Parliamentary questions
Rachael Hamilton
1,432 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
6 Mar 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle health inequalities, and what role having access to arts and culture can play in this.
26 Feb 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to mark the centenary of the Forestry Commission in 2019.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: During 2019 the Scottish Government will support a range of activities celebrating achievements in the one hundred years since the introduction of the UK Forestry Act in 1919 – including the establishment of the Forestry Commission . Plans are currently bein…
26 Feb 2018 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to train and recruit more nurses.
20 Feb 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many criminal trials in each of the last 10 years have been abandoned with the presumption that they could be heard at a later date (deserted pro loco et tempore), and how many were subsequently held later, also expressed as a percentage.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who reply in writing within 20 days.
13 Feb 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when 100% of premises in the Scottish Borders will have access to superfast broadband.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: By the end of 2021.
5 Feb 2018 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government will take to protect politicians and candidates from abuse.
31 Jan 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Berlin and Brussels trade hubs are expected to open.
30 Jan 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the guidance based on the Human Medicines (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2014 was issued to (a) education authorities, (b) schools and (c) NHS boards in Scotland.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government published Guidance on Supporting Children and Young People with Healthcare Needs in Schools on 20 December 2017. This includes guidance on schools' powers to hold salbutamol inhalers and, more recently, adrenaline auto-injectors for us…
30 Jan 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the process is for applying for a temporary Blue Badge, and how long this takes.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The rules are the same for people with permanent and substantial disabilities or temporary and substantial disabilities however, any temporary and substantial disability must be expected to last at least 12 months in order for a Badge to be issued. The applic…
24 Jan 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had regarding the provision of social housing.
22 Jan 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to engage with The Environment Agency regarding the consultation on the regulation of the Solway, Eden and Esk Fisheries.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Government officials held discussions with colleagues in the Environment Agency and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) prior to Christmas regarding the Agency’s assessment of salmon and sea trout stocks in the Solway, Eden…
22 Jan 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding (a) how many and (b) what percentage of tourist sites in each local authority area are considered dementia-friendly.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government does not hold a formal definition of what is considered “dementia-friendly” in respect of a tourist site and does not hold information on the number of tourism sites across Scotland. Scotland’s National Dementia Strategy 2017-2020, pu…
22 Jan 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on asking retailers to sign up to a voluntary ban on acid sales to people under 18.
Answer · Michael Matheson: There was a recent UK-wide consultation on new statutory proposals in relation to corrosive substances which, at the request of the Scottish Government, extended to Scotland. This consultation ended in December 2017 and the views offered will inform considera…
22 Jan 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it aims to increase diversity in the culture sector.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Culture contributes to the development of a fairer and more diverse Scotland and as a Government we are committed to tackling inequality and making Scotland a stronger, fairer, more inclusive society, including within the culture sector. We are developing a…
22 Jan 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to protect the 160 historic sites that have been reported by Historic Environment Scotland as being at high risk.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: A scheme of delegation by the Scottish Ministers delegates the conservation and management of the properties in the care of Scottish Ministers to Historic Environment Scotland. I welcome their publication of a Climate Change Risk Assessment which informs publ…
22 Jan 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to extend concessionary travel passes to people in rural areas up to age 26 who are in (a) further education and (b) the first year of employment.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government does not hold information on the number of people up to age 26 in rural areas who are either in further education or the first year of employment. It is therefore not possible to provide a cost estimate of extending the scheme to this …
18 Jan 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which groups of people are eligible for oxygen on prescription.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: Oxygen therapy may be prescribed as a treatment for patients with hypoxaemia which may be due, but not limited to a number of chronic health conditions. Clinicians are best placed to assess the most appropriate course of action for their patients. Patients r…
15 Jan 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how prevention of and recovery from mental illnesses can be supported through access to culture and the arts.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government places great importance on culture and the arts as they make an invaluable contribution to our quality of life and wellbeing, bringing real social and economic benefits to people and our communities in our cities, towns and villages. C…
10 Jan 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to ensure that rail fare prices are transparent and the cheapest possible fare is made clear to customers, and what discussions it has had with (a) ScotRail and (b) other rail operators regarding this.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: It is a requirement of the ScotRail Franchise Agreement that ScotRail publish and maintain a website throughout the franchise period which includes details of all rail ticket prices, and that the information is current and the site is easy to use for existing…
8 Jan 2018 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to improve small business confidence, in light of reports suggesting that it is at a near-record low.
