Jamie Greene

18 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase the number of affordable homes being built.

Answer · Paul McLennan: Affordable housing has a clear priority in this year’s Programme for Government. We are investing nearly £600 million in affordable housing in 2024-2025, which includes the additional £40 million capital announced earlier this year, and will…

18 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of its decision to redistribute funds from ScotWind to other spending areas on Scotland’s climate and net zero targets.

Answer · Shona Robison: Successive Scottish budgets have demonstrated Scotland’s commitment to addressing the climate change crisis, using all resources at our disposal to accelerate the just transition to a net zero, climate-resilient and biodiverse Scotland. The 2024-25 Budg…

18 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will maintain the (a) quality and (b) availability of mental health support provision, in light of reported in-year funding reductions to mental health services.

Answer · Maree Todd: Through the 2024-25 budget, NHS Boards and the Scottish Government continue to support spend in excess of £1.3 billion on mental health.The recent reduction in the Scottish Government’s direct programme funding has been identified through programm…

18 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether reducing the working hours of 8,000 civil servants while increasing pay by 3% represents value for money.

Answer · Shona Robison: A key condition of the agreement for the Scottish Government to move to a 35-hour week was that productivity levels are maintained, and that costs are not increased as a result. These conditions are consistent with the findings of research into shorter workin…

18 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports given to the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry that a “culture of bullying” existed at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, and what steps it is taking to eradicate any such culture in all NHS hospitals.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Hospitals Inquiry is a public inquiry established in accordance with the Inquiries Act 2005 and is entirely independent of the Scottish Government. It would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government or Ministers to comment on the Inquiry&rsq…

18 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that one in five of Scottish Water's sewage discharge points are in "unsatisfactory condition".

Answer · Gillian Martin: Scottish Water’s Improving Urban Waters Route Map sets out a programme of continued action to reduce wastewater pollution and sewage litter over the coming decade backed by investment of half a billion pounds. As part of the programme, Scottish Water is…

18 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of the link between alcohol addiction and suicide, in light of the reported comment by the deputy chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland that the link between the two is on an "upwards trajectory".

Answer · Maree Todd: Creating Hope Together, our 10 year joint suicide prevention strategy with COSLA, adopts a whole of government and society approach to reducing suicide in Scotland. This allows us to focus on tackling the social determinants of suicide such as poverty, which …

18 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the letter from the chief executive of the Ferguson Marine shipyard to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee on 12 September 2024 stating that the delivery of the MV Glen Sannox will be further delayed due to ongoing issues with the vessel's liquefied natur…

Answer · Kate Forbes: I wrote to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee on 13 September 2024 to give the Scottish Government’s response to the latest progress update on the delivery of MV Glen Sannox.Since then, liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel has been successfully lo…

18 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to address the issues raised in the University of Stirling study, Permanently Progressing? Building secure futures for children in Scotland, which states that, among other findings, more than one in 10 children in care were still in temporary placements a decade after enteri…

Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: The Scottish Government is dedicated to Keeping The Promise, by ensuring that all care experienced children and young people grow up safe, loved and respected.We welcome the Permanently Progressing report and are committed to ensuring permanent homes are secu…

18 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the GMB union withdrawing support for its proposed National Care Service due to its view that it would add bureaucracy to the delivery of care and would not deliver meaningful change.

Answer · Maree Todd: We need to fundamentally transform the way social care is delivered in Scotland, and we have listened to thousands of people, including the social care workforce, who have told us this.People who receive support through social care, their families and communi…

18 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether Scottish Water, as a public body, is meeting all of its statutory health, environmental and safety duties and requirements across all of its activities, and, if any shortfalls have been identified, what discussions ministers have had in regards to them and…

Answer · Gillian Martin: Scottish Water continues to deliver a high quality service throughout Scotland as demonstrated in its Annual Report for 2023-24, available here. Compliance with its statutory obligations is independently regulated by the Drinking Water Quality Regulator for S…

18 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on airport drop-off fees in Scottish airports and any equalities impact that they have on people with mobility issues or who rely on vehicular drop-off and pick-up when no other option is available or suitable.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The introduction of drop off charges, their level and their terms and conditions are a matter for individual airports. We expect airport operators to comply with equalities legislation in all aspects of their operations, including in relation to drop off char…

18 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the open letter from the Scottish Music Industry Association, signed by around 170 music acts and performers, which states that the music industry faces "the worst crisis that Scotland's music and wider arts sector has ever faced" and that a "cultural catastrophe …

Answer · Angus Robertson: I appreciate the concerns that have been raised by the culture sector. Funding for the culture sector has increased this financial year, as the first step to achieving the First Minister’s commitment to invest at least £100 million more annually i…

18 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Transform Scotland report, In Reverse, which found that the Scottish Government had failed to meet seven out of 10 commitments made over the past five years to invest in, and prioritise, sustainable transport.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I recognise Transform Scotland’s valuable contributions to sustainable transport through research and briefing such as their "In Reverse" report, and I met with them on 16 July.During 2024-25 we will spend over £3.87 billion on transport across Sc…

