Parliamentary questions
Oliver Mundell
1,091 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
23 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of schools whose buildings do not meet the required standard.
Answer · John Swinney: Condition and suitability ratings for individual schools are provided in Table 8 of School Estate Statistics 2019 Supplementary Data , available here: https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/schoolestatestats .
5 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last reviewed free school transport arrangements, and what consideration was given to (a) child safety and (b) the environmental impact of people using their own vehicles.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government’s non-statutory guidance on home to school transport is currently under review. The aim of the review is to ensure that local authorities are given clear and up-to-date advice on how to maintain and develop an effective home to school …
2 Aug 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve broadband in Kingholm Quay, Dumfries.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government has committed £600 million to the Reaching 100% (R100) broadband programme, which will ensure that every home and business in Scotland can access superfast broadband. In line with state aid rules, the R100 programme will focus exclusi…
1 Aug 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans Transport Scotland has to install a pedestrian crossing on Main Street, Kirkconnel, on the A76.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Operating Company, Scotland TranServ, recently completed an assessment for a pedestrian crossing at this location. Their report and any recommendations are due to be finalised and submitted to Transport Scotland this month for consideration.
1 Aug 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to address the reported limited domestic water supply capacity in Gretna, and what assessment it has made of the impact of this on fulfilling the local development plan.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Water, Dumfries and Galloway Council, Scottish Government, Local Developers and Housing associations have been in dialogue regarding the water supply for new homes in Gretna for a number of years. The work required to support all homes in the local d…
30 Jul 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that vascular surgery patients are being sent to the University Hospital Hairmyres rather than being treated at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, and for what reason this is happening.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: NHS Dumfries & Galloway do not undertake vascular surgery for patients at the Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary as they do not have the sufficient population to create a workload that would maintain highly specialist skills. The West of Scotland partnershi…
11 Jun 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the review of standardised national assessments did not ask specific questions regarding additional support needs.
Answer · John Swinney: The Independent Review of P1 SNSA did not specifically include questions relating to additional support needs because this was not identified as a particular issue in relation to P1 assessments when the remit for the review was being developed. Only a small n…
29 May 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported plan by Dumfries and Galloway Council to reduce funding for the region’s childminder association development officer from 21 June 2019, and how this might impact on the roll-out of national early learning and childcare policies.
Answer · Maree Todd: Childminders are playing a vital part in achieving our ambition for Scotland to be the best place in the world to grow up. They provide a nurturing setting for children to play and learn, and families value the flexible service they offer. The expansion in ou…
29 Apr 2019 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that levels of wild salmon in Scotland are at their lowest since records began.
23 Apr 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Edinburgh Woollen Mill and stakeholders in the area regarding the company's Langholm site.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The then-Minister for Business, Innovation & Energy contacted Edinburgh Woollen Mill immediately following the announcement of their move from Langholm to Carlisle to see what support the Scottish Government and our agencies could offer. Scottish Government o…
27 Mar 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it considers the optimum teacher:pupil ratio in primary schools should be, and what its response is to Dumfries and Galloway Council's plan to set a 1:25 ratio across its primaries.
Answer · John Swinney: The maximum class size for all composite classes is 25 as determined by the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) and enshrined in teacher’s contracts. The current commitment to achieve a pupil:teacher ratio of 13.7 applies nationally and has be…
12 Mar 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of all ministerial visits to nurseries in the last 12 months.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government routinely publishes information in arrears about all Ministerial engagements. The most recent data can be found at https://www.gov.scot/publications/ministerial-engagements-travel-and-gifts-october-2018/ .
