Michelle Ballantyne

29 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that hospital patients who experience rapid weight loss are given adequate treatment.

Answer · Shona Robison: Delivering the highest quality of patient care is a key priority of the Scottish Government, but the provision of patient care and treatment is the responsibility of individual Health Boards. The refreshed Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) ‘Food, Fluid a…

29 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report by Health Improvement Scotland, which stated that there is a 'lack of strategic leadership and governance of the management of food, fluid and nutrition at Borders General [Hospital]".

Answer · Shona Robison: 5 October 2017, it is disappointing that services have fallen short of the high standards that patients have a right to expect. It is also concerning that leadership and governance issues were identified during the inspection and that they have impacted on pa…

28 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken regarding calls for an independent investigation into the death of Madison Horn in 2013.

Answer · Mark McDonald: The report of the Significant Case Review carried out following the tragic death of Madison Horn in 2014 was published in 2016. The SCR following Madison's death made six national recommendations. These recommendations were: 1) The Scottish Government should…

26 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the survey by Stonewall of young LGBTI people, School Report Scotland, which claims that (a) 48% are bullied at school because of their sexuality, with those who are bullied saying that (i) 43% consequently sometimes skip classes and (ii) teachers who witness the …

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government takes bullying very seriously. Bullying of any kind, including homophobic, biphobic and transphobic, is unacceptable and must be addressed quickly whenever it arises. We want all children and young people to be included fully in their…

26 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to alleviate homelessness, and what its response is to a report in the Peeblesshire News on 25 September 2017 that a family in the Borders had to wait around 700 days in temporary accommodation before being housed.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Scotland has some of the strongest rights for homeless people in the world, and the Scottish Government wants to ensure people are accessing those rights. We have committed to renewing and redoubling our efforts to prevent and reduce homelessness by establis…

25 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report in the Midlothian Advertiser on 13 September 2017 that NHS community day staff in Midlothian are being "stretched to the limit" by having to work regular 12-hour shifts because of a lack of evening staff.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is aware that Midlothian Health and Social Care Partnerships recently reorganised their community nursing service to deliver improved continuity of care to their patients. We are aware that due to a number of staff retirements there wa…

22 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported comments by the former Scottish Borders divisional police commander, Councillor Watson McAteer, whether it will consider greater representation for local councillors on the Scottish Police Authority.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The members of the SPA are appointed by Scottish Ministers as set out in the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 ('the Act'). These appointments must be made on the basis of merit. This is a requirement of the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Publ…

22 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to reported comments by the former Scottish Borders divisional police commander, Councillor Watson McAteer, that police numbers in the region are "dangerously low".

Answer · Michael Matheson: Local decisions about the deployment of police officers are an operational matter for Police Scotland. The Scottish Government is committed to supporting Police Scotland. We are demonstrating that commitment by protecting the police resource budget in every …

21 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when exchange-only line users will be able to receive high-speed internet on a parity with other areas covered by the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband Programme.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Premises served by Exchange Only (EO) lines require considerably more complex engineering work in order to deliver fibre broadband to them. Despite this, the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme has connected a significant number of premises …

21 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the target figure for the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband Programme to provide high-speed internet to at least 95% of the country excludes exchange-only lines and, if so, for what reason.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Exchange Only (EO) lines are not excluded from the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme. Over 267,000 premises previously served by EO lines can now access fibre broadband as a result of our DSSB investment, with further connections to follow.

18 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering proposals to extend the Borders railway line towards Carlisle.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government has given a commitment to examining the case for an extension of the Borders Railway, along with potential improvements to the A1, A7 and A68. This work is currently being taken forward by Transport Scotland through the Borders Transpo…

14 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage film and television production (a) in the south of Scotland and (b) nationally, in light of recent figures that reportedly show a record year of investment in the Scottish film industry.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government allocates funding to Creative Scotland’s Production Growth Fund which incentivises productions to base themselves in Scotland and requires them to spend at least six times any grant received here, encouraging them to use Scottish facil…

14 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in partnership with national higher education institutes, beyond the allocation of funding to the Flexible Workforce Development Fund, to encourage up-skilling and re-skilling of the workforce to prepare people for a changing workplace.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Our education system, and employability and training opportunities such as Individual Training Accounts, Modern Apprenticeships and the Scottish Union Learning Fund, aim to ensure that all of our people are equipped with the skills to contribute to our econom…

14 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in partnership with regional higher education institutes, beyond the allocation of funding to the Flexible Workforce Development Fund, to encourage up-skilling and re-skilling of the workforce in the Scottish Borders to prepare people for a changing workplace.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Our commitment to establish the South of Scotland Enterprise Agency will help focus action on the needs of that area. The Agency will drive inclusive growth, support communities and capitalise on people and resources. We are working with stakeholders from acr…

14 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5F-01508 by Nicola Sturgeon on 14 September 2017 (Official Report, c.9), what action it is taking in response to the findings of a study of teachers in Scotland by Bath Spa University, which recorded (a) that 40% are considering leaving their job withi…

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government welcomes all discussion on how to improve conditions for teachers in Scotland, and we will give this report full consideration. We want to create a world-class education system that helps all of our children to succeed, and of course h…

