Neil Findlay

18 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of how the ScotRail fleet complies with rail vehicle access regulations, and whether it will list the (a) number and (b) type of rolling stock that (i) complies and (ii) does not comply.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The entire ScotRail and Serco Caledonian Sleeper train fleets will comply with the Technical Specifications for Interoperability for Persons with Reduced Mobility (the TSI PRM) standards by 1 January 2020 as required by the Equality Act 2010. Currently, 75%…

18 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that ScotRail services that call at unstaffed stations comply with the legal requirement to have a member of staff available to operate ramps.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: On board train staff will assist passengers who have booked in advance to board or alight at unstaffed stations. This service is provided by ScotRail, and all other train companies. Transport Scotland monitors compliance of ScotRail obligations through the f…

16 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) Charlotte Street Partners and (b) Graylings was awarded its contract to supply PR and advice to Colleges Scotland following a competitive tendering exercise and, if so, (i) who the unsuccessful bidders were and (ii) what action it took to ensure that the exercise followed (A)…

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: This is a matter for Colleges Scotland. You may wish to contact them direct for this information.

16 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings were held at Bute House on 14 May 2017 to discuss the college lecturers' dispute, and whether it will provide a breakdown of all of the attendees.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills and myself met with representatives of the Employers Association and the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), at two separate meetings, on 14 May 2017 at Saint Andrews House Edinburg…

16 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what type of (a) PR and (b) advice (i) Charlotte Street Partners and (ii) Graylings provides to Colleges Scotland; how much is charged for the service, and what role the firm is playing in the college lecturers' dispute.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: This is a matter for Colleges Scotland. You may wish to contact them direct for this information.

15 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) it and (b) Police Scotland (i) participates and (ii) has participated in the European Cooperation Group on Undercover Activities and, if so, what this participation involved.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Neither the Scottish Government nor Police Scotland participate in the European Cooperation Group on Undercover Activities.

15 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) it and (b) Police Scotland was involved in discussions regarding the cross-border activities of the former police officer, Mark Kennedy, in particular at the presentation at the European Cooperation Group on Undercover Activities in 2011.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Neither the Scottish Government nor Police Scotland participate in the European Cooperation Group on Undercover Activities.

15 May 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that contractors working on hub projects are paid on time.

8 May 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that the sub-contractors who work on Scottish Futures Trust projects are paid on time by the main contractor.

2 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S5W-08517 and S5W-08880 by Derek Mackay on 19 April 2017 and 2 May 2017 respectively, for what reason it has not answered the question that was asked in both, which is what its position is on the veracity of the Government Expenditure and Revenue Figu…

Answer · Derek Mackay: As set out in response to questions S5W-08517 and S5W-08880, GERS is a National Statistics publication. This assessment covers a number of areas including the quality of the statistics and their suitability to the needs of users. GERS sets out estimates of re…

20 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-08436 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 20 April 2017, whether it considers the response that "you may wish to approach Edinburgh College for this information" is consistent with paragraph 1.2(d) of the Scottish Ministerial Code, which states that "Mini…

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government is not involved the recruitment process for staff at Edinburgh College and therefore it does not hold this information. As the College will be in a position to answer your enquiry more fully, it is entirely appropriate to suggest you …

20 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-08437 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 20 April 2017, for what reason it did not provide the information that was requested regarding whether it considers that the reduction in student activity at Edinburgh College has arisen because of poor planning a…

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government continue to provide support to the Executive Team and Board of Management at Edinburgh College who have alongside the Scottish Funding Council, developed a Business Transformation Plan tackling a wide range of strategic and operational…

20 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-08436 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 20 April 2017, for what reason it did not provide the information that was requested regarding who the members are of the new senior management team and the set remit of each.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government is not involved the recruitment for staff at Edinburgh College and therefore it does not hold this information. As the College will be in a position to answer your enquiry more fully, it is entirely appropriate to suggest you liaise w…

20 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-07818 by Joe Fitzpatrick on 22 March 2017, how many times between January 2014 and December 2016 the First Minister has been (a) in contact with and (b) contacted by Andrew Wilson or Charlotte Street Partners, and for what reason.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The information you have requested regarding Ministerial engagements is available on the Scottish Government website, however the First Minister has met with Andrew Wilson/Charlotte Street Partners on 2 occasions within the timescale you have stated. On 15 J…

19 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-08517 by Derek Mackay on 19 April 2017, whether it will now provide an answer to the question that was asked on the veracity of the Government Expenditure and Revenue Figures (Scotland) (GERS) for (a) 2015-16 and (b) previous years.

Answer · Derek Mackay: As set out in response to S5W-08517, Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland is a National Statistics publication, which means that it is independently assessed by the Office for Statistics Regulation, the regulatory arm of the UK Statistics Authority. Th…

13 Apr 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many women in Scotland have been implanted with transvaginal mesh since 2007.

6 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the last time an equal pay review was carried out in (a) each public body it has responsibility for, (b) each body in the Scottish Government Main Bargaining Unit and (c) Scottish Government Marine, and where the results can be accessed.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government is committed to treating people fairly in the work place and encourages best practice among its public bodies as set out in the Fair Work Framework. This recognition is embedded in our public sector pay policy where each public body is…

31 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport on 30 March 2017 (Official Report, c. 57), what its response is to concerns that evidence regarding the risks arising from the commonest continence procedures was removed from the final mesh report.

