Emma Harper

27 Jan 2020 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether she will provide an update on the impact of minimum unit pricing of alcohol.

16 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much was spent by each NHS board on child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in 2018-19, and how this compared with 2006-07, also broken down by the percentage change in expenditure that this represents.

Answer · Clare Haughey: The following table provides the information requested. The figures given have not been adjusted to account for inflation. Child and Adolescent Mental Health Expenditure (£000) 2006-07 & 2018-19 NHS Board 2006-07 2018-19 Percentage change NHS Ayrshire &…

8 Jan 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact could be on meat products imported to Scotland as part of a future UK trade deal of the reported plans by the US to introduce a system of self-regulation and policing for slaughterhouses.

6 Jan 2020 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the interim chief executive of South of Scotland Enterprise will be appointed.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I can advise that, following a process to recruit an interim Chief Executive for South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) from Scottish Government and its agencies, Nick Halfhide will be appointed. Mr Halfhide is currently Director of Sustainable Growth at Scottis…

3 Dec 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on establishing a process that will allow adopted children to have a legal right of emancipation from their adoptive parents.

27 Nov 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding levels of puppy trafficking through the port of Cairnryan and how much revenue has been recovered by HMRC from this.

20 Nov 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be on Dumfries and Galloway Council of the delay to the Scottish Budget because of the General Election. 

13 Nov 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether an independent Scotland could allow people whose immigration status is being challenged through a tribunal or court to continue to work, study or volunteer.

23 Oct 2019 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set out its intentions for future allocation of the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) 2014-20.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government remains determined to take a strategic approach to maintaining the SRDP 2014-2020 budget, ensuring that we maximise the EU funds, while continuing support for key government priorities. The success of the programme means that we expect…

23 Oct 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the implications would be for Scotland of a border being established in the Irish Sea.

18 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of properties in each local authority have had access to broadband in each year since 2014.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Due to the commercial nature of much of this information, the Scottish Government does not hold data on broadband coverage percentages. However, independent broadband analysis site, thinkbroadband.com, provides breakdowns of coverage percentages at Local Auth…

14 Oct 2019 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made on making 2018 Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 CAP payments this year.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government previously announced that it had met the EU deadline of making 95.24% of Pillar 1 payments by 30 June 2019. The EU also requires 98% of all Pillar 1 schemes by 15 October each year. I can advise that this target was met in August and t…

2 Oct 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting learners who have dyslexia.

23 Sep 2019 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister, in light of recent deaths and respiratory illness attributed to vaping that has been reported in the US by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, what the Scottish Government's position is on the sale and use of vaping products.

18 Sep 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress implementing the new GP contract.

12 Sep 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much businesses have saved in total from business rates relief since 2007, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The following table shows how much non-domestic rates relief has saved businesses cumulatively from 2009-10 until 2017-18, based on local authority income returns. Local authority breakdowns are not currently available for earlier years. Local authority Rat…

11 Sep 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the teaching of STEM subjects in Dumfries and Galloway.

9 Sep 2019 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action will be taken in response to Adverse Events Management: NHS Board self-evaluation Report published by Healthcare Improvement Scotland.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Health and Sport Committee’s report ‘The Governance of the NHS in Scotland’ recommended a need for greater consistency and improved national oversight regarding the management of significant adverse events. In September 2018, I asked Healthcare Improvemen…

4 Sep 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its commitment in the Programme for Government to decarbonise the rail network, when the Dumfries and Stranraer lines will be upgraded to reduce emissions and improve journey times.

2 Sep 2019 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made following its announcement in July that it would be offering farmers and crofters a loan worth up to 95% of their 2019 CAP BPS and Greening payment in September to help address concerns regarding the risk of a no-deal Brexit in October and to maintain cash flow …

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I am pleased to confirm that the first batch of National BPS Scheme loan offers started to be posted out on Friday 23 August 2019 to 16,570 farmers and crofters. Already 7,500 farmers and crofters have accepted their loan offer. This means 95% of the current…

18 Jul 2019 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its planned approach is for vaccination programmes for the 2019-20 flu season.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Our forthcoming flu vaccination programme will formally begin in October 2019, with a public awareness campaign, and runs until March 2020. The vaccination programme will provide everyone who is eligible the opportunity to receive the flu vaccination for fre…

10 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have (a) enrolled on and (b) graduated from a postgraduate course at each higher education institution in each year since 2013-14, broken down by subject type.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) Bib number: 60867. Table A gives the numbers for question (a); Table B gives the numbers for question (b). These figures are also published since academic year 2014-15 on the Higher Educati…

2 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of premises in each local authority area is able to access fibre broadband through (a) commercial deployment and (b) the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Due to the commercial nature of this information, the Scottish Government does not hold data on broadband coverage apart from that achieved through the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) Programme. However, independent broadband analysis site, thinkb…

1 Jul 2019 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the timing of the next Inpatient Experience Survey.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The next wave of the Inpatient Experience Survey will commence in mid-2020, with fieldwork starting in early 2021. The Inpatient Experience Survey is one of four patient experience surveys carried out by the Scottish Government. The timings of this survey hav…

5 Jun 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the potential impact on Scotland of President Trump's recent comments regarding Brexit, including it being an opportunity to strengthen trade between the United States and the UK.

4 Jun 2019 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it expects South of Scotland Enterprise to take to further its Fair Work Action Plan commitments.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: We expect South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) to be an exemplar of fair work when it is established on 1 April 2020. My first strategic guidance letter will make clear that Scottish Ministers expect fair work to be embedded from the outset. Fair work has been…

30 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce statutory regulations to ensure that private factors set charges to (a) homeowners and (b) tenants that are fair, equitable and representative of the maintenance work that they carry out.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government has no plans to introduce statutory regulations on the fees set by Property Factors. All property factors must comply with a code of conduct which sets out minimum standards of practice in the delivery of services to homeowners. This …

20 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting new entrants into nursing through student bursaries.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Scottish domiciled nursing students are eligible to apply for the Nursing and Midwifery Student Bursary, which will be increasing from £6,578 to £8,100 in 2019-20 and again to £10,000 in 2020-21.

20 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to raise the quality of childcare and ensure that staff in this sector have the appropriate knowledge and skills to deliver quality learning for pre-school children.

Answer · Maree Todd: One of the key drivers of high quality ELC is a well-trained, professional and skilled workforce. It is important that we value our workforce and support their commitment to professional development. Our Quality Action Plan published in 2017 sets out a number…

8 May 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to young people on remand at HMYOI Polmont and their families, including those travelling from the South Scotland region to visit.