Parliamentary questions
Ash Regan
428 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
14 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to announce the successful education provider for the Return to Practice education provision contract, further to the deadline closing on 6 May 2024.
Answer · Neil Gray: NHS Education for Scotland (NES) manage the nursing and midwifery Return to Practice education provision on behalf of Scottish Government. Although the deadline has passed, the tender process is still live, and NES expects to publish the award on the Public …
14 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement the (a) Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, (b) Minister for Victims and Community Safety, (c) Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise and (e) their officials have had with stakeholders regarding the implementation of the Children (Scotland) Act 20…
Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government continues to engage regularly with key stakeholders regarding implementation of the Children (Scotland) Act 2020 (the 2020 Act). We are currently prioritising work across the Scottish Government in light of increased budget pressures. …
14 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to lay regulations related to child contact centres under the Children (Scotland) Act 2020.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: I refer the Member to the answer to question S6W-26002 on 18 March 2024, which provides an update on implementation of the Children (Scotland) Act 2020. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facil…
14 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made provision within its 2024-25 Budget for child welfare reporters, in light of the Children (Scotland) Act 2020, and when it expects any new child welfare reporters to be appointed.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: We are currently prioritising work across the Scottish Government in light of increased budget pressures. We estimate that establishing a register of child welfare reporters under the Children (Scotland) Act 2020 may cost around £5 million a year. This is ba…
14 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the reasons are for the reported delays to the implementation of the Children (Scotland) Act 2020, and whether it will update the Parliament on its progress before the summer recess.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: I refer the Member to the answer to question S6W-26002 on 18 March 2024, which provides an update on implementation of the Children (Scotland) Act 2020 (the 2020 Act). All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, t…
14 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it plans to introduce commencement regulations for the Children (Scotland) Act 2020.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: I refer the Member to the answer to question S6W-26002 on 18 March 2024, which provides an update on implementation of the Children (Scotland) Act 2020 (the 2020 Act) and refers to a recent section-by-section breakdown provided to Parliament of the 2020 Act’s…
13 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding the City of Edinburgh Council is due to receive for affordable housebuilding in the next three financial years, and whether it will consider providing further support in light of the local authority's declaration of a housing emergency.
Answer · Paul McLennan: The Scottish Government, recognising these exceptionally challenging times, has declared a national Housing Emergency and called on the UK Government to reverse the almost 9% cut to Scotland’s capital budget. We continue to work closely with partners to addre…
13 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide a breakdown of its reported £21,489,000 spend on external consultancies in 2022-23, and what it predicts the costs to be in the current financial year.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Attached is a list of suppliers with spend for Consultancy. The data has been sourced from The Procurement Information Hub and includes all suppliers that fall under the consultancy classification. Due to the wide range of services captured under the term co…
13 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will conduct an independent review of the current landscape of non-departmental public bodies, also known as quangos, to ensure that they are fit for purpose and providing taxpayers value for money, and whether it will review the remuneration paid to (a) chairpersons, (b) non-…
Answer · Ivan McKee: Scottish Government’s responsibilities for its public bodies include taking appropriate steps to ensure that the landscape is appropriate. This does not require an independent review. As part of the Public Service Reform programme, we will look to ensure the…
13 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent findings from The Scotsman investigation, which reportedly found multimillion pound spending on PR and consultancy bills by NHS bodies.
Answer · Neil Gray: NHS Boards are responsible for their own spending decisions. Scottish Government regularly review NHS Board financial positions to ensure value for money is being achieved for resources allocated. There will be examples where PR spend is required to communica…
13 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) correspondence and (b) engagement it has had with non-departmental public bodies, also known as quangos, in relation to the recent findings from The Scotsman investigation.
Answer · Ivan McKee: I have written to chairs and chief executives of public bodies, in which I have reminded those bodies listed in Schedule 8 to the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 that they have a duty to comply fully with responsibilities set out for them in the Ac…
13 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent investigation by The Scotsman, which reportedly found that non-departmental public bodies, also known as quangos, are failing to disclose key financial and transparency details at key intervals.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Public bodies listed in the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 have a duty to comply fully with responsibilities set out for them in the Act. I expect them to discharge these duties, including in relation to the publication of financial and other tran…
13 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent investigation into non-departmental public bodies, also known as quangos, by The Scotsman, which reportedly found that 66 of 114 quangos have failed to publish financial information as required by the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Public bodies listed in the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 have a duty to comply fully with responsibilities set out for them in the Act. I expect them to fulfil these duties, including in relation to the publication of financial information. Whi…
12 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what financial support is currently offered to (a) local authorities, (b) community organisations, (c) local charities and (d) voluntary groups for public electric vehicle (EV) charging points, and whether it will provide a breakdown of the support provided for public EV charging points …
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Since 2011 Scottish Ministers have invested over £65 million in public EV charging. Scotland now has over 5,000 public EV charge points and is on target to have 6,000 public EV charge points by 2026, through a combination of public and increasing private sect…
10 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the concerns raised by the group, Children's Hearings Scotland Scandal, whether it has made any representations to the UK Government regarding including volunteer panel members of Children's Hearings Scotland under existing whistleblowing law.
