Neil Bibby

28 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the annual maintenance and repair costs have been for each ferry in the CalMac fleet in each year since 2010.

Answer · Graeme Dey: CalMac invests significantly in vessel maintenance. Each vessel is taken out of service annually to undergo an established programme of inspection and maintenance activities. This includes planned maintenance, preventative maintenance, repair and certificatio…

28 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what communication it has had with (a) Ferguson Marine and (b) Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) since December 2020 regarding completion dates for (i) MV Glen Sannox and (ii) Hull 802.

Answer · Kate Forbes: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-01104 on ? 13 July 2021 which is available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/ormain.aspx The Scottish Government are …

28 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve the reliability of CalMac crossings to Arran in advance of summer 2022.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government is committed to maintaining and improving the reliability of lifeline ferry services that play a key role in supporting the economic, social and cultural development of island and remote communities - including the Arran service. We c…

28 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is developing the skills base required for further ferry replacement projects at the shipbuilding yards on the Lower Clyde.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Ferguson Marine have strong links with the local college and have a thriving apprentice community. The yard currently have five apprentices who will complete their training this summer, and a further twenty four who will shortly be moving up into their second…

7 Jun 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans for National Towns of Culture.

1 Jun 2021 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will consider issuing a formal apology to the historic victims of forced adoption.

17 Mar 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what resources it has provided for investment in the West College Scotland campus.

15 Mar 2021 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it and Police Scotland are ensuring that women are protected from harassment and violence.

11 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact on (a) Hunterston and Torness power stations and (b) EDF Renewables of the reported EU plan to break-up EDF, and what discussions it has had or plans with (i) the UK Government, (ii) EDF and (iii) the EU regarding this.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government is in regular contact with EDF regarding its nuclear and renewable operations and plans in Scotland, and will use those continued engagements to hear more about any effects that any restructuring of the company might have on its Scotti…

3 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what public funding it has provided to Rolls Royce, and what associated provisions or requirements were placed on any funding.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Information regarding account management support provided by Scottish Enterprise is an operational matter for that agency. I have asked the agency’s Chief Executive to respond to you directly.  

25 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that people with learning disabilities who are living in supported accommodation will receive the COVID-19 vaccination as part of priority group 6, and when this group will begin to be vaccinated.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: We understand that many people with mild and moderate Learning/Intellectual disabilities will be eligible for priority group 6 due to underlying health conditions. We believe our more straightforward approach of inviting everyone with a learning disability f…

24 Feb 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the finance secretary had with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in advance of setting the health expenditure in its 2021-22 Budget.

17 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been provided to each further education college as a result of the 2017 college sector estates condition survey.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Of the annual capital funding allocation provided, each college received backlog and lifecycle maintenance as detailed in Tables A & B. The first column lists funding allocated to address the very high and high priority backlog maintenance identified by the 2…

17 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much capital investment there has been in each further education college in each year since 2007.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Since 2007 [i] the Scottish Government has invested £823 million in the college estates [ii]. This investment, broken down by college, is noted in the following table. Since 2012-13 a further £330 million has been invested through Non-Profit Distribution (NP…

9 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the "digital platform to record vaccinations" that it plans to develop, as outlined in its draft Budget, will allow for the deployment of an effective and secure health passport system as part of its response to COVID-19.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: We continue to engage in international developments in relation to Coronavirus (COVID-19), including on the issue of vaccine certification. These discussions are led by the World Health Organisation and include consideration of technical details, ethical and…

9 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it plans to develop a "digital platform to record vaccinations", as outlined in its draft Budget, and how it plans to utilise the data collected from the platform.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The digital platform to record vaccinations has been commissioned to NHS NSS. The system will record COVID19 vaccinations and the data will be used to inform the decisions of clinicians, organisation of second doses of COVID19 vaccinations and any other futur…

14 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the average waiting time for (a) cataract, (b) glaucoma, (c) age-related macular degeneration and (d) other ophthalmology treatments has been in each month since March 2019, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government does not hold data on sub speciality of ophthalmology. The following table shows TTG ophthalmology ongoing waits from 31 March 2019 to 30 September 2020, on a quarterly basis: NHS Board of treatment 31-03-2019 30-06-2019 30-09-201…

