Parliamentary questions

Jamie Greene

1,978 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

30 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential public health implications of the closure of the charity, HIV Scotland, including any impact on the Scottish Government’s target to achieve zero HIV transmissions in Scotland by 2030.

Answer · Jenni Minto: HIV Scotland, along with all our third sector organisations, have made a significant contribution to Scotland’s goal of eliminating HIV Transmissions by 2030. We were saddened to hear of the decision to close the organisation, and thank HIV Scotland for thei…

30 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scotland-relevant findings contained in the know.space report commissioned for the UK Space Agency, Size & Health of the UK Space Industry 2022, which was published on 28 March 2023.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The latest report highlights the continuing significance of Scotland’s contribution to the UK space industry, making up 18% of the total workforce. The Scottish Government is fully committed to supporting our burgeoning space sector identified as a priority …

30 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what system of monitoring it uses to ensure that hotels used to house those in emergency accommodation remain suitable.

Answer · Paul McLennan: The Unsuitable Accommodation Order was extended to all households in May 2020 to ensure all homeless households are provided with the highest quality accommodation to support them out of homelessness. This means that the maximum number of days that local aut…

30 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of the potential impact that advancing generative artificial intelligence will have on the economy and labour market in Scotland.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has been investigating the potential impacts of AI on our economy and labour market for over five years. In 2018 , Technological Change and the Scottish Labour Market , a joint Scottish Government and Scottish Trades Union Congress re…

30 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the pathfinder phase for Bairns' Hoose has begun, and, if it is the case that it has not yet commenced, when it will do so.

Answer · Natalie Don: The final stages of preparation for the Pathfinder phase for Bairns’ Hoose are underway. Applications for prospective pathfinders partnerships will open in Summer 2023 with pathfinders commencing in Autumn 2023. Further information on this phase will be inclu…

30 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its review of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: A Short Life Working Group made up of stakeholders including Police Scotland, COPFS, Royal Mail, the Communication Workers Union, Scottish Community Safety Network and the Scottish SPCA was established last year to assist with taking forward the Scottish Gove…

30 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when regulations will be introduced regarding (a) a fireworks licensing system, (b) restricting the days on which the sale and use of fireworks will be permitted and (c) fireworks control zones.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: Due to the ongoing unprecedented challenging financial context the timetable for delivery of the remaining measures in the act has been revised in order to effectively fund the development and delivery of each provision. While full implementation of the Act w…

30 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to enact the remaining sections of the Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Act 2021 that are not yet in force.

Answer · Angela Constance: We remain committed to commencing the Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Act 2021 which will provide additional protection for people who are at risk of domestic abuse. Part 1 of the 2021 Act will provide Police Scotland and the Scottish Courts and Tribu…

30 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to regulate the legal services profession.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on the 20 April 2023. The overarching policy objective of the Bill, which builds on the existing regulatory framework, will, if passed, provide a modern, forward-look…

30 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the last time was that the Scottish Ministers exercised their authority to block a first grant of temporary release of a prisoner, under the Prison Rules 2011, and for what reason this was done.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The most recent instance of Scottish Ministers declining to consent to a first grant of temporary release of a life sentence prisoner was in January 2018, where the Minister indicated that on the basis of the information presented in regard to the individual,…

30 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether any court closures will take place during the current parliamentary session.

Answer · Angela Constance: There are no plans for any court closures during the current parliamentary session. The current court model provides appropriate access to justice for Scotland’s communities. The management of the court estate is an operational matter for SCTS. SCTS have sta…

30 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the funding provided, or that is planned to be provided, to each victim organisation through the Victim Centred Approach Fund, in each financial year from 2021-22 to 2024-25.

Answer · Angela Constance: The linked press release contains a breakdown of VCAF funding from 2022-2025. Victims will benefit from key support - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

30 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its domestic abuse policies are informed by research from the Scottish Sentencing Council.

Answer · Angela Constance: Several recently published research reports support our understanding of the experiences of those affected by domestic abuse, including 'The sentencing of offences involving domestic abuse’, a literature review published by the Scottish Sentencing Council in …

30 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects purposeful activity levels in Scottish prisons to be restored to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: SPS is using learning from the pandemic to reshape its delivery model for purposeful activity as part of our 5-year Corporate Plan whi…

29 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15940 by Jenny Gilruth on 28 March 2023, whether the decision not to purchase plug-in hybrid vehicles, and to instead opt for internal combustion engine vehicles, is consistent with its reported commitment to shift to zero emission transport.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: As part of our pledge towards decarbonisation, the Scottish Government is working towards our commitment to phase out the need for all petrol or diesel cars in the public sector fleet by 2025 and for all other new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030. In line …

29 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the First Minister plans to mark the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and, if so, whether it will provide details of this.

