Parliamentary questions

Neil Findlay

2,296 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

15 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what level of profits were made by Abellio ScotRail in each year since it took over the franchise.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Abellio ScotRail posted a profit of £9,519k in 2015 (1 January 2015 – 31 December 2015) and a loss of £3,370k in 2016 (1 January 2016 – 31 December 2016). The figure for 2017 is not yet available.

15 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many staff have (a) been made redundant and (b) taken voluntary severance since Abellio took over the ScotRail franchise.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Since Abellio took over the franchise a) There have been no compulsory redundancies as per the franchise agreement. b) 88 members of staff have taken voluntary severance

15 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many rail staff are employed by Abellio ScotRail.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: There are currently 4712 staff employed by Abellio ScotRail.

13 Nov 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure there are no fire station closures during the current parliamentary session.

13 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to standardise the provision of child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) across the country.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) are provided by Health Boards to meet the requirements of their local population. Health Boards may provide services in different ways according to local need. All CAMHS services are working to the target th…

9 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times since May 2016 have ministers met with others in their capacity as a minister with no officials present; when these meetings took place; what the purpose of the meeting was, and who attended.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Ministerial engagements are proactively published on the Scottish Government Website and can be found at https://beta.gov.scot/publications/?term=ministerial&publicationTypes=transpar…

9 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its ministers work to the same standards as UK ministers regarding having officials present when they meet with others in their capacity as a minister.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: When meeting with external organisations Scottish Government Ministers work to the Scottish Ministerial Code, see section 10.18: https://beta.gov.scot/publications/scottish-ministerial-code-2016-edition/pages/11/ The code is in line with section 8.14 of t…

9 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance ministers work to regarding how ministerial meetings are (a) conducted and (b) recorded.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Scottish Government Ministers adhere to the Scottish Ministerial Code which includes a section on Ministerial Conduct (section 1.2): https://beta.gov.scot/publications/scottish-ministerial-code-2016-edition/pages/2/ Scottish Government guidance requires tha…

6 Nov 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact is on the culture sector of reduced local government budgets.

1 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will implement the code of practice for equipment interference and computer hacking by Police Scotland, and what oversight of these powers by (a) the Parliament and (b) other institutions it proposes.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The equipment interference code of practice will be issued pursuant to section 24 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000, which provides that the Scottish Ministers shall issue one or more codes of practice relating to the exercise and …

25 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that Boots and its parent company, Boots Alliance, have avoided an estimated £1.21 billion in tax since 2007, whether it will confirm what public sector contracts (a) it has and (b) its agencies have awarded to the companies in this period, and what its position is o…

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government has not awarded any public contracts to Boots or Boots Alliance since 2007. We do not hold contract information with regards to agencies of the Scottish Government, these bodies are responsible for their own procurement decisions. The…

25 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the flu jab voucher scheme for staff that is being run by the Scottish Prison Service is being provided by a private provider and not the NHS.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows: SPS considers that flu immunisation is an important factor in maintaining the health of staff to ensure continuity of service provisio…

23 Oct 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the Budget will address the impact of reductions in local government finances to services in Lothian and across the country.

19 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to make the payment of the real living wage a condition of a company winning public sector contracts.

Answer · Derek Mackay: We are members of the EU and must continue to comply with the law as it stands. This means we cannot make the payment of a living wage, which is higher than the minimum wage, a condition of public contracts. It is not yet clear what impact the terms of any de…

18 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total value is of PFI contracts issued by (a) it and (b) public bodies since 1999.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The total capital value of PFI contracts procured since 1999 by (a) the Scottish Government is £400 million. This figure comprises two contracts procured by Scottish Government agencies the Scottish Prison Service (Addiewell Prison) and Transport Scotland (M8…

18 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total value is of NPD contracts issued by (a) it and (b) public bodies since 2007.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The total capital value of revenue funded NPD and hub contracts procured since 2007 by (a) the Scottish Government is £779 million. This figure comprises two contracts within the current NPD/hub investment programme first announced in November 2010 which were…

17 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that Bield Housing Association is withdrawing from the care home sector; when it was first advised of this; what discussions it has had with Bield regarding the decision; what information it has regarding the reason for the withdrawal; how many residents w…

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government recognises that this will be an unsettling time for all residents, families and employees affected by the announcement by Bield Housing and Care. Our priority is to ensure continuity of service for residents with no compromise in the q…

16 Oct 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce the number of rough sleepers.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Programme for Government sets out our national objective to eradicate rough sleeping, recognising that it will require more than just the provision of housing and that every individual will have their own unique needs and challenges. We have taken firm …

12 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support (a) it and (b) its agencies provide to the Scottish Maritime Cluster.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: No direct financial support has been provided to the Scottish Maritime Cluster by the Scottish Government or its agencies. Scottish Ministers recognise the importance of the maritime sector to the Scottish economy and support the aims of the Cluster to boost …

12 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support (a) it and (b) its agencies provided to the Scottish Maritime Cluster event, which was held as part of London International Shipping Week in September 2017.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: (a) The launch of the Scottish Maritime Cluster was held in London on the evening of 11 September to achieve maximum industry attendance during London International Shipping Week. There was no Scottish Government funding involved. (b) No funding by Scottish…

12 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it takes to ensure that the trade unions representing (a) seafarers and (b) port workers are represented on the Scottish Maritime Cluster.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: This is an industry-led initiative and it is the responsibility of the Scottish Maritime Cluster to determine how they engage with others in the sector. More generally, the Scottish Government recognises the benefits to employees and to organisations of stro…

2 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether framework contracts are being used as a route to privatise services.

Answer · Derek Mackay: EU and national procurement legislation specifically provides for the use of framework agreements. They are generally used for purchases where there is a requirement for a high volume of goods or services, or a repeat need where exact quantities or timings ar…

2 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the combined value of contracts awarded under the framework contracts process is since they were introduced.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Framework Agreements have been used for many years, first appearing in Scottish procurement legislation in 2006. The Scottish Government does not hold centrally the information requested and it could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

2 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many contracts for local authority services have been awarded via framework contracts since they were introduced.

2 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether every local authority involved in the procurement of services via a framework contract must provide evidence that any such contract provides “best value".

Answer · Derek Mackay: Under the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003, local authorities must use resources as efficiently as possible and deliver services effectively to ensure taxpayers get the best possible value. The Scottish Government has no role in directing how local autho…

2 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it facilitates the use of framework contracts to procure public services.

2 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which prisons allow officers access to naloxone in order to respond to suspected opiate overdoses.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: Staff employed by the Scottish Prison Service do not administer Naxolone. Responsibility and accountability for the delivery of prisoner h…

29 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who initiated the contract for pest control services and associated products that is advertised on the Public Contracts Scotland website, and whether the award of this contract to an external company and not an in-house public sector bid would constitute the privatisation of the pest con…

Answer · Derek Mackay: This tendering exercise, published on Public Contracts Scotland (PCS) on 26 August 2017, is being conducted by Scotland Excel, acting on behalf of their member local authorities. Scotland Excel has advised that a robust scoping process, which involved engage…

29 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with COSLA regarding the future of pest control services in local government.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government has had no discussions with COSLA regarding the future of pest control services in local government.

29 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ease overcrowding on the 17.21 service between Edinburgh and Glasgow Central via Fauldhouse, in light of it being reported as the most overcrowded train on the network.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Scottish Government is investing £5 billion to help deliver the best railway Scotland has ever had. The investment includes the electrification of the Glasgow Central to Edinburgh via Fauldhouse route which in turn will allow the new faster, longer and greene…