Parliamentary questions
Jamie Greene
1,978 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
17 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reduce waiting times for psychological therapy in NHS Ayrshire and Arran.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government remain determined to hit the target of 90% of people seen within 18 weeks from referral to treatment for Psychological Therapies. We will continue to work with boards, including NHS Ayrshire and Arran to make sure that happens right ac…
17 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5T-00323 by Roseanna Cunningham on 17 December 2016 (Official Report, c. 3), what its response is to figures released by Friends of the Earth Scotland that state there are 38 zones in Scotland where safety standards for air quality are regularly broken.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The statistics quoted by Friends of the Earth Scotland related to the number of Air Quality Management Areas which have been identified by local authorities to proactively address air pollution issues. All local authorities with Air Quality Management Areas i…
17 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to develop additional transport systems in cities, such as trams or monorails.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Scottish Government currently has no plans to develop additional transport systems in cities such as trams or monorails, however, we welcome discussion on any such proposals from Scotland’s cities through the City Deal process.
17 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will work with the UK Government on UK-wide plans to roll out 5G, and how it will take these plans into consideration when planning and forecasting the technology solution and cost of its Reaching 100% programme.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Although responsibility for telecommunications is currently a reserved issue, the Scottish Government is committed to working with the UK Government and other partners to ensure Scotland benefits from UK-wide funding allocated for the development and rollout …
12 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take in response to the concerns raised by wedding car operators regarding the impact on their sector of the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The responses to the 2012 Scottish Government consultation on reforms to the licensing of taxis and private hire cars, raised concerns about the potential impact of removing the exemption for vehicles while being used for carrying passengers under a contract …
12 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carried out on the effects of the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015 on the taxi and private car hire industry.
Answer · Michael Matheson: There are three provisions in the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015 relating to taxis and private hire cars. The provision in relation to testing of private hire car drivers came into effect in November 2016; the provision to allow licensing autho…
12 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take in response to the concerns raised by the taxi and private car hire industry regarding the impact on the sector of the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is currently working on the commencement and implementation of the provisions within the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015, and will continue to engage with relevant stakeholders on this.
12 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carried out on the effects of the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015 on wedding car operators.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015 will not remove the current exemption from taxi and private hire car licensing for vehicles while being used in connection with a funeral or wedding. It does however allow the Scottish Government to remove the…
11 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to help Scottish firms equip themselves to deal with threats of cyber security, in light of the recent Bank of Scotland Business Digital Index report, which shows that 60% of Scottish firms still need to invest in cyber security.
Answer · Keith Brown: In November 2015, the Scottish Government launched “Safe, Secure and Prosperous: A Cyber Resilience Strategy for Scotland” which provides a framework for improving Scotland’s cyber resilience and helping to keep people, businesses and the public sector safe w…
10 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) support it provides to and (b) discussions it has had with (i) Network Rail and (ii) ScotRail regarding improving health and safety at railway stations.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government fully funds both Network Rail, Scotland and the ScotRail Franchise Holder to carry out their statutory safety duties. Railway Safety has not been devolved to Scottish Ministers and remains an area that is reserved to the UK Government.…
10 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reduce delays on ScotRail services.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I requested that the ScotRail Alliance to put together an improvement plan. This plan was published on 29 November 2016 and can be accessed from the following link:https://www.scotrail.co.uk/about-scotrail/how-were-performing Both myself and officials at Tra…
10 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the impact of the common fisheries policy on Scotland.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is and has been committed to working through international organisations, including the European Union, to manage sustainably the important fish stocks in the waters around Scotland, and to support fishing as an industry. The Governmen…
10 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to address unprofitable bus services being reduced or withdrawn by private operators, including when considering future route contracts and tenders.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: As you will be aware, bus services are a matter for individual bus operators who use their commercial judgement on service routes and frequencies. Local authorities have a duty to identify where there is a social need for particular bus services and to subsid…
10 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out or plans on the impact of introducing a maximum earning limit for people.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has not carried out any analysis on the impact of introducing a maximum earnings limit for people. The Scottish Government undertakes on-going analysis on the distribution and variation of earnings in Scotland. Following the Office fo…
10 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce education regarding LGBTI issues into schools.
