Parliamentary questions
Neil Findlay
2,296 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
6 Mar 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there is an independent healthcare regulator and, if not, what consideration it has given to establishing one.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20053 on 17 March 2014. 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/parliamentary…
6 Mar 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the role and remit is of Health Improvement Scotland.
Answer · Alex Neil: The role of Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) is to further improvement in the quality of healthcare provided by NHSScotland and independent healthcare services. They support healthcare providers to deliver high quality, evidence-based, safe, effective an…
6 Mar 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what independent regulatory mechanisms the NHS has and what its position is on establishing new mechanisms.
Answer · Alex Neil: Audit Scotland provides the Auditor General and the Accounts Commission with the services they need to check that public money is spent properly, efficiently and effectively. On this basis Audit Scotland is a public sector ‘regulator’ which includes responsib…
3 Mar 2014 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister when the waiting time standard of 98% of patients being seen and admitted, transferred or discharged from accident and emergency departments within four hours was last met across the whole country.
27 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Transport Scotland has asked ScotRail not to award bonus payments if the service delivered to meet the demands of the Commonwealth Games is successfully delivered and, if so, for what reason.
Answer · Keith Brown: As industrial relations are a matter for ScotRail and the unions, Transport Scotland has not made any representations to ScotRail with regard to bonus payments or remuneration in relation to delivering rail services for the Commonwealth Games.
27 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much additional funding Transport Scotland has given ScotRail to operate services during the Commonwealth Games.
Answer · Keith Brown: Transport Scotland and ScotRail are close to agreeing a contract to manage the overall funding package for the provision of additional services and extra carriages required during the games fortnight. Any relevant additional funding will be provided by Transp…
27 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings Transport Scotland has had with ScotRail to discuss services during the Commonwealth Games; when these took place, and who attended.
Answer · Keith Brown: Transport Scotland met with ScotRail to discuss services during the Commonwealth Games on the following occasions: 30 May 2013 14 June 2013 4 July 2013 9 August 2013 25 September 2013 7 October 2013 24 October 2013 8 November 2013 22 November 2013 1…
19 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19387 by John Swinney on 19 February 2014, whether it will address the issue raised in the question and provide information on the discussions that it has had with the bodies listed in the question.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19854 on 4 March 2014. 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/parliamentarybusi…
19 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19384 by John Swinney on 19 February 2014, how much it would cost an independent Scotland to set up the services listed and what relevant discussions it has had with the equivalent UK body.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has outlined its position on these issues in Scotland’s Future, which is the most comprehensive blueprint for an independent country ever published. The guide sets out the case for independence and outlines the journey, following a yes…
31 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered changing the legal status of unincorporated associations since 2007 and, if so, what action it took.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government is aware of the issues resulting from the current legal framework on unincorporated associations and is grateful to the Scottish Law Commission (SLC) for their 2009 report on this matter which recommended that unincorporated associatio…
31 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to change the legal status of unincorporated associations.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The law concerning unincorporated associations is reserved to Westminster and any changes to the legal status of unincorporated associations would require legislation passed by the United Kingdom Parliament. The Scottish Government will continue to work with …
31 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on a member of an unincorporated association being unable to take legal action against the association.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The law, as it stands, does not allow a member of an unincorporated association to take legal action against the association. The Scottish Law Commission (SLC) recommended that unincorporated associations, which satisfy certain statutory conditions, should be…
31 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the legal status of unincorporated associations is satisfactory.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Law Commission (SLC) recommended in 2009 on their report on this matter that unincorporated associations, which satisfy certain statutory conditions should be accorded separate legal personality, as the current law is not satisfactory. The Scotti…
31 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had since 2007 with (a) the UK Government and (b) others regarding unincorporated associations.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has been in contact with both the UK Government and the Scottish Law Commission on this issue. The Scottish Government will continue to liaise with UK Government to ensure that any legislation concerning unincorporated associations is …
29 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the cost was of holding the recent Cabinet meeting at the Regal Community Theatre in Bathgate.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The cost of holding the recent Cabinet meeting at the Regal Community Theatre in Bathgate was £7,572.45.
