Parliamentary questions

Alexander Burnett

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

26 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether local authorities have planning enforcement powers to (a) impose fines for, (b) increase planning fees for and (b) ban repeat planning applications.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Planning authorities do not have powers to impose fines or increase fees for repeat planning applications. Repeat applications can, in some circumstances, be useful by allowing improved proposals which address problems or sources of objection so that plannin…

26 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) local authorities and (b) the public can access the records held by SEPA regarding the (i) types, (ii) quantities, (iii) sources and (iv) destinations of waste materials being processed.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Information on types, quantities, and sources of waste held is by SEPA via public registers so long as it is a requirement of an environmental licence that the licensee provide such information. Local authorities and the general public have access to this inf…

26 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what procedure SEPA uses when considering waste management licences and exemptions, and how it consults local authorities with regard to potential planning issues.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Where a proposed waste management site requires planning permission, the planning authority consults SEPA on any relevant planning matters. SEPA does not consult the local authority in relation to potential planning issues. When considering an application f…

24 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to local authorities regarding protecting children's welfare in schools when a case of teacher misconduct arises.

Answer · John Swinney: All agencies that work with children and their families have a shared responsibility for protecting children and promoting, supporting and safeguarding their wellbeing. National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2014/0…

24 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to local authorities on procedures for parents or guardians to remove their children from primary school, other than submitting a placing request.

Answer · John Swinney: This question has been answered on the basis that the situation being referred to is the removal of a child from school for the purpose of providing alternative means of education. It is the legal responsibility of every parent to provide efficient education…

22 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to promote to GPs the free online course from the Royal College of General Practitioners and Lyme Disease Action regarding the diagnosing and treating of Lyme disease.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: A multi-agency Lyme Borreliosis Group is coordinating a number of initiatives to raise awareness of Lyme disease among health professionals. This includes producing webinars aimed at front-line clinicians, making information available on the NHS Education Sco…

19 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-08858 by Aileen Campbell on 5 May 2017, whether (a) local authorities and (b) residents that have developed their own signs for defibrillators will be permitted to use these after the sign being developed by the Resuscitation Council is rolled out a…

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Resuscitation Council (UK) 'Guide to AEDs' is designed to provide information on AEDs. This includes that there should be signs in premises directing people to a defibrillator, as answered in S5W-08858. The Resuscitation Council (UK) have produced new, s…

11 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-08134 by Aileen Campbell on 27 March 2017, for what reason (a) it has not answered the question that was asked and whether it will now do so and (b) a substantive reply to a letter from the member to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport dated …

Answer · Aileen Campbell: a) The answer provided regarding S5W-08134 gives information on work that the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) is progressing to map and maintain Public Access Defibrillators (PADs), so they can be more effectively deployed as part of the response to an Out-o…

10 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-09044 by John Swinney on 9 May 2017, when the revision of the code of practice will (a) commence and (b) end, and by what date the revised code will be published.

Answer · John Swinney: The Supporting Children's Learning Code of Practice is currently being revised. It is anticipated that the revised Code will be published by the end of 2017.

9 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-08862 by Paul Wheelhouse on 4 May 2017, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding providing a breakdown of the names of the individuals and organisations with whom informal discussions took place to shape the suggested loc…

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Our informal discussions involved a number of public bodies, local authorities and members of the onshore wind industry. The organisations were not consulted on the content seen in the draft Onshore Wind policy Statement and cannot be assumed to be in approva…

8 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action is taken to ensure that, to avoid waste, people receive the correct amount of prescription drugs.

