Parliamentary questions
Oliver Mundell
1,091 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
24 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many title holders are awaiting copies of their title deeds from Registers of Scotland.
Answer · Tom Arthur: This is a question for the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland (RoS). She advises me that, as of 02 February 2022, there are 79,831 dispositions undergoing registration. RoS receives and processes over 550,000 applications on average every year, of which 90% …
24 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported concerns regarding the recruitment of new volunteers at Children's Hearings Scotland and reported failures to update internal processes.
Answer · Clare Haughey: The recruitment and appointment of children’s panel members is the statutory responsibility of the National Convener of Children’s Hearings Scotland (CHS). A 2022 recruitment campaign is underway. The 2021 recruitment campaign for panel members won a Scottish…
24 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for Children and Young People will meet with people who have raised concerns about human rights compliance in relation to the treatment of volunteers at Children's Hearings Scotland.
Answer · Clare Haughey: The Scottish Government is aware of a small number of people who have raised concerns based on how they see rights requirements pertaining to volunteer roles with Children’s Hearings Scotland. Officials and Ministers have extensively engaged on this subject …
24 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what protections are in place to prevent legal aid being used to bring forward spurious cases in (a) general and (b) relation to family law.
Answer · Ash Regan: Legal aid applications are prepared by an applicant’s solicitor, who provides all the details of the case to the Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB). Solicitors have professional duties not only to their client, but to SLAB and to the court; therefore it would no…
17 Jan 2022 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the plans to dual the A75 between Dumfries and the A74(M).
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The South West Scotland Transport Study, published in January 2020, did not recommended full dualling of the A75 between the A74(M) and Dumfries. Instead it proposed an option for localised measures to improve road safety and traffic flow. Detailed appraisal…
12 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05212 by Maree Todd on 10 January 2022, what its position is on whether periods of more than two years between dental check-up appointments is consistent with its policy priorities.
Answer · Maree Todd: As we have set down in the answer to question S6W-05212 the interval between appointments is dependent on the dentist’s clinical assessment of the oral health of the patient. This assessment should be based on the available evidence from expert groups on app…
11 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it anticipates the impact may be on the home insurance policies of households that are unable to install interlinked fire alarms before the February deadline.
Answer · Shona Robison: Throughout the legislative process, we have engaged proactively with the Association of British Insurers, which has ensured that its members are aware of the changes. It has stated that, although insurers might ask customers questions about whether their prop…
11 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support will be made available for vulnerable customers during power outages in areas with poor mobile signal, in light of reported concerns about the planned switch-off of the Public Switched Telephone Network.
Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of mobile and broadband connectivity for almost all aspects of everyday life which is why we are working closely with BT, Ofcom, UK Government and other network operators to ensure the migration from the Publi…
11 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many non-disclosure agreements SQA employees have been asked to sign in each of the last five years, and for what reasons.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: I have asked SQA to respond: SQA has not entered into any non-disclosure agreements in the past 5 years. In accordance with the Scottish Public Finance Manual, SQA has entered into settlement agreements and COT3 agreements both of which include a confidenti…
11 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how Scottish-domiciled individuals who received a COVID-19 vaccine in the United States can prove their vaccination status.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Scottish residents who received a full course of their COVID-19 vaccination overseas are currently not able to have a Scottish record of vaccination, or to use the NHS Scotland Covid Status App. Instead, they should obtain proof of vaccination from the countr…
10 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what financial support is available to (a) bed and breakfast and guest house operators that have been impacted by ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Our £9 million funding package to deal with the Omicron crisis has been targeted at those businesses most severely impacted. We recognise that the public health advice to reduce the spread of omicron and the re-introduction of regulations has affected some bu…
10 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-04648 by Shirly-Anne Somerville on 3 December 2021, which age groups of school pupils will be eligible to receive milk under the new scheme.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: We are working with local authority partners to develop a fully funded free school milk scheme for all children in primary schools as well as a free school milk scheme pilot in secondary schools.
10 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-04648 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 3 December 2021, whether milk will be provided free of charge to pupils under the new scheme, or whether it will be subsidised by the Scottish Government.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: We are working with local authority partners to develop a fully funded free school milk scheme for primary age pupils as well as a free school milk scheme pilot for secondary age young people. Existing subsidy arrangements will continue for another year to en…
10 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether UNESCO biospheres, and specifically the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biospheres, as initiatives of significance, will be highlighted within the new National Planning Framework 4.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The Draft Fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) was laid in Parliament on 10 November 2021. The draft sets out that ‘Local development plans should identify and protect locally, regionally, nationally and internationally valued natural assets, landscapes,…
10 Jan 2022 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what deadline the Scottish Government has set for making any further changes to this year's SQA examinations process.
22 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent estimate it has made of the cost of outstanding local authority road repairs bills, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 places the statutory responsibility for local roads improvement, maintenance and repair with local road authorities. As such, the local authority road network condition is assessed via the Scottish Road Maintenance Condition Sur…
22 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether independent travel agents will be included in support schemes for those who have seen their businesses disrupted by COVID-19.