19 Dec 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the of the recently-published, Independent Review of Student Financial Support in Scotland, whether (a) it plans to co-opt universities into contributing to the student basic income, and if so, at what level and (b) the recommended student basic income will be given to (i) S…
Answer · John Swinney: This Government is committed to ensuring that all students, especially those in our most deprived communities, are provided with the financial support they need to succeed. That is why we commissioned the independent review of student support, chaired by Jayn…
19 Dec 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) advice and (b) support it provides to (i) farmers and (ii) landowners who want to install small-scale hydro schemes on salmon spawn tributaries.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: In a policy statement issued in January 2010, Scottish Ministers set out their objectives with respect to striking the correct balance between the protection of the water environment and renewable energy generation. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency …
18 Dec 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what research it has carried out on extending concessionary travel passes to people in rural areas aged up to 26 who are in (a) further education and (b) the first year of employment; how much it would cost to introduce this; whether it plans to do so and, if so, by what date.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is committed to introducing a Job Grant, comprising a cash payment and a 3 month bus pass, for young people aged 16-24 years who have been unemployed for 6 months or more. We are currently engaging with local partners, as well as young…
7 Dec 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many GPs in the Scottish Borders have received a so-called golden hello in each of the last five years.
Answer · Shona Robison: Golden Hello payments are a matter for Health Boards. NHS Borders have advised that since 2013-14 there have been 13 Golden Hello payments agreed. Year Number of GPs awarded Golden Hello in NHS Borders 2013-14 1 2014-15 6 2015-16 1 2016-17 3 2017-1…
4 Dec 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the use of the NSPCC hotline dedicated to child abuse in Scottish football, which was launched in November 2016.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government takes allegations of sexual abuse of footballers extremely seriously, and we have been working closely with all key stakeholders on this issue. It is vital victims feel safe and confident to come forward and that all allegations of ab…
29 Nov 2017 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it offers third sector organisations to empower disabled people in the Scottish Borders.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: We fund Disability Equality Scotland (DES) which works in the Scottish Borders. Our funding to DES supports Tweeddale Access Panel, which works toward achieving equality for disabled people and creating an accessible environment for all. Tweeddale Access Pane…
24 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in establishing regional land use partnerships, as set out in A Land Use Strategy for Scotland 2016-2021.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: In Policy 7 of the Land Use Strategy for Scotland 2016-2021 we proposed establishing a limited life expert group to assist with developing guidance in relation to regional partnerships, in recognition of the fact that further work was required to clarify a ra…
24 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is on course to meet each of its objectives in A Land Use Strategy for Scotland 2016-2021, and what resources it has allocated to meet each objective.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: We are making progress on the policies and proposals put forward in the Land Use Strategy for Scotland 2016-2021, such as the publication of the Scoping an Upland Vision report from SNH on 31 July 2017 and the publication of the Scottish Land Rights and Respo…
24 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made in developing and implementing a package of measures to facilitate the step change to climate-friendly farming and crofting, as set out in A Land Use Strategy for Scotland 2016-2021.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: As set out in A Land Use Strategy for Scotland 2016-2021 measures and approaches were being developed for inclusion in the Third Report on Policies and Proposals (RPP3) document which is now known as the Climate Change Plan. The draft of this document was pub…
22 Nov 2017 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to encourage the uptake of the flu vaccine.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: We recognise the important protection the flu vaccine can offer. Every year the Scottish Government invests in a national marketing campaign to promote the flu vaccine and to encourage uptake amongst those who are eligible. This year's campaign highlights th…