Parliamentary questions
Rachael Hamilton
1,432 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
22 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is a statutory requirement for local authorities to collaborate with (a) healthcare professionals and (b) independent mobility assessors in the administration of the Blue Badge scheme.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: While there is no statutory requirement, the decision on whether an applicant should have further assessment is a decision for the local authority to make. Blue badge administrators may use desk-based screening tools to inform decisions and identify which app…
22 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to expand the eligibility criteria for the Blue Badge scheme, particularly for people with non-visible or fluctuating conditions.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: A core principle of the Blue Badge scheme in Scotland is that access to the scheme is based on the applicant’s functional mobility, whether visible or not, and it is important to note that people with fluctuating conditions or hidden disabilities can ap…
22 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to local authorities on enabling people to apply for a Blue Badge without using an online application, and how it ensures that non-digital routes are clearly publicised and accessible.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Transport Scotland is responsible for Blue Badge legislation. However, local authorities are wholly responsible for the scheme from application, administration through to enforcement.While Transport Scotland does not explicitly define the way in which local a…
22 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the average processing time for Blue Badge applications in the Scottish Borders, and how this compares with other local authority areas.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Transport Scotland does not hold the data on the average processing times for Blue Badges. However, Transport Scotland does recommend that local authorities should regularly update and highlight their estimated wait and/or processing times to applicants.
22 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to family consent and post-mortem tissue retention, whether it has considered updating the Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006 to align with changes implemented in the Human Tissue Act 2004 for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government has no plans to change the Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006 (the 2006 Act) and believes that the Act sufficiently addresses consent and the handling of tissue in relation to post-mortem examinations.The Human Tissue Act 2004 applies in…
22 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any potential data privacy implications of retaining DNA and tissue samples without explicit consent, particularly in relation to compliance with existing privacy and data protection legislation.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government does not retain any DNA or tissue samples. It is for other bodies to ensure compliance for their interest.Health Boards are responsible for ensuring that correct processes and regulations are followed for any retention of samples, for …
22 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider removing non-suspicious deaths from the remit of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: COPFS understands the impact that the loss of a loved one can have on bereaved families.The Procurator Fiscal will investigate every death reported to us thoroughly and independently to establish what happened and consider whether criminal proceedings or a Fa…
22 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to expand the use of non-invasive post-mortem technologies, such as CT scanners, for non-suspicious deaths.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: COPFS rely on pathology providers as the medical experts to determine the nature and extent of the examination required to establish a cause of death.COPFS would support any proposals where evidence is provided that a particular approach would fully meet the …
22 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what policies and procedures are in place regarding the storage, use, and disposal of tissue samples from non-suspicious deaths, and what safeguards exist to ensure that the consent and rights of the next of kin are respected.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Part 2 of the Human Tissue Act (Scotland) 2006 makes provision for post-mortem examinations for non-suspicious deaths including the requirement that any hospital-arranged post-mortem may only be carried out if authorisation is obtained from the nearest relati…
21 May 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will meet with the Equality and Human Rights Commission regarding its recently published consultation on updating the Code of Practice for services, public functions and associations, following the recent Supreme Court ruling.
6 May 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent report by Scottish Borders Council on the future of Live Borders, regarding any impact on cultural services, community engagement and libraries across the Borders.
1 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce information on the dangers of methanol poisoning to the school curriculum.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: We are committed to ensuring that children and young people have the opportunity to learn about substance use and its impact on life choices and health. Curriculum for Excellence already provides the opportunity to explore the risks associated with a variety …
30 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish the outcome of its review of the guidance on mothballing.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Statutory responsibility for decisions about the learning estate, including mothballing, rest with local authorities. The Scottish Government issues guidance to support local authorities’ implementation of their statutory responsibilities.As the First M…
30 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what communication it has had with local authorities regarding its review of the guidance on mothballing, and whether it has advised any local authorities to pause any mothballing proposals until they receive updated guidance from it.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Statutory responsibility for decisions about the learning estate, including mothballing, rest with local authorities. The Scottish Government issues guidance to support local authorities’ implementation of their statutory responsibilities.As the First M…
30 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its ongoing review of the guidance on mothballing.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Statutory responsibility for decisions about the learning estate, including mothballing, rest with local authorities. The Scottish Government issues guidance to support local authorities’ implementation of their statutory responsibilities.As the First M…
16 Apr 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any implications for its work on tackling rural crime and preventing the theft and resale of machinery in Scotland, when it was first made aware of the proposals for the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023, which applies to England and Wales.
