Parliamentary questions
Drew Smith
636 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
8 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the recommendations of the Expert Working Group on Welfare will be fully costed.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-12103 on 17 January 2013. 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/parliamentar…
8 Jan 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the audit of waiting lists for colleges will be published.
7 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde will report on the findings of its review of the fall in the number of pregnancies arising from IVF treatment at the Glasgow Assisted Conception Unit between September and November 2012 and when this will be made public.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This is a matter for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to respond to.
7 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider making the offer of three courses of IVF treatment standard across all NHS boards.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The National Infertility Group was set up in April 2010 to address the inequity of access to IVF treatment across Scotland. The Group will submit its report, which will include a recommendation on the number of IVF treatment cycles, to Ministers by the end of…
17 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assistance its agencies provide to support training for long-term unemployed people engaged in the Department for Work and Pensions Work Programme.
Answer · Angela Constance: In order to avoid duplication of funding for single episodes of learning, and in order to maximise the number of individuals supported, Scottish Government Agencies do not fund training for long term unemployed people already engaged in the Department for Wor…
17 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what correspondence or discussions it has had with the (a) Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and (b) Scotland Office about the budget for training as part of the DWP Work Programme.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government (SG) employability funding is focussed on the period of unemployment prior to eligibility for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Work Programme. This approach ensures that there is no duplication of funding between SG and DWP f…
17 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what contribution it makes to the costs of training for those participating in the Department for Work and Pensions Work Programme.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has given Work Programme contracted service providers complete autonomy to decide how best to support participants. The Scottish Government does not contribute to the costs of training for those participating in the …
6 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many of (a) its and (b) its agencies' employees are offered private health insurance as part of their remuneration package, broken down by (i) directorate and (ii) agency.
Answer · John Swinney: Employees of the Scottish Government and senior civil servants are not offered private health insurance as part of their remuneration package. Scottish Government is defined for these purposes as the core directorates, and the following agencies and associat…
6 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) women and (b) couples wait longer than 12 months for fertility treatment, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This information is not currently collected centrally. The Scottish Government is committed to a maximum 12 month waiting time for IVF, and has recently announced investment of £12 million over the next three years to help NHS boards meet this commitment, fo…
5 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what communication it has had with the Israeli (a) Government or (b) Embassy following the recent visit to Edinburgh of the Israeli Ambassador to the UK and what meetings or contact have taken place or been arranged by the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism or his officials.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The First Minister held a courtesy meeting with Mr Daniel Taub, Israel’s Ambassador to the UK on 24 October. The Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism, Fergus Ewing met with Noah Shani, the Israeli Embassy’s Minister for Trade and Economic Affairs in Lo…
5 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many vacancies there are for consultant oncologists in each NHS board.
Answer · Alex Neil: The total number of consultant oncologist vacancies in NHS Scotland whole time equivalent (WTE) and headcount as at 30 September 2012 is shown in the following table. Table 1. Total Vacancies as at 30th September 2012 NHS Board Oncology Total Vacancies…
5 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many vacancies for consultant oncologists the NHS has advertised in each year since 2007 and how many posts have been filled.
Answer · Alex Neil: The information requested on how many of the posts have been filled is not held centrally. Vacancy figures as reported on the ISD Scotland website are given in the following tables. The total number of consultant oncologist vacancies in NHS Scotland whole tim…
5 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) oncologists and (b) specialist cancer nurses the NHS has employed in each year since 2007.
Answer · Alex Neil: The number of a) oncologists and b) specialist cancer nurses employed in NHS Scotland each year since 2007 are shown in the following tables: Table 1. The number of Medical and Clinical Oncologist staff in post in NHS Scotland (WTE) WTE Sep-07 Sep-08 Sep…
19 Nov 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding has been allocated for colleges for 2013-14 and 2014-15.
7 Nov 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what value it places on high-quality, well-supported nursing care.
