and can be found at the attached link: https://www.gov.scot/publications/local-government-finance-circulars-index/ .
3 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take against registered charities that breach their charitable objectives.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-20334 on 18 December 2018. 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/parliamentarybusine…
3 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the charity, the Institute of Statecraft, and what its position is on whether it meets the definition of a Scottish charity.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government does not hold any information on this organisation in respect of its charitable status or activities . Charity regulation and associated statutory action is for the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR), which operates independently of th…
3 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to invite the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator to investigate the activities of the Institute of Statecraft.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-20334 on 18 December 2018. 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/parliamentarybusine…
27 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the existing clinical guidelines regarding the provision of pulmonary rehabilitation for people living with long-term lung conditions are implemented by NHS boards.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government is fully committed to ensuring that the NHS in Scotland delivers high quality, safe and effective person centre care. It is for clinicians, in consultation with the patient, to discuss and agree the best treatment options based on clin…
27 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to raise awareness of the importance of pulmonary rehabilitation among (a) health professionals in order to improve referral rates and (b) patients who may be unaware of the benefits of this treatment for people living with long-term lung conditions.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Pulmonary rehabilitation is widely recognised by health care professionals as an important element of respiratory disease care. It has a well-established evidence base for its benefits in helping to support self-management and reduce exacerbation and hospital…
27 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will work with Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland to introduce a right to pulmonary rehabilitation to ensure that all patients with long-term lung conditions can access this treatment.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the member to the answer to question S5O-02462 on 24 October 2018 which is available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=11724&i=106125
26 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome was of its meeting with the Royal Chartered Institute of Surveyors regarding providing improved guidance for home owners in relation to the issue of asbestos in home report documents.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Officials met with representatives of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) to discuss the provision of information on asbestos as part of the Home Report inspection. Whilst acknowledging that a full asbestos inspection is beyond the scope of th…
26 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on withdrawing the use of hernia mesh in the NHS, and what action it can take in this regard in Scotland.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-20179 on 21 December 2018. 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/parliamentarybusine…
26 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government and Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency regarding problems cause by medical implants.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: As set out in answer to S5W-20173 on 21 December 2018, both the Chief Medical Officer and I have written to the MHRA expressing concerns about the regulation of medical devices. In addition, Scottish Government officials participate in teleconferences with th…
26 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists on the use of medical implants, and what implications it has for Scotland.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: On 31 October, both the Chief Medical Officer and I wrote to the MHRA to express concerns about how medical devices are regulated in the UK. We questioned the degree to which the present system of regulation is fit for purpose, and the level of scrutiny given…
26 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have experienced complications as a result of medical implants in each of the last five years.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Patients who suspect they are experiencing complications will report concerns to their GP or other clinicians involved in their case, who will then give further treatment as appropriate. In some circumstances, clinicians may report complications to IRIC or th…
26 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with regulators regarding problems associated with hernia mesh.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-20173 on 21 December 2018. 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/parliamentarybusine…
26 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the call by the Royal College of Surgeons to establish a medical implants register, and whether it plans to do so in Scotland.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The European Union is presently developing EUDAMED. This system will assist European authorities to support market surveillance on medical devices through information exchange, and help to ensure that medical devices that are placed on the market and put into…
26 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the reported increasing levels of complaints from people who have received hernia mesh.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: As set out in response to S5W-20173 on 21 December 2018, I wrote to the MHRA asking it for evidence that this mesh is safe to use. Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Catherine Calderwood has also raised these concerns directly with the MHRA, and we are await…
26 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what systems are in place for the early identification of problems with medical implants.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-20176 on 21 December 2018. 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/parliamentarybusine…
21 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the City of Edinburgh Council has advised it that it is anticipating budget reductions over the next five years and, if so, how much the local authority expects its budget to be reduced by each year.
Answer · Kate Forbes: The question of whether or not the City of Edinburgh Council is anticipating budget reductions over the next five years is a matter for the Council. Any assumptions relating to possible future budget reductions is entirely speculative at this stage.