Emma Harper

25 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many qualified nurses there currently are per head of population in Scotland, and what information it has on how this compares with (a) England and (b) Wales.

Answer · Michael Matheson: In Scotland we have 7.9 (June-23) qualified Nurses per 1,000 population, compared to 5.9 (May-23) in England and 7.5 (Sept-22) in Wales.  

25 Sep 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage people to support their local food and drink producers.

21 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on which date it plans to publish a draft of the proposed Gaelic and Scots and Scottish Languages Bill.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The most recent Programme for Government (2023-24) sets out the Scottish Government’s intention to introduce the Scottish Languages Bill in this current parliamentary year.

13 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to paying the Scottish Child Payment to student nurses, midwives and paramedics for the duration of their education and placements.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Scottish Child Payment is delivered using Section 79 of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018, which enables Scottish Ministers to top-up a qualifying reserved benefit, such as Universal Credit. The groups mentioned may qualify for Scottish Child Payment i…

12 Sep 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the role of its international offices in promoting Scotland internationally.

6 Sep 2023 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the external review of the paediatric Scottish National Spine Service in NHS Lothian.

Answer · Michael Matheson: In March 2023, the Scottish Government requested Public Health Scotland (PHS) to undertake an independent review of the Paediatric Scottish National Spinal Service (SNSS) which is hosted in NHS Lothian. The review was requested to identify any variance betwe…

4 Sep 2023 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether he will provide an update on the steps that are being taken to reduce drug deaths in Scotland.

28 Aug 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding ensuring access to the national grid for community energy schemes in Scotland.

24 Jul 2023 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will update the Parliament on the Best Start recommendation to design a new model of neonatal service to accommodate the current levels of demand, with a smaller number of intensive care neonatal units, supported by local neonatal and special care units.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government has remained committed to implementing the new model of neonatal intensive care as set out in The Best Start. That will see the most preterm and sickest babies receive specialist complex care in fewer centres. Evidence tells us long te…

12 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the latest known levels of the starting salary for a (a) nurse and (b) junior doctor in Scotland, and on how this compares to the levels in (i) England and (ii) Wales.

Answer · Michael Matheson: A) The starting salary for a Band 1 nurse in Scotland for 2023-24 is £30,229. This pay offer is a consolidated pay increase of 15.8% over the previous two years. i) The starting salary for a Band 1 nurse in England is £28,407. ?ii) The starting salary for a …

7 Jul 2023 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it has any plans to update the current Scottish Parliament educational resources published in the Scots language, in order to reflect the composition and the processes of the current parliamentary session.

Answer · Christine Grahame (on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate : There are no immediate plans to update our current educational resources into the Scots language. Our language policy is under review and once approved by the SPCB, it will determine what languages we offer resources in for the future. Our current policy …

6 Jul 2023 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has come to a position on the recommendations of the Drug Deaths Taskforce 2021 report on drug law reform.

Answer · Elena Whitham: The Scottish Government has assessed the evidence presented by the independent Drug Deaths Taskforce, as well as the extensive evidence internationally on drug law reform, and today publish our response 'A Caring, Compassionate and Human Rights Informed Drug …

14 Jun 2023 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to improve cancer services in the future.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Today, we have published our 10-year Cancer Strategy for Scotland , with an underpinning three-year Cancer Action Plan for Scotland . Our strategy sets out our long term vision for cancer services in Scotland. It takes a comprehensive approach to improvin…

7 Jun 2023 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many of the 750 additional nurses, midwives and allied health professionals from overseas, as announced in October 2022, with associated funding of £8 million, have been recruited by NHS boards across Scotland.

Answer · Michael Matheson: As a result of intensive work by Health Boards the target has been exceeded and an additional 800 staff from overseas have been recruited of which 293 are already in posts across the country to date, and a further 507 in train due to arrive, with the majority…

6 Jun 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring that rural communities, including Dumfries and Galloway, benefit from current and future renewable energy projects.

31 May 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government through which means rural communities can object to any of its proposed policies that would have a direct impact on their local sources of employment, culture or natural environment.

17 May 2023 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the handling of COVID-19.

Answer · Michael Matheson: On 27 April 2023 the National Incident Management Team (NIMT) met to discuss the latest position on COVID-19 in Scotland. In the light of their latest assessment the NIMT has proposed, and the Chief Medical Officer has agreed, that they will no longer meet. A…

9 May 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to lay regulations to restrict the marketing and advertising of vaping products, following the publication of the responses to its consultation, Tightening rules on advertising and promoting vaping products, on 27 September 2022.

3 May 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the delivery of the Rural Crime Strategy.

12 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what involvement it has had with the proposed Scottish Power Energy Networks Glenmuckloch to Glenglass Reinforcement Project; whether it has carried out any environmental and nature impact assessment, and whether it assessed the feasibility of undergrounding the project, either in part o…

Answer · Gillian Martin: Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN) submitted an application for consent for the Glenmuckloch to Glenglass Overhead Line (OHL) Reinforcement Project to Scottish Ministers on 16 January 2023. The application was accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assess…

24 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will give consideration to directing all planning authorities, including through the fourth National Planning Framework regulations, to proceed to determine all wind farm applications within the 50km safeguarding zone at Eskdalemuir, and to use suspensive conditions, where nee…

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Planning authorities are required to determine planning applications in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise, so ensuring all relevant planning matters are considered before a decision is made. The Scottish Go…

20 Mar 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to propose the scheduling of time for a ministerial statement on the Green Jobs Workforce Academy.

27 Feb 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking, with lambing season about to begin, to support farmers to keep livestock safe, including in relation to promoting responsible countryside access.  

8 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work to bring forward legislation to enhance, promote and protect the Scots language.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government’s consultation on Gaelic and Scots closed on 8 December 2022 and the responses from this consultation will help inform part of the work to develop Scots language policy and the proposed Scottish Languages Bill. As part of the consulta…

31 Jan 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has held with Network Rail regarding passenger services on the West Coast Main Line, including services calling at Lockerbie.

11 Jan 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the Strategic Transport Projects Review 2 will improve rail infrastructure, journey times and rail connectivity across the South Scotland region. 

20 Dec 2022 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the National Carers Strategy.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government has published the National Carers Strategy today: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781805253037 The National Carers Strategy sets out actions on COVID-19 recovery, the cost crisis and improving carer support in a meaningful and sustainabl…

19 Dec 2022 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in developing health and social care workforce demand projections, in line with the National Workforce Strategy published in March 2022.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Extensive work has already taken place to develop projections for the health and social care workforce, including engagement with stakeholders to understand different user needs, and actively including these in the specification for the Projections. Early c…

16 Dec 2022 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide an update on the commitments that it made jointly with COSLA in its Statement of Intent, published in March 2021, and when it will set out further joint commitments with COSLA to continue to bring about improvements to the social care sector.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government and COSLA have today jointly published a new Statement of Intent. It is available on the Scottish Government website here: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781805253778 . This new Statement of Intent will report on the progress of the com…

6 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding has been allocated for the construction of Changing Places toilets in the South Scotland region since the creation of its £10 million Changing Places toilet fund.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government is committed to investing in Changing Places Toilets over this parliamentary term, in order to increase the number of these facilities across the South Scotland Region and country and to support mobile Changing Places Toilets to allow …