Alison Harris

24 Oct 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the estimates for social security spending in the Scottish Fiscal Commission’s May 2018 economic and fiscal forecasts.

17 Oct 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported warnings from nursery providers that its planned expansion of childcare to 1,140 hours by 2020 is "about to implode".

26 Sep 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the planned increase of childcare provision to 1,140 hours is progressing.

13 Jun 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5T-01141 by Maree Todd on 12 June 2018 (Official Report, c. 4), and in light of the comment by Audit Scotland in its report, Early learning and childcare, which was published in February 2018, that it had "failed to set out clearly the improved outcome…

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government has drawn upon independent advice (published here: http://www.healthscotland.scot/publications/evaluability-assessment-of-the-expansion-of-early-learning-and-childcare ) to develop our long term monitoring and evaluation strategy. Th…

7 Jun 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met each local authority to discuss future funding for (a) nursery places and (b) child care provision.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government has met, and will continue to meet, regularly with local authorities to discuss the delivery of the Early Learning and Childcare entitlement. These meetings can be through a number of routes, including one-to-one meetings or through en…

21 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work being carried out at Waverley Station to accommodate the operation of longer trains on the Edinburgh-Falkirk-Glasgow service.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Platform 12 extension works at Edinburgh Waverley were successfully completed to enable introduction of longer electric trains on the Edinburgh-Falkirk High-Glasgow service from December 2017. The crossover between platforms 10 and 11 was successfully install…

21 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the redevelopment work at Glasgow Queen Street station.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The redevelopment of Queen Street station, being delivered as part of the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme, continues to progress well. Remaining platform extensions and the completion of the station concourse and frontage are expected to be delivered…

21 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that, as a result of stagnating water, boats are unable to sift the water due to the bridge closures at Bonnybridge and Twecher, what contingency plans there are for clearing and cleaning the canal waterway.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is in regular communication with Scottish Canals on the actions which they are taking to address the temporary suspension of some services on the Forth and Clyde Canal. Scottish Canals will continue its water management regime to cut w…

21 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it can provide on when the Bonnybridge and Twecher bridge lifts will be repaired.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Scottish Canals are responsible for the programming of these works, including any temporary measures that may be available to allow restricted operations where possible. They will continue to keep canal users informed and have recently provided an update on t…

21 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason sub-contractor costs reportedly account for over 25% of Scottish Canals' total expenditure between April 2016 and March 2017, and what its position is on Scottish Canals using its own staff to carry out maintenance and repairs.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Expenditure on maintenance and repairs on the canal network is an operational matter for Scottish Canals.

21 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on Scottish Canals' reported assessment that an additional £70 million is required to invest in canal systems.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is in regular contact with Scottish Canals to discuss the opportunities and the challenges around maintaining the historic canal assets. Transport Scotland is working closely with Scottish Canals to understand the financial implicatio…

21 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported calls from boating organisations, what consideration it will give to the appointment of a non-executive director with boating experience to the board of Scottish Canals.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Scottish Ministers are currently in the process of recruiting two people to the Board of Scottish Canals. The current Board has a member with extensive experience in boating and marine tourism.

21 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact it considers the suspension of lift bridges across canals in the Central Scotland region during summer 2018 will have on the area's tourist industry.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Scottish Canals is liaising with canal users and businesses likely to be impacted by these temporary closures to minimise the impact on them where possible. The vast majority of canal users who walk, run or cycle along the towpath will be unaffected.

21 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prevent stagnant water gathering at the closed canals of Bonnybridge and Tewchar, in light of reported local concerns regarding the harmful effects of stagnant water on people and the local eco-system.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is in regular communication with Scottish Canals on the actions which they are taking to address the temporary suspension of some services on the Forth and Clyde Canal. They note that the water management of the canal is not affected b…

14 Feb 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to the forestry sector.

9 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that the Scottish Ambulance Service provides sufficient emergency transport for people with mobility issues, and that crews receive adequate training to provide this.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Ambulance Service is committed to ensuring the safe and effective emergency transfer of all patients, including those with mobility issues. All ambulance service accident and emergency staff including Paramedics, Technicians and Patient Transpor…

