Colin Smyth

24 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will (a) complete and (b) publish the outcome of its review of the guidance on the mothballing of rural schools and nurseries.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Local authorities are responsible for the management of their learning estate. Statutory guidance sets out the Scottish Government’s expectations in relation to the mothballing of schools and nurseries. As the First Minister stated on 24 April, we are r…

22 Apr 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that one in three diagnoses of prostate cancer in Scotland are at stage 4, which is a higher proportion compared with the rest of the UK.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Staging prostate cancer is often complex and whilst data published by Prostate Cancer UK in 2023 shows apparent variation across the UK nations. Comparison to other nations should be approached with caution due to differences in staging data collection method…

17 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it provides to Scottish Borders council to reflect any additional costs directly associated with providing nursery education in a rural setting.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Local Government finance funding formula provides a complex but objective assessment of need and uses the most up to date information for the full range of indicators, including factors such as rurality, population, road length and deprivation. Rurality i…

1 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that muirburn does not create smoke levels that damage human health or cause a nuisance, in light of reports of significant smoke drift affecting communities in the Scottish Borders, including Peebles and Stobo.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: Muirburn is currently guided by the Muirburn Code: https://www.nature.scot/doc/guidance-muirburn-code which is a non-statutory code and sets out both the law and good practice relating to muirburn.Section 3.3 of the current Muirburn Code clearly states that t…

1 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what enforcement measures are in place to address any breaches of muirburn regulations, and whether it will review the existing guidance in order to improve the protection of public health.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The current Muirburn Code: https://www.nature.scot/doc/guidance-muirburn-code is a non-statutory Code which sets out both the law and good practice relating to muirburn and applies to all moorland managers and includes farmers, crofters, shepherds and gamekee…

25 Mar 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to renewing the Heart Disease Action Plan.

18 Mar 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its commitment to ban house coal, as set out in its strategy, Cleaner Air for Scotland 2.

11 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-34926 by Jenni Minto on 4 March 2025, what discussions it has had with the Respiratory Specialty Delivery Group within NHS Golden Jubilee to develop a pathway for (a) idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and (b) interstitial lung disease.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Scottish Government are not directly involved in the development of a pathway for IPF and ILD however we are aware that the Centre for Sustainable Delivery has a Speciality Delivery Group for respiratory and this pathway development has been added this to the…

5 Mar 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to calls from Independent Age for a pensioner poverty strategy for Scotland.

27 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its commitment to reduce the full-time working week for NHS Scotland staff to 36 hours by April 2026, with the first half hour of this reduction taking effect from 1 April 2024, for what reason there are no proposals to reduce the working week in 2025, and whether it re…

Answer · Neil Gray: As set out in the answers to questions S6W-35253 and S6W-35256 on 11 March 2025, as part of the NHS Scotland Board Annual Review process, the feedback obtained from Area Partnership forums highlighted safety related concerns from a wide range of Agenda for Ch…

26 Feb 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the calls in public petition PE1979 for gaps in the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry to be addressed and for an independent whistleblowing officer for education and children's services to be established.

17 Feb 2025 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to reduce the disability employment gap.

12 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on introducing compulsory pay caps for locum doctors in the NHS.

Answer · Neil Gray: In Scotland, the government does not have the authority to unilaterally implement a salary cap for agency locum doctors working in the NHS. The remuneration of agency locum doctors is determined by the terms and conditions outlined in their individual contrac…

12 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on introducing a policy of cancelling the student loans of newly qualified doctors if they commit to working in the NHS for a period of five years.

Answer · Neil Gray: There are currently no plans to introduce a policy of cancelling student loans of newly qualified doctors if they commit to working in the NHS for a period of five years. Medical students fall within the same category as all other undergraduate students in re…

11 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to reduce waiting times for people with (a) idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and (b) interstitial lung disease since the publication of its Respiratory Care Action Plan.

Answer · Jenni Minto: We are committed to ensuring that people living with respiratory conditions such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and interstitial lung disease can access clinically appropriate, safe and effective care.The Scottish Government’s budget for the coming ye…

11 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve care for people with (a) idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and (b) interstitial lung disease.

Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to answer to question S6W-34926 on 4 March 2025. Our Respiratory Care Action Plan for Scotland (RCAP) sets out our vision for driving improvement in the prevention, diagnosis, care, treatment and support of people affected by respiratory co…

11 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve diagnosis for (a) idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and (b) interstitial lung disease.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Our Respiratory Care Action Plan for Scotland (RCAP) sets out our vision for driving improvement in the prevention, diagnosis, care, treatment and support of people affected by respiratory conditions including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and interstitial lu…

11 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how many people who are resident in (a) Scotland are registered with a GP in England and (b) England are registered with a GP in Scotland.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government does not hold information on how many people who are resident in Scotland are registered with a GP in England or on how many people who are resident in England are registered with a GP in Scotland.

10 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that the Scottish Prison Service improves the educational opportunities available to prisoners at HMP Dumfries by increasing the range of subjects on offer and improving attendance rates and the number of qualifications offered or taken up, in light of the rec…

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:SPS are pleased that His Majesties Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland, recognised that HMP Dumfries is a well-run prison and perfor…

10 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that the Scottish Prison Service improves CCTV coverage in D and E Hall and creates Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for monitoring all exercise yards, in light of the recent report, HMP Dumfries, Full Inspection, 26 to 30 August 2024, by HM Inspectora…

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:SPS are pleased that His Majesties Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland, recognised that HMP Dumfries is a well-run prison and perfor…

10 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce respiratory protective equipment (RPE) to prisons to protect staff from being exposed to toxic fumes when any incidents involving the illicit use of drugs occur. 

Answer · Angela Constance: The health and wellbeing of those who live and work in our prisons is a key priority for the SPS.By working closely with partners such as Police Scotland we remain vigilant to the continuously evolving nature of drug use, ensuring that our technology and tact…

10 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of plans in England and Wales to implement a phased removal of wet-shave razors from adult male prisons, what plans it has to replicate such a proposal in Scotland.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:The SPS Public Protection Unit (PPU) review risks on a regular basis and based on intelligence analysis carried both locally and nationa…

4 Feb 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on annual reporting of its incentivisation of selective fishing gear and low-impact techniques that the rural affairs secretary committed to commissioning in January 2023.

3 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what dates NatureScot met (a) Police Scotland and (b) the National Wildlife Crime Unit before seeking approval for a new grouse licensing condition regarding raptor persecution from land and estates.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: NatureScot met with Police Scotland and the National Wildlife Crime Unit towards the end of October 2024 to discuss the changes to the grouse moor condition. As the licensing authority, NatureScot were not required to seek approval from Police Scotland.

3 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported criticismsfrom members of the conservation sector regarding the changes made to grouseshooting licences by NatureScot and, in the light of this, what steps it plansto ensure that the operation of section 16AA licences fulfils the intentions of(a) it a…

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government is aware of the concerns of some conservation organisations regarding section 16AA of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024, where a grouse shooting licence area is determined solely by the applicant. It is considere…

3 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on (a) the comment by NatureScot on 19 July 2026 that “raptor persecution undertaken in connection with grouse moor management could take place anywhere on a property, not just on the grouse moor itself”, and (b) whether the Wildlife Management and Muirbu…

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government agrees with the comment made by NatureScot that raptor persecution undertaken in connection with grouse moor management could take place anywhere on a property, not just on the grouse moor itself.NatureScot introduced a new condition t…

3 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the (a) legal and (b) other advice obtained by NatureScot regarding which areas of land should be covered by a 16AA licence under the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government does not intend to publish the legal or other advice obtained by NatureScot regarding which areas of land should be covered by a 16AA licence under the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024.It is for NatureScot to determ…

29 Jan 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the current average timescale is for non-criminal complaints against the police to be allocated for investigation by Police Scotland.

27 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will end the practice, highlighted in its 2018 report, Coming Home, of adults being inappropriately detained in hospital or living out of their own area.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government remains committed to delivering the changes that are required for people with Learning Disabilities as detailed in the Coming Home report and subsequent implementation report in 2022.Change in this area cannot be delivered by the Scott…

27 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking through its draft Budget 2025-26 to increase local access to thrombectomy for people who have had a stroke in Dumfries and Galloway.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The delivery of a national thrombectomy service has already received over £38m of investment. Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary and Galloway Community Hospital are both now able to refer suitable patients for thrombectomy procedures.We have recently…