Rachael Hamilton

3 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken regarding (a) the financial impact that stroke will have on Scotland’s health and social care services in the next 10 years and (b) what savings can be made by investing in the expansion of the national thrombectomy service.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government has not undertaken an analysis on the financial impact of stroke on Scotland’s health and social care services in the next ten years.Research suggests that, on average, every patient treated with a thrombectomy procedure could sa…

3 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it expects eligible stroke patients in the NHS Borders area to receive the same standard of care as stroke patients in Edinburgh by being able to receive a mechanical thrombectomy, should they need one, at weekends.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government remains committed to implementing a high quality and clinically safe thrombectomy service. We have invested £39 million to date on expanding access to thrombectomy. While we continue to face significant financial challenges, we a…

27 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is currently in place to inform ministers’ decisions when they depart from the recommendations of a public inquiry reporter in renewable energy cases.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: There is no guidance in place for Scottish Minsters to specify how to consider the recommendations of a public inquiry reporter in renewable energy cases.

27 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what weight is given to (a) local authority planning refusals and (b) the findings of a public inquiry reporter in a final ministerial decision on renewable energy developments.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: Ministers do not apply predetermined weightings to any information when determining applications for Energy Consents.

27 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its response to an Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 request on 22 April 2025 (reference 202500456071), whether any decisions made by the Scottish Ministers to approve renewable energy applications against the recommendations of public inquiry reporte…

Answer · Alasdair Allan: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-38137 on 10 June 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/…

27 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its response to an Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 request on 22 April 2025 (reference 202500456071), how many of the 44 public inquiries into renewable energy applications held since January 2020 related to developments located within the Scottish Borde…

Answer · Alasdair Allan: Of the 44 public inquiries into renewable energy applications held since January 2020, 4 related to developments located within the Scottish Borders local authority area. Case references WIN-140-5; WIN-140-6; WIN-140-8 and WIN-170-2007 refer and can be viewed…

27 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that the views of local communities, as expressed during public inquiries and local planning processes, are given full consideration when ministers make a final decision on renewable energy applications.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: Energy Consents applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis, with all relevant information considered to ensure balanced decision-making. This includes environmental information, consultee responses and if applicable, the inquiry report.

27 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its response to an Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 request on 22 April 2025 (reference 202500456071), regarding the 10 renewable energy application decisions since January 2020 in which the Scottish Ministers decided against the recommendations made…

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The decision-making rationale for each of these applications is set out in the determination letters which are publicly available on the Energy Consents Unit website.The decision whether to grant consent is made on a case-by-case basis, taken only after caref…

27 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider commissioning an independent review of the consistency and transparency of decisions made by ministers in cases where public inquiry recommendations have been decided against in favour of renewable energy development.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: We do not consider it necessary to commission an independent review of the consistency and transparency of decisions made by ministers in cases where public inquiry recommendations have been decided against in favour of renewable energy development.All Energy…

27 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the rateable value threshold for business rates relief, in light of reported concerns that approximately one third of grassroots music venues in Scotland will not qualify for relief under the current £51,000 threshold.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government has no plans to revisit the non-domestic rates relief policies announced for 2025-26.In recognition of the challenges faced by smaller music venues, and the crossover with parts of the hospitality sector such as pubs and nightclubs, th…

27 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to support the talent pipeline for emerging artists.

Answer · Angus Robertson: The Scottish Government is committed to developing a long-term strategic approach to skills and careers in the culture and creative industries sectors across all roles. In 2020 the Culture Strategy for Scotland was clear that if we are to harness Scotland's c…

27 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the (a) economic and (b) cultural impact of grassroots music venues.

Answer · Angus Robertson: The Scottish Government has not conducted a formal assessment of the economic and cultural impacts disaggregated to the sub-level of grassroots music venues.However in August 2024 the Scottish Government Industry Statistics Database estimated the overall Crea…

27 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what support it is providing to grassroots music venues, in light of reports that these venues contributed £45.4 million to the economy in 2024.

Answer · Angus Robertson: The Scottish Government fully values the importance of the music industry to Scotland’s culture and creative industries, and the value grass roots music venues deliver for the economy and the talent pipeline.Whilst some issues that might assist grassroo…

27 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of any recent review by Scottish Borders Council of its additional needs assistant allocation process for secondary schools.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is not aware of any recent review by Scottish Borders Council of its additional needs assistant allocation process for secondary schools.

