Neil Findlay

16 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made an assessment of how many Scottish police officers were members of the (a) Special Demonstrations Squad and (b) National Public Order Intelligence Unit.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The deployment of police officers is an operational matter for Police Scotland.

16 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there should be a Scottish inquiry into undercover policing.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government believes that the Pitchford Inquiry should be extended to cover the relevant Metropolitan Police Service's activity in Scotland. This would ensure that a comprehensive picture of all the evidence can be gathered and considered.

16 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had a response from the Home Secretary regarding its request for the Pitchford Inquiry into undercover policing to be extended to cover Scotland.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Discussions on this matter are on-going.

14 Mar 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to provide training and other support to workers losing their jobs.

10 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to support people from black and minority ethnic communities who are disproportionally affected by in-work poverty or employed in low pay sectors.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Scottish Government fully recognises that poverty rates for minority ethnic groups are significantly higher than those for the white British population in Scotland. We are taking a long term approach to tackling the drivers of poverty and inequality, as …

10 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any cabinet secretary or minister has had any contact via telecommunications or correspondence with Charlotte Street Partners since January 2014 and, if so, which cabinet secretary or minister, and what subjects were discussed in these communications.

Answer · John Swinney: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

10 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has engaged in any correspondence with Charlotte Street Partners since January 2014 and, if so, what subjects were discussed.

Answer · John Swinney: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

10 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings (a) ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) civil servants have had with Charlotte Street Partners since January 2014 and what was discussed at each meeting.

Answer · John Swinney: Information on all ministerial engagements is published on the Scottish Government website at: http://www.gov.scot/About/People/14944/Events-Engagements The other information requested is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate co…

10 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether special advisers and civil servants are allowed to go straight into other employment as lobbyists without a break in employment.

Answer · John Swinney: The Business Appointment Rules apply to all civil servants including special advisers and are designed to uphold the civil service's core values and avoid any cause for public concern, criticism or misinterpretation over the appointment of former civil servan…

10 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether delayed discharges across Lothian are increasing and, if so, for what reason.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-30733 on 22 March 2016, which shows the trend in delayed discharges across Lothian over the last year. As this chart shows, significant progress has been made by the partnership since September 2015, when there…

10 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many delayed discharges there have been in Lothian in each month from January 2015.

Answer · Shona Robison: Table 1 shows the number of delayed discharges in NHS Lothian at each monthly census snapshot from January 2015 to February 2016. Table 1. Number of delayed discharges at the census snapshot; NHS Lothian (Board of treatment) Month 2015 2015 2015 2015 2…

10 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what efficiencies NHS Lothian plans to introduce in light of its budget deficit in 2016-17.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Lothian is due to submit a 2016-17 financial plan, including efficiency savings plans, as part of the local delivery planning process in advance of 1 April 2016. A key component of the financial plan will be efficiency savings, which not only contribute t…

10 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport has had discussions with NHS Lothian regarding its budget deficit for 2016-17.

Answer · Shona Robison: All NHS board financial plans for 2016-17, including NHS Lothian, are due to be submitted before the start of the financial year on 1 April 2016. Once received, the plan will then be reviewed and discussed with NHS Lothian as part of our on-going planning and…

10 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport has exchanged correspondence with local MSPs in relation to paediatric services in Lothian.

Answer · Shona Robison: I wrote to Angela Constance MSP, and Fiona Hyslop MSP, on 9 October 2015. Copies of these letters have previously been forwarded to you by Scottish Government officials under a Freedom of Information request.

10 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport has had with local MSPs to discuss paediatric services in Lothian.

Answer · Shona Robison: Paediatrics feature as part of the my regular meetings with local MSPs.

10 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport has had with NHS Lothian to discuss paediatric services in Lothian.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government and NHS Lothian have held regular discussions on its paediatric services for a number of years.

10 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reduce the number of delayed discharges in Lothian.

Answer · Shona Robison: We have, in particular, been working with the City of Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership, and we have allocated an additional £2 million to the partnership, with an agreement to reduce the level of delayed discharges significantly by May 2016. To re…

10 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what research (a) it and (b) other public bodies have carried out and are carrying out in relation to fracking.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-30628 on 23 March 2016. 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 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received any correspondence from, and held any dialogue or meetings with, Charlotte Street Partners on behalf of any fracking companies in relation to fracking.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has had no contact from Charlotte Street Partners in relation to fracking.

10 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the minutes of all meetings that it has had with INEOS since May 2011.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-30723 on 22 March 2016. 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 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of meetings that (a) ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) civil servants have had with representatives of INEOS since May 2011.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Information on ministerial meetings is routinely published on the Scottish Government website, and can be found at: http://www.gov.scot/About/People/14944/Events-Engagements/MinisterialEngagements/MinisterialEngagements

10 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the minutes of all meetings that it has had with (a) fracking companies and their representatives and (b) fracking trade associations since May 2011.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-30721 on 22 March 2016. 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 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of meetings that (a) ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) civil servants have had with (i) fracking companies or representatives acting on their behalf and (ii) fracking trade associations since May 2011.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is committed to engaging widely with our stakeholders on unconventional oil and gas. During the course of the consultation we will engage with communities, environmental organisations and industry in an open and balanced way. Inform…

10 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much (a) it and (b) other public bodies has/have spent on research on fracking.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-30628 on 23 March 2016. 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…

9 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) correspondence and (b) discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the reported provision of inappropriate accommodation for asylum seekers in Scotland and whether it will publish any such correspondence.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners’ Rights wrote to the Home Secretary about allegations of inappropriate accommodation provision for asylum seekers on 10 February and 8 March 2016. The UK Immigration Minister responded to th…

9 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has the power under section 101(7) of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 to halt widening of asylum dispersal in Scotland and whether it has any power in relation to companies alleged to be involved in mistreating asylum seekers in Scotland.

Answer · Alex Neil: Asylum is a matter reserved to the UK Government. The Scottish Government does not have powers in relation to companies holding Home Office contracts to provide services to asylum seekers in Scotland. The Scottish Government is aware that the Home Office i…

9 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what record it keeps of the mortality rates at care homes.

Answer · Shona Robison: All care homes are required to notify the Care Inspectorate of any death of a resident and inspectors use these notifications to identify whether there is cause for concern requiring further action, either because the mortality rate for that service is unexpe…

8 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what response it has had from the Home Secretary to its request for the Pitchford inquiry into undercover policing to cover Scotland.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Discussions with the Home Office are ongoing.

29 Feb 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to no downgrading or closure of the children's ward at St John’s Hospital in Livingston.

25 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether all NHS boards have written to every patient who has had a mesh procedure to alert them to the Scottish Government's concerns.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-30106 on 8 March 2016. 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/Apps2/Business/P…