Answer · Angus Robertson: The Coronation is a significant moment and a range of community led events will take place across Scotland to mark the occasion. The Scottish Government is supporting the Lord Lyon King of Arms to ensure that Scottish Lord Lieutenants and Local Authorities a…

29 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-14261 by Jenny Gilruth on 6 February 2023, and in relation to the two full time equivalent employees in ScotRail's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Team, whether it will outline their role, responsibilities and aims, including how each job role rel…

Answer · Kevin Stewart: ScotRail advises that the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Manager (ED&I Manager) post ensures that its diversity, equality, inclusion, and engagement initiatives are a core element of its People Strategy and fully embedded across all areas of the organisation…

29 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on maintaining the monarch as the head of state in an independent Scotland.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: It is the Scottish Government’s position that an independent Scotland will remain a constitutional monarchy with the King as Head of State, just as in many other independent Commonwealth countries, and will remain as such for as long as the people of Scotland…

29 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what salary and any benefits the incoming Chief Executive Officer of Scottish Rail Holdings will receive upon their appointment.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Remuneration for the incoming Chief Executive Officer, Scottish Rail Holdings will be published, in due course, on the Salary Publication section of the Scottish Rail Holdings website:- Who we are — Scottish Rail Holdings

29 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many drones have been (a) recorded flying in or above Scottish prison estates and (b) seized by prison authorities, 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: Since January 2022, there have been 20 instances of drone activity being recorded over or inside the prison estate, out of which there…

29 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on repairs and maintenance, as outlined in the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service 2022-23 maintenance project list, to (a) Greenock Sheriff Court, including (i) door soundproofing, (ii) court room redecoration and (iii) boiler replacement, (b) roof ac…

Answer · Angela Constance: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who reply in writing within 20 days.

29 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many electric vehicles the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) has access to, and how many electric vehicle chargers are available for use by SCTS staff on or within SCTS premises.

28 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the remuneration paid to its non-executive directors, inclusive of salaries and expenses, in each year since 2016.

Answer · Shona Robison: As non-executive directors (NXDs) are not employees of the Scottish Government but appointees of the Permanent Secretary, they are remunerated through the payment of quarterly Fees as opposed salaries. Alongside receiving quarterly Fees for their services, NX…

28 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many properties inspected by the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber) were found not to have met the repairing standard, broken down by local authority area, in each of the last five years.

28 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration has been given to the reintroduction of the lynx species in suitable remote areas, and what recent discussions it has had with (a) NatureScot and (b) other stakeholders, such as the Scottish Rewilding Alliance, on this matter.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government recognises the important role that reintroductions of native wildlife can play in meeting our nature restoration ambitions, but has no current plans to reintroduce lynx or any other large carnivorous species into Scotland. We have not …

28 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to meet and engage with the Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) in light of possible strike action by its members, and what discussions it has had with the UK Government on this matter.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: We regularly discuss matters relating to the operations of the Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) with the NLB and the UK Government and have discussed the issue of potential industrial action by NLB employees with both the NLB and UK Government counterparts. As…

28 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what immediate action can be taken to ensure the safety of staff in the Langhill Clinic psychiatric care unit in Greenock, in light of reports that there have been almost 300 attacks on staff by patients in the last three years.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-16686 on 28 April 2023. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committee…

28 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Fiscal Commission’s Fiscal Sustainability Report, published in March 2023, in light of reports that Scotland could be facing an annual budget shortfall of £10 billion within 50 years.

Answer · Shona Robison: The SFC’s Fiscal Sustainability Report is an important contribution to the debate on fiscal sustainability and highlights potential impacts of demographic change on the Scottish public finances over the next fifty years. These challenges are not unique to Sco…

28 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many assaults there have been on NHS staff in psychiatric units in each year since 2018, broken down by NHS board, and how many of these assaults resulted in the admission to hospital of the assaulted individual.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The requested information is not collected or held by the Scottish Government. This is a matter for NHSScotland Health Boards.

28 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many incidents of food crime have been reported to Food Standards Scotland through the (a) Scottish Food Crime Hotline and (b) online form, in each year since 2018, and how many of those reports have been investigated.

Answer · Jenni Minto: All reports of food crime received by Food Standards Scotland are investigated and appropriate action is taken. For matters out with Food Standards Scotland's remit they will be disseminated to partner agencies for their consideration. Year Hotline Webform…