Alexander Burnett

13 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the National Entitlement Card not being accepted on the Glasgow Subway service, and what discussions it has had or plans with Glasgow City Council regarding this.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Travel concessions on the Glasgow Subway are a matter for Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Scheme Joint Committee (SCTSJC). Bus travel concessions for older and disabled people are provided by the Scottish Government through the National Concessionary Bus Tr…

12 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce waiting lists for operations in NHS Grampian for (a) cancer and (b) other patients, and whether this will include providing funding for (i) hiring specialist nurses and (ii) procedures to be carried out in the private sector.

Answer · Shona Robison: As announced in the Draft Budget for 2017-18 in Parliament on 15 December 2016, the baseline allocation for NHS Grampian will increase to a total of £899.4 million. In addition to this increase, the board can also expect to receive an additional £3 million of…

21 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to ensure that children with autism who display violent behaviour have access to locally-based support.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government is committed to meeting the needs of children with autism. We want all children and young people to reach their full potential. It is imperative that children who are displaying violent behaviours, whether it be in a school or social s…

21 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce the risk of human error arising from the digitised scanning of exam papers.

Answer · John Swinney: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). I have asked the Chief Executive of SQA to write to you.

21 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on having a proactive approach to introducing road safety features and not relying primarily on accident statistics.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2020 contains an ultimate vision of a future where no-one is killed on Scotland’s roads and is underpinned by challenging casualty reduction targets. While accident and casualty reduction is our key driver, the recent mid-…

21 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that digitised "one-size-fits-all" exams are being introduced in many higher education humanities subjects.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: As autonomous institutions, universities are responsible for their own course content and examinations. However, under the UK Quality Code they are expected to operate equitable, valid and reliable processes of assessment, which enable every student to demons…

21 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support people who experience withdrawal symptoms caused by so-called over-the-counter drugs.

Answer · Shona Robison: It is for NHS boards, local authorities and Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) to assess the need for, the design and delivery of local services, including for those facing problems caused by prescribed or over the counter medication. At a national level t…

21 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Student Awards Agency For Scotland (SAAS) loans are based on parental income and what criteria SAAS used to set the current bands.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The level of loan support a student can access is dependent on their household, rather than parental, income. The persons' whose household income SAAS can take into account is laid out in legislation and is comprised of the student and (if appropriate) their …

21 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to minimise reliance on prescription anti-depressant drugs.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government funds the NHS in Scotland to make available both antidepressants and psychological therapies to people who are depressed, in keeping with contemporary treatment of depression. Prescribing of anti-depressants is a clinical decision for…

21 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the use of the drug, Ibrutinib, as a second-line therapy treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

Answer · Shona Robison: In Scotland we have a clear route for new drugs to be appraised through the long standing Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC). SMC will consider a resubmission for the use of ibrutinib (Imbruvica®) in adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (withou…

20 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to (a) improve pedestrian safety and (b) deter parking on pavements.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is committed to improving pedestrian safety through a number of initiatives highlighted in Scotland's Road Safety Framework to 2020. Following a mid-term review of the Framework held earlier this year it was identified that vulnerable …

20 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on approving access to the drug, Ibrutinib, for people with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, in light of the recent decision to allow access to this in England and Wales.

Answer · Shona Robison: In Scotland we have a clear route for new drugs to be appraised through the long standing Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC). Where SMC accept medicines for routine use in Scotland, Health boards are expected to make the medicine or its equivalent available…

20 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much planned investment it has to further develop wind farms across the north east.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government does not have any plans to directly invest in wind farms anywhere in Scotland. Our draft Energy Strategy is due for publication shortly and will outline our aspirations for onshore wind in Scotland. Through Local Energy Scotland, the …

15 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on high-visibility jackets or should straps being made mandatory for cyclists. jackets or shoulder straps being made mandatory for cyclists.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: At present the wearing of high visibility clothing for cyclists is not mandatory and there are currently no plans to review or change this. However, high visibility clothing can play a role in preventing accidents, which is why we continue to work through Ro…

14 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the implementation of the Named Person scheme will be funded.

