Parliamentary questions

Donald Cameron

1,854 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

2 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on proposals set out by Western Isles Intergrated Joint Board to close dental surgeries in Lochmaddy and Liniclate and have a single dental service operating from Uist and Barra Hospital.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Integration Joint Board (IJB) is responsible for strategic planning of local service provision, including health care services. It would therefore not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to comment on the precise nature of these proposals. We unde…

2 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it will offer staff who will be affected by recent tourist office closures by VisitScotland.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: As an NDPB the deployment of VisitScotland staff and resources is an operational issue for VisitScotland and their Board. The Scottish Government understands that discussions took place with affected staff on 12 October, immediately before the public announ…

2 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take in light of recent reports that over 125,000 fish have died as a result of Pasteurella skyensis on the Isle of Lewis.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish Government’s Fish Health Inspectorate received notification of increased mortality at North Shore fish farm, Isle of Lewis, and a site inspection was conducted on 18 October 2017. Diagnostic samples were taken to screen for the presence of listed dis…

2 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the Ministerial Statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport on 2 November 2016, during which, in response to a question regarding whether she would publish a national workforce plan and present an update to the Parliament every six months, she said “I am happy t…

Answer · Shona Robison: We published Part 1 of the National Health and Social Care Workforce Plan on 28 June 2017, and we will publish Part 2 on social care jointly with COSLA in the near future, with Part 3 on Primary Care to follow the conclusion of General Medical Services contra…

2 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its strategy is to transfer the delivery of services currently provided by acute care to the community in rural and remote areas.

Answer · Shona Robison: The integration of health and social care is one of the most significant reforms since the establishment of the NHS. It will ensure that those who use services get the right care and support whatever their needs, at any point in their care journey. Integratio…

2 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of the Audit Scotland report, NHS in Scotland 2017, which states that NHS Highland is the worst performing NHS board for ensuring that patients are seen within 12 weeks from referral for an outpatient appointment, what action it will take to ensure that perfo…

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-12433 on 14 November 2017. 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/parliamentarybusines…

2 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that NHS Highland and NHS Western Isles did not meet the 95% target for cancer patient referrals to begin treatment within 62 days, what action it will take to ensure that this target is met in future.

Answer · Shona Robison: We know further work is needed to shorten waits for diagnostics and in September 2017 we formed a Ministerial Cancer Performance Delivery Group to drive forward service redesign and improvement, backed by £1 million investment on top of £4.85 million already …

2 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that NHS Highland did not meet the 100% target for inpatient/day case treatment time guarantee patients to begin treatment within 12 weeks, what action it will take to ensure that this target is met in future.

2 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that NHS Highland did not meet the 90% target for referral to treatment times to be within 18 weeks in 2016-17, what action it will take to ensure that this target is met in future.

Answer · Shona Robison: We are taking significant action to reduce waiting times. I recognise some patients are experiencing long waits, that is why I have made £50 million available to NHSScotland - with up to £3.2 million being made available to NHS Highland. This additional fundi…

2 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that NHS Highland did not meet the 90% target for drug and alcohol treatment patients to be seen within three weeks in 2016-17, what action it will take to ensure that this target is met in future.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) National Support Team are in regular contact with ADP officials in NHS Highland to support improved performance. Developing and delivering services in a rural and remote setting can prove sensitive t…

2 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of the Audit Scotland report, NHS in Scotland 2017, for what reason NHS Highland remains 1.5% below its target funding allocation.

Answer · Shona Robison: As recognised in the Audit Scotland Report, NHS in Scotland 2017, all Boards are currently within 1% of their target funding allocations. In 2017-18 NHS Highland’s resource budget has increased by 1.6% to £586.9 million. This includes an additional £0.8 mill…

31 Oct 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it anticipates the impact will be on its environmental and climate change targets of its plan to make the A9 Scotland’s first fully electric-enabled highway.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Encouraging a move away from petrol and diesel vehicles can offer significant emissions savings as a large portion of transport emissions come from the car. The A9 electric highway will expand the available charging infrastructure along the route, building co…

30 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the suggestion that the £128 million difference between Transport Scotland’s cost estimate for the Clyde and Hebridean Ferry Service bid and the initial bid from CalMac, which was identified in the Audit Scotland report, Transport Scotland’s ferry services, illust…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-12272 on 9 November 2017. 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…

30 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the finding in the Audit Scotland report, Transport Scotland’s ferry services, that there was a £128 million difference between Transport Scotland’s cost estimate for the Clyde and Hebridean Ferry Service bid and the initial bid from CalMac.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The potential to achieve cost savings can be a benefit of competitive tendering however, It may also be possible to generate similar savings through other procurement methods. We are currently undertaking a procurement policy review into future provision of …

27 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Audit Scotland report, Transport Scotland’s ferry services, for what reason the Gourock-Dunoon route has the highest subsidy to cost ratio of the services provided under a public service obligation (PSO).

