Parliamentary questions

Brian Whittle

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

26 Jun 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of 600 people taking part in the Walking Football Scotland Scottish Cup, how it is (a) supporting and (b) funding the organisation to ensure (i) its viability and (ii) that it is able to provide the opportunity to more participants.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government funds Paths for All to deliver against national physical activity priorities, including walking for health. Paths for All, Age Scotland, Scottish FA, SPFL Trust and SAMH initially developed walking football in Scotland to establish the…

13 Jun 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carried out of whether any long-term savings could be achieved by increasing expenditure over the next two years on hepatitis C treatments.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: I refer the member to the answer to question S5O-02228 on 14 June 2018. The answer to the oral parliamentary question is available on the Parliament's website, the Official Report can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r…

13 Jun 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its timeline is for the elimination of the hepatitis C virus, and whether its expected eradication date is in line with (a) France, which has set a target of 2025, and (b) other European countries.

13 Jun 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how nutritious school meals impact on attainment.

Answer · John Swinney: It is well established that nutrition has a key role to play in children’s health and wellbeing and that the lack of a healthy, nutritious diet and enough to eat can impact on children’s ability to learn. That is why this Government introduced nutrition stan…

6 Jun 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the public engagement phase of the West of Scotland Transport Study will begin, and what action it is taking to promote this to help increase participation.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The engagement phase will begin this summer and will include a range of formats including a public online survey. Transport Scotland will work with a variety of stakeholders including Dumfries and Galloway Council, The Ayrshire Roads Alliance (comprising East…

6 Jun 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that school meals are of the highest quality and that the uptake of these is maximised.

29 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on including the A70 and the Bellfield Interchange as part of its transport infrastructure review of the south west of Scotland.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is currently taking forward the South West Scotland Transport Study which will consider the rationale for improvements to road, rail, public transport and active travel on the key strategic corridors in the region, including the A75, A…

24 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-15778 by Shona Robison on 24 April 2018, whether it will provide an update on work to deliver the routine provision of Orkambi for the treatment of cystic fibrosis.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government hopes that Vertex Pharmaceutical will re-submit an application for Orkambi to the Scottish Medicines Consortium, at a fair price. Scottish Government officials will meet with representatives of the company this month.

22 May 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its environmental policy and its climate change commitments are informed by active travel.

22 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what discussions it has had with the UK Government on taking forward the Ayrshire Growth Deal.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has been clear in its commitment to the Ayrshire Growth Deal for some time. The UK Government’s recent confirmation of support in March was very welcome. Since March, all partners have commenced formal tripartite dialogue. Two rounds o…

17 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to households and businesses using exchange only (EO) lines, particularly those with long or degraded EO lines, and what action it is taking to ensure that these households and businesses are included in the roll-out of superfast broadband.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The roll out of the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme has seen around 222,600 EO lines upgraded since 2014. With regards to the roll-out of superfast broadband, you will no doubt be aware that the delivery of telecoms services in Scotland…

25 Apr 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statements by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing in the Chamber on 27 June 2017 regarding mandatory cardiotocography (CTG) training that "The chief medical officer will ensure through medical directors that that happens" and that "It will be mandatory for midw…

Answer · Shona Robison: Following the statement to Parliament, Scottish Government commissioned NHS Education for Scotland to review the currently suite of available training, and make recommendations on the approach to Core Mandatory Training, the methods of training and the freque…

24 Apr 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the A77/M77 main arterial route between Ayrshire and Glasgow is scheduled for repair.

23 Apr 2018 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government is doing to support children from families with a parent who has an alcohol or drug addiction.

17 Apr 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14951 by Humza Yousaf on 13 March 2018 and, in light of the reported continuing deterioration of both carriageways of the M77 North of Fenwick and on the A77 from Symington to Fenwick, what progress has been made on repairs, and when such work will …

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Following the severe winter weather earlier this year, our operating company, Scotland TranServ, put in place additional repair squads on all trunk roads in the South West Unit to identify additional Category 1 pot holes and permanently repair them. This incl…

16 Apr 2018 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister, in light of Scotland's success at the Commonwealth Games, what the Scottish Government is doing to ensure that there is opportunity for all to participate in sport and physical activity, from grassroots to elite sport.