7 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has put in place to encourage teachers to relocate to, and take up positions in schools in, the Borders.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is taking a number of actions to help recruit teachers. We are spending £88 million this year to make sure every school has access to the right number of teachers, we have increased student teacher intake targets for the sixth year in …

7 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle the reported shortage of teachers in the Borders, in light of reports that there are 24 vacancies in the region.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is taking a number of actions to help recruit teachers. We are spending £88 million this year to make sure every school has access to the right number of teachers, we have increased student teacher intake targets for the sixth year in …

7 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it supports, or will support, the partnership between Scottish Borders Council and the University of Highlands and Islands to offer a distance learning opportunity for graduates to become qualified teachers and, if so, how this support is, or will be, provided.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government welcomes the new partnership between Scottish Borders Council and the University of Highlands and Islands (UHI). We are currently supporting the development of a series of new routes to teaching in Scotland and would be happy to consid…

5 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle wildlife crime in the Borders, and what its response is to reports that a goosander, which is a protected species of bird, was shot recently on the River Tweed.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government is taking forward a number of new measures to tackle wildlife crime throughout Scotland. These include working with Police Scotland to implement additional resources for the detection and investigation of wildlife crime and a commitmen…

5 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the figures from Borders General Hospital, which suggest that there has been a 50% increase in alcohol-related attendances involving under-18s, and what resources it provides to hospitals to support them in the treatment of under-age drinkers.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The figures referred to were released under a local FOI request. And while this cannot be verified by the Scottish Government’s Information Services Divisions, I am aware NHS Borders and Scottish Borders Council's Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) has commis…

5 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-02507 by Aileen Campbell on 23 September 2016, whether it will provide an update on the action that it is taking to tackle underage binge drinking, and what analysis it has carried out of the effectiveness of the initiatives that it has introduced.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government has taken forward a range of actions through Changing Scotland's Relationship with Alcohol: A Framework for Action. This includes improved substance misuse education in schools through Curriculum for Excellence and improved identificat…

28 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to minimise inconvenience to motorists during the construction of the new Sheriffhall roundabout; what the timescale is for the (a) construction and (b) completion of the works, and what the estimated cost is.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: As with all our major projects, consideration will be given to mitigating disruption to all road users during construction of the scheme as we progress the development and assessment of the preferred option which is due to culminate in 2019 with the publicati…

28 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to tackle rises in antisocial behaviour, in light of statistics published by Police Scotland that reportedly show that such behaviour has increased by more than 28% in the Scottish Borders.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 provides a wide range of measures for dealing with antisocial behaviour. We also have a national strategy in place which is based on prevention, early intervention and diversionary activities. The Scottish Gov…

25 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what limits are now placed on any further alteration to the agreed development plan at the Cloich Forest Wind Farm development.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Cloich wind farm consent issued on 8 July 2016 is subject to conditions. Condition 5 Implementation in accordance with approved plans and requirements of this consent states: "Except as otherwise required by the terms of this consent and deemed planning …

25 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to protect the private water supplies of those affected by the Cloich Forest Wind Farm development, in accordance with SEPA guidance note 31.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: As set out in my answer to S5W-10957 on 14 September 2017, an assessment of impacts of Cloich wind farm on private water supplies was undertaken by the applicant. This was reported in chapter 11 of the environmental statement which accompanied the application…

25 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, with regard to the Cloich Forest Wind Farm development, whether (a) a full hydrological survey has been carried out, (b) a risk assessment has been completed and (c) mitigation measures are in place.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: An assessment of impacts of Cloich wind farm on hydrology and private water supplies was undertaken by the applicant. This was reported in chapter 11 of the environmental statement which accompanied the application. Ministers consulted a range of interested p…

23 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent report by the NSPCC, How safe are our children? 2017, and its findings that, in Scotland, there was a (a) 35% increase between 2002 and 2016 of the number of children on a child protection register at one time, (b) 116% increase between 2002 and 2016 of…

Answer · Mark McDonald: The NSPCC report, “How Safe are Our Children, 2017”, makes it clear that there is a trend since 2000 for greater numbers of children be subject to a Child Protection Plan and on the Child Protection Register (CPR) across the UK with Scotland having a lower pe…

22 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will implement recommendation 4 of the Report of the Barclay Review of Non-Domestic Rates, regarding the introducing a new relief for day nurseries to support childcare provision.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government in its Programme for Government has committed to establish a new non-domestic rates relief for day nurseries. More detail will be set out in due course, including in an implementation plan which will be published by the end of the year.

18 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to tackle the challenges presented to social care by the ageing population of the Borders in light of the report, Household Projections for Scotland, 2014-based, published by the National Records of Scotland which predicts that the number of households in the regi…

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government published the Health and Social Care Delivery Plan in December 2016. This plan set out our vision for enhancing our health and social care services so the people of Scotland can live longer, healthier lives at home or in a homely setti…

18 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to tackle the challenges presented to transport in the Scottish Borders in light of the report, Household Projections for Scotland, 2014-based, published by the National Records of Scotland, which predicts that the number of households in the region will rise by 8…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Transport Scotland is currently undertaking a multi modal transport corridor study in the Borders which will examine the case for extending the Borders railway along with potential road improvements to the A1, A7 and A68. This study, which takes account of fu…