Answer · Shona Robison: Chapter 5 reviews evidence relating to risk. The evidence on risk was considered together with the patient survey (chapter 3), the evidence from the routine data sources (chapter 4) and the clinicians views (chapter 6), in order that the Independent Review co…

31 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport on 30 March 2017 (Official Report, c. 57), whether it provided assurances to Elaine Holmes and Olive McIlroy that their chapter would be withdrawn from the final mesh report and, if so, for what reason it was include…

Answer · Shona Robison: When I met with Ms McIlroy and Ms Holmes they requested that their minority report be removed from the Independent Review's Final Report. I relayed this to the Chair of the Review and she acceded to this request. Subsequently, Ms McIlroy and Ms Holmes asked t…

31 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport on 30 March 2017 (Official Report, c. 57), for what reason the final mesh report does not mention the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) warning regarding counterfeit mesh, including from Boston Scientific, or t…

Answer · Shona Robison: The Independent Review was established due to wider concerns around mesh usage. It is the job of the MHRA to regulate medical devices across the UK, and it has not issued a Medical Device Alert regarding the implants concerned. The MHRA has found no evidence …

31 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport on 30 March 2017 (Official Report, c. 57), for what reason mesh procedures for prolapse continue to be offered despite concerns that there is a lack of evidence regarding their effectiveness and reports of both Scott…

Answer · Shona Robison: The Independent Review's Final Report concludes that mesh procedures should not be offered routinely in the case of prolapse, and the Chief Medical Officer has accepted this conclusion. However, in each individual patient's case it is necessary to apply indiv…

31 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport on 30 March 2017 (Official Report, c. 57), in light of reports that patients asked for them to be published, for what reason the patient-friendly shared decision tables were not included in the final report.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Independent Review members considered it appropriate that all evidence considered by the Review be grouped together in chapters 4 and 5, whilst chapter 6 includes commentary on that evidence. The table that was included in chapter 6 of the Interim Report …

31 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport on 30 March 2017 (Official Report, c. 57), for what reason the declaration of interests of the members of the review group refer only to company work over the last 12 months.

Answer · Shona Robison: Members were asked to complete standard Scottish Government declarations of interests, which cover a 12 month period.

31 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport on 30 March 2017 (Official Report, c. 57), what its response is to concerns that the final mesh report does not make clear that the EU classifies mesh as "high-risk".

Answer · Shona Robison: The Independent Review’s Final Report made clear that, at the time of writing, it was anticipated that the new EU Medical Device Regulations would include a change to the classification of surgical mesh devices intended for long-term or permanent use. It is…

31 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport on 30 March 2017 (Official Report, c. 57), in light of the patients' survey suggesting that over 70% continue to experience pain, including after the implant has been removed, for what reason the final mesh report re…

Answer · Shona Robison: In coming to the conclusions noted in its Final Report, the Independent Review considered a range of evidence, including the patient survey, all of which is summarised within the Report. The conclusions are based upon the totality of that evidence.

31 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport on 30 March 2017 (Official Report, c. 57), for what reason chapter six of the final report suggests that mesh procedures are better than non-mesh ones.

Answer · Shona Robison: Chapter 6 is a clinicians' review of the evidence and experiences noted elsewhere in the Report. Based on that evidence, it concludes that: retropubic mesh tape is a valid option to be offered routinely to women considering surgical treatment for SUI; colpo…

31 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport on 30 March 2017 (Official Report, c. 57), for what reason the evidence suggesting that (a) non-mesh procedures are safer than mesh procedures for incontinence, (b) transobturator mesh tape can be too risky a treatme…

Answer · Shona Robison: Appendix D of the Final Report contains the table from the Interim Report's Chapter 6, and Annex A contains the evidence tables referenced in the Interim Report's chapter 5. The evidence from the Interim Report was built upon by new evidence to provide the In…

31 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport on 30 March 2017 (Official Report, c. 57), what its response is to concerns that avoidable and unnecessary procedures take place when there are safer alternative treatments for stress urinary incontinence and pelvic …

Answer · Shona Robison: The evidence considered by the Independent Review, and the conclusions drawn from it, are outlined in its Final Report. The conclusions reflect the need to offer mesh and non-mesh procedures for stress urinary incontinence, and also that mesh should not be of…

31 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport on 30 March 2017 (Official Report, c. 57), whether it will bring forward a proposal for a Parliamentary debate on the final mesh report.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Chief Medical Officer has accepted the conclusions made by the Independent Review in its Final Report, Health Boards have been asked to take them forward, an Oversight Group is being established to work with Health Boards in doing so, and an expert will b…

31 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport on 30 March 2017 (Official Report, c. 57), for what reason the final mesh report did not refer to figures in NATURE that suggested that at least 15% of women who undergo the procedure could face serious risks in thei…

Answer · Shona Robison: The Independent Review confirmed to me that it agreed, in considering the effectiveness of procedures, it would only use Cochrane Reviews as these are the international “gold standard” for systematic reviews. This was to avoid re-reviewing research data that …