Richard Leonard

2 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to train operating companies that are proposing to close ticket offices regarding the reported concerns of train passengers, including those travelling to and from Scotland.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-20943 on 26 September 2023. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-comm…

2 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress made in relation to each of the 10 recommendations in the report, Women and girls’ safety on public transport, which was published in March 2023.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Transport Scotland officials have been instructed to take forward plans for engaging with stakeholders on the 10 recommendations from Scottish Government research report ‘Women's and girls' views and experiences of personal safety when using public transport’…

2 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) reduced and (b) extended opening hours are under consideration for any booking offices on the ScotRail network.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: There are no plans to close any ScotRail booking offices, unlike plans from UK Government to close ticket offices operated by its train operators. The importance of staff being deployed appropriately across the network to enhance passenger safety and control …

2 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of new train stations that opened in the parliamentary session (a) from 12 May 1999 to 6 May 2003, (b) 7 May 2003 to 8 May 2003, (c) 9 May 2007 to 10 May 2011, (d) 11 May 2011 to 11 May 2016, (e) 12 May 2016 to 12 May 2021 and (f) 13 May 2021 to date, broke…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. The Member may wish to contact ScotRail Trains Ltd to obtain this information.

2 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans there are for a public consultation to be undertaken regarding staffing requirements at ScotRail (a) train stations and (b) booking offices, now that ScotRail is in public ownership.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: After coming into public ownership, ScotRail has created 24 posts for Revenue Protection Officers whose role is to prevent ticket fraud and provide support at the stations. The number of these posts will rise to 42 in the coming months. There are no plans to…

2 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps have been taken to increase station and booking office staffing levels, including filling all current vacancies, to meet any anticipated increase in passenger usage during the ScotRail peak fares removal pilot.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: ScotRail officials advise that, independently from ScotRail Peak Fares Removal pilot, it is working to reduce the number of current vacancies by introducing a new recruitment method to advertise externally with more general adverts now being used rather than …

2 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how the ScotRail peak fares removal pilot will be monitored and evaluated.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The purpose of the ScotRail Peak Fares Removal pilot is to identify if it helps reduce car use and will make rail travel more affordable and accessible during its six month period and to assess, using standard techniques whether it represents value for money …

12 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what ScotRail’s policy is for dealing with disciplinary matters while employees are absent from work due to mental health conditions.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: ScotRail has confirmed that, where an employee has been off on long-term sickness and has an outstanding disciplinary issue, ScotRail would seek the medical opinion of its external Occupational Health provider, who would provide an independent medical assessm…

12 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support ScotRail offers to staff who are absent from work due to mental health conditions.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: ScotRail confirmed that support for staff members is available from its in-house Occupational Health team and Mental Health Volunteers. Additional support is available to employees through the following: Employee confidential assistance helpline which gives…

12 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether ScotRail requires line managers to support workers with mental health conditions.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: ScotRail is committed to supporting its staff and this is evidenced by its well-established Mental Health Support Policy, which covers all employees. ScotRail’s Line Managers have an important responsibility for the policy and have an extensive Mental Health …

4 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the total (a) number and (b) value of contracts awarded by public corporations to consulting companies in each of the last five fiscal years.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government does not routinely gather or centrally hold information on the total number and value of contracts awarded by public corporations to consulting companies. As public corporations have a degree of independence from central government inf…

4 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the total (a) number and (b) value of contracts awarded by NHS boards to consulting companies in each of the last five fiscal years.

Answer · Michael Matheson: NHS Boards make arrangements for external consultancy support; where this provides value for money and where there is a requirement for specific skills or services that cannot be delivered within existing capacity. The information requested is not collected …

4 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total (a) number and (b) value is of contracts awarded by executive agencies to consulting companies in each of the last five fiscal years.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government does not routinely gather or centrally hold information on the total number and value of contracts awarded by executive agencies to consulting companies. As executive agencies have a degree of independence from central government infor…

4 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the total (a) number and (b) value of contracts awarded by local authorities to consulting companies in each of the last five fiscal years.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Local Authorities may occasionally commission external consulting support where this provides value for money and there is a requirement for a specific skill or service that cannot be delivered within existing capacity. As Local Authorities make their own in…

4 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total (a) number and (b) value is of contracts awarded by non-ministerial offices to consulting companies in each of the last five fiscal years.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government does not routinely gather or centrally hold information on the total number and value of contracts awarded by non-ministerial offices to consulting companies. As non-ministerial offices have a degree of independence from central govern…

4 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total (a) number and (b) value is of contracts that it has awarded to consulting companies in each of the last five fiscal years.

