Parliamentary questions
Finlay Carson
905 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
15 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-26208 by Roseanna Cunningham on 22 November 2019, how many hen harrier nests there have been on (a) RSPB and (b) non-RSPB reserves in each of the last five years, and what information it has on how many failed to have any chicks fledge, broken down …
Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government does not hold any further information on hen harrier nests broken down by nature reserves on which the nests are located, or on reasons for nest failure other than what was provided by way of an answer to question S5W-26208.
10 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of the 433 properties that have been added to the R100 programme in Dumfries and Galloway.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The 433 additional properties to be connected in Dumfries and Galloway as a result of the £6.6 million extension to the R100 South contract are spread across the whole region. This extended build is also fully reflected on our online address checker where ind…
10 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that in Dumfries and Galloway some dentists have advised constituents that if parents/guardians register as private patients then their children will be registered as NHS patients in the same practice.
Answer · Maree Todd: I would be concerned about reports of this nature. I’m happy to take further representations from the Member and I will ask officials to follow this up with the Board.
28 Oct 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to providing paid special leave for parents who are employed by the (a) Scottish Government (b) NHS and (c) other public employers where their child passes away prior to their entitlement to (i) maternity and (ii) paternity leave.
Answer · John Swinney: The loss of a baby, at any stage of pregnancy, is a significant and traumatic event that affects many parents and their families throughout Scotland. In our 2021 Manifesto we committed to emulate New Zealand where families who sadly experience miscarriage or …
28 Oct 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to support upgrades of older (a) oil and (b) gas heating systems in rural areas.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government offers funding to support upgrades of older oil and gas heating systems to low carbon alternatives, including in rural areas. This includes via the Warmer Homes Scotland scheme, the Home Energy Scotland cashback and loan scheme, local …
28 Oct 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set out the details of the reported remodelled plans for the delivery of the R100 programme in Dumfries and Galloway.
Answer · Ivan McKee: A further £6.6 million of Project Gigabit funding is being invested in the R100 South contract to reach an additional 1,149 properties. This includes 433 properties in the Dumfries and Galloway local authority area. The online checker at www.scotlandsuperfas…
25 Oct 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of the £53 million reduction in the employability budget announced by the Deputy First Minister in September 2022.
29 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it took up any offer from the UK Government to discuss the findings of the Union Connectivity Review.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The final Union Connectivity Review (UCR) Report was published in November 2021.In March 2022, Transport Scotland officials had discussions with their UK Government counterparts at the Department for Transport (DfT) at which the findings of the UCR were discu…
29 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has held with the UK Government in relation to potential funding for improving the A75 and A77.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The A75 and A77 routes were considered as part of the UK Government’s Union Connectivity Review (UCR), with potential funding following on from the recommendations. In March 2022, Transport Scotland (TS) officials had an initial discussions with their UK cou…
29 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has applied for funding from the UK Government to undertake initial work on upgrading the A75.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The UK Government has to-date not committed any funding for design or development work on the A75, as, along with all other transport recommendations identified by the second Strategic Transport Projects Review, it remains a devolved matter.
29 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much money it has applied for from the UK Government to put towards scoping work on the A75.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Improvements to the A75 were proposed as part of the UK Government’s Union Connectivity Review (UCR) and an offer of potential funding has been made from its Union Connectivity Development Fund. To date, the UK Government has not committed any funding for de…