Answer · John Swinney: In 2014, we published guidance on the Conduct of Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood (RSHP) education in schools. This clearly states how important it is that RSHP education addresses diversity and reflects issues relating to lesbian, gay, bisexual, t…
10 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Forth Replacement Crossing will be delivered on (a) time and (b) budget.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Queensferry Crossing is expected to be fully open to traffic in May 2017, ahead of its June contractual completion date and is being delivered £245 million under budget since construction started in June 2011.
10 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to promote (a) digital skills and (b) STEM subjects in schools.
Answer · John Swinney: In relation to digital skills, the Government and its partner bodies are working to equip all young people with the digital skills they need to thrive in modern society and the workplace, from basic digital literacy through to more specialist computing scienc…
10 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it will contribute toward the cost of (a) running and (b) owning Glasgow Prestwick Airport in 2017-18.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government’s investment in Prestwick Airport is on a commercial basis, in the form of loan funding. Scotland's Budget: Draft Budget 2017-18 allocates loan support of £9.4 million for the airport in 2017-18.
10 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the Edinburgh tram service is running at 25% capacity.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The performance of the Edinburgh Tram is a matter for the City of Edinburgh Council and Transport for Edinburgh.
10 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on magnetic levitation (maglev) rail services, and whether it plans to explore their potential use.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The potential use of maglev as a means of linking Edinburgh and Glasgow was considered, but in the light of its costs, it was concluded that a more appropriate means would be to enhance existing railway assets, which are fully integrated within a wider rail n…
10 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding high-speed rail services in Scotland, and whether it plans to develop its own such services.
Answer · Keith Brown: Scottish and UK Government Officials are currently working in partnership with Network Rail and HS2 Ltd to identify options that could be implemented between 2019 and 2029 to improve journey times, capacity, resilience and reliability on routes between Englan…
10 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to mitigate jobs losses in the public sector arising from any increases in automation.
Answer · Keith Brown: We are committed to ensuring the public sector workforce is fit-for-purpose and can deliver on our digital transformation ambitions. This includes ensuring the resources we have are invested in front-line services. Furthermore, digital transformation in itse…
21 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many commercial and residential businesses have access to superfast broadband; where superfast is defined by its targets on speed, and what percentage of total potential premises this equates to.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Ofcom’s Connected Nations 2016 report, published in December 2016, indicates that superfast broadband coverage has reached 83% of all homes and businesses in Scotland. This includes both commercial coverage by BT and other providers, and that delivered throug…
21 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether any residential or commercial premises that are currently unable to access superfast broadband are, or have been, included in any positive statistical metrics or target measurements that imply they do have access.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government’s £400 million investment through the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband Programme is having a significant impact across Scotland with around 679,000 homes and businesses now able to access fibre broadband services. Over 90% of these…
19 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of concerns regarding NHS Ayrshire and Arran's performance, whether it will set out a timetable to address these and to restore confidence in its services.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-05692 on 12 January 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…
19 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address issues relating to concerns regarding NHS Ayrshire and Arran's performance, which include being over budget, understaffed, subject to a BBC investigation and with the highest waiting times in Scotland.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Government remains in close contact with all Health Boards, including NHS Ayrshire & Arran, to scrutinise and support their performance, in line with the commitments to national standards set out in Local Delivery Plans and reiterated at Annual Reviews. …
19 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding NHS Ayrshire and Arran will receive in 2017 and whether it considers that this will be sufficient to address current issues.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Draft Budget 2017/18, announced in Parliament on 15 December 2016, indicated that the baseline allocation for NHS Ayrshire and Arran will increase to a total of £682.1 million. Subject to parliamentary approval, the Budget (Scotland) Bill 2017/18 will con…
19 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reduce waiting times in NHS Ayrshire and Arran to meet targets.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-05561 on 11 January 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…
13 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to address the reported problems with waiting times in NHS Ayrshire and Arran.
Answer · Shona Robison: As announced in the Draft Budget for 2017-18 in Parliament on 15 December 2016, the baseline allocation for NHS Ayrshire and Arran will increase to a total of £682.1 million. In addition to this increase, the Board can also expect to receive an additional £1.…
12 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to support the video games industry.
Answer · Keith Brown: Scottish Enterprise have worked extensively with the games industry for a long period. In the last 4 years (to the end of 2015-2016) Scottish Enterprise has invested nearly £10 million (£9.8 million) in 38 video games companies of which more than half (£5.5 m…