Fulton MacGregor

8 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by the Minister for Transport and the Islands on 7 December 2017 (Official Report, c. 46), whether Coatbridge will be among the towns to be become low-emission zones by 2023 and, if so, (a) what support will be made available to residents, (b) how many diesel ve…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government have committed to undertaking a National Low Emission Framework appraisal of the Coatbridge Air Quality Management Area, in conjunction with North Lanarkshire Council, to determine if a Low Emission Zone is required by 2023.

6 Dec 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports local authorities in attracting businesses and jobs to town centres.

28 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of premises in each local authority area has been connected to fibre broadband by the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) Plus commercial deployment, also broken down by the percentage of these that is receiving speeds of more than 24Mbps.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Aberdeen, City 95.8% 95.0% Aberdeenshire 81.8% 77.4% Angus 87.9% 86.4% Argyll & Bute 74.8% 71.1% City of Edinburgh 95.2% 95.1% Clackmannanshire 97.2% 96.7% Dumfries & Galloway 82.5% 78.7% Dundee, City 98.2% 98.0% East Ayrshire 94.4% …

27 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of premises in each local authority area had been connected to fibre broadband through commercial deployment by 2012.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: We do not hold information on the percentage of premises, in each local authority area that had been connected to fibre broadband through commercial deployment by 2012. In 2012, as part of the Open Market Review (OMR) for the Digital Scotland Superfast Broa…

27 Nov 2017 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will provide an update on its plans to deliver access to superfast broadband to 100% of premises by 2021.

28 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it will make to the UK Government regarding the future of agricultural support in light of the reported comment by the president of NFU Scotland that changes to the existing model of rural support could result in an annual loss of £250 million to the sector.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I continue to press the UK government for confirmation and clarification regarding funding guarantees post Brexit. In my letter of 6 October 2017 to Mr Gove, the latest in an ongoing correspondence on this matter, I asked for written confirmation of these fun…

6 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the guidance that it has produced for local authorities regarding support for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.

Answer · Mark McDonald: Finally, COSLA run an Unaccompanied Child working group which all local authorities are invited to join and which the Scottish Government attends. This meets on a quarterly basis and is used as a forum to share emerging issues and to learn from best practice.

4 Sep 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that fibre broadband is installed in new housing developments.

1 Sep 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when its consultation on financial redress for in-care survivors will be launched.

Answer · John Swinney: The launch of the consultation exploring options for a potential financial compensation/redress scheme for victim/survivors of abuse in care takes place on 4 September 2017. The consultation will run for a period of 12 weeks. It has been prepared by the Centr…

9 Aug 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish the Evaluation of Police and Fire Reform year 2 annual report.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government plans to publish the Year 2 annual report for the Evaluation of Police and Fire Reform (BIB 58964 and Annexes BIB 58965) on 10 August 2017. The Evaluation of Police and Fire Reform is a four year project which commenced in 2015 and wi…

31 Jul 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the action it is taking to reduce nuisance phone calls.

Answer · Keith Brown: The joint action plan was due to be published in June but was postponed following announcement of the snap general election. It will now be published in the week beginning 11 September. This will coincide with a consumer awareness campaign week that is being …

10 Jul 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to update its Strategy for Justice in Scotland, which was published in 2012.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government plans to update the Justice Strategy 2012 by publishing the Justice Vision and accompanying Delivery Plan on 11 July 2017. The Justice Vision (Bib Number 58889) sets out a vision and priorities for a safe, just and resilient Scotland.…

26 Jun 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in implementing the recommendations in the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland report, Audit and Assurance Review of the use of the Facial Search functionality within the UK Police National Database (PND) by Police Scotland.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has established an independent advisory group to provide recommendations on a policy and legislative framework for police use of biometric data and associated technologies, and rules around retention. I am delighted that John Scott QC …

21 Jun 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the impact on Scotland of the UK Government's policy on refugees and asylum seekers.

25 May 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce acute hospital waiting times in the NHS.

Answer · Shona Robison: As indicated by the First Minister on 18 May 2017 consideration was being given to providing additional funding to reduce waiting times. I can now announce that we are making available an additional £50 million to help NHS Boards improve performance. This fun…

12 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action each NHS board is taking to improve the recruitment and retention of dermatology consultants and nurses.

