Jamie Greene

30 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what further investment and action can take place to roll out further remote monitoring of patients with respiratory issues, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with a view to reducing hospitalisation, improving health outcomes and ensuring that a so-called "postcode …

Answer · Jenni Minto: Our Respiratory Care Action Plan published in March 2021, contains a key commitment to ensure that people living with respiratory conditions have access to the tools, resources, and information that they need to support them to self-manage their own condition…

30 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Age Scotland report, Making Adaptations Work for Older People in Scotland, and its recommendations, which was published in May 2023.

Answer · Paul McLennan: I had the pleasure of attending the launch event for this important report. The Scottish Government welcomes the Age Scotland report and recognises that living in the right home with the right support, including housing adaptations, can be the key to enabling…

30 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress on its plan to provide free bikes for all children of school age who cannot afford them, and how many bikes have been purchased for school children in each year since 2021.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The pilot period for the commitment ran from August 2021 to August 2022, and a final evaluation report has been published on the Transport Scotland website . Support was provided to delivery organisations to continue activities until 31 March 2023. The tot…

30 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities have made use of Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders, and on how many occasions, in each year since 2022.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Local authorities can use Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders as set out in the Local Authorities' Traffic Orders (Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 1999. As with all other Traffic Regulation Orders, local authorities are under no obligation to inform the …

30 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many Parking Charge Notices have been issued by ScotRail in car parks that it operates, and in how many instances these notices resulted in a recovery of funds, in each year since 2018.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: This is a matter for ScotRail. The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.  

30 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much revenue ScotRail has received from each of its 20 car parks that charge for parking in each year since 2018, broken down by car park name.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: This is a matter for ScotRail. The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.  

30 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to expand fast-charging points for electric vehicles (EV) beyond the 56 railway stations that currently have them, and how many new EV chargers, fast or otherwise, have been installed in car parks operated by ScotRail in each year since 2017.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: ScotRail advises it is not currently planning to introduce further charge points. New EV charging points are being introduced by Network Rail as part of new station proposals e.g. Levenmouth. Details of the EV chargers at ScotRail stations and installation d…

30 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many fires have been recorded on ScotRail trains that were caused by, or believed to have been caused by, lithium-ion powered micro devices such as e-scooters, in each year since 2019.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: This is a matter for ScotRail. The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

30 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to expand the use and availability of React technology at more railway stations, in order to support visually impaired people.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: ScotRail advise that currently there is no plan to install more REACT technology at more stations. New adaptable Smart wayfinding technology that uses GPS location is being trialled and subject to positive feedback, a decision will be made by ScotRail as to w…

30 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what emotional and psychological support ScotRail makes available for train drivers, and other rail staff, who experience a traumatic event whilst performing their duties, such as a collision with a member of the public.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: ScotRail advise that colleagues are supported from immediately after any incident of this nature. That support comes in a range of ways which includes the offer of professional counselling.

30 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government in how many instances A8 compensation has been awarded to ScotRail passengers in each year for which data is available, as per ScotRail’s Accessible Travel Policy document.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This is a matter for ScotRail. The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

30 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17942 by Shona Robison on 30 May 2023, for what reason no EPC information is available for Strathbeg House in Thurso.

Answer · Shona Robison: The EPC for Strathbeg House in Thurso was completed on 20 May 2023 and has now been lodged with the Scottish EPC register. The EPC rating is D  

30 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many downloads there have been of the ScotRail app since 2019, and whether it can provide statistics on usage data for the app, such as the average time spent on the app.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The current ScotRail mobile app went live on 1 July 2019 and the following data, as provided by ScotRail, is relevant from that date until the present day:- - App downloads: 1.4 million (this figure includes re-installs which ScotRail is unable to differenti…

30 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the menu of food and drink sold on ScotRail’s onboard trolley services is consistent with Food Standards Scotland advice on nutrition and healthy eating, and for what reason calorific information is not listed on ScotRail’s onboard trolley services menu as it appears on ScotRail’…

Answer · Mairi McAllan: This is a matter for ScotRail. However, it has advised that it is actively considering inclusion of calorie information on its onboard trolley service.