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-12199 on 7 November 2017. 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…

27 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Audit Scotland report, Transport Scotland’s ferry services, what its position is on whether the average passenger numbers on the Gourock-Dunoon route suggests that the current service level is excessive and inappropriate in respect to the needs of the community.

25 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Audit Scotland report, Transport Scotland’s ferry services, what action the agency is taking regarding considering the value for money of providing financial support for the Gourock-Dunoon route.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: We welcome the publication of the Audit Scotland report, and recognise the need to continually review our approach to providing ferry services, and to reassess the needs of ferry users. The Gourock – Dunoon ferry service provides a vital transport link for f…

9 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers the car ferry between Hunters Quay, Dunoon and McInroys Point, Gourock to offer a lifeline service.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government’s Ferries Plan 2013-2022 contained a clear definition of a lifeline ferry service as being one required in order for a community to be viable. The Scottish Government also uses the term “lifeline” in connection with the ferry services …

26 Sep 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to control the number of geese in the Highlands and Islands.

25 Sep 2017 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the Committee on Climate Change’s report, Reducing emissions in Scotland - 2017 progress report.

21 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee report, Compliance by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland with its obligations under the Convention, which states that Scotland is not compliant.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Scottish Government welcomes that the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee report recognised, 'the significant progress made to date'. Further work is underway to strengthen Scotland's compliance with the Convention. The Scottish Civil Justice Council …

6 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the proposed fare reductions to the Pentland Ferries service, how the operator will be compensated for any loss of income.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I stated in my announcement of 22 August that, as well as reducing fares on the Serco NorthLink Ferries services, it is also our intention to include commercial operators on the Pentland Firth, and that we will work with them to put a suitable system in place…

6 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the proposed fare reductions to Northern Isles’ ferry services, in cases where the formulaic road equivalent tariffs exceed the existing fares, on what basis the discounts will be calculated, and whether this approach will be transferable to Gourock-Dunoon services.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: A variant of RET has been developed for routes over 100 miles on the Northern Isles ferry services. This applies to the Aberdeen – Kirkwall, Aberdeen – Lerwick and Kirkwall – Lerwick routes. The formula slightly exceeds the existing ‘Low Season Islander Car …

6 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, at the time that the road equivalent tariff (RET) was rolled out on the CalMac network, on what routes fares were established using the (a) published formulaic approach and (b) unit price of the multi-journey tickets at that time.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: At the initial roll out of RET on routes to the Western Isles, Coll and Tiree in October 2008, only the car fare for the Oban – Castlebay/Lochboisdale service was capped at the multi-journey single equivalent (MJSE). For the final roll out to the rest of the…

6 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date the freight fares review will be completed.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Following a commitment in the Ferries Plan 2013-2022, Transport Scotland, under guidance of a Working Group of key stakeholders, is currently conducting a comprehensive review of ferry freight fares. I have requested some further analysis to look at this op…

24 Jul 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on discussions with Argyll and Bute, The Highland, Orkney and Shetland councils and SPT regarding bringing their ferry services under the control of Transport Scotland.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Following a commitment in the Ferries Plan 2013-22 that the Scottish Government is willing to consider taking on responsibility for local authority lifeline ferry services, Transport Scotland has been in discussion with several local authorities regarding the…

24 Jul 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) capital and (b) operational costs will be of the CalMac Kerrera-Oban ferry service in each of the next five years.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Kerrera ferry route transferred into the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service (CHFS) network on 1 July 2017. It was previously operated by Kerrera Ferry Ltd as an independent service, and had been supported through grant aid support from Transport Scotland si…

24 Jul 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason both Gourock-Dunoon ferry services are excluded from the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) scheme.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Ferries Plan 2013-22 contained a commitment to fully roll out RET on the Clyde & Hebrides Ferry Services network within the term of that Parliament. This commitment was achieved in October 2015. The Ferries Plan also stated our intention to roll out RET …

7 Jul 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what targets it has set for each year until 2021 to meet its commitment to ensure that 100% of homes and businesses have access to superfast broadband.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Telecoms is a reserved matter meaning it is the UK Government's responsibility to invest in and support. However, the central importance of good quality digital connectivity to Scotland’s economy has meant that it is an area where the Scottish Government has …

7 Jul 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of homes and businesses in the Highlands and Islands region have access to superfast broadband.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Latest figures show that across the Highlands and Islands region 75.8% of premises have access to fibre broadband, 70.3% with access to superfast speeds. These figures assume that commercial rollout is completed on time and in line with plans submitted to the…