Parliamentary questions

Alexander Burnett

1,406 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

16 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications were made to the Local Bridge Maintenance Fund in total; how much in total was applied for, and how many applications were successful, all broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The information you have requested is set out in the following table. It should be noted that the key criteria for the Local Bridge Maintenance Fund was to rebuild and maintain key lifeline bridges, where diversionary routes are not available or limited. Loc…

16 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to provide funding for bridges, in light of the closure of the Local Bridge Maintenance Fund.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has no additional plans to provide specific funding for local road bridges. However, an additional £793 million cash funding has been provided to local government in 2023-24. It is the responsibility of each local authority to manage t…

15 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many homes there are in each parliamentary region, including a breakdown of how many homes have an EPC rating below grade C.

Answer · Paul McLennan: This information is not available in the form requested. The Scottish Government does not produce counts of homes by parliamentary region. The number of households and dwellings in each parliamentary constituency is published by the National Records of Scot…

15 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many homes in each parliamentary region Warmworks Warmer Homes Scotland is planning to improve to at least EPC grade C; by what date this work will be completed; how many homes in each region have received such assistance to date; what other schem…

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The first phase of Warmer Homes Scotland (WHS) has run since September 2015, and is coming to an end on 29 September 2023. The second phase of the scheme will launch on 02 October 2023, and will run initially for 5 years, with an option for it to run for 7 ye…

7 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what actions the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills is taking to discourage the over-use of temporary contracts for teachers.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Local authorities are responsible for the recruitment and deployment of their staff. This includes providing a complement of teachers which best meets the needs of each of their schools and its pupils within the resources available. While teachers are employ…

7 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a limit on the number of temporary contracts for teachers that a local authority can offer per school or headcount.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The recruitment and employment of teachers and all other support staff in local authority schools are matters for individual councils, as they have the statutory duty for education expenditure and to deliver education. This includes providing a complement of …

7 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills has had regarding the use of temporary contracts for teachers.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I have discussed the national picture on teacher recruitment with COSLA and the Strategic Board for Teacher Education. I will continue to work with Councils on this important issue, recognising that it is they who employ our teachers. Over the past 10 years …

4 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the current average wait time is for receiving (a) assessment/ diagnosis and (b) first treatment via the urgent suspected referral process for cancer, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government does not hold the information you have requested. The most recent Cancer Waiting Times Data from 1 January – 31 March 2023, published on the Public Health Scotland website, can be found at the following link - Cancer waiting times - 1…

4 Aug 2023 · Written Question

3 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19779 by Jenni Minto on 31 July 2023, whether it will provide the information requested regarding whether it has any plans to discuss with the UK Government the licensing of testosterone treatments for menopause for use in Scotland.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government has no current plans to discuss with the UK Government the licensing of testosterone treatments for perimenopause or menopause for use in Scotland. As noted in the answer to question S6W-18294, on 14 June 2023, regulations for the lice…

2 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether victims of crimes are required to be informed about the process for appealing sentences imposed on the perpetrator(s) of those crimes, and what support is provided to assist victims with any such appeals.

Answer · Angela Constance: Victims have a legal right to request certain information about cases they are involved in. This includes information about the decision of the court in imposing a sentence in a relevant case and information about any appeal decisions made relating to a sente…

31 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is the case that there is no minimum distance required from onshore wind turbines greater than 150 meters tall to residential properties, and, if so, what the reason is for this.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: There is no recommended minimum distance between onshore wind turbines and residential properties. Policy 11 of National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) makes clear that potential impacts on communities, nature and other receptors will be important considerations…

27 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the guidance is for administering prescription medicine to people in custody.

Answer · Jenni Minto: There is clear guidance in place on prescribing and administering prescription medicine for healthcare professionals working in prisons and police custody settings. Guidance for clinicians working in prisons can be found in The Royal College of General Practi…

18 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any plans it has to provide funding for post-diagnostic services for children and young people with autism.

Answer · Maree Todd: I refer you to the answer to oral parliamentary question S6O-02452 on 29 June 2023 available on the Scottish Parliament website: Written question and answer: S6O-02452 | Scottish Parliament Website.

