Parliamentary questions
Richard Leonard
963 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
24 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether an impact or risk assessment has been undertaken of any potential effect of continued high inflation on the delivery of (a) outstanding Control Period 6 (CP6) projects and (b) future Control Period 7 (CP7) commitments on Scotland’s railways.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The risk assessment in relation to inflation on the delivery of the remainder of Control Period 6 (April 2019 – March 2024) and for Control Period 7 (April 2024 – March 2029) is reflected in the draft forecasts presented by Network Rail and the amount of risk…
19 Apr 2023 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what additional fiscal measures it will put in place to reduce inequality in Scotland.
18 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what budget savings the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has budgeted to make in each year since its formation, and whether these have been achieved.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: The resource budget for SFRS is set each year in the Budget Act and the SFRS Board has responsibility for taking decisions on how that budget should be spent. There are no savings targets set out in the annual budget process and the SFRS Accountable Officer i…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of the drugs that are currently being prescribed in prisons in order to support prisoners to desist from the use of illegal drugs, including a breakdown of which illegal drug each of the prescribed drugs are intended to stop the use of.
Answer · Elena Whitham: Medicines used in prisons related to drug misuse and dependence will be made available in line with the UK-wide Guidelines on Clinical Management and should be approved for use by the Scottish Medicines Consortium. Records of medicines used in prisons are mai…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the range of drugs available for prescribing to prisoners is consistent across all prison estates; whether it will outline any variations and what the reasons are for these, and what body is responsible for deciding what drugs are available for prescribing in each prison estate.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The range of drugs that exist for clinicians to prescribe to people in prison across all prison estates is the same as those available to NHS patients across the same geographical areas (Health Boards). There may be some difference in what the first line an…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people are currently in prison beyond their original sentence, and whether it will provide a breakdown of the reasons in each case.
Answer · Angela Constance: A prisoner serving a determinate sentence cannot be held beyond the end of that sentence. If a person is given an indeterminate sentence the judge must, by law, set a punishment part of the sentence. This is the minimum time the person must spend in prison b…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether all drugs that are approved for prescribing on the NHS are available to be prescribed to people in prison.
Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-16574 on 19 April 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-committee…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will give consideration to the creation of drug recovery wings in prisons.
Answer · Elena Whitham: The Drug Deaths Taskforce concluded that, due to the prevalence of drug use in prisons and the principle of keeping people closer to their families for support, a specific recovery prison would not be adequate for the whole prison population. Issues were also…
22 Mar 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has put in place to support island communities in advance of Hulls 801 and 802, and other ferries, coming into service.
16 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in the event that operations are to be contracted out on the Caledonian Sleeper when it is brought back into public ownership, what parts of the service or operations will be contracted out; which companies will be contracted for which part of the service or operations; for how long eac…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Serco Caledonian Sleepers Ltd has significant existing contracts with a number of suppliers and it will be a matter for Scottish Rail Holdings Ltd and Caledonian Sleeper Ltd to determine the optimum arrangements and value realised from those contracts post mo…
16 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether all elements of the Caledonian Sleeper operations will be brought in-house when it is taken back into public ownership in June 2023, or whether some will be contracted out.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: From 25 June 2023, all elements of the Caledonian Sleeper operations undertaken by Serco Caledonian Sleepers Ltd will be delivered by Caledonian Sleeper Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Scottish Rail Holdings Ltd . Scottish Rail Holdings Ltd is a company who…
10 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce its decision on the Outline Business Case for the Monklands Replacement Project, which was submitted to its Capital Investment Group in December 2022.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Due to the scale and significance of this project, in addition to the NHS Capital Investment Group, the Executive Team in Investment Mode, chaired by the Permanent Secretary, will also review the Outline Business Case at their meeting on 11 April 2023. A deci…
10 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will list the dates of any meetings it has had with members of its Capital Investment Group at which the Monklands Replacement Project was discussed, and whether it will outline the content of those discussions.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The NHS Capital Investment Group discussed the Outline Business Case at their meeting on 22 February 2023. The Group discussed a wide range of issues with representatives from NHS Lanarkshire including the service model, the economic appraisal, capital costs,…
8 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its current position is on HGV speed limits.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: In Scotland the speed limit for Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) in built up areas is 30 mph. On single carriageway it is 40 mph, dual carriageways is 50 mph and on motorways 60 mph. In addition, the HGV speed limit on single carriageway sections of the A9 betwee…
8 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the (a) conclusions and (b) findings from all stages of the National Speed Management Review.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: We will consult with stakeholders and the public this year to gather and consider their views on future changes to speed limit policies and speed management measures. The Scottish Government will look to publish the findings and conclusions thereafter.
