Alex Rowley

13 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address child poverty. 

Answer · Aileen Campbell: We are taking a broad range of action to reduce child poverty as set out in our first Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan, published in March 2018. The first annual progress report outlining the action taken in 2018-19, and progress against the targets in t…

13 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what initiatives it plans to address the reported predicted rise in the levels of child poverty.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: As set out in response to question S5W-23556 on 11 June 2019, the Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan notes that, if no action were taken, levels of child poverty in Scotland could rise to affect one in three children by 2030. The independent analysis behind…

28 May 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the climate emergency, what action it is taking to act on the recommendations of the Committee on Climate Change to deliver low-carbon infrastructure and homes.

22 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in finding a solution in relation to the removal of waste materials dumped at the M90 Commerce Park at Lathalmond in Fife.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has advised that it met with the landowner in December 2018 to discuss possible clearance of the material from the site. During this meeting the landowner expressed a willingness to explore options for removal…

21 May 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to tackle rising levels of child poverty.

7 May 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on when the reports on the operation of the Fife Ethylene Plant at Mossmorran by SEPA and the Health and Safety Executive will be published.

26 Mar 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in addressing the deficit that was built into the Fife Health and Social Care Partnership when it was established.

20 Mar 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Shelter Scotland report, Housing is a human right.

12 Mar 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what support it is providing in response to the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. 

12 Feb 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the level of service experienced by users of ScotRail services on the Fife Circle.

11 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of the potential impact of Brexit on science sector jobs.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government has undertaken an analysis of the long term impact that Brexit could have on different sectors of the Scottish economy. A summary of this modelling work was published in the latest State of the Economy report, released on 13 February 2…

6 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it is spending in mitigating the UK Government's welfare reforms.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government is investing £127 million in 2018-19 to mitigate the worst impacts of UK Government welfare reforms and to support those on low incomes. Of this over £100 million is invested to directly mitigate against the impact of welfare reforms o…

5 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the reported shortfall in cancer diagnostic staff, and what its longer term workforce strategy is for maintaining levels of diagnostic staff.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: We increased the numbers of radiology trainees by 26 between 2014 and 2017. In 2017 the Cabinet Secretary announced an additional £3 million for a further increase in the number of radiology trainees in Scotland by at least another 50 by 2022. We are investi…

31 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its report, Fuel Poverty: Scottish Government response to working group reports, whether it will confirm which of the recommendations that were made by the Scottish Rural Fuel Poverty Task Force in the report, Delivering affordable warmth in rural Scotland: action plan, it h…

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government’s response to reports by the Scottish Fuel Poverty Strategic Working Group and Scottish Rural Fuel Poverty Task Force set out the range of actions underway to address the recommendation they made. Since then we have put in place furthe…

15 Jan 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in advancing the case and funding for a new Levenmouth rail link.

14 Jan 2019 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what impact reductions to local government budgets could have on the National Performance Framework.

8 Jan 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for the single farm payment scheme post-Brexit.

17 Dec 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to analysis by COSLA, which suggests that the 2019-20 Local Government Settlement will result in a £237 million reduction to the core revenue budget and a decrease in the core capital budget of £17 million.

12 Dec 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many integration joint boards have projected an overspend for 2018-19.

6 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that ministers have excluded themselves from open public sessions at NHS annual reviews and are attending private sessions only.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-20439 on 11 December 2018. 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/parliamentarybusin…

6 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what changes it has made in the last year to the format for NHS annual reviews.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: There is no change to the core purpose of Annual Reviews, which is to hold NHS Boards to account. All 14 territorial Boards will receive a Ministerial Review, as well as the majority of Special Boards. Ministers continue to have separate meetings with the Ar…

4 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5T-01371 by Michael Matheson on 4 December 2018 (Official Report, c. 3), what action is being taken by ScotRail in response to reports of an increase in the scale and frequency of (a) overcrowding and (b) cancellations on the Fife Circle; what work it …

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Member will be aware that the industrial action over rest day working impacted significantly on ScotRail’s recent performance on the Fife Circle, notably the level of cancellations which subsequently impacted on overcrowded services. You will be pleased t…

20 Nov 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the UK's exit from the EU to ensure that Scotland is promoted as a destination for economic migration.

7 Nov 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the salmon industry's reported plan to expand production by up to 400,000 tonnes by 2030 is economically and ecologically viable.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government remains absolutely committed to an aquaculture policy and regulatory framework that enables sustainable growth while maintaining our economic, environmental and social responsibilities. Within the Strategic Plan for farming Scotland’s…

25 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government in which countries in the (a) EU and (b) rest of the world it has an office, broken down by the (i) annual running cost of and (ii) number of staff employed by each office.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government’s network of offices outside the UK are currently located in: (a) Belgium, Ireland, Germany and France, and, (b) China, USA and Canada The annual budget for each location, as included in the 2018-19 Draft Budget, and number of Scott…

24 Sep 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the teacher-pupil ratio or class sizes in primary schools has an impact on learning outcomes.

28 Aug 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many contracts for the manufacture of renewable technologies have been awarded to Scottish-based companies in the last five years and what the total value is of these.

26 Jul 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that Lochgelly Medical Practice has been unsuccessful in filling vacant posts or recruiting enough locum GPs to ensure that all vacated sessions are provided for, what steps it is taking to ensure that the town has adequate health provision.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: NHS Fife are aware of the current GP vacancies within the Lochgelly Medical Centre. Dr Cattanach, who owns the practice regularly attends a short life working group with the Health Board to alert them to any short term support required by the practice. There …

24 Jul 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it undertakes to ensure that there is publicity and a public consultation is carried out as part of the consideration of a request to extend the period within which an electricity generating station or overhead electricity line project must commence when it has previously b…

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: There are no statutory requirements set out, in the Electricity Act 1989, to undertake public consultation as part of the consideration of a request to extend the period within which an electricity generating station or overhead electricity line project must …

24 Jul 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what procedure is followed in response to a request to extend the period within which an electricity generating station or overhead electricity line project must commence when it has previously been granted consent under section 36 or 37 of the Electricity Act 1989.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The procedure followed in response to the circumstances specified is that a consultation is undertaken with key consultees to consider those environmental issues already taken into account in both the original application and environmental statement. Followin…