Brian Whittle

22 Sep 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to resolve the reported serious environmental issues arising from a lack of ongoing maintenance at Tarbolton Moss Landfill.

14 Sep 2020 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to reports that several of Scotland’s leisure trusts, which operate sports and other leisure facilities, are close to financial collapse.

2 Sep 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential benefits of improving transport infrastructure in south west Scotland.

31 Aug 2020 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to reports that police call-outs for people experiencing severe mental distress have increased by up to 25% during the lockdown.

12 Aug 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the contribution that the internal market makes to levels of employment in Scotland.

22 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the South West Roads Network management contract is set to commence as scheduled, and what impact the COVID-19 pandemic might have on planned maintenance and other works on the routes covered by the contract.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The South West Trunk Road Network Management Contract (NMC) will commence on 16 August 2020 as planned. Amey OW Ltd will replace Scotland Transerv as Transport Scotland’s Operating Company. Amey is already fully committed to the mobilisation process to ensure…

22 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on international supply chains, what action it is taking to encourage and increase the manufacturing of medical devices and PPE in Scotland, and what analysis it has carried out of (a) the potential economic impact of such an approach and …

Answer · Jeane Freeman: In order to strengthen our domestic supplies of medical devices and PPE, NHS Scotland, Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland have supported a wide range of Scottish businesses to increase their manufacturin…

17 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to promote (a) local, (b) Scottish and (c) UK sourcing in (i) central and (ii) local procurement policies.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government recognises small businesses as being critical to the economic health of the country. To promote opportunities for local economic development, the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 requires public bodies to consider and act on oppo…

17 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to take steps to review its procurement tendering practices to ensure that ingredient origin is accounted for in local buying.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government take account of factors including origin, traceability, animal welfare and environmental standards in our catering contract and will continue to do so. We place an emphasis on healthy eating and nutrition and promote fresh and seasonal…

17 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to promote local food production following the COVID-19 outbreak.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Through the Ambition 2030 Food & Drink Industry Strategy, launched in 2017 by the First Minister, the Scottish Government has been working in partnership with Scotland Food & Drink and key sectoral trade bodies to sell more fresh, quality Scottish produce to …

26 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made in the frequency of stethoscope usage during GP visits for people over 65, and what steps it is taking to resume the detection of structural heart diseases among this group in primary care settings.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government does not hold information on the frequency of stethoscope usage during GP visits for people over 65. We fully expect patients to be treated in line with their clinical priority. In these unprecedented times, NHS Boards are expected to…

26 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the prevalence of heart valve disease, and what action it is taking to provide access to treatment for older people with this condition to (a) support healthy ageing and (b) reduce their vulnerability to (i) COVID-19 and (ii) future epidemics and pandemics.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: In 2019, The National Health Services Scotland (NHSS) National Planning Board commissioned a horizon scan for heart disease in Scotland. The purpose of the horizon scan was to develop a long term forward view (5-10 years) and advise on issues that require nat…

26 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of heart valve disease as an underlying cause of a number of COVID-19-related (a) complications and (b) deaths.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Our analytical partners across the Scottish Government - National Records of Scotland, Public Health Scotland and the national health service - are working together to consider how we can better understand the impact of Covid-19 on people in Scotland with hea…

22 Jun 2020 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government will support community sport restarting as lockdown restrictions are lifted.

15 Jun 2020 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what consideration the Scottish Government has given to the impact of lockdown restrictions on people with dementia.

3 Jun 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that public transport in rural areas has sufficient capacity to meet demand.

26 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask to Scottish Government whether it plans to halt the current and any future planned emergency release of prisoners, in light of the Scottish Prison Service Early Release Tranche 1 Report showing that staff absence levels have fallen below the threshold for implementation of the emergency legislation, which is 20…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Scottish Ministers are satisfied that the release of prisoners authorised by the Release of Prisoners (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 is a necessary and proportionate response to the effects coronavirus is having, and is likely to have, on prisons g…

18 May 2020 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to reports that obesity and diabetes increase an individual’s risk of contracting COVID-19.

13 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to make an assessment of the reported increase in number of deaths from non-COVID-19-related diseases during the lockdown period.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: National Records of Scotland (NRS) publish weekly statistics on COVID-19 deaths, including where COVID-19 was a suspected or underlying cause of death. NRS report that up to week 13, the number of weekly registered deaths in Scotland had been broadly in line…

13 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that people with severe heart valve disease have access to minimally-invasive treatment that can reduce time spent in hospitals to help reduce their exposure to COVID-19 and its subsequent potential complications.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-29051 on 17 June 2020 . 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/parliamentarybusiness/…

13 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to provide treatment for people with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The NHS in Scotland is currently dealing with an unprecedented health situation that has meant that some scheduled, non-essential procedures and care has had to be postponed to ensure other, seriously ill patients can be treated and cared for. We fully expec…

11 May 2020 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government is doing to ensure that the NHS remains open for treating conditions other than COVID-19.

27 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the drug being tested as a possible treatment for COVID-19, what steps it is taking to ensure that there are adequate supplies of hydroxychloroquine to treat people with rheumatoid disease, and whether it can offer a similar assurance to that given by NHS England that it wil…

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Access to medicines should not be affected by the current COVID-19 global pandemic. There are no known supply issues and hydroxychloroquine remains available from manufacturers for community pharmacies to order through wholesalers. There are a number of esta…

13 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made an assessment of options to improve the resilience of the country's electricity infrastructure, in light of plans to expand the use of electric vehicles and the replacement of gas central heating systems with electric alternatives.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Energy Strategy, published in December 2017, set out our vision for the future energy system in Scotland. Scotland’s energy networks will play a vital part in delivering our Strategy, and the transition towards a low carbon future. It is crucial …

4 Mar 2020 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that people across the country have easy access to community sports facilities.

25 Feb 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what progress it is making in implementing the proposals in its paper, A Fairer Scotland for Older People: A Framework for Action.    

24 Feb 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential disruption to a child's education caused by having a parent in the armed forces.

Answer · John Swinney: We fully recognise the potential disruption which Armed Forces children may face during their education. The Additional Support for Learning Act places duties on education authorities to identify, provide for and review the additional support needs, long and…

24 Feb 2020 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government considers to be the educational benefits of learning to play music.

19 Feb 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the proposed sale of Glasgow Prestwick Airport, and when the successful bidder will be named.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I advised Parliament on 19 December 2019 that a Preferred Bidder had been selected and set out the reasons why the identity of the Preferred Bidder could not be disclosed. I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-26761 on 19 December 2019. All answers…

19 Feb 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential disruption to a child's education caused by having a parent in the armed forces.