Alexander Burnett

14 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of any training that mesh removal specialists have received, and from whom the training was received.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-24134 on 18 July 2019.. 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-committee…

14 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to training for GPs and consultants to improve awareness of any potential hernia mesh complications.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-09864 on 15 August 2022. 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-committe…

14 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether hernia mesh patients can experience similar complications and pain issues as those who have had transvaginal mesh implants.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is mindful of the use of mesh in non-transvaginal settings. In February 2018, the then-Chief Medical Officer wrote to NHS Scotland Medical Directors about public interest in the use of mesh implants, including in hernia repair. Medical…

14 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of reports of people that are referred by their GP for mesh removal and treatment experiencing repeated postponements of their appointments, and, if this is the case, what action it is taking to address this, and by when does it anticipate the matter will be resolv…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Over the last two years our NHS has suffered the biggest shock of its 74 year existence. Caring for large numbers of patients seriously unwell with COVID-19 has inevitably meant that planned care procedures have had to be delayed, and while we are working har…

13 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-09163 by Keith Brown on 4 July 2022, whether it can outline in detail (a) when and (b) how the summary case reform pilot will be reported on, and where the reporting will be made publicly available.

Answer · Keith Brown: The summary reform pilots are judicially-led and an operational matter for the independent Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) in collaboration with other criminal justice partners. SCTS advises that while the pilots will be monitored and evaluated t…

11 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans are (a) in place and (b) planned to extend access to antiviral treatments or COVID-19 boosters to people who are clinically vulnerable with neurological conditions who are not currently listed as eligible for such treatments.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: There are additional treatment options for selected groups of people with COVID-19 who are thought to be at high risk with a prioritised clinical condition, as well as those taking part in registered clinical trials related to COVID-19. The high risk group do…

11 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people affected by the transition from Personal Independence Payment or Disability Living Allowance to Adult Disability Payment have been informed of the transition.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: As of 19 July 2022 we had issued 79 letters to people receiving Personal Independence Payment to let them know the transfer of their award to Adult Disability Payment has begun. These cases were selected as part of our small Personal Independence Payment to A…

11 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to complete the transition of all adults who receive Disability Living Allowance to Adult Disability Payment.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: Case transfer is a joint programme between the Scottish Government and the Department for Work and Pensions. We aim to have safely and securely transferred the awards of everyone living in Scotland in receipt of devolved disability and carer benefits currentl…

11 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will outline the activities that (a) have been taken and (b) are planned to inform people across Scotland of the forthcoming roll-out of Adult Disability Payment on 29 August 2022.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: Adult Disability Payment launched as a three phased pilot starting with new claims being accepted in a small number of local authorities from 21 March. Phases two and three of the pilot have been rolled out with new claims being accepted from additional local…

11 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements are being made to enable those with an energy-limiting condition to apply for Adult Disability Payment.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: We have undertaken significant engagement with people who have lived experience of energy limiting conditions and organisations which represent them. Adult Disability Payment has been designed to be inclusive and accessible for people with energy-limiting con…

11 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will outline the measures that Social Security Scotland has introduced to ensure that assessors (a) understand the specific issues that people with a neurological condition may experience and (b) are able to make accurate assessments about eligibility for Adult Disability Paym…

Answer · Ben Macpherson: We have engaged extensively with people with neurological conditions, and organisations which represent them, throughout the development of Adult Disability Payment. Also, during the process of passing the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018, it was decided t…

11 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many adults who currently receive Disability Living Allowance it expects to transfer to Adult Disability Payment between 29 August 2022 and 29 August 2023.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: People will have their Disability Living Allowance award selected for transfer to Adult Disability Payment if they would otherwise be required to claim Personal Independence Payment. These will be individuals that were under 65 on 08 April 2013 and, after 29 …

11 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-09142 by Mairi Gougeon on 6 July 2022, for what reasons it has taken over one year for the report on bird stomach contents to be finalised and published.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The project commenced in 2019 however further field work and laboratory analysis scheduled during 2020 were affected by COVID-19 restrictions. This had a knock on effect, delaying the remaining stages of the project, including quality control of the data and …

8 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many of the 7,780 jobs created or safeguarded through inward investment in financial year 2021-22, as highlighted by Scottish Development International statistics, were (a) jobs created and (b) jobs safeguarded.

Answer · Ivan McKee: For the financial year 2021-22, Scottish Development International (SDI) and its partners recorded 3721 new jobs and 4059 safeguarded jobs. These job numbers only cover the projects or companies that were directly supported or assisted by SDI. While the Scott…

8 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what dates the Zero Emission Truck Taskforce has met, and when it is next due to meet.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Zero Emission Truck Taskforce met on 4 May 2022 and 23 June 2022. The next meeting is scheduled for 25 August 2022.  