14 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) did not attend and (b) cannot attend appointments for (i) cataract, (ii) glaucoma, (iii) age-related macular degeneration and (iv) other ophthalmology treatments have been recorded by each NHS board in each month since March 2019.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Data on Ophthalmology sub specialities are not held by the Scottish Government The following table shows ophthalmology treatment could not attend (CNA) and did not attend (DNA) rates from 31 March 2019 to 30 September 2020. NHS Board of treatment Indicator…

5 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what priority will be given to supermarket workers regarding the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccination programme.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: We are thankful to all the supermarket workers across the country for their continued hard work to ensure that our communities and individuals have access to food supplies especially during these challenging times. But all decisions to prioritise one populat…

5 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the transmission rate of the COVID-19 variant, whether the number of people allowed in supermarkets at any one time will be reduced to allow for greater social distancing.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government continues to monitor the transmission of Covid-19, including in retail settings. In light of the transmission rate of the new variant of COVID-19 we have taken steps to strengthen our guidance on the operation of retail settings. Un…

5 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to monitor the prevalence of COVID-19 (a) in supermarkets and (b) among supermarket staff.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government participates in the Defra Food Resilience Forum where there has been regular reporting of the absence across the whole of the food and drink sector, including supermarkets. Information is also collected on outbreaks so we are able to i…

5 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, how often deep cleaning should take place in supermarkets.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government recommend that to keep the workplace clean and prevent transmission, frequent, for example at least twice a day, cleaning and sanitising ( with appropriate products ) work areas and equipment between uses. Ensure regular detergent cl…

5 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, what measures it is taking to ensure that supermarkets are safe for staff and customers.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Scottish Government has produced detail sector guidance for retail which covers procedures for staff and customer safety. This guidance emphasises the need to assess risk for your business and has an operations checklist with actions for retailers, for exam…

14 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the use of documented infection and vaccination status for COVID-19 via a health passport would allow spectators to safely attend Hampden for the 2021 UEFA Euro finals.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the response provided for S5W-34041 on 23 December 2020, which sets out planning considerations for UEFA EURO 2020 at Hampden in June and July 2021. Regarding health or immunity passports, there are not something that the Scottish Govern…

14 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the use of (a) health passports to verify COVID-19 vaccinations or recent negative tests and (b) mobilising mass COVID-19 testing to allow the safe return of spectators to football stadia.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government is not currently considering ‘health passports’ to verify negative tests and vaccine, or mobilising mass testing to allow the safe return of spectators to football stadia. In addition to ethical considerations, there are practical issu…

14 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what planning it has carried out to allow spectators to safely attend Hampden for the 2021 UEFA Euro finals.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government is working closely with our event partners, the Scottish FA, Glasgow City Council, Police Scotland and EventScotland, on preparation for the UEFA EURO 2020 matches at Hampden in June and July 2021. In response to the Covid situation we…

7 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the prevalence of COVID-19 is among the Pakistani community, and how this compares with (a) other BAME groups and (b) the overall population.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to S5W-33876 on 11 January 2021. 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/28877.a…

7 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what proportion of people from the Pakistani community have been tested for COVID-19 in each month since March 2020, also broken down by how many have (i) tested positive, (ii) been admitted to hospital and (iii) died because of the condition, and how this compares w…

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Public Health Scotland first published an analysis of the variation in outcomes by ethnic group among those tested positive for COVID-19 on 20 May. Updates using more complete data on ethnicity were published on 15 July, 12 August and 2 December. The analysis…

3 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on campaigns by students to end university graduation fees, and what action it will take to ensure that no student faces financial barriers to graduating.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Graduation is an important moment in a student’s life and a chance to celebrate their achievements and hard work paying off. As autonomous institutions, it is for each university to decide its own policy on graduation fees. The Scottish Government provided e…

2 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the reported increases in waiting times and delays for eye care treatment, including cataract surgery, are being managed across ophthalmology services to prevent avoidable sight loss.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-33690 on 7 January 2021. This answer provides detail of what initiatives are being put in place to support Ophthalmology across NHS Scotland. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the…