8 Mar 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on bringing any outsourced services in the NHS back in-house.
7 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether any (a) ministers, (b) officials and (c) special advisers were consulted before the offer of immunity from prosecution was made to prison officers charged with the care of Allan Marshall.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: The Crown does not grant immunity from prosecution but makes prosecutorial decisions based on criteria set out in the Scottish Prosecution Code. Decisions on prosecution are taken independently and are matters for professional prosecutors within the system fo…
7 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the decision of the Lord Advocate to instruct the police to investigate the Scottish Prison Service for corporate homicide, whether it will hand over to Police Scotland all correspondence, transcripts, notes of meetings and all other communications with ministers, their offi…
Answer · Keith Brown: My deepest thoughts and condolences remain with the family of Allan Marshall. There is now a live police investigation and it would be inappropriate for the Scottish Government to comment on that investigation. The Scottish Government will cooperate with any …
22 Feb 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving to organisations that support those affected by workplace bullying.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government promotes the role of Citizens Advice Scotland and the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) in providing free and impartial advice and support on workplace issues, including bullying and harassment. Everyone has the ri…
22 Feb 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to the Health and Safety Executive on issues of workplace bullying.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: As health and safety legislation is reserved we regularly cooperate with the Health and Safety Executive to promote workplace safety. This includes using our devolved healthcare powers to promote and support safety in the workplace, our Fair and Healthy Work …
22 Feb 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take, within its devolved powers under the Scotland Act 1998, to address workplace bullying.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government believes that bullying and harassment of any worker, under any circumstances, is unacceptable. Employment law, Equality law and Health and Safety legislation remains reserved to the UK Government. Only with the devolution of further po…
22 Feb 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support those affected by workplace bullying.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is clear that that bullying and harassment of any worker, under any circumstances, is unacceptable. All employers have a duty of care to protect the health, safety and welfare of their workers. We endorse the Fair Work Convention's Fa…
22 Feb 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what financial support it provides to organisations that support workers who are not members of a trade union and are affected by workplace bullying.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government believes that bullying and harassment of any worker, under any circumstances, is unacceptable. We endorse the Fair Work Convention's Fair Work Framework and agree that every worker, regardless of status or position, should be treated…
21 Feb 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken regarding the recommendation of the Scottish Mental Health Law Review that the development of support, training and guidance for attorneys should include "consideration of ways in which the cost of a power of attorney can be eased".
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government encourages everyone to arrange power of attorney so that their needs and wishes can be met in the unfortunate event that they cannot make decisions for themselves. Currently financial help is available, through legal aid for those who…
21 Feb 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase awareness of the importance of a power of attorney, particularly for those who may benefit more from having a power of attorney, as highlighted by the Scottish Mental Health Law Review.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government is supporting 29 Health and Social Care partnerships in their national media campaign of actively raising awareness of the importance of taking out a power of attorney with their local communities. We will consider the recommendations…
21 Feb 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the recommendation of the Scottish Mental Health Law Review for the act of a GP completing a power of attorney (POA) certificate to be included as an NHS-funded service, whether it plans to implement the recommendation, and, if so, within what timescale, and whether any f…
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Mental Health Law Review published its final report on 30 September 2022 and set out over 200 proposals for reform. The report recommendations are complex and wide-ranging, and cross-government work is underway to consider them and assess their i…
21 Feb 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to develop an advice helpline or online support for those who hold a power of attorney, as recommended by the Scottish Mental Health Law Review, and, if so, within what timescale.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government recognises that acting as an attorney can be very demanding and attorneys must have information on their rights and responsibilities and the safeguards in place to protect individuals. This will benefit both them and the adults they ar…
21 Feb 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken regarding the recommendation of the Scottish Mental Health Law Review that the development of support, training and guidance for attorneys should include "consideration of ways in which access to granting a power of attorney may be eased".
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government encourages everyone to arrange power of attorney so that their needs and wishes can be met in the unfortunate event that they cannot make decisions for themselves. The Scottish Mental Health Law Review published its final report on 30…
9 Feb 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the Minister for Transport’s reported commitment on this issue, what steps it has taken to ensure that its private sector consultant, Ernst and Young, meets with trade unions organising Scotland’s ferry workers to discuss Project Neptune.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I can confirm that EY is meeting the STUC and trade unions to discuss Project Neptune on 20th March.
9 Feb 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it estimates any financial benefit will be to David MacBrayne Ltd from Associated British Ports’ acquisition of Solent Gateway Ltd.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Details of the transaction remain commercially confidential. Scottish Ministers will discuss and agree with David MacBrayne Ltd how the receipt will be utilised.