Oliver Mundell

25 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of concerns that GP out-of-hours shifts are reportedly going unfilled in NHS Dumfries and Galloway on a regular basis.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is aware of challenges in recruiting GPs to work in out-of-hours services across Scotland, including within NHS Dumfries and Galloway.  Scottish Government officials regularly attend the monthly National Out-of-Hours Operations Group,…

25 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported shortage of specialists in NHS Dumfries and Galloway, how it will ensure the future of existing specialists in the region.

Answer · Shona Robison: 50 additional widening access places. Additionally, the ScotGEM programme will provide 55 new places, with a particular focus on working in remote and rural areas across Scotland; over the next 10 years this will generate an additional 330 medical graduates. …

24 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will instruct Transport Scotland to conduct an urgent investigation into road conditions and safety on the A76.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: 28 days.   Since 2007 over £40m has been spent maintaining the A76. This includes the recent delivery of schemes as follows; A76 Skerrington Roundabout to Cairn Road Overbridge (£361k) A76 Templeton RBT to Little Heateth (£864k) A76 North of Barleith to B…

23 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what first-hand inspection the Minister for Transport and the Islands has made of the length of the A76 in order to help assess the condition of the trunk road network.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The trunk road network covers approximately 3500 km and as Minister for Transport and the Islands I do not personally carry out a first hand inspection of the trunk road network. Transport Scotland’s Operating Companies have a contractual obligation to inspe…

17 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address the reported shortage of British Sign Language interpreters in rural areas such as Dumfries and Galloway.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government acknowledges that further work is needed to address this issue. The British Sign Language (BSL) National Plan 2017-2023, published in October 2017, outlines 10 long-term goals and a total of 70 actions, including exploring the further …

16 Jan 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the comment by the First Minister on ITV Border that she takes responsibility for recruitment problems in the NHS, what action is being taken to address staffing shortages in NHS Dumfries and Galloway.

Answer · Shona Robison: We work closely with all NHS boards to support their recruitment efforts and assist them in meeting their obligations to deliver safe and effective services. Under this Government, whole-time equivalent staffing in NHS Dumfries and Galloway has increased by…

21 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what contact it has had with NHS Dumfries and Galloway regarding the future of Acorn House.

Answer · Shona Robison: It is matter for each Health and Social Care Partnership to agree levels of service provision in order to meet the needs of their local communities and to review local services to ensure they are fit for purpose. I understand a multi-agency Project Board ha…

21 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how applications for proposed tidal lagoon developments that are not included in the national marine plan would be considered.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Within Scottish Waters, if a programme of commercial scale proposed tidal lagoon developments is identified that is not included in the National Marine Plan, Scottish Ministers would consider the need to produce a Sectoral Marine Plan, incorporating the relev…

21 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-13220 by Humza Yousaf on 18 December 2017, whether it will provide details of the calculations and analysis that it used for the expenditure models.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Transport Scotland’s asset investment planning models use information from inspections and surveys undertaken to identify the number of trunk road assets, and assess their current condition. In line with recognised good practice, the condition of the network …

21 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it can take to ensure that the Scottish Ambulance Service engages with Kirkconnel Community Council regarding the future of Kirkconnel ambulance station.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-13610 on 9 January 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/parliamentarybusiness/…

21 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of any plans by the Scottish Ambulance Service to move the ambulance station out of Kirkconnel.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Ambulance Service is considering options for Kirkconnel ambulance station as it currently requires significant works to bring it up to an acceptable standard of accommodation to provide adequate facilities for the male and female members of staff…

13 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-13103 by John Swinney on 12 December 2017, whether it will provide (a) the percentage of schools that do not receive public equity funding and (b) a list of schools in each local authority area that do not receive this funding.

Answer · John Swinney: In 2017-18, 5% of schools did not receive Pupil Equity Funding. All schools recorded in the 2016 pupil census who did not receive any Pupil Equity Funding are included in the school level allocations spreadsheet available on the Scottish Government website at…

13 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions there was no out-of-hours GP service available in each of the last three years, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.

