Parliamentary questions
Neil Findlay
2,296 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
29 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of trains employed so-called stop-skipping in (a) 2011 and (b) 2016.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The percentage of trains that operated skip stop is contained on the following table. The ScotRail franchise is managed by financial years rather than calendar year therefore the following information represents this. Year %FTS 2011-12 0.4% 2…
29 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many stops are skipped each month to ensure that trains meet the punctuality target to arrive at their final destination within five minutes of the advertised time.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The premise of the question is incorrect, Skip stop trains are recorded as a part cancellation which counts against them in meeting their performance targets. Financial Year & Period % Station skipped 2017-18_P06 0.12%
29 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, since its announcement that so-called stop-skipping would end, how many trains have skipped stops, and what percentage of services start their journey between (a) 7.00 and 9.00 am and (b) 4.00 and 6.00 pm.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Since the commitment to minimise skip – stopping in peak flow was made last November, 0.62% of the services provided were affected. (figures relate to period 9 16-17 to period 6 17-18 2017) The percentage of services starting their journey between (a) 7.00 an…
29 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the waiting time is for knee replacement treatment in NHS Lothian, and how this compares with the target.
Answer · Shona Robison: Waiting time information is only available at specialty level and not at individual procedure level. In the year ending 30 June 2017 the median wait for orthopaedic treatment, including knee joint replacement was 73 days in Lothian. This compares to the 12 we…
28 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-10010 by Derek Mackay on 24 July 2017, whether it is developing plans to consult on or lay regulations pursuant to its powers under part 5, chapter 1 of the Digital Economy Act 2017.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government is working with public service delivery partners in Scotland to identify how the regulation making powers in Part 5, Chapter 1 of the Digital Economy Act might be applied in order to support improved public service delivery. As stated …
28 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-10011 by Shona Robison on 26 July 2017, whether (a) it and (b) NHS Scotland has been approached by the Home Office in respect of the memorandum and, if so, what (i) the nature of the approach was and (ii) response was given.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has not been approached by the Home Office in respect of the memorandum of understanding between NHS Digital, the Department of Health and the Home Office to share non-clinical information regarding people who are considered to be immi…
28 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to questions S5W-09925 and S5W-09927 by Alasdair Allan on 17 July 2017, whether it will (a) provide an update on its engagement with (i) Home Office, (ii) Police Scotland, (iii) City of Edinburgh Council and (iv) the COSLA Migration, Population and Diversity Team a…
Answer · Alasdair Allan: I wrote to the UK Immigration Minister in July expressing concern that the Scottish Government was not consulted in advance of these measures being adopted, and seeking assurance from the UK Government that EU Treaty rights, and the dignity of EEA nationals, …
22 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will fully-fund the provision of free sanitary items in (a) schools, (b) colleges and (c) universities, including the (i) installation and (ii) maintenance of machines.
Answer · Angela Constance: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-11342 on 5 October 2017. 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/parliamentarybusiness…
18 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the misuse of new psychoactive substances in prisons.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: SPS is aware of the emerging risks presented by the use of psychoactive substances within prisons, which are reflected in the growing challe…
18 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will carry out a review of procedures relating to prisoners’ mail, in light of new ways of getting new psychoactive substances into Scotland’s prisons.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows: SPS has robust mail handling procedures in place across all establishments. These procedures deter and disrupt attempts to introduce i…
18 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many incidents involving new psychoactive substances have been reported in Scotland’s prison estate in each of the last three years, broken down by prison.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: There has been one incident in the last year across the SPS prison estate, where forensic testing has confirmed the possession of psychoacti…
18 Sep 2017 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will confirm whether there will be an inquiry into the policing of the 1984-85 miners’ strike in Scotland.
12 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made by the independent review of undercover policing in Scotland; when it will report; from whom it has taken evidence, and how much it will cost.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I expect to receive the Report in September. Questions relating to evidence taken and cost are matters for HMICS.
12 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many fire and rescue service support staff have seen their pay reduced in 2017; what the reason for this has been; what the average reduction was, and what support it is providing to the staff to protect them from the impact of low pay.
Answer · Annabelle Ewing: Staffing and pay are operational matters for the Board of the SFRS. SFRS have confirmed that as a result of the Support Staff Pay and Reward Framework introduced in August 2015, and with the agreed 2 year pay protection period ceasing in February 2017, 99 s…
4 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what financial support it has given to the Kabin in Loanhead in the last five years.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Kabin was awarded £112,535 from the Climate Challenge Fund to run two projects. Growing Good Loanhead was completed in March 2016 with an award of £46,063. Growing a Sustainable Future was completed in March 2017 with an award of £66,472.
30 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the role is of the three regional managers appointed by the NHS.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Health and Social Care Delivery Plan published in December 2016 sets out an ambitious programme of change for health and social care services in Scotland. To support implementation of the Delivery Plan at a regional level, three Regional Implementation Le…
30 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what date the report into NHS targets and performance will be published.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government appointed Sir Harry Burns to carry out an independent review of targets and indicators in health and social care. The review considered ways in which targets and indicators can be used to support a whole-system approach to improving po…
25 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the recent appointment to the position of deputy chief executive of NHS Lothian was advertised and an open recruitment process followed.
