Parliamentary questions

Alison Harris

137 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

21 Aug 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the assertion that those local authorities that have adopted the cost-modelling approach following the publishing of the guidance for setting out sustainable rates from August 2020 have not delivered a fair or sustainable funding rate for private, voluntary and in…

Answer · Maree Todd: As highlighted in the answer to S5W-23088 the four potential approaches set out in Section 5 of Funding Follows the Child and the National Standard for Early Learning and Childcare Providers: Guidance for Setting Sustainable Rates from August 2020 would suppo…

21 Aug 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to NHS Forth Valley meeting just two of its eight national performance targets, and missing four of them by more than 10%, in 2018-19.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Officials are working closely with all NHS Boards including NHS Forth Valley to ensure that key improvements are made against each of the 8 key performance indicators. In terms of A&E we continue to support NHS Forth Valley through the National Unscheduled C…

13 Aug 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-23275 by Maree Todd on 4 June 2019, and in light of the reported closures of several private sector nurseries, whether it plans to review its position on the ability of councils to undercut private, voluntary and independent sector childcare provide…

Answer · Maree Todd: As highlighted in the answer to S5W-23275 local authorities have discretionary powers to provide early learning and childcare beyond the statutory entitlement under section 1(1C) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 and may charge for such provision in terms …

1 Aug 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason NHS Forth Valley's performance in relation to chronic pain waiting times reportedly worsened in 2018-19, and what action it has taken to improve its performance.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: During 2018-19 NHS Forth Valley’s Chronic pain services experienced increasing pressure due to vacancies within the anaesthetic department, which has caused waiting times to increase. Through the Waiting Times Improvement Plan NHS Forth Valley received aroun…

1 Aug 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the link between NHS Forth Valley’s funding per head of population compared with most other NHS boards and its performance in meeting the eight key national targets in 2018-19.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: This year the Scottish Government has increased NHS Forth Valley’s budget by 3%, taking the Board’s overall budget to £527 million. As part of this uplift NHS Forth Valley received additional funding of £2.2 million to ensure that the Board, along with all ot…

1 Aug 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects NHS Forth Valley to meet its target of treating 90% of patients within 18 weeks of referral.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: As at 29 May 2019, ISD published figures showed that 83.9% of patients were seen and treated from initial referral to start of treatment within 18 weeks during March 2019. As part of the Waiting Times Improvement Plan, Health Boards are expected to meet the …

1 Aug 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that asbestos-related cancer deaths in Falkirk are at their highest level since records began.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: We regret all unnecessary premature deaths. We expect NHS Boards to provide high quality, person-centred care for all people, including those with a suspected or confirmed cancer diagnosis. Our National Cancer Quality Steering Group has developed Quality Per…

23 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it expects to meet its target of recruiting 11,000 additional early learning and childcare staff by August 2020 and, if not, how many additional staff it estimates will be in place by that date.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government is working closely with local authorities to ensure that arrangements are in place to deliver the commitment to expanding Early Learning and Childcare from August 2020, including the recruitment of additional staff. Local Authorities …

23 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase the uptake of eligible two-year-olds accessing funded childcare, in light of its paper, Early learning and childcare expansion: EQIA, recording that around 40% are currently receiving this.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government is committed to increasing the uptake of the two year old offer nationally by enhancing the offer of funded early learning and childcare (ELC) provided to two year olds as part of delivery of the expanded entitlement. We are working w…

23 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its Funding Follows the Child approach having parental choice as a primary aim, what its response is to concerns that the closure of private, voluntary and independent sector nurseries might limit parental choice.

Answer · Maree Todd: Quality is at the heart of the expansion in funded early learning and childcare entitlement. Funding Follows the Child, which will be introduced in August 2020, will be underpinned by a National Standard that all settings delivering the funded entitlement wil…

19 Jun 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Local Government Revenue Provision Outturns and Budget Estimates, which records councils using reserves to keep services running.