8 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what dates the industry advisory group for talent has met, and when it is next due to meet.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Industry Advisory Group for rUK Talent Attraction met on 19 April 2022 and 8 June 2022. It is next scheduled to meet on 1 September 2022.

8 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it will publish its strategy for improving rest and welfare facilities for HGV drivers.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Recommendation 36 of the second Strategy Transport Projects Review (STPR2) recommends a detailed national audit and review of support for lorry parks to address barriers hampering their development, consider their financial stability and develop adequate stan…

8 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who sits on the industry advisory group for talent.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Membership of the Industry Advisory Group for rUK Talent Attraction comprises: Shona Artale; Q 2 Solutions (Life Sciences); Justin Black; Hays (Recruitment); Craig Clark; Space Scotland (Space Sector); Mark Cowan; Scottish Leather Group (Advanced Manufacture…

8 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in connection with the industry advisory group for talent, what locations in the rest of the UK have been identified as places to seek to attract talent from, and which specific skills it is seeking to attract from each of those locations.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Industry Advisory Group for rUK Talent Attraction was established to share talent attraction expertise. Part of the remit of the group is to identify locations across the rUK and to develop talent attraction activities to target opportunities that will c…

8 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the minutes of all meetings of the Zero Emissions Truck Taskforce.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Information about the Zero Emissions Truck Taskforce, including membership and minutes, can be found on the Transport Scotland website at: Zero Emission Truck Taskforce | Transport Scotland.  

8 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the minutes of all meetings of the industry advisory group for talent.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The minutes of the meetings of the Industry Advisory Group for rUK Talent Attraction are not currently published but information on previous meetings can be made available on request.

8 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what roles it has suggested or requested that the Migration Advisory Committee add to the Shortage Occupation List, and when any such suggestions or requests were made.

Answer · Neil Gray: Scottish Ministers cannot commission the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to consider changes to the Shortage Occupation List (SOL). The Scottish Government responded to recent reviews of the SOL with detailed evidence on labour market shortages and how t…

8 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last carried out an assessment of the adequacy of rest and welfare facilities in Scotland for HGV drivers.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government through the Scottish Freight and Logistics Advisory Group previously conducted an assessment of HGV rest stops and facilities in 2010-11. Details of the previous study are available here: scotflag-lorry-parking-known-overnight-issues…

30 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what operating company will run the maintenance and management of trunk roads across the north east of Scotland from the start of the new contract period, and for what reasons has the decision been taken to appoint that company.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Amey OW Ltd has been awarded the Network Maintenance Contract for the North East Unit. This contract will begin on 16 August and run for 8 years, with a potential to extend for a further 4 years. The procurement process was carried out in compliance with the …

29 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the announcement that local authorities will have the power to run bus services, whether this will affect the entitlement to free bus travel for people who currently receive it.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The new powers under section 34 (provision of bus services by local authorities) of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 do not affect the entitlement to free bus travel for people who currently receive it.

24 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to translate the full 72-page publication, Independence in the Modern World. Wealthier, Happier, Fairer: Why Not Scotland?, into other languages.

Answer · Angus Robertson: Summaries of the first two papers in the Building a New Scotland series have been translated into 17 languages, including British Sign Language, Arabic, Gaelic, Polish and Ukrainian. Audio and Easy Read versions have also been produced to support accessibilit…

23 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has provided for motor neurone disease (MND) research in the last 10 years.

Answer · Maree Todd: In the last ten years, the Scottish Government's Chief Scientist Office has provided £889,000 in funding towards Motor Neurone Disease (MND) research.

13 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the reasons were for applications to the Business Ventilation Fund from businesses in Aberdeenshire being declined.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Applications to the Business Ventilation Fund were declined if the business did not meeting the eligibility criteria for the Fund such as being in an eligible sector, claiming for eligible items by the fund deadline or meeting the fund business rules. This …

13 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what COVID-19-related funding and payments for businesses has not yet been completely paid out.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government has supported businesses with more than £4.7bn since the start of the pandemic. All funds have been allocated and no payments remain to be paid out by the Scottish Government. All Covid-19 business support funds have now closed.  

13 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it plans to do with unspent funding from (a) the Business Ventilation Fund and (b) other COVID-19-related funds.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government has supported businesses with more than £4.7bn since the start of the pandemic. All Covid-19 business support funds have closed. No funds remain to be allocated from either the Business Ventilation Fund or other Covid 19 related funds.…