12 Mar 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many GPs are due to retire in the next 12 months.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: This information is not centrally held as most GP are independent contractors who were not previously obliged to share it with the Scottish Government. The new GP contract, which came into force on 1 April 2018, allows us to gather this data subject to agreem…
12 Mar 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many patients from Scotland accessed health services in England in the last 12 months.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: In 2017-18, there were 6,595 finished admission episodes for patients resident in Scotland who received healthcare from the NHS in England. Data for 2018-19 will be published by NHS Digital in England around September 2019. A patient living in Scotland coul…
12 Mar 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills last met the Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland and what was discussed.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills last met the Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland on 20 November 2018. They discussed incorporation of the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of …
12 Mar 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many complaints have been received by Transport Scotland regarding the A76 in the last three years.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Since 2016 our Operating Company, Scotland TranServ, has received 802 complaints about the A76.
12 Mar 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many pupils attend schools where buildings are not deemed to be satisfactory.
Answer · John Swinney: According to our latest national school estate statistics, the number of pupils educated in poor or bad condition schools has decreased from 256,794 (37% of pupils) in April 2007 to 80,359 (12% of pupils) in April 2018. The number of pupils educated in poor …
12 Mar 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the maximum waiting time is for an autism diagnosis after request for assessment.
Answer · Clare Haughey: The Scottish Government is committed to improving the lives of autistic people through the implementation of the Scottish Strategy for Autism. Autism assessments are a matter for Integration Authorities (IAs) and Health and Social Care Partnerships. Waiting …
12 Mar 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Dumfries and Galloway Council regarding early learning and childcare.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government has met, and will continue to meet, regularly with local authorities to discuss the delivery of the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) entitlement. This includes routes such as sharing information through the ELC Partnership Forum, and…
12 Mar 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will bring forward plans to dual the A75.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Transport investment has to be supported by robust evidence and that is why the Scottish Government is undertaking the South West Scotland Transport study. This study is considering the rationale for improvements to all modes of transport on key strategic cor…
19 Feb 2019 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the school estate in Dumfries meets an acceptable standard.
4 Feb 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what help it offers to communities that are seeking to (a) improve the appearance of buildings that are considered to be "eyesores" and (b) bring derelict buildings back to use.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: We offer various types of help to communities to address this kind of situation. The Part 3A community right to buy provides a compulsory purchase power for communities to take ownership of land (and buildings) that are abandoned or neglected. The Scottish La…
29 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the temporary traffic lights between Kirkconnel and New Cumnock on the A76 are scheduled for removal.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Following a road traffic accident on 14 January 2018, an LGV demolished 50m of safety barrier at this location, south of Marchburn. Temporary traffic signals and associated signing were provided at the time and are remain in place for public safety reasons. …
8 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the reported plan by NHS Dumfries and Galloway to close its doctor-led out-of-hours service at midnight.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: I have been reassured by NHS Dumfries & Galloway that there are no such plans in place to close its doctor-led out of hours service at midnight.
17 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it spends on mental health research.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Within the Scottish Government, the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) is responsible for health and social care research. CSO is currently funding 10 active research grants or fellowships in the area of mental health with a total value of about £1,288,000. In addi…
5 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14751 by Roseanna Cunningham on 1 March 2018, what account it takes of climate change when considering whether to fund new flood defence systems, and how many new systems in each of the last five years that it has provided funding for (a) have and (…
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-20377 on 13 December 2018. 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/parliamentarybusines…
4 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14751 by Roseanna Cunningham on 1 March 2018, what its position is on whether local authorities should take account of climate change when considering new flood defence systems, and what information it has regarding how many new systems that it has …
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government provides guidance for responsible authorities on the economic, social and environmental aspects of option appraisal for actions promoted under the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009. https://www.gov.scot/publications/guidance-s…
27 Nov 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve educational provision and experiences for young people with autism.
21 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has received regarding site fee increases for park homes.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Periodically, the Scottish Government has received representations from residents of park homes on a variety of issues, which can include site pitch fees.
21 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to changing the legislation regarding site fee increases for park homes from using the Retail Price Index (RPI) to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government has carried out a considerable amount of work on park home (mobile home) issues since 2012. The Mobile Homes Act 1983 (Amendment of Schedule 1) (Scotland) Order 2013 significantly enhanced the protection of park home residents in Scotl…