29 May 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its plans are for Farm Safety Week 2019.

17 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-22964 by Maree Todd on 16 May 2019, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding what effect it expects the charging of low prices for childcare services in council-run settings would have on private, voluntary and independen…

Answer · Maree Todd: As highlighted in the answers to both questions S5W-22432 on 29 April 2019 and S5W-22964, local authorities have discretionary powers to provide early learning and childcare beyond the statutory entitlement under section 1(1C) of the Education (Scotland) Act …

9 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the four approaches for local authorities to set a sustainable revenue funding rate for private, voluntary and independent sector childcare providers set out in its guidance note, “Funding follows the child and the national standard for early learning and childcar…

Answer · Maree Todd: Funding Follows the Child and the National Standard for Early Learning and Childcare Providers: Guidance for Setting Sustainable Rates from August 2020 was developed by Scotland Excel on behalf of the Scottish Government and COSLA. Section 4 of that guidance …

9 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the "cost modelling"’ approach presented in its guidance note, "Funding follows the child and the national standard for early learning and childcare providers: guidance for setting sustainable rates from August 2020" will deliver meaningful and genuine par…

Answer · Maree Todd: Meaningful and genuine partnership working between local authorities and funded providers is key to the success of the early learning and childcare expansion. Local authorities and funded providers are investing a great deal of time and energy in developing a…

2 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-22432 by Maree Todd on 29 April 2019, what effect it expects the charging of low prices for childcare services in council-run settings would have on private, voluntary and independent sector providers that cannot match such prices without making a l…

Answer · Maree Todd: As highlighted in the answer to question S5W-22432, local authorities have discretionary powers to provide early learning and childcare beyond the statutory entitlement under section 1(1C) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 and may charge for such provision…

30 Apr 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it expects to raise from the large business supplement in Central Scotland region in 2019-20.

8 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any draft versions of the guidance compiled by Scotland Excel for childcare have been published and, if so, (a) on what dates and (b) where these can be accessed.

Answer · Maree Todd: Scotland Excel was commissioned by the Scottish Government to develop a suite of supporting operational guidance and information to help local authorities and providers in the private and third sectors, including childminders, implement Funding Follows the Ch…

8 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date the final guidance compiled by Scotland Excel for childcare will be published.

29 Mar 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the reported charging of £2.65 for childcare services in council-run settings in South Lanarkshire Council in instances where children have turned three years old but are not yet fully eligible for funded entitlement is in line with Annex 4 (competition la…

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Public Finance Manual is not applicable to local government. It applies to public bodies, or bodies sponsored by the Scottish Government, all of which are subject to audit by the Auditor General for Scotland. Local authorities have discretionary…

19 Mar 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to owners of former social housing units who face compulsory cosmetic upgrades to their buildings.

12 Mar 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle abuse of older people.

4 Mar 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the administration costs would be of (a) reducing and (b) abolishing the single occupancy household discount on the water and sewerage portion of council tax bills.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to question S5W-21944 on 7 March 2019 which explained there are no plans to amend the discount at this time. Any future changes would incur minimal administrative costs. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Pa…

4 Mar 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many households in each local authority area (a) qualify for and (b) receive the single occupancy household discount on the water and sewerage portion of their council tax bill.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-19939 on 28 November 2018 . All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusin…

27 Feb 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the timeline is for the ban on municipal waste going to landfill.

19 Feb 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available for residents of sheltered housing complexes who experience sustained abuse by other residents.

23 Jan 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the minister for parliamentary business will provide an update regarding the lodging of the legislative consent motion for the Healthcare (International Arrangements) Bill.

22 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date the First Minister informed the Permanent Secretary that she was aware of (a) allegations against and (b) the existence of a Scottish Government investigation into her predecessor, and whether a minute of this was taken.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The First Minister set out her position on this matter in a statement to Parliament on 8 January 2019, and in responses to questions at First Minister’s Questions on 10 and 17 January 2019. This information is available from the Official Report at; http://w…

15 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that the legal and successful method being used by some local authorities for allocating capital funding to private and third sector childcare providers for the expansion of funded childcare to 1,140 hours is able to be used by all local authorities.

Answer · Maree Todd: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-21013 on 31 January 2019. It is for individual local authorities to take decisions on the details of specific capital funding schemes. However, we know that through the ELC Partnership Forum and other engageme…

15 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported recent success in some local authorities with developing a legal method of providing private and third sector childcare providers with capital funding for the expansion of funded childcare to 1,140 hours, whether it planned for such a method following the expans…

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government wrote to local authorities in March 2017 to set out the 2017-18 funding allocations for the expansion to 1140 hours. This included £30 million of capital funding to local authorities in 2017-18 to invest in infrastructure developments …