Answer · Shona Robison: It is for health boards to plan and deliver clinical services and ensure that they have the correct staff in place to meet the needs of their services and ensure high quality patient care. The Scottish Government works closely with all Boards to support their…

4 May 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by John Swinney on 31 January 2017 (Official Report, c.10) on the Scottish Government’s response to the independent review into the circumstances surrounding the death of Bailey Gwynne, whether the Cabinet Secretary for Justice has received a response from the U…

Answer · Michael Matheson: The UK Government has responded favourably to the Scottish Government’s request for a joined up UK-wide approach to address mutual concerns about the online sale and delivery of knives. The circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Bailey Gwynne at Cults…

26 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with North Lanarkshire Council regarding reports that the local authority has changed its policy regarding the administration of the pupil equity fund.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has had regular dialogue with North Lanarkshire Council in relation to the administration of Pupil Equity Funding. We have received assurances from the council that it is has withdrawn a proposal that did not meet all the conditions as…

26 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much VAT (a) Police Scotland and (b) the Scottish Fire and Rescure Service have paid in total, and what information it has regarding how this compares with the amount paid by counterpart emergency services in the rest of the UK.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The amount of unrecovered VAT incurred by the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) and the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service (SFRS) between April 2013 and March 2017 is of the order of £140m and is detailed in the following table. 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-1…

24 Apr 2017 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to protect children and young people online.

20 Apr 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for the introduction of drug driving limits in Scotland.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I can advise that the Scottish Government intends to bring forward before the end of 2017 the necessary secondary legislation to introduce drug driving limits in Scotland. This legislation will provide for specific limits for a range of drugs and will provid…

11 Apr 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will consult on proposals to enshrine safe NHS staffing in law, starting with the nursing and midwifery workload and workforce planning tools.

Answer · Shona Robison: We are launching a formal consultation on legislative proposals on 12 April 2017. The consultation paper seeks views on proposals to introduce legislation that would require organisations providing health and social care to apply evidence based approaches to …

27 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how Education Scotland inspectors evaluate the quality and impact of habilitation provision in ensuring that the needs of visually impaired pupils are met.

Answer · Shona Robison: Education Scotland inspections of schools and services evaluate how well the needs of all children and young people are being met, including those with visual impairment. Using a range of quality indicators Inspectors routinely evaluate how well schools and s…

27 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when its working group will commence work on habilitation provision recommendations contained in the Education and Culture Committee's 10th Report, 2015 (Session 4), Attainment of pupils with a sensory impairment.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government welcomed the Education Committee inquiry into the attainment of pupils with sensory impairment. In response the Scottish Government set up a Short Life Working Group to respond to the Committee’s recommendations. A plan which sets out …

27 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will embed into education, the standards and care pathways of the visual impairment network for children and young people, including the standard that every child diagnosed with a sight impairment will receive an assessment by a qualified habilitation specialist.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Visual Impairment Network for Children and Young People (VINCYP) standards and care pathways were distributed widely across schools and services. In addition, information was disseminated through other events and practitioner networks such as the Scottish…

23 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is encouraging fair work in the private nursery sector.

Answer · Mark McDonald: We will promote Fair Work practices across the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) sector. As part of this we want to see all childcare workers delivering the funded entitlement, across all sectors, paid at least the Living Wage from the introduction of the en…

22 Mar 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to boost the economy and create jobs in Coatbridge and Chryston.

15 Mar 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in light of the findings in the report, Shifting the Curve, that people in minority ethnic groups are often the most disadvantaged and can face additional barriers when trying to get out of poverty.

24 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many specialist nurses there are caring for people with multiple sclerosis in (a) Lanarkshire and (b) Scotland, and whether it will consider increasing these numbers.

Answer · Shona Robison: Information on the number of specialist nurses who are responsible for the delivery of Multiple Sclerosis care is published by ISD Scotland and is available at the following link:- https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/2016-12-06/C…

23 Feb 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funds it is making available to NHS boards for 2017-18.

Answer · Shona Robison: Territorial Boards have been given a general allocation increase of £186 million for 2017-18, an overall average increase over 2016-17 total allocations of 2.1 per cent. This supports additional investment of over £100 million to be directed to Integration Au…