Answer · John Swinney: The resources required for implementation of Part 4 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (the Act), relating to Named Person duties, including the costs to bodies required to implement the duties, is set out in the financial memorandum to the …

14 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to ensure that markers of Geography SQA exams are appropriately qualified.

Answer · John Swinney: The recruitment of markers is an operational matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). I have asked the Chief Executive of SQA to write to you outlining the robust processes in place to ensure that markers are appropriately qualified.

7 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce statutory protection of the freshwater pearl mussel population in the unnamed water, "river x".

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Further to the answer to question S4W-28305 on 19 November 2015, Scottish Natural Heritage's advice on the Scottish suite of Special Areas of Conservation for freshwater pearl mussel remains in preparation following the recent discovery of a previously unreco…

5 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is investigating the awarding of planning permission on the Altnaharra estate, in light of a petition backed by people outwith Sutherland.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Scottish Ministers granted consent for the Creag Riabhach Wind Farm located on Altnaharra Estate on 17 October 2016. Consents granted by Scottish Ministers on applications submitted under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 are subject only to challenge in…

28 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much additional tax revenue it expects will be generated in each local authority area by the doubling of the large business rates supplement for 2016-17.

28 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will clarify the laws on disabled parking bays, and what efforts are being made to deter road users who are not disabled from using these bays.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The law relating to parking, including disabled parking is primarily governed by the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, which specifies what type of parking places can be created by local authorities. Local authorities also have duties under the Disabled Perso…

22 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce the use of so-called pothole filling in Aberdeenshire instead of full road repairs.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Transport Scotland Road Asset Management Plan sets out how Scotland's trunk road network is maintained strategically and efficiently in order to protect our assets and ensure we get maximum value for money from our available budgets. In addition to our pr…

18 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to digitise (a) airgun, (b) firearm and (c) shotgun certificates to allow online completion.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The majority of firearms legislation is reserved to Westminster. This includes the Firearms Rules 1998 which make provision for applying for firearm and shotgun certificates. The Rules currently require that applications are signed in ink. The idea of online …

17 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 and what its position is on the immediate inclusion of settlements that have been flooded, but are not currently determined to be potentially vulnerable areas (PVAs), on the list of PVAs without having to wait unti…

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-04269 on 8 November 2016. All answers to written parliamentary are available on the parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.as…

17 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with local authorities regarding increasing the number of bin collections for larger homes.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The frequency of bin collection is for local authorities to decide. It is for each council to determine how they deliver local services and what is the most appropriate collection system for their area. However, the Scottish Government will continue to work …

2 Nov 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much carbon dioxide was released as a result of Ineos importing shale gas from the United States.

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in its bid for the ScotRail franchise, by what date Abellio indicated that it would introduce refurbished IC125 trains on inter-city rail routes in Scotland; whether that date is expected to be met and, if not, by what date the trains will be in service and whether a financial penalty w…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: All of the information related to Abellio’s commitments to introduce new and refurbished rolling stock is within the Franchise Agreement, Schedule 1.6, Part 1. This is the formal contract between Scottish Ministers and ScotRail and has been available since 20…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it would consider amending the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 so that Kemnay would be considered a Potentially Vulnerable Area (PVA) before the 2019 review.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: There are no plans to amend the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009. The Act created a new framework for the assessment and management of flood risk to reduce the risk of flooding from all sources, as far as is reasonable, taking full account of environ…

28 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to encourage more lenders to support the Help to Buy (Scotland) Affordable New Build Scheme and other shared equity schemes.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government meets regularly with our scheme partner the Council of Mortgage Lenders to consider a number of issues related to the Help to Buy (Scotland) schemes, including encouraging new lenders to participate in the scheme and provision of mortg…

14 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that investment in geothermal energy technologies is not discouraged by its moratorium on unconventional gas extraction.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The moratorium on unconventional gas extraction does not cover geothermal energy and should therefore not discourage investment in geothermal energy technologies or have an impact on geothermal energy exploration. The Scottish Government is keen to develop t…

14 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact that its moratorium on unconventional gas extraction has had on geothermal energy exploration.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-03790 on 31 October 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness…