Parliamentary questions

Graeme Pearson

335 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

16 Mar 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to engage with survivors on contested issues relating to the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.

24 Feb 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be of offering additional training places for GPs in light of reports that 20% of such places were unfilled in August 2015.

Answer · Shona Robison: The additional 100 GP training places is one of a number of actions we are taking to make GP training and a career in general practice more attractive. It signals our commitment to developing the medical workforce we need to deliver our vision for high qualit…

23 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there are guidelines for the time at which hospital patients should be woken in the morning and, if so, what these are.

Answer · Shona Robison: There is no specific NHS Scotland guidance on waking-up times, this would depend on a range of factors, such as the need to prescribe medication, meal times and observations. The Charter of Patient Rights and Responsibilities includes the right that a patien…

11 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government further to the answers to questions S4W-25353, S4W-26131, S4W-27521 and S4W-28458 by John Swinney on 7 May, 7 July, 29 September and 2 December 2015 respectively, whether it will provide the information that was requested and confirm on what date it will publish the responses to the cons…

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-28458 on 2 December 2015. I will provide to Parliament our analysis of the consultation in due course. Any delay has been caused by our wish to give full and proper consideration to the responses received, opt…

11 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-05548 by John Swinney on 10 February 2016, for what reason it did not address the issue raised in the question regarding whether the reduction in its 2016-17 draft budget would be offset by setting the Scottish rate of income tax at 11p and whether …

Answer · John Swinney: On 11 February 2016, the Scottish Parliament agreed that the Scottish rate of income tax for the tax year 2016-17 will be 10 per cent. This is part of the funding which supports the delivery of the balanced Scottish Budget for 2016-17 which was agreed by the …

10 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many vulnerable witnesses have been granted special measures while giving evidence, in particular pre-recorded evidence, in each year since the enabling legislative provisions were introduced.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Information on the use of special measures is not held centrally but has been made available by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS). While applications for special measures have been recorded since 2005, full figures for special measures granted…

10 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to lay regulations for the introduction of a victim surcharge.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Regulations to enable the introduction of the victim surcharge, including details as to how it will operate and the circumstances in which a surcharge is to be imposed, will be laid during the next Parliament. The exact timing will be informed by on-going pre…

9 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the projected outturn on childcare is for (a) 2015-16 and (b) 2016-17.

Answer · Angela Constance: A projected outturn is not yet available for either 2015-16 or 2016-17. Projected outturn figures are provided by local authorities and cover the most recently ended financial year. The latest projected outturn estimates were supplied in May 2015 and cover…

9 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the (a) capital and (b) revenue allocations to local authorities under the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 have increased or decreased from 2015-16 to 2016-17.

Answer · Angela Constance: Overall, the Scottish Government allocated local authorities £170 million to cover the capital requirements for early learning and childcare under the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014. As agreed with COSLA, this funding was paid out as follows: £…

3 Feb 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the reduction in its 2016-17 draft budget would be offset by setting the Scottish rate of income tax at 11p.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has set out a balanced budget for 2016-17 which reflects its proposal to set the Scottish rate of income tax at 10p, and, therefore, not impose a tax increase on the lowest income taxpayers across Scotland.

27 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner to (a) complete and (b) submit its report into the deaths of John Yuill and Lamara Bell in July 2015, and when it will publish its response to the commissioner.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Police Investigations and Review Commissioner submitted an interim report to the Lord Advocate on 30 November 2015. It is a matter for the commissioner to complete and submit the final report.

27 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the Lord Advocate has had with the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner regarding the deaths of John Yuill and Lamara Bell in July 2015.

Answer · Frank Mulholland QC: The Lord Advocate meets regularly with the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC) and has discussed the deaths of John Yuill and Lamara Bell with her at those meetings. PIRC submitted an interim report in relation to the deaths on 30 November …

27 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-29322 by Michael Matheson on 27 January 2016, whether it will provide a full breakdown of the orders that are available to the Crown Office.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-29322 on 27 January 2016. The court can make the following orders in relation to a person convicted of being involved in organized crime: Confiscation order – an order requiring a person convicted of a crimina…

26 Jan 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of the effect of the reduction in fuel poverty and energy efficiency funding in the Draft Budget 2016-17 on its ability to meet its statutory fuel poverty and housing climate change targets.

25 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there have been changes to the funding arrangements for Scotland’s Employer Recruitment Incentive and, if so, whether this relates to EU funding.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scotland's Employer Recruitment Incentive was paused to new starts on 4 December 2015. Those currently on the programme will be fully supported throughout their 12 month participation. The pause is in no way related to EU funding.

14 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures are available to Scottish courts to monitor the finances of someone convicted of being involved in organised crime.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Scottish courts, in themselves, do not have any powers to monitor the finances of individuals convicted of being involved in organised crime. However, the Crown Office can apply to the court, following investigation and the gathering of evidence, to make or …

14 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many Orders for Lifelong Restriction have been issued since they were introduced.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Based on data provided by the Risk Management Authority as at 21 January 2016, there have been 151 Orders for Lifelong Restriction imposed since they were introduced.

12 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many illegal drug seizures there were in prisons between 1999 and 2015, broken down by drug classification; how many were reported to the police, and how many convictions there were.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows: “The following table illustrates the number of drug finds recorded each financial year from April 2001; suspected substances recovered…

11 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many punishments have been imposed on prisoners in each prison in each year since 1999, also broken down by punishment.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: “Tables showing the punishments imposed at orderly rooms broken down by establishment, year and punishment have been lodged with the Scottis…

16 Dec 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to reduce the number of prisoners having to travel across the country to attend court.

14 Dec 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-28751 by Michael Matheson on 10 December 2015, how many Scottish Prison Service staff have been employed in the qualified instructor group in each year since 2011, broken down by prison.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows: “I refer to the responses to S4W-28746 and S4W-28750 where the number of staff employed in the qualified instructor group in each year…

8 Dec 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) homicides, (b) culpable homicides, (c) attempted homicides, (d) inmate-on-inmate assaults and (e) inmate-on-prison officer assaults have been recorded in each prison in each year since 1999.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows: “The information requested is not available from the Prisoner Record System (PR2) prior to 2001. The SPS reporting system records staf…

8 Dec 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) deaths by suicide, (b) attempted suicides and (c) incidences of self-harm have been recorded in each prison in each year since 1999.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows: “The SPS hold data in relation to (a) deaths by suicide from 2005. The following table details the information requested: Deaths by S…

8 Dec 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many inmates have died in each prison in each year since 1999.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows: “The Scottish Prison Service hold data for 10 years, therefore we have provided figures on all deaths in custody from 2005 to October …

3 Dec 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has cost to appoint a new Chief Constable and whether it will provide a breakdown of spending.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The appointment of the Chief Constable is a matter for the Scottish Police Authority and information on any costs for the appointment process will be held by them.