Answer · Shona Robison: As autonomous employers it is for each Health Board to ensure that any recruitment process is open and transparent and proper procedures followed. NHS Lothian have advised that appointment to this particular post was managed under organisational change and t…
24 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact the latest local government settlement will have on Midlothian Council's budget in the next five financial years.
Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-10933 on 11 September 2017. 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…
24 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its figures that predict that Midlothian will be the fastest growing area in Scotland in the next 25 years, how it considers the council will be able to maintain current services or increase essential services in line with predicted growth given the reduction in its budget a…
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government have treated local government very fairly, despite the cuts to the Scottish Budget from the UK Government. The 2017-18 local government finance settlement including the extra £160 million announced on 2 February, plus the other source…
10 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to concerns that the the role of local education authorities will be diminished under the proposals set out in, Education Governance: Next Steps - Empowering Our Teachers, Parents and Communities to Deliver Excellence and Equity for Our Children.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-10706 on 28 August 2017. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybu…
10 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) local and (b) national tracking systems will be established to support the proposals set out in, Education Governance: Next Steps - Empowering Our Teachers, Parents and Communities to Deliver Excellence and Equity for Our Children.
Answer · John Swinney: The reforms set out in Education Governance: Next Steps - Empowering Our Teachers, Parents and Communities to Deliver Excellence and Equity for Our Children are aligned to the National Improvement Framework drivers and to our commitment to reduce bureaucracy.…
10 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what role communities will have in contributing to raising attainment and addressing educational inequality under the proposals set out in, Education Governance: Next Steps - Empowering Our Teachers, Parents and Communities to Deliver Excellence and Equity for Our Children.
Answer · John Swinney: The agenda set out in the Education Governance: Next Steps - Empowering Our Teachers, Parents and Communities to deliver Excellence and Equity for our children includes a clear commitment to strengthen parental and community engagement. Schools do not exist i…
10 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what additional (a) responsibilities and (b) powers will parent councils have under the proposals set out in, Education Governance: Next Steps - Empowering Our Teachers, Parents and Communities to Deliver Excellence and Equity for Our Children.
Answer · John Swinney: As set out in the Next Steps paper, the Scottish Government will consult on a range of changes relating to the duties and powers applied to both head teachers and Parent Councils via the Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006 ("the 2006 Act"). The…
10 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on the workload of head teachers of the proposals set out in, Education Governance: Next Steps - Empowering Our Teachers, Parents and Communities to Deliver Excellence and Equity for Our Children.
Answer · John Swinney: I do not expect the outcomes from the Governance Review to place additional administrative burdens on teachers, headteachers or schools as we will ensure streamlined and strengthened support for them. We will free schools to improve learning and teaching and …
10 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government who will have responsibility for dealing with head teachers who are unable to deliver the proposals set out in, Education Governance: Next Steps - Empowering Our Teachers, Parents and Communities to Deliver Excellence and Equity for Our Children.
Answer · John Swinney: Local Authorities will remain responsible for the employment of headteachers.
10 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the proposals set out in, Education Governance: Next Steps - Empowering Our Teachers, Parents and Communities to Deliver Excellence and Equity for Our Children, how disputes between regional and local authority directors of education will be resolved.
Answer · John Swinney: We are committed to working in partnership with local government in the delivery of new Regional Improvement Collaboratives. The detailed arrangements governing the relationship between local authorities and their Regional Improvement Collaborative will be in…
10 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the proposals set out in, Education Governance: Next Steps - Empowering Our Teachers, Parents and Communities to Deliver Excellence and Equity for Our Children, what (a) powers, (b) duties and (c) responsibilities will local authority directors of education have.
Answer · John Swinney: As detailed in section 5.2 of Education Governance: Next Steps - Empowering Our Teachers, Parents and Communities to Deliver Excellence and Equity for Our Children, local government will continue to have a crucial and democratically accountable role to play i…
10 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the proposals set out in, Education Governance: Next Steps - Empowering Our Teachers, Parents and Communities to Deliver Excellence and Equity for Our Children, what (a) powers, (b) duties and (c) responsibilities will the regional directors of education have; what (i) quali…
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has established a joint Steering Group with local government to develop proposals to take forward the establishment of new Regional Improvement Collaboratives. The Steering Group's conclusions will inform the detailed role and requirem…
10 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the proposals set out in, Education Governance: Next Steps - Empowering Our Teachers, Parents and Communities to Deliver Excellence and Equity for Our Children, what assessment it has made of the skills that will be required by head teachers to close the (a) attainment and (…
Answer · John Swinney: Headteachers are currently expected to lead school improvement as set out in their national terms and conditions agreed by the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers and in the General Teaching Council for Scotland Standards for Headship and Leadership. …