5 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-12833 by Humza Yousaf on 5 December 2017, what the cost of repairs is for each route on the trunk road network.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: In line with recognised best practice our expenditure predictions are determined from our backlog models on a network basis. As the calculation of the maintenance backlog involves the analysis of the trunk road network as a whole, backlog figures are not avai…

5 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the proposed Solway loop connecting Dumfries and Annan to northbound services on the West Coast mainline.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Currently there are no plans to connect Dumfries and Annan directly to the West Coast Main Line. However, the Scottish Government is committed to improving connectivity to promote sustainable economic growth and proposals will be considered subject to the Sco…

5 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what communications it has had with the Scottish Guidance Association regarding the Children and Young People (Information Sharing) (Scotland) Bill since 5 September 2017.

Answer · John Swinney: The Children and Young People (Information Sharing) (Scotland) Bill Team have had a phone conversation with the Scottish Guidance Association on the 2 October 2017 – no notes of this conversation were taken.

5 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagements the Children and Young People (Information Sharing) (Scotland) Bill team carried out on 21 September 2017.

Answer · John Swinney: Members of the Children and Young People (Information Sharing) (Scotland) Bill Team attended the National Child Protection Leadership Group, a Social Work Scotland / Scottish Government Strategic Workshop and a NHS Information Sharing Group Meeting.

5 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what contact it had with (a) Children in Scotland, (b) Aberlour, (c) the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland, (d) Action for Children, (e) the Institute for Inspiring Children’s Futures, (f) Crossreach, (g) Social Work Scotland, (h) Children’s Health Scotland, (i) COSLA, (j…

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government have only had contact with (b) Aberlour and (f) Crossreach during 25 October and 8 November.  (b) Aberlour on 26 October 2017 which was a Joint meeting between Aberlour, Barnardo’s and Scottish Government Officials.  (f) Crossreach o…

5 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which organisations the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills has contacted regarding the Children and Young People (Information Sharing) (Scotland) Bill, and on what dates.

Answer · John Swinney: The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills has met with – The Royal College of Nurses - 11th October 2017 – The Deputy First Minister and the Chief Nursing Officer met with RCN officials. Information Sharing Front Line Practitioners - 31st October 201…

5 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-12220 by John Swinney on 7 November 2017, whether it will publish the (a) minutes and (b) list of attendees for each meeting.

Answer · John Swinney: (a) The Scottish Government does not actively publish all meeting notes, however copies of the meeting notes referenced in question S5W-12220 can be accessed at the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 59412). (b) The Data Protection and Infor…

29 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with teachers at schools that are not eligible for Pupil Equity Funding.

Answer · John Swinney: As part of the Scottish Attainment Challenge, universal support is available to all local authorities and schools across Scotland to tackle the poverty related attainment gap. This support includes access to a named Attainment Adviser who will work directly w…

29 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact that receiving no Pupil Equity Funding will have on (a) teaching, (b) learning and (c) morale in the schools affected.

Answer · John Swinney: Pupil Equity Funding (PEF) is additional to the core funding that local authorities receive. All schools could benefit, either directly or indirectly, as a result of the improved partnerships, increased resources, and opportunities for professional learning t…

29 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of schools have received no Pupil Equity Funding.

Answer · John Swinney: 95% of schools in Scotland have received Pupil Equity Funding in 2017-18.

29 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it gave to rurality when designing the Pupil Equity Fund.

Answer · John Swinney: Through the Scottish Attainment Challenge we have committed £750 million over the course of this parliament to tackle the poverty related attainment gap. This includes £120m Pupil Equity Funding in 2017-18 allocated to schools on the basis of the number of ch…

29 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS DATIX reporting concerns have been raised in relation to staff shortages in each of the last three years.

Answer · Shona Robison: DATIX reports are held locally by individual NHS Boards and the information is part of Staff Governance Reporting (primarily through Boards' Health & Safety Departments). NHSScotland Workforce data published by ISD Scotland on 6 December 2017, available at: …

29 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much paid overtime has cost the NHS in each of the last three years.

Answer · Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally.

29 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many hours of overtime have been worked by NHS staff in each of the last three years.

Answer · Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally.

23 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an estimate of how much correspondence each of its directorates handles annually.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government record and process correspondence addressed to Scottish Ministers on its Ministerial and Corporate Correspondence System (MACCS). In the last 12 months correspondence recorded and processed by Directorate is indicated in the following …

21 Nov 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce levels of drugs use.

17 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the provision of accessible changing places.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government is committed to improving the provision of Changing Places facilities across Scotland. The Scottish Government works closely with PAMIS to support their campaign to increase the number of Changing Places Toilets in Scotland and have p…