Parliamentary questions

Liam Kerr

2,171 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

18 Dec 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the Scottish Fiscal Commission’s forecast for economic growth in Scotland over the next four years compares with that for the UK as a whole.

12 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which prisons use dogs to detect drugs.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows: All Scottish prisons utilise drug detection dogs.

12 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which prisons test for new psychoactive substances.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows: SPS considers it would be inappropriate to place into the public domain information about the technology that is utilised in individua…

12 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which prisons provide body-worn cameras for (a) officers and (b) staff.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows: Body worn cameras are not routinely provided for officers or staff at any Scottish prison.

12 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which prisons use (a) the Rapiscan drug test system and (b) other similar drug-test technology.

7 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there will be periodic review points during the new three-year financial period that NHS boards will follow.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: As announced in October, the new planning and performance cycle for NHS Boards will support longer-term planning by providing increased financial flexibility, requiring Boards to break-even over a 3-year period, rather than each year as has previously been th…

7 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Assurance and Advisory Group’s report on NHS Tayside's progress on implementing the recommendations in its staging report will be published.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The NHS Tayside Assurance and Advisory Group’s Third Progress Report was published on the Scottish Government’s website on 13 December .

7 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what checks it undertakes when reviewing settlement business cases for employees leaving NHS boards, and within what timescales.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Settlement agreements are reviewed in accordance with the requirements of the Scottish Public Finance Manual and associated guidance. Any decisions are based on issues of legal and regulatory compliance, propriety and value for money for public funds, alongsi…

7 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it became aware of the reported error in the settlement business case for the departing chief executive of NHS Tayside.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: On 6 December 2018 Audit Scotland Published its 2017-18 audit of NHS Tayside. In the context of that audit process, the Scottish Government became aware that errors has been made in the process of confirming the terms of settlement for the departing chief exe…

7 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) process and (b) timescale is for the public to be notified when an NHS board moves up a stage in the board escalation process.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Paul Gray, Director-General for Health and Social Care, wrote to the Public Audit and Post-legislative Scrutiny Committee on 18 December. His letter contains the information requested and it will be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib number 6036…

7 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last discussed a medium-term financial plan with NHS Tayside.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: All NHS boards submit financial plans to the Scottish Government each year and report throughout the year on performance against plan. The latest position for each Board is available on the Scottish Government’s website at the following location: https://www…

6 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the evidence given by the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity to the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee on 5 December 2018 (Official Report, c. 29), whether it will confirm the date that the cabinet secretary was initially advised of (a) the…

Answer · Michael Matheson: As I outlined in my statement to Parliament on 1 November, ARL first reported concreting issues at the River Don Crossing in May 2018. I was fully briefed on these issues when I assumed office in June 2018. On 26 October 2018, Transport Scotland was informed…

6 Dec 2018 · Written Question

Answer · Michael Matheson: My predecessor, Keith Brown MSP, the then Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, made an appearance at the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee on 23 May 2018 to provide an update on the AWPR/B-T project. Furthermore, Keith Brown also met wit…

4 Dec 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the clear-up rate for housebreakings is.

28 Nov 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the reported problems with teacher recruitment.

27 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, what action it is taking to improve protection for women at risk of attack from an abusive partner, ex-partner or stalker whom they have reported to Police Scotland.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Police Scotland have established Multi-Agency Tasking and Coordination processes across Scotland to identify and focus on the perpetrators who pose the greatest risk of harm to victims. This works alongside Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences which seek …

26 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported comments regarding technology by the (a) chief constable that "officers and staff deserve better and it is therefore critical that [we] give them the right equipment to do their jobs properly" and (b) vice-chair of the Scottish Police Federation that …

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Scottish Government welcome the work underway to increase the operational capacity of Police Scotland, including through the introduction of more efficient ways of working and the recruitment of additional civilian experts to meet the changing demands faced b…

26 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to recently published figures, which record that, since 2015, six women have been killed by an abusive partner, ex-partner or stalker whom they had previously reported to Police Scotland.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government strongly condemns violence against women and girls, and is committed to preventing and eradicating it. The Equally Safe Delivery Plan, published last year within the 16 days of activism, includes a commitment to develop multi-agency d…

26 Nov 2018 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on reforming the rules regarding the temporary release and parole of prisoners.