Brian Whittle

8 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer question S5W-13642 by Humza Yousaf on 11 January 2018, in light of the minister's comment that "in the past 5 years, Transport Scotland has been consulted on 4 separate planning applications potentially affecting the Bellfield Interchange and did not object to any …

Answer · Humza Yousaf: East Ayrshire Council’s Local Development Plan (LDP) process considered land use changes and identified potential medium to longer term impacts on the A77 Bellfield junction. Transport Scotland made representations to the Proposed LDP noting that development …

5 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to implementing a target for dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanning, in light of it reportedly being shown to reduce the risk of repeat fractures in people at risk of osteoporosis.

Answer · Shona Robison: Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanning is not covered by the Scottish Government's six week waiting time standard for 8 key diagnostic tests. We have however made clear to Boards that they should try to ensure patients are seen if possible within six…

5 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the introduction of a national standard for fracture liaison services.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government’s National Falls lead is about to start work with a wide range of stakeholders on the development of a Falls and Fracture Prevention Consensus Statement and Commitment. The value of and evidence for Fracture Liaison Services will be ta…

9 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-13460 by Humza Yousaf on 3 January 2018, whether the proposed study will include an economic impact assessment regarding (a) the economic activity generated by the ports at Cairnryan and (b) how communities along the A77 and A75 corridors and releva…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The South West Scotland Transport Study will be undertaken in accordance with Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance. In doing so it will include an evidenced based assessment of problems, opportunities, issues and constraints in the area including the relatio…

21 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of applications to develop the sites serviced by the interchange being objected to by Transport Scotland on the grounds that the infrastructure was insufficient to support these developments, and reported concerns that traffic queuing down the access ramp onto the main trunk ro…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government currently has no plans to upgrade the A77 Bellfield Interchange. In the past 5 years, Transport Scotland has been consulted on 4 separate planning applications potentially affecting the Bellfield Interchange and did not object to any o…

14 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport's inquiry into the legal right of still born babies to be eligible for the Crown Office to instigate an inquiry into an unexplained death where appropriate.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government and COPFS continue to discuss the complexities of the law in this area. The investigation of deaths in Scotland is undertaken by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) on behalf of the Lord Advocate, as head of the sy…

14 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether compulsory cardiotocography (CTG) training for all neonatal staff has been implemented across all NHS boards; whether time is allocated during working hours for this training, and whether it is compulsory at least twice a year.

Answer · Shona Robison: Neonatal staff would not normally undertake compulsory cardiotocography (CTG) training as they do not provide care for women during labour and birth.

14 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the meeting with the A77 and A75 Action Group on 15 November 2017, during which the Minister for Transport and the Islands reportedly committed to commence an infrastructure review for these trunk roads as links to the port of Cairnryan within a month or two, when this review…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The South West Scotland Transport Study will consider the rationale for improvements to road, rail, public transport and active travel on the key strategic corridors including the A75, A77 and the railway corridors to Stranraer and Carlisle via Kilmarnock / D…

6 Dec 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase workforce productivity.

30 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to deliver funding from the apprenticeship levy to finance apprenticeships in (a) floristry and (b) coopering, given this is a skill required in Scotland's whisky industry, and what its position is on whether a lack of publicly-funded apprenticeships in these ski…

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government clearly set out our response to the introduction of the UK Apprenticeship Levy in December 2016, and underlines that Levy funds largely replace existing UK Government funding for skills and training. The Scottish Government will contin…

29 Nov 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that rural communities have access to public amenities.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government is fully committed to supporting our rural communities and ensuring equality of access to public amenities across Scotland. For example: Investment in community-led regeneration, delivered through the £20 million Empowering Communitie…

22 Nov 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that sport is funded to enable access for all.

15 Nov 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the economic importance of the port of Cairnryan to the south west and nationally.