Answer · Kate Forbes: We know this is a difficult time for the independent travel agents and we have had to make tough decisions to target funding to sectors immediately impacted by the updated public health guidance. Since the start of the pandemic, businesses have benefitted fr…
15 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported confirmation by the UK Minister for Health and Social Care that any funding for cannabis-based products through NHS prescriptions is a matter for devolved institutions, what financial support it will make available to fund cannabis-based medication for children …
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The scheduling of Cannabis Based Products for Medicinal Use (CBPMs) under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 is a function reserved to the UK Government and the Scottish Government has no powers to alter its status. Having considered possible options for funding p…
15 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the approval rate is of wind farm applications in each local authority area, broken down by those (a) determined and (b) not determined by Scottish Ministers, in each of the last five years.
Answer · Tom Arthur: Wind farm applications under 50MW are considered under planning legislation whilst proposals over 50MW are dealt with under the Electricity Act. Planning legislation cases Information on the approval rate of wind farm applications in each local authority ar…
15 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to helping communities which oppose wind farm developments to (a) access and (b) fund legal representation during the planning process.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government provides the policy and legislative framework for community engagement in the Scottish planning system. Whilst not providing an advocacy service for communities, the Scottish Government provides financial assistance to PAS (Planning Ai…
15 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported challenges in sourcing some alarm products, whether it expects all homes to have interlinked fire alarms by February 2022.
Answer · Shona Robison: We are aware that some manufacturers may be affected by difficulties with imported components. Other manufactures have stock availability and specialist retailers are also able to meet demand, subject to logistical challenges. However, I would emphasise that …
15 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how frequently NHS patients should have an dental check-up.
Answer · Maree Todd: The actual period between examinations will vary considerably depending on the dentist’s clinical assessment of the oral health status of the patient. The Statement of Dental Remuneration requires a minimum of six months between NHS dental examinations.
15 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to fulfil the commitment to fund the 40 SEPA prioritised Flood Risk Management schemes, in light of COSLA leaders’ agreement, as notified in the elected members briefing of 6 July 2021, to pause schemes that were not legally committed by local authorities.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: COSLA recommended to Scottish Ministers that the flood protection schemes eligible for funding in the Flood Risk Management Strategies published in December 2015 which are not yet “legally committed” are paused. Ministers accepted this recommendation and COSL…
15 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to COSLA leaders’ agreement, as notified in the elected members briefing of 6 July 2021, to pause Flood Risk Management schemes that were not legally committed by local authorities, whether it expects local authorities to inform their local populations that Flood Risk Manage…
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The recommendation from COSLA leaders was a pause by local authorities of any non-legally committed flood protection scheme, pending a review of projects by a programme oversight group. A review of these projects is being undertaken to assess their status and…
15 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to COSLA leaders’ agreement, as notified in the elected members briefing of 6 July 2021, to pause Flood Risk Management schemes that were not legally committed by local authorities, what its position is on how the term “not legally committed” should be (a) interpreted and (b…
Answer · Mairi McAllan: COSLA recommended that a “non-legally committed” scheme is defined, for this purpose, as a scheme that has not been notified under schedule 2 of the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009. This did not mean that current contracts should be immediately stop…
15 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it expects local authorities to develop new consultation processes on river catchment management and individual property protection alternatives to address flooding, in light of developing environmental considerations and policies.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: We do not expect local authorities to develop new consultation processes on river catchment management and individual property protection measures. The Flood Risk Management Act (2009) sets out Scotland’s catchment based approach to Flood Risk Management, in…
15 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in the light of funding constraints, whether flood prevention schemes will be subjected to more rigorous tests of viability than were applied in their approval or priority designation.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: Every six years, when preparing Flood Risk Management Plans, SEPA assess measures for reducing flood risk against a range of criteria and consider the priority to be given to each measure. The availability of Scottish Government funding is not one of the crit…
15 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make commit to passing on in full any Barnett consequentials arising from the UK Government’s sector-specific funding announcements in response to COVID-19 to the relevant sector.
Answer · Kate Forbes: All Covid-19 related consequentials will be fully committed to funding the response in Scotland. These consequentials are not ring fenced and are allocated based on need.
15 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that people who have referred concerns to the General Teaching Council for Scotland about professional standards have received a response indicating that, unless the referral has been subject to an employer investigation, it is considered "frivolous".
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS), as the Independent Professional and Regulatory Body for teachers in Scotland, has a published Fitness to Teach Threshold Policy which sets out what GTCS will investigate under its fitness to teach procedures…
15 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that there have been around 200 cases referred to the General Teaching Council for Scotland in the last three years that were concluded as "closed after initial consideration", whether it is confident that there are no safeguarding or child protection matters include…
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS), as the Independent Professional and Regulatory Body for teachers in Scotland, has a published Fitness to Teach Threshold Policy which sets out what GTCS will investigate under its fitness to teach procedures…