Parliamentary questions
Colin Smyth
990 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
15 Jan 2020 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to allow NHS Dumfries and Galloway to change existing cancer pathways by aligning with the West of Scotland Cancer Network rather than the South East Scotland Network in order to reduce journey times for treatment for cancer patients in Wigtownshire.
14 Jan 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-26672 by Michael Matheson on 7 January 2020, whether it will provide a list of all train stations in Scotland, broken down by the three categories.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Further detail regarding the extent of accessibility at each of Scotland’s railway stations is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib number 61334).
14 Jan 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding each national park has been awarded in each of the last five years, broken down by agency.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Details of funding in the last five years for the national park authorities is set out in their annual reports and accounts which are available online at https://cairngorms.co.uk/working-together/authority/about/annual-reports/ and https://www.lochlomond-t…
13 Jan 2020 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that complaints about Caledonian Sleeper services have increased by 221%.
17 Dec 2019 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the timetable for its proposed legislation on fox hunting allows sufficient time for it to be passed within the current parliamentary session.
17 Dec 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the regulation of crewing practices of companies contracted to work from ports in Scotland on the Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm project.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Scottish Ministers have not had discussions with the UK Government on this specific issue. If the member has any further details he would like to provide, I would happy to consider raising these with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the Department for Busi…
17 Dec 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many seafarer jobs will be required for (a) installing, (b) operating and (c) maintaining the Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to my answer to question S5W-26743 on 16 January 2020. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness…
17 Dec 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact it expects the Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm will have over the next 10 years on (a) employment and (b) investment in (i) the Port of Dundee and (ii) Eyemouth Harbour.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government has not undertaken an economic impact analysis on Neart na Gaoithe. However, the project's website provides details an analysis of potential benefits resulting from the project: https://nngoffshorewind.com/benefits/.
16 Dec 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-26596 by Fergus Ewing on 16 December 2019, who will take on the role of Chief Forester when Jo O'Hara leaves her position as Chief Executive of Scottish Forestry.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: We will shortly be beginning the selection process for a Chief Forester, with a view to making an appointment early in 2020. This is an exciting and challenging time for forestry in Scotland, and this role will be an invaluable source of technical expertise …
11 Dec 2019 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the root cause analysis report on the North West Community Campus in Dumfries will be published.
9 Dec 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many and what percentage of railway stations offer full accessibility to disabled people.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Rail accessibility is a reserved matter, funding for accessibility improvements remains the responsibility of the UK Government. It is the policy of Scottish Ministers to have all rail matters, including accessibility, fully devolved to the Scottish Governmen…
3 Dec 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government who currently holds the role of Chief Forester, as established by section 73 of the Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Act 2018.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Chief Forester is currently Jo O’Hara, Chief Executive of Scottish Forestry.
2 Dec 2019 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to reports that ScotRail fares will increase by an average of 2.4% in January.
20 Nov 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will consult with children who are affected by imprisonment on its proposal to incorporate the UN Charter on the Rights of the Child into Scots Law.
Answer · Maree Todd: The consultation on incorporating the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in Scotland received a total of 162 responses, one of which was Families Outside who represent families affected by imprisonment. To complement the public consultation, a b…
20 Nov 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to any incompatibility between the UN Charter on the Rights of the Child and existing legislation.
Answer · Maree Todd: The UK is bound by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in international law. The Scottish Government respects and protects the UNCRC rights to help deliver our aim that children grow up loved, safe and respected, and so that they reach their full pot…
20 Nov 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will address the incompatibilities between the UN Charter on the Rights of the Child and existing legislation in its proposals to incorporate it into Scots Law.
Answer · Maree Todd: Incorporation of the UNCRC into Scots law will ensure that children’s rights can be enforced. At present as part of their compliance with the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, Scottish Ministers carry out a Children’s Rights and Wellbeing Impact …
20 Nov 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it would expect the Scottish Prison Service to take to ensure that it is compliant with the Articles in the UN Charter on the Rights of the Child.
