Parliamentary questions
Jamie Greene
1,978 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
23 Jan 2023 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what steps are being taken to tackle unethical and illegal dog breeding, in light of recent reports of high value extreme breeding programmes operating in Scotland.
20 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure the provision of early intervention and support for young people with speech difficulties, in light of reports that North Ayrshire’s speech and language therapy waiting list is closed due to waiting times exceeding two years.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S6O-01862 on the 2 February 2023 which is available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at Meeting of the Parliament: 02/02/2023 | Scottish Parliament Website .
19 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the National Police Chiefs’ Council's request for all police forces in the UK, including Police Scotland, to check their officers and staff against national police databases to identify any concerns or anomalies.
Answer · Keith Brown: The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) Chair asked chief constables in England and Wales to take immediate action to check officers and staff against the national police database. While Police Scotland are a member of the National Police Chief’s Council, …
18 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average (a) age and (b) retirement age is of a firefighter.
Answer · Elena Whitham: The age of firefighters, broken down into 5 year age bands is published on the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Website under its Organisational Statistics. Under the various firefighter final salary pension schemes, the majority of firefighters chose to reti…
18 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the value of money that has been lost through cryptocurrency scams and fraud in Scotland, and how many (a) charges and (b) convictions related to this there have been, in each year for which data is available.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government does not hold information on the amount of money lost through cryptocurrency scams and fraud in Scotland, and the data held for the Criminal Proceedings statistics is unable to separately identify any related charges and convictions wh…
18 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-11947, for what reason the information is not held, and whether it will consider recording the information.
Answer · Keith Brown: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: The decision as to whether a member of staff discloses that they have attended hospital is one for the individual member of staff, and…
18 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many dash camera systems on Police Scotland vehicles have been reported as either not working, broken, corrupted or defective in each year since 2013, and what the average time taken to replace or repair broken dash camera systems is.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government does not hold this information as responsibility for the maintenance of Police vehicles sits with the Scottish Police Authority and the Chief Constable. Police Scotland has confirmed that they hold a stock of replacement dash cameras w…
17 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what economic support it will make available to areas that were not successful in their bid for a green freeport, including in relation to the Clyde area bid, and what discussions it has had (a) with the UK Government and (b) specifically in relation to the Clyde area bid, with Inverclyd…
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government and the UK Government are working together to provide feedback to all those who submitted Green Freeport bids. That process is under way. In fact officials are meeting members of the Clyde Green Freeport bidding coalition today. Offici…
17 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many potholes were (a) reported to and (b) repaired by Transport Scotland, in each month of (i) 2021 and (ii) 2022.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The following tables show how many potholes had been reported and repaired by Transport Scotland’s Operating Companies and DBFO Concessionaires per month in 2021 and 2022 2021 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Potholes reported 1…
17 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much Transport Scotland has spent on salt in each year since 2016.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Winter service operations are delivered as a fixed monthly lump sum item from October to May which covers all the elements including depot facilities, operatives, fleet, fuel and salt procurement. Transport Scotland’s Operating Companies price the contract de…
17 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13385 by Keith Brown on 9 January 2023, for what reasons it does not hold the requested information and what consideration it has given to doing so.
Answer · Keith Brown: It is for Police Scotland to collect and hold relevant information on their workforce and it would be for them to respond to any requests for information in relation to serving Police Officers with a criminal record. You may wish to view Police Scotland’s web…
17 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) Police Scotland vehicles have been involved in car accidents and road traffic collisions and (b) officers have required hospitalisation as a result in each year since 2013.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government does not hold this information as responsibility for ensuring the safety of Police Officers and for Police Scotland vehicles sits with the Scottish Police Authority and the Chief Constable. I have asked Police Scotland to write to the …
17 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the number of individuals who have engaged in international child sex tourism, and how many convictions there have been in relation to this offence, in each year for which data is available.