18 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has plans to review the principle and methodology of council tax as a taxation method to contribute to the funding of local authorities, and what its position is on whether the current local taxation model is fit for purpose.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is committed to fairer, more inclusive and fiscally sustainable forms of local taxation. We are exploring proposals for meaningful long-term changes to Council Tax in partnership with COSLA through the ‘Joint Working Group on Sou…

18 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it expects the long-term legacy benefits to be for greater Glasgow, particularly to grassroots sports, by hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games, in light of reported concerns that the reduced timetable for its approval to go ahead has not outlined the obvious benefits to the city in t…

Answer · Neil Gray: The Commonwealth Games is a hugely important event for Scottish sport.Hosting the 2026 Games will deliver economic and sporting opportunities for Glasgow and Scotland, and it is vital that the event leaves a positive legacy.Scotland, and in particular Glasgow…

18 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what efforts it is making to support Scotland's film and screen sector and ensure that it is world class and world leading in its international offering.

Answer · Angus Robertson: The Scottish Government supports Screen Scotland, our dedicated public agency for screen, through Grant-in-Aid funding, with £10.25m in Financial Year 2024-25.As set out in our Programme for Government, we will continue to support Screen Scotland to del…

18 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Audit Scotland report, Scotland’s colleges 2024; what its position is on the ongoing viability of Scotland's colleges, and how it plans to address any financial shortfalls in funding for this sector, in light of the role that it plays in skilling the nex…

Answer · Graeme Dey: Ministers recognise the crucial role that our colleges play and notably, the Audit Scotland report recognises that the courses that college students undertake contribute not only to their own development but also to Scotland’s sustainable economic growt…

18 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what further action it can take to support (a) local authorities and (b) other public bodies to ensure that public toilets are maintained and do not face closure, in light of reported concerns regarding their necessity, particularly for children and older and disabled people, and their f…

Answer · Shona Robison: The responsibility for public conveniences rests with the owner of the land, which could be a variety of different bodies such as local authorities, community organisations and tourist boards. Local authorities are independent corporate bodies with their own …

17 Sep 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what improvements it has considered making to governance arrangements at Ferguson Marine, in light of recent reported concerns around quality control at the yard.

10 Sep 2024 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish its review of the Water Industry Commission for Scotland, following the Auditor General for Scotland’s decision to issue a Section 22 report in relation to the audit of the organisation’s accounts.

26 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the purpose of discussions held on 12 June 2024 between the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and the Chinese Consul General in Scotland, reportedly requested by the latter and granted by the former, in light of an annou…

Answer · Angus Robertson: I met the Chinese Consul General Zhang Biao on 12 June at the Consul General’s request. The Consul General raised the prospect of a friendship arrangement between the City of Edinburgh Council and Kaohsiung. I made clear that the Scottish Government could not…

24 Jun 2024 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the delivery of the MV Glen Sannox and MV Glen Rosa, in light of reports that a senior programme director has been removed from the project.

19 Jun 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its decision to grant early release to prisoners currently in custody, whether all victims and their families will be duly notified of the early release of any prisoner.

12 Jun 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Audit Scotland’s analysis showing that Social Security Scotland’s benefit expenditure budget was £5.1 billion in 2023-24, which was an increase of 22% on its 2022-23 budget, what action it is taking to reduce expenditure on Scottish social security benefits, including throug…

11 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many complaints regarding unlicensed short-term let operators have been investigated by Police Scotland since the introduction of the short-term let licensing scheme.  

Answer · Paul McLennan: The Scottish Government does not hold the information that has been requested. I also refer the member to the answer to question S6W-27902 on 11 June 2023. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search fa…

5 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what projections it holds of the total cost of repairs to Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service (CHFS) vessels by the end of the current extended CHFS contract.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The cost incurred by CalMac Ferries for maintenance and repair for vessels in the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service (CHFS) fleet to the end of the current contract, 30 September 2024 are detailed in the following table. These figures include all maintenance an…

5 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much compensation was provided to passengers on the (a) Ardrossan to Brodick and (b) Largs to Cumbrae ferry route in each of the last five years.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested on passenger compensation by route.

5 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how much compensation was paid by CalMac to passengers across all ferry routes in the latest reporting period.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: CalMac Ferries Ltd considers claims by customers under the Passenger Rights when travelling by Sea and Inland Waterways Regulations. They have paid £500,341 to customers in Financial Year 2023-24 in refunds or compensation claims in respect of Passenger Rig…

5 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it can provide that there will be no reduction in number of sailings or passenger capacity on the Ardrossan to Brodick ferry route as a result of MV Alfred now departing and arriving from Troon.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The overall passenger and vehicle capacity on the main Arran route is reduced during the current period of disruption when compared to the normal service. The Scottish Government continues to task CalMac with making best use of available vessel and port resou…