30 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-16221 by Kevin Stewart on 11 April 2023, how many spaces for bikes are available at the 343 stations that have cycle storage facilities, and whether it will provide a list of any stations across the network that do not have cycle storage facilities.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Information on the facilities available at ScotRail stations can be found on its website at the following link:- Stations and facilities | ScotRail The information on cycle storage at stations can be found under each station under the heading “interchange”…

30 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much revenue ScotRail has received from charging fees for returning recovered lost and found items in each year for which data is available, and how many lost items have been returned in the same period.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: This is a matter for ScotRail. The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

30 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many seal licences have been granted for "imperative reasons of overriding public interest, including those of a social or economic nature", and how many seals have been killed or taken by licence holders of this type, in each year for which data is available.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Marine Directorate - Licensing Operations Team of the Scottish Government has not granted any seal licences for imperative reasons of overriding public interest, including those of a social or economic nature under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010. No seals…

30 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much revenue the Scottish Prison Service has received through charging inmates for access to telephones or telephone usage in each year for which data is available.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: The following table provides detail on the revenue generated from telephone usage over the last 10 years within public prisons, measur…

30 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17942 by Shona Robison on 30 May 2023, whether the 17 buildings on the Scottish Government Core Estate will meet an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of at least band C by 2028, as will be required by all properties actively rented in the …

Answer · Shona Robison: The Heat in Building Strategy (October 2021) states that we will build on existing regulations to require existing non-domestic buildings to reduce demand for heat where appropriate, and install a zero emissions heating supply, within the extent of our powers…

24 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the average processing time, in days, has been for non-urgent licence applications to NatureScot in each month since 2020.

Answer · Lorna Slater: This is an operational matter for NatureScot. I have asked their Chief Executive to write with the relevant information.

24 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the current average response time is for NatureScot to respond, via call back, to voicemails left on the licensing helpline, and what the current average response time is to emails sent to the licensing email address.

Answer · Lorna Slater: This is an operational matter for NatureScot. I have asked their Chief Executive to write with the relevant information.

24 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the licensing news on the NatureScot website, whether NatureScot is accepting posted mail, as opposed to only email correspondence; what advice it provided to people who were unable to email or did not have access to the internet, and, if posted mail is being accepted again, …

Answer · Lorna Slater: This is an operational matter for NatureScot. I have asked their Chief Executive to write with the relevant information.

24 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many gull licences have been issued by NatureScot in each year for which data is available, and what the average response time is to make a decision on a gull licence application received via (a) the online application procedure and (b) a posted application form.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The detailed information requested is currently being collated and will be provided as soon as it is available. A copy will be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib number 64328).

23 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many of the recommendations in the report of the Short-life Food Security and Supply Taskforce, published on 23 June 2022, have been implemented to date, and how many staff will be employed in the new dedicated Food Security Unit announced on 18 May 2023.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Short-Life Food Security and Supply Taskforce set out a number of short and long-term recommendations in its report and all of the immediate actions are either complete or substantially complete, including the establishment of a Food Security Unit, with o…

22 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many payments from the Tenant Grant Fund have been used to fully pay off rent arrears, in each month that the fund has been available.

Answer · Paul McLennan: Local authorities were responsible for the administration of the Tenant Grant Fund given their knowledge of local need. Each local authority provided the Scottish Government with quarterly returns showing spend against their funding allocation. Data on full v…

22 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of comments from the director of the Scottish Property Federation, reported on 18 May 2023, that the impact of emergency legislation on the build to rent sector has led investors to “view Scotland as a risk, compared with more stable locations in other parts of the…

Answer · Patrick Harvie: As the cost of living crisis continues, the emergency Act aims to give important support to tenants, and to provide them with much-needed stability in their housing costs and additional eviction protections. It has gone further than anywhere else in the UK in…

22 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17770 by Jenny Gilruth on 18 May 2023, whether it has a target for the number of students it hopes to undertake the Rural Skills National Progression Award (NPA) at SCQF level 5, and whether it will outline what recent steps have been taken to encou…

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: While entries have been increasing, rising from 88 in 2017-18 to 172 in 2022-23, no specific targets have been set for the uptake of this qualification. The National Progression Award (NPA) in Rural Skills is one of a wide range of qualifications related to …

19 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what data it holds on how many of the domestic electric vehicle chargers funded through the Energy Saving Trust's domestic chargepoint funding scheme are (a) currently reported as faulty and (b) no longer in use.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government do not hold any information on domestic chargepoints that are (a) currently reported as faulty and (b) no longer in use. Domestic chargepoints for private use, are not publicly available and are the sole responsibility of the home own…

19 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many of the domestic electric vehicle chargers funded through the Energy Saving Trust's domestic chargepoint funding scheme have been installed (a) on islands and (b) in (i) rural and (ii) remote areas, in each year for which data is available.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government provide annual funding to Energy Saving Trust (EST) who are an independent organisation working to address the climate emergency. EST then deliver the EV infrastructure fund on behalf of Scottish Ministers. EST publish stats on their …

19 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17750 by Lorna Slater on 19 May 2023, how many beaver carcasses have been submitted to NatureScot for an independent post-mortem, since it became a legal requirement.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The beaver kit dependency period is between 1 April and 16 August and no licences to control beavers have been issued in this period. As such, there has been no legal requirement for carcasses to be submitted to NatureScot for an independent post-mortem. The…