27 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, (b) the UK Space Agency, (c) the European Space Agency, (d) NHS Blood and Transplant, (e) the Royal Mint and (f) Research Councils UK regarding how (i) much it would cost and (ii) long it would …
Answer · John Swinney: For information about the proposals of the Scottish Government in these areas I would refer Mr Findlay to the following relevant sections in the publication ‘Scotland’s Future’: http://82.113.138.107/00439021.pdf the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulat…
27 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how (a) much it would cost and (b) long it would take to set up a (i) motor services, (ii) security and intelligence, (iii) rail regulation, (iv) civil aviation and air traffic control, (v) immigration and asylum, (vi) passport, (vii) tribunal, (viii) industrial relations and (ix) health…
Answer · John Swinney: For information about the proposals of the Scottish Government in these areas I would refer Mr Findlay to the following relevant sections in the publication ‘Scotland’s Future’: http://82.113.138.107/00439021.pdf Motor services Chapter 3, Pages 130 and 131…
24 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many inmates there are at HMP Addiewell and what the proportion is of healthcare staff to inmates.
Answer · Alex Neil: HMP Addiewell holds an average of 680-700 prisoners. There are 12 registered general nurses, 8 registered mental health nurses covering mental health & addictions, 7 healthcare support workers, 4 senior manager positions, 2 pharmacy technicians and 2 admin s…
23 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many healthcare staff work at each prison, broken down by (a) day of the week and (b) profession.
Answer · Alex Neil: Information on numbers of healthcare staff at each prison broken down by (a) day of the week and (b) profession is not held centrally.
23 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many staff work at HMP Addiewell, broken down by day of the week.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: “The Scottish Prison Service (SPS), on behalf of Scottish Ministers, has a contract with Addiewell Prison Limited for the delivery of servic…
23 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a minimum standard of healthcare that it expects each prison to provide at all times.
Answer · Alex Neil: NHS standards for health care provision now apply to the provision of care within the prison setting. Although there are clear contextual differences between prison and the community in terms of the way healthcare is delivered, the expectation is that the qu…
23 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what minimum standard of training is given to healthcare staff working in each prison.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Health Board Provision of Healthcare in Prisons (Scotland) Directions 2011 contains the following directions from Scottish Ministers to health boards in relation to standards and training. Health boards must ensure that the provision of healthcare meets …
23 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what minimum number of healthcare (a) staff and (b) professions is expected to work at all times in each prison.
Answer · Alex Neil: Information on numbers of healthcare (a) staff and (b) professions and work times in prison settings is not held centrally. The responsibility and accountability for the provision of health care services to prisoners transferred from the Scottish Prison Servi…
16 Dec 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many classroom assistants have been employed in schools in each of the last five years.
12 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS facilities provide onsite rest facilities for on-call staff.
Answer · Alex Neil: There are 50 facilities with onsite rest facilities for on-call staff. In some facilities, if required, additional or adhoc rest rooms are also available for residential on-call staff.
12 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action (a) it is and (b) NHS boards are taking to recruit more junior doctors.
Answer · Alex Neil: NHS boards and NHS Education for Scotland are responsible for recruiting to junior doctor posts, most through national recruitment programmes. In response to concerns about Scotland's attractiveness as a place to train and work in medicine, the Strategy for …
12 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action (a) it is and (b) NHS boards are taking to improve the wellbeing of junior doctors.
Answer · Alex Neil: The working hours of junior doctors are set and controlled by the new deal contract and the working time regulations, both of which set limits of the number of hours a doctor can work, and ensure that minimum periods of rest and time off are adhered too. Th…
12 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action (a) it is and (b) NHS boards are taking to stop the practice of junior doctors working seven consecutive night shifts.
Answer · Alex Neil: Since 2009 the Scottish Government has been advising NHS boards to eliminate the practice of junior doctors working seven nights in a row. Over 97% of rotas in Scotland have now eliminated this practice, with the remainder under review to identify alternative…
12 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken in response to the issues highlighted in the General Medical Council's 2013 National Training Survey.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government welcomes the publication of this important national survey as understanding the views of trainees and trainers is essential to monitoring and improving the quality of postgraduate medical education and training. NHS Education for Scot…
12 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what average hours have been worked by junior doctors in each NHS board area in each of the last six years.
Answer · Alex Neil: Since 1 August 2009 all junior doctor rotas in NHS Scotland have been designed to meet the requirements of the working time regulations, which limits working hours to 48 hours per week on average over a 26 week reference period. Before this, the new deal co…