Parliamentary questions
Anas Sarwar
601 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
3 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been diagnosed with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) in each of the last 10 years, also broken down by NHS board area.
Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested in relation to the number of people being diagnosed with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) in Scotland over the past ten years is not held centrally. However, the Hidradenitis Suppurativa Trust estimates that it affects approximately 1% …
1 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5O-00690 by Angela Constance on 23 February 2017 (Official Report, c. 2), whether it will publish the review on the effectiveness of third-party reporting and the report from the independent advisory group on hate crime, prejudice and community cohesio…
Answer · Angela Constance: Police Scotland's review of third party reporting was internal and they have no plans to publish it. The report of the Independent Advisory Group on Hate Crime, Prejudice and Community Cohesion was published in September 2016, and a copy can be found at https…
1 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many accidental electrical house fires there have been in Glasgow in each of the last five years, and what steps it is taking to reduce the number of such fires.
Answer · Annabelle Ewing: This information is not held centrally. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) publishes statistics on accidental dwelling fires, however this data is not broken down into specific causes. These statistics are available on SFRS’s website, and can be f…
28 Feb 2017 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on graduate apprenticeships since they were introduced.
28 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to incorporating the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities into Scottish law.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: We are committed to ensuring that Scotland delivers on its obligations to disabled people under the UNCRPD and other human rights treaties. A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People – our Delivery Plan for the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilit…
22 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many religious hate crimes have been recorded in each local authority area in each (a) year since 2007 and (b) month since April 2016, broken down by the (i) faith group, (ii) gender, (iii) race and (iv) country of origin of the victim; how many cases led to a person being (A) arrest…
Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Scottish Government does not hold data on arrests and it is not possible to derive information on religious hate crimes from the recorded crime database. With regards to people being charged the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) have publ…
22 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many race hate crimes have been recorded in each local authority area in each (a) year since 2007 and (b) month since April 2016, broken down by the (i) race group (ii) gender and (iii) country of origin of the victim; how many cases led to a person being (A) arrested, (B) charged, (…
Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Scottish Government does not hold data on arrests but it is possible to derive information on racial hate crimes from the recorded crime database. Crimes of racially aggravated harassment and racially aggravated conduct recorded by the police broken down …
22 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Atos made an offer to upgrade the Community Health Index for free.
Answer · Shona Robison: Atos did not make such an offer.
22 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the contract cost is for upgrading the Community Health Index.
Answer · Shona Robison: This information is commercial sensitive so is therefore withheld.
21 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government in what circumstances a proactive vaccination for meningitis B would happen under the NHS if the individual concerned is outwith the routine childhood programme.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Men B vaccine is offered to infants alongside other routine childhood immunisations at 2, 4 and 12 months of age. Outwith the routine programme the Men B vaccine may be offered in certain circumstances when managing meningococcal outbreaks or on clinical…
21 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many vaccinations have been carried out free for people who would not be covered by the routine childhood programme since 2005, also broken down by (a) year, (b) age and (c) NHS board.
Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested is not held centrally.
21 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the uptake rates are of the meningitis B vaccine for children under five, broken down by (a) age and (b) NHS board.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: Meningococcal B (MenB) vaccination was introduced to the routine UK immunisation schedule on 1 September 2015 for infants due to receive their primary immunisations starting at two months of age (i.e. babies born from 1 July 2015). The vaccine is offered alon…
7 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much was awarded in each year since 2007 under the Section 16b Grant Funding Scheme; which organisations received this support, broken down by amount awarded; for what reason the scheme was discontinued, and what impact discontinuing the scheme has had on the amount of Sector 10 fund…
Answer · Shona Robison: A table setting out how much was awarded in each year since 2007 under the Section 16b Grant Funding Scheme, which organisations were beneficiaries, and how much they received can be found at BIB number 58580. After a wide-ranging review that took in to acco…
31 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) terms of reference and (b) parameters are for its Consultation on Implementation of the Medium Combustion Plant Directive in Scotland; what its timescale is; by what date the findings will be published; whether it will publish the review in full, and when it will be in a pos…
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government’s consultation on transposition of the EU Medium Combustion Plants Directive closes on 10 March and a summary of the consultation responses will be published in the Spring. The Directive sets out a number of legal requirements that app…
31 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it will give to NHS boards to ensure that they have sufficient funds to meet their new requirements under any new legislation arising from its consultation on the implementation of the medium combustion plant directive.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Medium Combustion Plants Directive requirements are phased over a number of years with full implementation required by 2030. This supports the incorporation of the Directive's requirements into new and forthcoming investment decisions. The health resource…
31 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many deaths have been caused by venous thromboembolism in each year since May 2007, also broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Shona Robison: The following table shows the number of deaths caused by venous thromboembolism in Scotland, broken down by board between years 2007 and 2015, which is the latest year that figures are available for. Deaths caused by venous thromboembolism1 Scotland, by NH…
31 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it takes to ensure that (a) care home residents and (b) hospital patients are not exposed to the high risk of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis, and what guidelines it produces on this.