Answer · Maree Todd: As an executive agency of the Scottish Government, the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) is already subject to the duties of Scottish Ministers under Part 1 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014. Scottish Ministers are required to consider whether …
20 Nov 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the Scottish Prison Service will be impacted by its proposals to incorporate the UN Charter on the Rights of the Child into Scots Law.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government will work closely with public authorities to deliver a successful implementation of the UNCRC and will support them to deliver their services in line with the UNCRC to ensure that children’s rights are consistently upheld.
20 Nov 2019 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to Dumfries and Galloway Council's decision to bring its waste collection and disposal service fully in-house.
14 Nov 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-25898 by Fergus Ewing on 31 October 2019, whether it considers the interim Chief Executive of the South of Scotland Enterprise to be the first Chief Executive under its interpretation of this provision in the South of Scotland Enterprise Act 2019.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The interim Chief Executive of South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) will be the first chief executive of SOSE under the terms of the South of Scotland Enterprise Act 2019 and will be appointed by South of Scotland Enterprise with Scottish Ministers’ approval.
7 Nov 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the waiting time for cataract operations has been in each of the last 10 years, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The ISD Waiting Times Team does not publish procedure level data. All data is currently published at specialty level only. Therefore only Ophthalmology data is provided (which includes cataract procedures). Table 1 shows the waiting times for inpatient and d…
7 Nov 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action NHS Dumfries and Galloway is taking to (a) support access to and (b) reduce waiting times for cataract surgery.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Transformational work is taking place within NHS Dumfries and Galloway with the vast majority of post cataract reviews now discharged to community optometry. This frees up capacity within the hospital eye service. An action plan has also been developed in col…
6 Nov 2019 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the proposed sale of Prestwick Airport.
5 Nov 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-25898 by Fergus Ewing on 31 October 2019, by what date it will appoint the interim Chief Executive of the South of Scotland Enterprise Agency.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The process for appointing the interim Chief Executive of South of Scotland Enterprise is currently underway and will be concluded so that the new Chief Executive is in place to help shape the plans for the new agency in advance of it taking on its responsibi…
5 Nov 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-25898 by Fergus Ewing on 31 October 2019, whether the successor to the interim Chief Executive of the South of Scotland Enterprise Agency will be appointed by ministers or by the agency.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The South of Scotland Enterprise Act 2019 provides that Scottish Ministers will appoint the first Chief Executive of South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE), with subsequent chief executives to be appointed by South of Scotland Enterprise with Scottish Ministers’…
28 Oct 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the provisions in the Transport (Scotland) Bill regarding banning parking on pavements and dropped kerbs will come into force.
Answer · Michael Matheson: There is a significant amount of work that must be done to implement all the regulations required for the Transport (Scotland) Bill in the coming 12 to 24 months. In addition, we are also working with local authority colleagues and other stakeholders on the d…
28 Oct 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when its review of the traffic regulation order process will begin, and what form it will take.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is engaging with a range of stakeholders to fully understand the issues being encountered with the various road order processes. This will inform the overall parameters of the work required, and we expect to finalise the review scope i…
25 Oct 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its estimate is of the current coverage of 4G across (a) the whole of Scotland and (b) each Scottish local authority area.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government does not collect or publish mobile coverage data and all regulation and legislative competence in respect of mobile telecommunications, including 4G services, remains a reserved matter or responsibility for UK Ministers under the provi…
25 Oct 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on (a) the whole of Scotland and (b) each Scottish local authority area of the UK Government’s plans to enable an average of 95% of the UK to have 4G coverage by 2025.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Information provided by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) indicates that the Shared Rural Network (SRN) proposal may deliver 85% geographic 4G coverage for Scotland and not the 95% figure that would apply to the UK as a whole. No dat…
24 Oct 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of anticipated changes to services at (a) Lockerbie and (b) other railway stations in Scotland as a result of the award to First Trenitalia of the franchise to operate the West Coast Partnership.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Transport Scotland engaged proactively with all bidders for the West Coast Partnership to convey our aspirations for the franchise, which included requests for additional service provision. We have had initial discussions with the winning bidder, First Trenit…