Answer · Natalie Don: The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 offers legal protections to workers. Workers are defined in the Act where they have a contract or other arrangement to do work or services personally for a reward; their reward is for money or a benefit in kind, for exa…
10 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its work to further the case for Scottish independence, what recent discussions the (a) former Minister for Independence, (b) Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and (c) First Minister has had with the (i) Prime Minister, (ii) Minister for Intergo…
Answer · Angus Robertson: The First Minister emphasised his Government’s commitment to Scotland’s independence in his first call with the Prime Minister earlier this month. The Scottish Government stands ready to engage at any point with the UK Government to begin talks about the chan…
10 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the chair of Children's Hearings Scotland has refused to meet representatives of the group, Children's Hearings Scotland Scandal, to discuss its concerns.
Answer · Natalie Don: The position described is entirely a matter for the CHS Chair. The Scottish Government is aware that the Chair of Children’s Hearings Scotland has been pleased to meet with other Members. The Member may wish to meet the Chair to seek further reassurance that …
10 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise last met the chair of Children's Hearings Scotland, and what was discussed.
Answer · Natalie Don: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-27466 on 21 May 2024. 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-committees/…
10 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has recently considered an independent review of the Children's Hearings Scotland system, in light of the concerns raised by the group, Children's Hearings Scotland Scandal.
Answer · Natalie Don: None of the concerns or grievances raised by this group in respect of their own experiences within the children's hearings system justify a wider review of the well-established and highly-regarded multidisciplinary children's hearings system. More broadly, an…
10 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the concerns raised by the group, Children's Hearings Scotland Scandal, and whether (a) the Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise, (b) any other minister and (c) its officials have met representatives of the group to discuss its concerns.
Answer · Natalie Don: Ministers and Scottish Government officials have clearly and comprehensively explained the Scottish Government’s position in relation to these matters to the former panel members and their representatives on numerous occasions dating back several years. A sum…
10 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what protections are in place for panel members of Children's Hearings Scotland who raise concerns (a) internally and (b) externally.
Answer · Natalie Don: These questions are within the statutory domain of the National Convener. The detailed arrangements are operated by Children’s Hearings Scotland in terms of their published complaints policy. Scottish Ministers have no locus, and it is open to the Member to r…
10 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to allow the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman to hear complaints regarding Children's Hearings Scotland raised by its panel members.
Answer · Natalie Don: As a public body CHS are required by law to operate in line with the SPSO requirements, and all complainants must have recourse to the SPSO as the final stage for complaints. The SPSO has statutory powers to investigate complaints, the National Convener is in…
10 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether panel members at Children's Hearings Scotland have the right of appeal after a decision is made on any complaint involving them.
Answer · Natalie Don: As a public body, Children’s Hearings Scotland (CHS) is required to operate its complaints policy in line with the Scottish Public Service Ombudsman (SPSO) model complaints handling procedure. This includes recourse to the SPSO as the final stage for complain…
10 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise last met Children's Hearings Scotland, and what was discussed.
Answer · Natalie Don: I met with the Chair and Chief Executive/National Convener of Children’s Hearings Scotland (CHS) on March 21, 2024 and discussed a range of issues relating to the operation of the tribunal element of the children’s hearings system, including matters related t…
8 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-18553 by Emma Roddick on 14 June 2023, whether it has since received the initial findings, and whether it will publish these in due course.
Answer · Kaukab Stewart: The archival analysis element of the research is underway and the report is currently being drafted. We anticipate receiving the report from this work towards the end of summer 2024. The contract for the qualitative research was tendered twice but no complian…
8 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions (a) the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and (b) her officials have had with (i) Lothian Buses and (ii) the City of Edinburgh Council regarding the reinstatement of service 69, which was originally withdrawn in 2020.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Lothian Buses provided an update on service 69 to Transport Scotland officials in 2022, noting they had no plans to reinstate the service at that time. Most bus services across Scotland operate in an open de-regulated market and have done so since the 1980s. …
8 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has offered (a) ScotRail, (b) Transport for Edinburgh and (c) bus operators any additional support to ensure that all people travelling to and from the upcoming Taylor Swift concert in Edinburgh can do so without any concerns for capacity issues on public transport.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answers to questions S6W-27379 on 17 May 2024 and S6W-27276 on 14 May 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliam…
8 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions (a) the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and (b) her officials have had with (i) ScotRail, (ii) Transport for Edinburgh and (c) bus operators regarding preparations for the upcoming Taylor Swift concert in Edinburgh.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Transport Scotland Officials, along with relevant transport stakeholders, routinely take part in the multi-agency Events Planning and Operations Group (EPOG) dealing with Events. EPOG is run by the City of Edinburgh Council as the lead planning authority in r…
2 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of any impact on bridge infrastructure of the increased weight payload of electric vehicles, in light of the forthcoming 2030 deadline for prohibiting the sale of new combustion engine cars.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: There has been no specific assessment of impact on bridge infrastructure in light of cessation of sale of combustion engine cars in 2030. Design loading for bridges is primarily influenced by heavy goods vehicles. The slight increase in the weight of cars fro…
2 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to attract more airlines to establish direct routes to Scotland, and what its position is on whether its planned Air Departure Tax could be used to improve the competitiveness of Scotland's airports as hubs within Europe and the UK.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government has always recognised the importance of Scotland’s international connectivity. Our ambition is to make Scotland at least as well connected as peer nations. Transport Scotland, in partnership with VisitScotland and Scottish Development …