1 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5T-00908 by Humza Yousaf on 30 January 2018 (Official Report, c. 10), whether a timeline has been set for ScotRail to resolve the stop-skipping issue, and by what date the review of ScotRail's recovery measures will be (a) completed and (b) published.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The review, which is still under way, will look at steps to recover performance across the rail network with an aim to reduce the skip-stopping issue. The intention is that this review will be completed by the end of February, with the actions published in Ma…

13 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-12952 by Shona Robison on 23 November 2017, when it last met (a) Bield Housing and Care and (b) the key stakeholders, and whether it will provide an update on the plans that are in place for the residents.

Answer · Shona Robison: Scottish Government officials last met with Bield Housing and Care on 14 November and have since been in regular contact with their Chief Executive. I am due to meet with Bield Housing and Care on 17January 2018. My officials have also been engaging with st…

13 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on under16s (a) purchasing and (b) consuming caffeinated energy drinks.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government's position on the sale and consumption of caffeinated drinks to under-16 year olds was set out in its responses to the Scottish Parliament's Public Petitions Committee to petition PE01642 (see http://www.parliament.scot/GettingInvolved…

7 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-12721 by Maree Todd on 14 November 2017, whether the opening hours of citizens advice bureaux will be alternated to take account of the kinship care contract, and whether each will hire dedicated staff to provide this service.

Answer · Maree Todd: The opening hours of Citizen Advice Bureaux’s across Scotland vary. However, the National Kinship Care Advice Service helpline is available 9am to 5pm and callers out with these times can leave a message for a call back within 24 hours. Most enquires to the h…

22 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-12057 by Shona Robison on 31 October 2017, whether the National Contingency Planning Group has met since 19 October and, if so, whether it will provide an update on what was discussed.

Answer · Shona Robison: The National Contingency Planning Group met on 19 October to discuss Bield Housing and Care’s decision to close 12 care homes in Scotland. At this meeting , it was considered how local and national partners would manage the impact of this decision, particular…

1 Nov 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it offers to local authorities to install electric vehicle charging points in remote and rural areas.

25 Oct 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the reported decline in the number of part-time college students.

26 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report in the Mail on Sunday of 24 September 2017 of claims of lawlessness, drug-taking and staff shortages at HMP Addiewell, and whether it will hold an inquiry.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows: SPS has a Contract in place with Addiewell Prison Limited (APL) for the design, construction, management and financing of HMP Addiewel…

13 Sep 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the Scottish Tourism Alliance's Big Five Questions campaign is having on the sector.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: We consider that the Scottish Tourism Alliance's Big Five Questions campaign, supported as it is by Scottish Government, VisitScotland, Scottish Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Business Gateway and Zero Waste Scotlan…

28 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the upgrade of the A801 between Grangemouth and the M8, including the carriageway improvements and new viaduct at the Avon Gorge.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government remains committed to the upgrade of the A801, including the carriageway improvements and new viaduct at Avon Gorge. These improvements are planned to be delivered during the second cluster of investment under Falkirk Council's Tax I…

7 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when NHS boards will be provided with funding to support the implementation of continuous glucose monitoring, and how the funding will be distributed.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government is investing £2m during 2017-18 financial year to increase the provision of adult insulin pumps and Continuous Glucose Monitoring devices (CGMs). The allocation of funding has taken into account a number of factors including the numbe…

31 May 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the chairperson of the Scottish Police Authority has its full support.

Answer · Michael Matheson: As the member is aware from the answer I gave to parliament on 30 May, we will give thorough consideration to the issues set out in the recent reports received from the Justice Sub-committee on Policing and the Public Audit and Post-legislative Scrutiny Commi…

17 May 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the implementation of the UK industrial strategy.

Answer · Keith Brown: I met the Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, Secretary of State for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and David Mundell MP, Secretary of State for Scotland, on 11 April 2017 to discuss how best we could work with the UK Government to ensure that the planned UK Indust…

10 May 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the guidance on what constitutes a dangerous building.