11 Apr 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on increasing the use of sports and culture services as part of its preventative health strategy, and what analysis it has carried out of how this could impact on demand for acute care services.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of being active and that is why the sport scotland budget was not only protected, but we decided to further demonstrate our commitment by underwriting the loss of their National Lottery income by £3.4m. Scotl…

29 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-15274 by Humza Yousaf on 27 March 2018, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding whether it has plans to expand the 50mph HGV pilot scheme to (a) the A77, (b) the A75 and (c) other routes and, in light of the Minister's c…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: As set out in my follow-up letter to the Public Petition Committee dated 11 December 2017, there are no current plans to increase the HGV speed limit on the A77, or any other trunk road; this will be re-examined once evidence becomes available.

23 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides regarding community consultation on new wind farm applications.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The consultation requirements for planning applications vary depending on the scale of the application. Smaller scale, known as local, applications are subject to a 21 day period of neighbour notification. Larger scale, known as major, applications are subjec…

22 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the so-called grandfather clause in relation to its position on the Barclay Review of Non-Domestic Rates, which states that it will charge business rates to any facility that is upgraded or refurbished, what impact this will have on the rebuild, refurbishment or transfer of …

21 Mar 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that, in instances of bullying, schools act to protect both parties and ensure that the school environment remains a safe place.

20 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what conclusions were reached by the short-life working group review of nutrition standards in school meals, and what subsequent action was taken in light of these.

Answer · John Swinney: The Technical Working Group I set up to review the current school food regulations presented their interim report to me late last year. Following targeted stakeholder engagement, with local authority caterers, the final recommendations will be published in Sp…

14 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-12701 by Humza Yousaf on 23 November 2017, in light of the objection period for the proposed return to a 70mph speed limit being closed more than two years ago, whether it is possible to provide an estimate of when Transport Scotland’s review will d…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: There were a number of objections to the proposal to return to a national speed limit on this section of the A77. Addressing the issues raised by these requires that the we assess the evidence available diligently and make a decision that best reflects the ne…

14 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the pilot scheme of increasing HGV speed limits from 40mph to 50mph on sections of the A9, and what plans it has to expand this trial to include (a) the A77, (b) the A75 and (c) other routes.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: An update on the A9 50mph HGV pilot scheme will be provided once its three-year trial has been evaluated.

14 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times the (a) A77 south of the Whitletts Roundabout and (b) A75 between Stranraer and Gretna has been closed, including closures in one direction, in each of the last five years, broken down by (i) reason for and (ii) duration of the closure.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The detailed information requested is currently being collated. I will write to the member as soon as the information is available and a copy will be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib number 59608).

6 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the independent assessor to review the transport infrastructure needs for the South Scotland region will be appointed, and when that work will commence.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Transport Scotland recently announced its intention to appoint consultant AECOM Ltd to undertake the South West Scotland Transport Study. Work on the study is expected to commence in April 2018.

5 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendation in the Healthcare Improvement Scotland review of the NHS Ayrshire and Arran maternity unit in June 2017, and the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport's commitment to making cardiotocography (CTG) training compulsory for all midwives at least twice a year…

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Education for Scotland convened a working group to make recommendations for a programme of core mandatory update training for midwives and obstetricians in Scotland including cardiotocography (CTG) training. The group submitted its report to Government in…

2 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to installing average speed cameras on the A77 between the Holmston and Whitletts roundabouts, in light of a recent fatal car crash and reports of regular car racing on this section of road.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Safety cameras are deployed through the Scottish Safety Camera Programme primarily where they have the greatest potential to reduce injury collisions and where there is evidence of both collisions and speeding. Site selection requirements are set out in the p…

27 Feb 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it gives to the provision of teaching life skills as part of the school curriculum.

27 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to repair the A77/M77, in light of the potential damage or accidents that could occur as a result of a reported increase in the number of large potholes.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Winter 2017-2018 has seen a return to more standard Scottish winter conditions, following previous milder winters. Consequently, the recent prolonged period of difficult winter weather conditions, with a recurring pattern of snow, rain, freeze and thaw, has b…