Answer · Shona Robison: (a) The Care Inspectorate was set up by Scottish Government, and is accountable to ministers, it is their job to assure and protect everyone that uses these services. The Care Inspectorate expects care home providers to seek medical advice when it is required…
31 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of costs relating to the treatment of venous thromboembolism/deep vein thrombosis patients in each of the last 10 years.
Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested on costs relating to the treatment of venous thromboembolism / deep vein thrombosis for the last 10 years is not centrally held. However, information on the cost of a hospital admission for deep vein thrombosis for financial years …
31 Jan 2017 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recently published report, Export Statistics Scotland 2015.
30 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide a substantive answer to question (a) S5W-05507, (b) S5W-05508, (c) S5W-05509, (d) S5W-05510, (e) S5W-05511 and (f) S5W-05512, which received a holding response on 16 January 2016, and what the reason is for the delay in providing the information.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government provided an answer to questions (a) S5W-05507; and (b) S5W-05508 on 31 January 2017. Questions (c) S5W-05509, (d) S5W-05510, (e) S5W-05511 and (f) S5W-05512 were answered on 6 February 2017. The delay in answering these questions was…
30 Jan 2017 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister how many refugees the Scottish Government expects to welcome in 2017.
27 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government where money collected through the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 has come from in each year since May 2011, broken down by (a) amount and (b) local authority.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally.
27 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which organisations have received funding through the CashBack for Communities scheme since May 2011, broken down by (a) year and (b) amount.
Answer · Michael Matheson: We are rightly proud of our unique CashBack for Communities Programme which is delivered by partner organisations on our behalf. Information on the funding given to CashBack partners and other community initiatives is set out on the Scottish Government websit…
27 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which organisations were unsuccessful in their applications for funding through the CashBack for Communities scheme since May 2011, broken down by year.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Since 2008 we have committed £92 million to CashBack for Communities and other community initiatives. There were no applications made between May 2011 and December 2013. Applications for Phase 3 of CashBack for Communities (2014-2017) were received in Decem…
24 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether cervical screening is available to all women at contraception and sexual health clinics, and what its position is on this.
Answer · Shona Robison: Territorial NHS Boards are responsible for ensuring the availability of cervical screening services for local residents. It is expected that NHS Boards work with GPs and local sexual and reproductive health clinics to ensure that satisfactory appointment syst…
24 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to roll out HPV primary screening.
Answer · Shona Robison: A Business Case on the introduction of HPV primary screening has been submitted to the Scottish Screening Committee. This Business Case is being carefully considered by the Committee who will advise Scottish Ministers on the future use of HPV testing in the p…
24 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve cervical screening coverage among (a) black and minority ethnic women and (b) women with learning disabilities.
Answer · Shona Robison: Scottish Government officials work closely with Cervical Screening Coordinators from all NHS Boards to develop initiatives to improve uptake for all women and to promote cervical screening services by communicating effectively with a range of audiences. Recen…
24 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to make cervical screening more accessible in order to increase coverage.
Answer · Shona Robison: We are investing £5m of funding from the Cancer Strategy 'Beating Cancer: Ambition and Action' to reduce inequalities in access to screening in Scotland. Funding will be allocated over the next 5 years to support new activities which identify, address and red…
24 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions have taken place regarding plans to increase cervical screening coverage among women from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Answer · Shona Robison: On 8 February 2017 we will launch a new, hard-hitting awareness raising campaign on cervical screening targeted at 25-35 year old women living in Scotland from lower socio economic groups as we know they are less likely to attend. Officials work closely wit…
24 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address the reported continued decline in cervical screening coverage.
Answer · Shona Robison: Increasing coverage in the Scottish Cervical Screening Programme is a key objective for the Scottish Government and work continues on helping address the fall in cervical screening uptake rates. It is disappointing that uptake is dropping however on the 8th …