Answer · Keith Brown: People engaged in sexual abuse of children outside the United Kingdom can be prosecuted in Scotland under either Sections 54 and 55 of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 or Section 16(b) of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995. Section 16…
17 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any correlation between the number of potholes and road cycling accidents.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government has not carried out any assessment between the number of potholes and road cycling accidents on the trunk road network. An analysis of injury collisions for all severities on the trunk road network for the most recent full 3 year per…
17 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the effectiveness of Scottish Coast Guard Rescue Teams and related mental health support for their staff.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government has had no recent discussions with the UK Government on these issues; I have, however, recently met with the Maritime Coastguard Agency regarding all aspects of their operations in Scotland. Coastguard operations are matters reserved …
16 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the economic and environmental value of inland waterways and canals to Scotland, and when it last met with (a) the Inland Waterways Association and (b) Scottish Canals.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government recognises the positive economic and environmental impact that canals and inland waterways make to Scotland. Scotland’s canals contribute significantly to the nation’s economic, social and environmental prosperity, from supporting to…
16 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recommendations in the Inland Waterways Association 2022 report, Waterways for Today.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government notes the recommendations included in the Waterways for Today report and recognises the importance of the issues raised by the Inland Waterways Association. The report highlights some of the positive work that Scottish Canals has under…
16 Jan 2023 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported comments by the Chief Inspector of the Constabulary that some Police Scotland officers lack empathy and show outdated attitudes in domestic abuse cases.
12 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the (a) short-term lets sector and (b) hospitality sector about whether 12 months is an excessive amount of time for local authorities to process short-term lets applications, and whether there are plans to reduce this timescale.
Answer · Shona Robison: Our 2021 consultation included draft guidance explaining the rationale for licence application determination times. Licensing authorities only have 12 months to determine applications made by existing hosts (those operational before 1 October 2022) during th…
12 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many staff in each local authority are working on processing short-term lets licensing and applications.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Short-term Lets) Order 2022 requires local authorities to establish and run licensing schemes for short-term lets in their areas. Information on sta…
12 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the scheme to equip 18,000 police officers with body-worn cameras to improve their safety will not go ahead.
Answer · Keith Brown: In November 2022, the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) Resources Committee approved Police Scotland's Initial Business Case for the introduction of National Body Worn Video, ahead of consideration by the SPA Board. Once approved by the Board, Police Scotland i…
12 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications local authorities have received for short-term lets licences, and how many have been (a) approved and (b) rejected.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-12707 on 12 December 2022. 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-commit…
11 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported figures showing that 42 inmates died in Scottish prisons in 2022-23.
Answer · Keith Brown: The safe treatment, health, and wellbeing of all those in custody is a key priority for this Government and it is vital that people who live in our prisons are supported. It is imperative that when problems do occur, individuals receive the necessary treatmen…
10 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the findings of the research commissioned by the Fire Brigades Union, Scottish Firefighters Occupational Cancer and Disease Mortality Rates: 2000-2020, which was published on 10 January 2023.
Answer · Elena Whitham: The safety and wellbeing of all fire and rescue officers is of upmost importance to the Scottish Government. We will continue to support SFRS in its partnership work with the Fire Brigades Union and Professor Anna Stec to build on the existing work of their …
10 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to mark National Pothole Day 2023.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government did not mark National Pothole Day 2023 .
10 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government about the GREAT campaign, and what estimate has been made of the value of this initiative to Scotland’s (a) economy and (b) exports.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government has had recent conversations with the UK Government in relation to the GREAT Talent Campaign. During this conversation, we requested a final evaluation to be shared with specific Scotland demographics. The GREAT campaign is funded and…
10 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many individuals have been (a) charged and (b) convicted in relation to offences concerning the 3D-printing of guns and other offensive weapons, in each year for which data is available.
Answer · Keith Brown: A range of charges could be relevant, depending on the facts and circumstances of individual cases. For example, 3D-printing of guns and other offensive weapons would potentially be charged and prosecuted under s3(1)(a) and s5(2A)(a) of the Firearms Act 1968 …
10 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) 3D-printed guns and (b) 3D printers being used for illicit purposes have been seized by Police Scotland in each year since 2018.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government does not hold information on how many 3D-printed-guns or 3D printers being used for illicit purposes and seized by Police Scotland.
10 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service will publish its annual report on the Victims’ Right to Review scheme for 2021-22.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: The COPFS Victims Right to Review Annual Report 2021-22 was published on the COPFS website on 24 January 2023. The report is available on the COPFS website at the link below. https://www.copfs.gov.uk/publications/victims-right-to-review-annual-report-2021-t…
10 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the take-up rate has been for the Victim Notification Scheme, as a percentage of all eligible victims, in (a) 2021-22 and (b) 2022-23.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government does not hold the data requested. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service is responsible for issuing Victim Notification Scheme packs. They have advised that the number of packs issued to eligible victims for 2021-2022 and from…