2 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Borders regarding brokerage in 2025-26.
Answer · Neil Gray: Alan Gray, Director of Health and Social Care Finance, wrote to Chief Executives of NHS Scotland on 04 December 2024 to provide the details of the indicative funding settlement for NHS Boards in the Scottish Government Budget 2025-26. This letter set out the …
2 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much is currently owed to it in total in brokerage by each NHS board.
Answer · Neil Gray: The amount of brokerage owed by each NHS Board is outlined in the following table:NHS BoardsBrokerage owed at FY 2023-24 (£000)NHS Ayrshire & Arran78,500NHS Borders35,533NHS Dumfries & Galloway32,300NHS Fife23,743NHS Grampian24,800NHS Highland56…
2 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether brokerage will be available to any NHS board in 2025-26.
Answer · Neil Gray: Alan Gray, Director of Health and Social Care Finance, wrote to Chief Executives of NHS Scotland on 04 December 2024 to provide the details of the indicative funding settlement for NHS Boards in the Scottish Government Budget 2025-26.The letter confirmed that…
2 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the National Energy System Operator (NESO) regarding battery energy storage system quotas in Scotland.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government regularly engages with the National Energy System Operator (NESO) and the UK Government in relation to the actions set out in the Clean Power Action Plan, as well as the development of the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP), which wi…
2 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-35639 by Maree Todd on 27 March 2025, which NHS boards will be supported to provide suicide bereavement support.
Answer · Maree Todd: We are continuing to work closely with partners to design and plan the expansion of suicide bereavement support across Scotland, taking account of the evaluation findings and existing local provision.In addition to delivering suicide bereavement support servi…
2 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Borders regarding suicide bereavement support.
Answer · Maree Todd: Suicide Prevention Scotland, the delivery vehicle for Creating Hope Together, has been engaging with Suicide Prevention Leads in local areas to facilitate the development of local suicide bereavement approaches that meet the needs of their communities.Specifi…
2 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its next Creating Hope Together suicide prevention action plan.
Answer · Maree Todd: The first three year Creating Hope Together action plan was published in 2022 and covers the period 2022-2025.As outlined in the answer S6W-35639 on 27 March 2025, we are starting to develop our next three-year action plan which we intend to publish in early …
27 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which section of the Fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) outlines the reasons that the Scottish Ministers must provide when overturning planning decisions made at the local authority level.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Section 25 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 Act requires that all planning decisions, including those made by Scottish Ministers, delegated Reporters and Local Review Bodies, are done so in accordance with the development plan unless mater…
27 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the proposed Cross-Border Connection development by SP Energy Networks will benefit residents in the Scottish Borders.
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-36341 on 22 April 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-…
27 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its Freedom of Information response of 28 February 2025, for what reason there has been a consistent rise in renewable energy applications in recent years.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: There has been a consistent rise in applications due to increased demand from developers seeking consent to build renewable energy developments in Scotland.
27 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps its Energy Consents Unit takes to assess the visual impact and location of renewable energy applications during the consultation phase, in light of tourism reportedly contributing £4 billion to the Scottish economy annually, with 40% of that being nature-based tourism, a…
Answer · Alasdair Allan: Potential impacts on communities, nature, and cultural heritage, including the cumulative effects of developments, are important considerations in the decision-making process.When an application is received, a full public consultation is carried out. Scottish…
27 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how local communities living in the vicinity of the proposed Cross Border Connection development by SP Energy Networks are being involved in the decision-making process.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Currently no application for the Cross Border Connection has been submitted to Scottish Ministers by SP Energy Networks (SPEN), and it is important to note that proposals can change significantly during the development phase. As such, it is not appropriate fo…
27 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide the criteria for approving or rejecting renewable energy applications, in light of its Freedom of Information response of 28 February 2025 stating that 100% of proposals between 2020 and 2025 have been approved.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: It is not accurate to state that 100% of proposals between 2020 and 2025 have been approved.To clarify, the Environment Information Request response of 28 February 2025 to which the question referred, noted that, of the 7 renewable energy applications receive…
27 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the proposed Cross-Border Connection development by SP Energy Networks aligns with Scotland's Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Under the Ministerial code, it would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to comment on the merits or otherwise of any development that is before them, or could come before them, for a decision through the application or appeal process.On network in…