Answer · Shona Robison: All NHS boards have strategies in place to help improve the quality, clinical and cost effectiveness of prescribing. These include GP and pharmacist medicines reviews and reviews of repeat prescribing. Strategies are also supported by local and national publi…

3 May 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is tackling health inequalities through the promotion of after school activities.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: Reducing health inequalities is one of the biggest challenges we face. To tackle this, we recognise that the root of health inequalities can be found in income inequalities – inequalities which are exacerbated by the UK Government’s policies of austerity and …

2 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what conditions it considers for settlements to be reviewed as requiring Potentially Vulnerable Status, in light of section 15 of the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009, where the Scottish Ministers have the power to direct, review and, where appropriate, update the document appro…

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The approach that was agreed and consulted upon is that the National Flood Risk Assessment (NFRA) and the identification of Potentially Vulnerable Areas (PVAs) will be reviewed and re-published within each six year planning cycle. Whilst Scottish Ministers ha…

26 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether self-employed parents are entitled to statutory pay when adopting a child, and what financial and mental health support is available to all parents who adopt.

Answer · Mark McDonald: Statutory Adoption Pay is a reserved matter. Under UK Government regulations, self-employed parents are not entitled to statutory pay when adopting a child. Under The Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007, adopters have a legal right to request an assess…

26 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the process is for schools referring pupils to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS).

Answer · Maureen Watt: Awareness of child and adolescent mental health in schools has been improved by, amongst other things, our commitment to encouraging the establishment of explicit links between schools and child and adolescent mental health (CAMHS) specialists as well as the …

26 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available for children and young people in rural areas with mental health issues.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Action 12 in the Mental Health Strategy 2017 - 27 commits to supporting the further development of the National Rural Mental Health Forum to reflect the unique circumstances presented by rural isolation. The Government has also noted the results of a recent s…

26 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported increase in the number of pupils with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, what the guidance provided to schools is on the ratio of (a) teachers and (b) teaching assistants to pupils.

Answer · John Swinney: Education authorities have duties under the Additional Support for Learning Act 2004 (as amended) to identify, provide for and review the additional support needs of their pupils, including those with ADHD. This includes ensuring there are the appropriate res…

19 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of its document, Onshore Wind Policy Statement, which stakeholders have been consulted regarding a strategic approach to onshore wind.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Informal discussions helped shape the suggested locally co-ordinated approach that you can find in the draft Onshore wind Policy Statement, however only through our consultation will we know if these stakeholders are happy with the approach proposed as it has…

19 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it defines “well-sited” in terms of onshore wind developments.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: There is no single definition of a ‘well-sited’ development as it depends on each project’s context and individual circumstances, but in general terms, a well-sited development maximises Scotland’s wind energy potential with due consideration given to the env…

19 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many defibrillator road signs there are in each local authority area; what action it is taking to encourage a greater roll out of these; what its position is on using existing signposts to accommodate the signs; how many use the internationally-recognised defibrillator sign, and what…

Answer · Aileen Campbell: There is at present no standard defibrillator road sign in Scotland or internationally. Local PAD signage is important and it is recommended, in line with Resuscitation Council (UK) guidance, there should be signs in premises directing people to a PAD and ex…

31 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reported statements by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) that Healthcare Improvement Scotland is auditing its own performance and conducting its own surveys.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report which was published in February 2016, highlighted the need for a responsive and flexible approach to health system governance, which balances national and local roles. Healthcare Improve…

30 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will use the circumstances arising from the integration of health and social care to improve rehabilitation services for people who have had a stroke when they leave hospital.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: Health and Social Care Integration seeks to ensure that those who use services receive the right care and support whatever their needs, at any point in their care journey. With a greater emphasis on community-based care, local systems will deliver more person…

28 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support is available for unemployed oil and gas workers who are trying to keep their safety certifications up to date.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Transition Training Fund is providing support to those individuals who need help with the costs of maintaining any licences needed to work in the sector. The applicants will be required to be able to demonstrate the evidence base for potential job opportu…

28 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reports that the Transition Training Fund was used for training courses to help unemployed oil and gas workers maintain their safety certification, and whether this support is still being provided.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government’s £12 million Transition Training Fund is focused on supporting people who have lost or face losing their jobs in the oil and gas sector and the support will help to transition into other roles in the oil and gas industry, and other en…