27 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what role it has in reviewing how additional support needs team allocations are determined within local authority secondary schools.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government has no role in reviewing how additional support needs team allocations are determined within local authority secondary schools.The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act (2004) places duties on Education authorities…

27 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that any funding directed at supporting additional support needs provision in schools is spent in line with (a) local need and (b) national priorities.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Funding is provided to Local Authorities by means of a block grant to allow them to allocate the total financial resources available to them, on the basis of local needs and priorities, having first fulfilled their statutory obligations and the jointly agreed…

27 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it monitors the provision of additional support needs staff across local authorities, and, if so, how Scottish Borders Council compares with the national average.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Education authorities are responsible for identifying and meeting the additional support needs of their pupils. They have responsibility for securing appropriate resources, including teaching and support staff, to meet children and young people’s long o…

27 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to local authorities regarding minimum levels of additional support needs staff, such as additional needs assistants, in secondary schools.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Local authorities retain the statutory responsibility for the delivery of education in Scotland. Decisions around the delivery of additional needs support and the minimum levels of staff to meet local level needs are matters for education authorities.We have …

27 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of the £28 million provided to local authorities in 2025-26 to support additional support needs provision in schools has been allocated to Scottish Borders Council.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Spending on additional support for learning by local authorities reached a record high of over £1 billion in 2023-24. The latest finalised local government statistics show that Scottish Borders spent £13.912 million on additional support for learn…

27 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it evaluates whether local authorities, including Scottish Borders Council, are fulfilling their duties under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Local authorities are supported in fulfilling their duties under the 2004 Act through the statutory code of practice on additional support for learning.In instances where parents/carers are concerned that education authorities may not be fulfilling their duti…

27 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce ringfenced funding for additional support needs provision in secondary schools.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Spending on additional support for learning by local authorities reached a record high of over £1bn in 2023-24We have continued to invest £15m per year since 2019-20 and provide over £11m of funding, to directly support pupils with complex a…

22 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it provides guidance, or allows automatic or simplified Blue Badge renewal, for individuals with progressive conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, and, if so, how it makes eligible people aware of this.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The reapplication process is required by the legislation, with the maximum period of issue for a Blue Badge being 3 years. This mitigates the potential for fraudulent applications being submitted and ensures that local authorities meet the needs and demands o…

22 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made any assessment of the accessibility of the Blue Badge application process, and, if so, what the outcomes were.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: In 2022-23, Transport Scotland undertook a desk-based review of each Scottish local authority’s application process. Based on the findings, Transport Scotland provided local authorities a list of recommendations, including improved signposting, consider…

22 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of Blue Badge applications submitted to Scottish Borders Council in 2024 were (a) approved, (b) rejected and (c) referred for further assessment, based solely on the initial application form.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Transport Scotland does not hold data on rejections or referrals so would be unable to provide the proportions as requested. However, this information would be held by individual local authorities.

22 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it evaluates the effectiveness of Transport Scotland’s delivery and oversight of the Blue Badge scheme across local authorities.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Delivery of the Blue Badge scheme is the responsibility of local authorities. While Transport Scotland does not formally assess Blue Badge delivery, officials regularly engage with local Blue Badge teams and stakeholders to encourage a consistent approach to …

22 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what qualifications, professional registrations or training are (a) required and (b) recommended for staff undertaking initial or face-to-face Blue Badge assessments, and whether it collects data on how many assessors across Scotland have received training in assessing non-visible disabi…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Transport Scotland considers it good practice for local authorities to refer applicants for an independent mobility assessment, if that is required to make a clear and robust decision on eligibility.An independent mobility assessment should be conducted by a …

22 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on what role the Transport Accessibility Steering Group plays in evaluating the operation of the Blue Badge scheme, and whether this includes assessing how well local authorities implement the scheme.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Delivery of the Blue Badge scheme is the responsibility of local authorities. Transport Scotland does not formally evaluate local authority operations surrounding the scheme.The National Transport Accessibility Steering Group brings together Transport Scotlan…

22 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many face-to-face assessments for Blue Badge applications were conducted in the Scottish Borders in 2024, and how many of these resulted in a badge being issued.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Transport Scotland does not hold this data. This information would be held by individual local authorities.

22 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to run a public awareness campaign on how to access the Blue Badge scheme and the eligibility criteria for it.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: There are currently no plans to run a nationwide public awareness campaign.

22 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which professional health or care disciplines are commonly involved in the Blue Badge application assessment process, and whether it holds any data on professional representation across local authority areas.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Occupational therapists or physiotherapists are the professions involved in Blue Badge assessments and are best placed to assess an applicant's eligibility, due to their specific training courses, accredited by their professional bodies and subsequent registr…