10 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-11823 by Humza Yousaf on 26 October 2017, when the review of objections commenced; what additional information has been commissioned, and when it expects that information to be made available to ministers.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The objection period ended on 18 January 2016 and reviews of the objections commenced thereafter. Transport Scotland is clear on the opinions voiced by objectors and is collecting further technical evidence to inform any decision regarding the speed limit. It…

10 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will list all (a) formal and (b) informal meetings that (i) ministers and (ii) officials have had regarding the (A) Borderlands and (B) Ayrshire Growth Deal; when these took place; who attended; where the location was; at which meetings a minute or note of the proceedings was …

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is fully committed to finding ways to support regional economies to thrive in Scotland. Ministers and Scottish Government officials have engaged regularly with a range of stakeholders as the proposals for both the Borderlands Inclusive…

8 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the adoption of medicines and treatments for ultra rare diseases, given that Scottish Medicines Consortium requirements for trial numbers and outcomes may be difficult to meet in these cases.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-12594 on 21 November 2017. 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/parliamentarybusi…

8 Nov 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what value cycle tourism has to the economy.

30 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government in light of the findings in the Bliss Scotland Baby Report 2017 that six-out-of-eight neonatal units did not have enough nurses in post, two-thirds did not have enough medical staff and 10-out-of 11 found it "challenging" to ensure that their nurses received sufficient training, what act…

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government welcomed the publication of the report by Bliss Scotland in January this year. Bliss played a vital part in our national maternity and neonatal review and are represented on the ‘Best Start’ Implementation Programme Board. The Program…

5 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of investment funding for the HALO project in Kilmarnock from the UK and Scottish governments.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government announced on 30 August 2017 that we will invest up to £5.3m in the HALO regeneration project in Kilmarnock. The Scottish Government will provide up to £3.5 million to support the first phase of the project, subject to completion of du…

4 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that patients with less survivable cancers are able to access clinical trials.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government invests around £40 million annually in the NHS through NHS Research Scotland to meet the additional costs of hosting research, including clinical trials. Of this around £10 million per annum supports the cost of cancer research (includ…

4 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that brain tumours are diagnosed early.

Answer · Shona Robison: To support GPs to refer and diagnose suspected cancers earlier, we published updated Scottish Cancer Referral in 2014. The aim of these updated guidelines is to facilitate appropriate referral between primary and secondary care for patients whom a GP suspects…

4 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-03761 by Humza Yousaf on 10 November 2016, regarding the 50mph speed limit between Bogend Toll and the Dutch House Roundabout on the A77, what stage the Ministerial review of objections has reached, and when a final decision regarding the revocation…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: In accordance with the Secretary of State’s Traffic Orders (Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 1987 it is now for Ministers to undertake a review of the objections received in respect of this draft Order. This review of objections is underway and further infor…

4 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to support Action for ME's work in developing treatment pathways across the country, and what its response is to reports that funding for this work is to end.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: Scottish Government provided one-year funding to Action for ME for this project. Officials recently met with Action for ME and will continue to work closely with them to see how learning from this project can be shared across the NHS in Scotland.

4 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that people with ME have access to adequate services, treatment and advice.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-09030 on 10 May 2017. 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/288…

2 Oct 2017 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the health secretary's comment in June that the country's "stillbirth rates and neonatal death rates continue to decline", what its response is to the recent report by the National Records of Scotland, which suggests an increase in the rate in 2016.

5 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when work on the Maybole bypass will begin; whether it will be dualled road, and what its position is on developing a cycle track alongside it.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The current programme anticipates award of the main construction contract for the A77 Maybole Bypass in autumn 2018. Ground investigation works are anticipated to start later this year. Procurement of both contracts has commenced. The bypass will not be duall…

5 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to (a) increase physical activity levels and (b) ensure that the opportunity to be active is available to all.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government is committed to increasing rates of physical activity. The Active Scotland Outcomes Framework sets out our ambitions for a more active Scotland, and is underpinned by a commitment to equality. There are now more and better opportuniti…

5 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-10422 by Aileen Campbell on 28 August 2017, what the timetable is for the consultation on obesity; what stakeholders and interested parties it will approach, and by what date it will publish the final strategy.  

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The consultation on proposals for a new diet and obesity strategy will take place in Autumn 2017. It will run for a period of at least 12 weeks. I would encourage everyone with an interest in this issue to submit their views to the consultation, including exi…

5 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what investment it plans as part of the wider Ayrshire Growth Deal.

Answer · Keith Brown: As I have consistently stated and made clear to the three Ayrshire Council leaders when I have met them in recent months, I am fully committed to finding ways to support regional economies to thrive in Scotland. Together with Scottish Futures Trust and my off…

5 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that peak time demand leads to static traffic on the road, what its position is on upgrading the Bellfield interchange at the A77.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Proposals to upgrade the Bellfield Interchange by installing traffic lights were considered, however they were rejected on the basis that if priority was given to traffic leaving the A77, this would result in longer queues on the other roads, which would have…