28 Sep 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the provision of maternity services.
22 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-10441 by Jenny Gilruth on 20 September 2022, in light of it being late September, how it defines “later this year”; whether it will provide a specific date or more specific timescale for the publication of the findings; for what reason it did not pr…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) is currently being finalised, taking on board the public consultation. It will be published along with plan for the delivery of the recommendations before the end of next Parliamentary session (24 Decemb…
22 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is committed to domestic PPE manufacturing to ensure a sustainable and resilient supply.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Pre COVID-19, 100% of NHS National Services Scotland's (NSS) PPE sources were overseas, now nearly half of all PPE issued by NSS was manufactured here (based on September 2022 figures). This rises to 88% when nitrile gloves are excluded from the figure. In l…
22 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will investigate for what reason NHS workers, especially women, are reportedly not receiving PPE that fits them properly.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is clear that any member of staff in NHS Scotland with concerns about any aspect of delivering healthcare has the right to raise their concerns and to have them addressed accordingly. The Scottish Government expects all Health Boards …
22 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last placed an order with Alpha Solway for PPE.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Since 4 August 2020, all Type IIR masks supplied to NSS were from Alpha Solway with the following exceptions:When NSS demand outstripped Alpha Solway capacity, andfor specialist Type IIR masks that were of a type not manufactured by Alpha Solway NSS placed o…
22 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to a long-term plan for PPE to ensure there is an ongoing resilient supply of PPE and support manufacturers to develop sustainable solutions.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Audit Scotland’s briefing on PPE in June 2021 told us we need to learn from experience and to address a range of PPE issues for the future, and the Scottish Government was happy to agree to that recommendation. Work continues to consult on and implement a ne…
22 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to clarify its procurement policy on maintaining a sustainable and resilient supply of PPE.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Work is underway on a new approach to pandemic PPE through a joined-up public sector procurement arrangement, led by NHS National Services Scotland. We anticipate that we will transition to these new arrangements over the course of the next financial year.
22 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the UK Government to discuss the Union Connectivity Review, in particular regarding future investment in the A75.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The last meeting between the Scottish Government and the UK Government Department for Transport to specifically discuss the Union Connectivity Review’s recommendation for investment in the A75 was on 16 June 2022.
22 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there are any future meetings planned between its officials and the UK Government to discuss the recommendations outlined in the Union Connectivity Review regarding investment in both the A75 and A77.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The next meeting with the UK Government Department for Transport is scheduled for 31 October 2022. Discussions will cover proposed investment for the A75 only as the Final Union Connectivity Review Report, published in November 2021, did not recommended that …
22 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions its officials have had with UK Government officials on the recommendations outlined in the Union Connectivity Review surrounding improvements to the A75 and A77.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Union Connectivity Review made no recommendations on upgrading the A77. Discussions between Scottish and UK Government officials have therefore focused solely on the A75. In March 2022, Transport Scotland officials had an initial discussion with UK Govern…
30 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action is being taken to provide support to (a) businesses and (b) households for the roll-out of clean heat technologies in rural communities, and to ensure that the expertise of trades people is developed and sustained.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government has committed to invest at least £1.8 billion in heat and energy efficiency over the course of this parliament. This funding is delivered via a range of support options, which are available to households and businesses across Scotland,…
16 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what date it plans to publish the findings of the Second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2).
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) is scheduled for completion and publication later this year.
1 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to respond to the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs consultation Contractual Practice in the UK Pig Sector.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The consultation was developed jointly with DEFRA and the devolved administrations. This is a UK-wide consultation aimed at the pig industry, therefore the Scottish Government will not be responding to it.
29 Jul 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to increase the diagnostic capacity for myeloma.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: £10 million of funding has been directed to support cancer waiting times (CWT) improvements in NHS Scotland across 2022-23, as announced by me on 10 August 2022. Funds will be directed across a number of specialties and initiatives including investing in dia…
29 Jul 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to advising NHS boards to follow NICE guideline NG35 on the diagnosis and management of myeloma, published in 2018, in light of no SIGN guideline reportedly existing for myeloma.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The individual clinical management of patients is a matter for territorial health boards. We do however expect that all patients are treated and cared for in a person centred way. When there are no SIGN guideline in place, NHS Boards and Integration Authoriti…
12 Jul 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has plans to introduce free rail travel in Dumfries and Galloway for anyone holding a bus pass.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government currently has no plans to extend the statutory free bus schemes to include rail services. We are, however, undertaking a Fair Fares Review that will look at look at the range of discounts and concessionary schemes which are available …
28 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans are in place in Dumfries and Galloway for the early detection of blood cancers.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is committed to finding cancer early, when the chance of survival and even cure is higher. NHS Dumfries & Galloway established Scotland’s first Early Cancer Diagnostic Centre in May 2021. The Centre provides primary care with a new ref…
28 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding it is providing to support the early detection of blood cancers.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-06456 on 4 March 2022. 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-committees…
28 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many patients in Dumfries and Galloway are currently diagnosed with blood cancers.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: This is a matter for Public Health Scotland. The information requested is not held centrally.