Answer · Alex Neil : The highest value. Whatever the setting, care should be provided to the highest standards of quality and safety, with the person at the centre of all decisions. The dedicated health and care professionals of the NHS, not least our nurses, are key to achieving…
24 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the documentary film, You’ve Been Trumped.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: In terms of planning issues, the enforcement of planning conditions is a matter for the planning authority. Policing issues are a matter for the appropriate Chief Constable.
22 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what use the NHS makes of scalp coolers to treat patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Answer · Alex Neil: Information is not collected or held centrally on the use of scalp coolers. Decisions about the use of appropriate treatment(s) is a matter for individuals in discussion with the clinician responsible for their care. For patients undergoing chemotherapy this …
22 Oct 2012 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what steps the Scottish Government is taking to address poverty.
16 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what income it has received as a result of the UK Government's digital strategy; what Barnett consequentials it has received arising from UK Government digital expenditure, and what use it has made of these resources.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government has secured over £240 million to deliver next generation broadband across Scotland. Of this, £100.8 million has been committed from Broadband Delivery UK, the UK Government’s broadband delivery arm; and £68.2 million has been allocated…
15 Oct 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what importance it places on quality career guidance for young people.
15 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review its decision not to support an application from Renfrewshire Council and Glasgow Airport for tax incremental financing.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is supportive of a limited number of pilot projects to test applicability of TIF to Scottish circumstances and has brought forward regulations to allow Ministers to agree up to six TIF pilot projects. When Scottish Futures Trust, at t…
15 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will list the (a) recipients and (b) amounts of payments made in relation to the schools network, Glow, since 2007.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government contract for Glow is with RM Education plc. Since 2007 the value of payments to RM has been £29,078 million (excluding VAT). In addition, between Education Scotland and the Scottish Government, £11.59 million (excluding VAT) has been p…
15 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the proportion of school pupils who have access to (a) tablet, (b) laptop and (c) desktop devices (i) in school and (ii) at home.
Answer · Michael Russell: As part of a bandwidth survey conducted by Education Scotland during late 2011, local authorities were asked to provide details of the number of devices that were available in schools. Not all responded with this information. Information obtained from those t…
15 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the proportion of school pupils who have access to super fast broadband (a) in school and (b) at home.
Answer · Michael Russell: During late 2011, a bandwidth survey was conducted by Education Scotland. Summary of findings can be obtained from: https://wikis.glowscotland.org.uk/0000250/Interconnect_Utilisation/Schools_Bandwidth_Survey/2011. Information on proportion of school pupils …
15 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether its replacement for the schools network, Glow, will include social network functionality or access to websites such as YouTube.
Answer · Michael Russell: No decisions have been taken about the functionality of the Glow replacement service. The ICT in Education Excellence Group has been tasked with scoping the long-term user-centred future of Glow and will report in December 2012.
15 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many schools no longer use the Glow network.
Answer · Michael Russell: Monthly statistics on Glow availability, benefits, services and usage can be found here http://j.mp/PufDxV.
15 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it (a) has spent in each of the last three years and (b) will spend in 2013-14 on extending high speed broadband access to schools.
Answer · Michael Russell: Local authorities are responsible for the connections to schools within their boundaries. However, Education Scotland funds Interconnect, the high speed education broadband network connecting all Scottish Local Authorities and key education sites. Investment …
15 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when a replacement for the schools network, Glow, will be operational.
Answer · Michael Russell: The migration to Microsoft Office 365 will be completed by December 2013.
15 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on the replacement of the schools network, Glow.
Answer · Michael Russell: The contract with RM Education plc for the existing GLOW services was extended from 15 September 2012 to 15 December 2013 at a value of £5.5m ex VAT. Monthly payments of approximately £367,000 ex VAT are made. During the period of the contract extension, core…
15 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what evaluation it has made of the approaches being taken by local authorities to internet filtering in schools.
Answer · Michael Russell: There has been no evaluation carried out by the Scottish Government or Education Scotland of the approaches being taken by local authorities to internet filtering in schools.