17 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date its reported new £1 million Autism Support Fund will be launched by Inspiring Scotland.

Answer · Maree Todd: Inspiring Scotland will open applications for the new Autism Support Fund in the next couple of weeks. The application window will remain open for a period of 4 weeks and awards will be announced to recipients two to three weeks after applications close.

12 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has given to STV in each of the last three years.

Answer · Angus Robertson: Scottish Government do not provide direct funding to STV as they are an advertiser funded broadcaster. We do however provide funding to Screen Scotland who have themselves provided funding to STV Studios. STV Studios is separate to the broadcasting element o…

12 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on public health broadcasting campaigns in the last year.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The gross media spend that the Scottish Government has spent on public health broadcasting campaigns from July 2022 to June 2023 is £1,606,708. Broadcasting campaigns are defined as those which have used Linear TV, Broadcast Video on Demand or Radio as part o…

12 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many public health broadcasting campaigns it has run in the last year.

Answer · Jenni Minto: From July 2022 to June 2023 there has been nine Scottish Government public health broadcasting campaigns that have used Linear TV, Broadcast Video on Demand and/or Radio.

11 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many bursaries have been awarded to teachers in (a) total and (b) Aberdeenshire in each of the last three years.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Since the introduction of the STEM bursary scheme, 371 STEM bursaries have been awarded to bursary applicants in the last three years. 11 of these bursaries were awarded to applicants in Aberdeenshire. 2020 2021 2022 Aberdeenshire 8 3 0

11 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many Preference Waiver Payments have been made to student teachers completing their probation year in the North East Scotland region in each of the last three years.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The number of students who have received Preference Waiver Payments in the North East in each of the last three years is as follows: 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 Total Aberdeen City 7 11 17 35 Aberdeenshire 4 12 9 25 Moray 30 50 31 111

6 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish a new edition of the Scottish Ministerial Code.

Answer · Shona Robison: A new edition of the Scottish Ministerial Code was published on 20 July 2023 and is available here: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781835210567 .

4 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Police Scotland has explained the reasons for it reportedly sharing a pro-independence message on its Twitter account.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 stipulates that the Chief Constable of Police Scotland is responsible for the policing of Scotland, and is accountable to the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) for this, rather than to Scottish Ministers directly. …

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been provided for additional support needs training for teachers and pupil support assistants in each of the last five years, also broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Under this Government, spending on additional support for learning has reached a record high of £830m in 2021-22 and the number of pupil support staff in Scotland has reached a record high of over 16,600. We have invested an additional £60m since 2019-20 (£15…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it plans to have with the UK Government regarding consideration of the licensing of Androfeme or similar testosterone treatments for menopause for use in Scotland.

Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-18294 on 14 June 2023. 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…

26 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether funding from the National Post Diagnostic Support Service that supports autistic people will be backdated.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government is prioritising investment in a range of support available both pre and post diagnosis. Our new £1 million Autism Support Fund will soon be launched by Inspiring Scotland. Individual funding awards will be announced following a fair …

26 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidelines are in place to support Self Directed Support Scotland to provide training to personal assistants in autism-affirming ways.

Answer · Maree Todd: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19460 on 17 July 2023. 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…

26 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding is allocated to Self Directed Support Scotland to provide training to personal assistants in autism-affirming ways.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of Personal Assistants who offer bespoke, personalised and flexible care, enabling those with support needs to remain healthy and at home for longer. The Personal Assistant (PA) Programme Board was establishe…

26 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update regarding the funding for post-diagnostic services to support autistic people.

20 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is in place to address the use of mobile phones in schools.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government believes that effective and appropriate use of digital technologies, such as mobile phones, can improve educational outcomes. We encourage local authorities and schools to think carefully about how to incorporate the safe and responsi…

19 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last updated guidance on the minimum separation distances between onshore wind turbines and residential areas.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: All planning applications must be determined in accordance with the development plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Our Fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4), adopted 13 February this year, forms part of the statutory development plan…