Answer · Tom Arthur: A full breakdown of the total number and value of contracts awarded to consulting companies covering the last five fiscal years for the Scottish Government only, is provided in the following table. Fiscal Years No of Awards to Consultant Suppliers ? (in per…

4 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the total (a) number and (b) value of contracts awarded by (i) executive, (ii) advisory and (iii) tribunal non-departmental public bodies to consulting companies in each of the last five fiscal years.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government does not routinely gather or centrally hold information on the total number and value of contracts awarded by executive, advisory and tribunal non-departmental public bodies to consulting companies. As executive, advisory and tribunal …

4 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total (a) number and (b) value is of contracts awarded by public sector organisations to consulting companies in each of the last five fiscal years.

Answer · Tom Arthur: Public sector organisations may occasionally commission external consulting support where this provides value for money and there is a requirement for a specific skill or service that cannot be delivered within existing capacity. As public bodies make their …

4 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the contract awarded to Systel for a new national command and control mobilising system for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, what the (a) total value was of the contract awarded, (b) date was on which the contract was awarded, (c) start date was for the development of the…

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The costs and associated contractual matters related to the SFRS Command and Control Mobilising System are operational matters for the Service, who would be the appropriate source for this information. SFRS has provided assurances that it has had appropriate …

4 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19318 by Siobhian Brown on 5 July 2023, whether it will provide an update on what the total spend by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) was on the contract with Systel for a new national command and control mobilising system, broken down by…

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The costs and implementation of the SFRS Command and Control Mobilising System are operational matters for the Service, who would be the appropriate source for this information. SFRS has provided assurances that it has had appropriate governance arrangements …

4 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects the contract for a new national command and control mobilising system for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to be awarded, and what the expected go-live date is for the new system.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The procurement, associated contractual matters, and expected go-live date for the SFRS New Mobilising System are operational matters for the Service, who would be the appropriate source for this information. SFRS has provided assurances that it has had appro…

4 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what amount the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is pursuing Systel, following the cancellation of the contract for a new national command and control mobilising system.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The progression of any legal claim following cancelation of any contract is an operational matter for the Service, who would be the appropriate source for this information. SFRS has provided assurances that it has had appropriate governance arrangements in pl…

25 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many consultations with GPs took place (a) face-to-face, in the GP surgery, (b) by telephone, (c) during a home visit, (d) in a clinic, (e) by eConsult and (f) by video consultation between (i) March 2018 and February 2019, (ii) March 2019 and February 2020, (iii) March 2021 and Febr…

Answer · Michael Matheson: The available information is published on a monthly basis, as experimental statistics, by Public Health Scotland: Primary Care in-hours General Practice activity visualisation - as at 30 June 2023 This exploratory work aims to illustrate the type of activi…

25 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many consultations with nurse practitioners that are based in GP surgeries took place (a) face-to-face, in the GP surgery, (b) by telephone, (c) during a home visit, (d) in a clinic, (e) by eConsult and (f) by video consultation between (i) March 2018 and February 2019, (ii) March 20…

Answer · Michael Matheson: The available information is published on a monthly basis, as experimental statistics, by Public Health Scotland: Primary Care in-hours General Practice activity visualisation - as at 30 June 2023 This exploratory work aims to illustrate the type of activi…

21 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether personal emergency evacuation plans are in place for all residents of tower blocks in Scotland whose ability to self-evacuate may be compromised, such as people with reduced mobility or cognition, as recommended by the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: Following the Grenfell Phase 1 Report recommendations, the Scottish Government made the decision not to implement a requirement for personal emergency evacuation plans and instead produced the Practical Fire Safety Guidance for Existing High Rise Domestic Bu…

2 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) average and (b) median time is between a new woodland creation application being submitted to Scottish Forestry and a decision on the application being communicated to the applicant.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Since 1 April 2019 the (a) average (mean) time between a new woodland creation application being submitted to Scottish Forestry and a decision on the application being communicated to the applicant is 89 days and (b) the median time is 70 days.

24 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an updated list of the research projects that it is funding into the effects of long COVID, and what the timescale is for the completion of each project.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Within the Scottish Government funding of Health and Care research falls under the remit of the Chief Scientist Office (CSO). As part of the Scottish Government response to the pandemic, in October 2020 CSO launched a funding call seeking applications which …

24 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what training is being provided to GPs and allied health professionals on the diagnosis and treatment of long COVID.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The identification, assessment and management of people with long-term effects of COVID-19 in Scotland is guided by the recommendations of an evidence-based UK-wide clinical guideline developed by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), the Na…

24 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work that it is doing with training bodies to implement the education strategy in relation to the treatment of long COVID within the medical profession.

Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-20206 on 14 August 2023. All Answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committe…

24 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it expects the education strategy in relation to the treatment of long COVID within the medical profession to be fully operational.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The long COVID National Strategic Network managed by NHS National Services Scotland has developed a draft education strategy following consultation with people living with long COVID and those responsible for planning and delivering healthcare services. This …