Parliamentary questions
Alex Cole-Hamilton
2,700 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
7 Oct 2024 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister when the Cabinet will next meet.
3 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recommendations of the report by Engender, Outdated, harmful and never in the public interest - The urgent need to modernise Scotland's abortion law and prevent prosecutions.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government believes that all women in Scotland should have access to abortion services, available free from stigma.In the 2023 Programme for Government, the Scottish Government committed to undertake a review of the law on abortion. An expert gro…
3 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has provided to (a) Epilepsy Scotland, (b) Epilepsy Connections, (c) Quarriers' non-clinical and non-residential care services, (d) Cerebral Palsy Scotland, (e) MS Society Scotland, (f) Parkinson's UK and (g) MND Scotland in each year since 2019.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The following funding has been given to the identified charities, both directly and indirectly:a) Epilepsy ScotlandYEARDirect SG FundingFunding via Intersectional PartnersTotal FundingJan-Mar 2019£8,000.00£0£8,000.002019 - 2020£0£…
3 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether mental health screenings should take place at routine epilepsy appointments to help identify any possible issues at an earlier stage.
Answer · Jenni Minto: We want all people with epilepsy to be able to access the best possible care and support. Since October 2020 we have committed almost £650,000 towards projects which specifically improve the health and wellbeing of people with epilepsy.In 2022-23 Scotti…
27 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of the privacy and human rights implications of live facial recognition technology.
Answer · Angela Constance: Technological advances in biometrics have brought huge benefits to police and other justice agencies in detecting, preventing and prosecuting crime.With regard to live facial recognition technology, the Scottish Government is aware that concerns have been rai…
27 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to protect the public's right to privacy, in light of Police Scotland's reported decision to use live facial recognition surveillance technology for the first time.
Answer · Angela Constance: The use of live facial recognition technology is an operational matter for Police Scotland, under the scrutiny of the Scottish Police Authority. Police Scotland must also abide by the relevant laws; the European Convention on Human Rights; and the Scottish Bi…
12 Sep 2024 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister when the Cabinet will next meet.
3 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-26007 by Shona Robison on 13 March 2024, whether it will provide an update on how much of the reported £756 million that it received in option fees through the 2022 ScotWind leasing round it spent in 2023-24; how much it projects that it will …
Answer · Shona Robison: £756 million of ScotWind option fees were received, of which £96 million was used in 2022-23 to support the overall financial position. No ScotWind Revenues were utilised in 2023-24.£200 million of ScotWind Revenues were profiled as required…
27 Aug 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether its decision not to make survivors of abuse at Fornethy House eligible for Scotland's Redress Scheme was due to budgetary pressures.
22 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people in each NHS board area are currently on a waiting list for (a) a kidney and (ii) any other organ transplant.
Answer · Jenni Minto: As at 31 July 2024, the numbers of people active on the waiting list for a kidney transplant by NHS Board are:Kidney Transplant Waiting ListNHS Board Ayrshire & Arran45Borders10Dumfries and Galloway12Fife35Forth Valley43Grampian36Greater Glasgow and …
6 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which companies that have a relationship with Scottish public bodies that are listed on the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights database of companies involved in certain activities relating to settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory it has contacted …
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-28974 on 19 September 2024. 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-commit…
6 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether any companies on the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights database of companies involved in certain activities relating to settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory will be prevented from securing public contracts in Scotland.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government expects companies which are awarded public contracts to maintain high standards of business and professional conduct. Public procurement legislation, implementing the UK’s international obligations in this field, provides that co…
6 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish any correspondence that it has had with companies that have a relationship with Scottish public bodies that are listed on the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights database of companies involved in certain activities relating to settlemen…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government’s response to FOI 202200290245, on 24 March 2022, sets out the responses from, and any potential issues identified by, the Public Bodies who responded to Scottish Government correspondence asking them to consider the Office of th…
6 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the First Minister's statement during the debate on motion S6M-11342 on 21 November 2023, what action it has taken following the publication of the revised Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights database of companies involved in certain activities rel…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The constraints under which the Scottish Government operates in this area limit what we can request Scottish public bodies or businesses to do. We cannot lawfully impose a blanket ban on companies based solely on the fact that they are on the Office of the Un…
6 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has identified any companies that have a relationship with Scottish public bodies that are on the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights database of companies involved in certain activities relating to settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-28974 on 19 September 2024. 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-commit…
6 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish any correspondence that it has sent to public bodies regarding the need for them to consider the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights database of companies involved in certain activities relating to settlements in the Occupied Pales…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-28974 on 19 September 2024. 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-commit…
17 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its work on the prevention and detection of public sector fraud and corruption, what its definition is of (a) fraud and (b) corruption.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government’s (SG) definition of fraud is found within the Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM), under the section titled ‘Fraud’. The term ‘fraud’ is used to describe a wide variety of dishonest behaviour such as de…
17 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-28252 by Ivan McKee on 12 July 2024, who has been consulted as part of its collaborative cross-sector work to update the counter fraud strategy Protecting Public Resources in Scotland, and whether it will provide details of the membership of (a) the…
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government Integrity Group permanent membership, as per its Terms of Reference, is as follows:The Head of Counter Fraud Profession (Chair)Strategic Lead, Risk, Control & Assurance DivisionPropriety and EthicsThe Head of Finance Programme Mana…
17 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it currently has in place to enable the identification and mitigation of corruption risk in the management of public resources.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The key measures to identify and mitigate the risk of corruption in the management of public resources are found in the SG’s Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM), and within the SG’s polices and Civil Service Code. Requirements within the SPFM cover the ap…
17 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-28253 by Ivan McKee on 12 July 2024, what its position is on whether the Counter Fraud Service and Counter Fraud Toolkit are adequate tools for the identification and mitigation of any corruption risks, and of any incidents of fraud in the managem…
Answer · Ivan McKee: The creation of the Counter Fraud Service (CFS) and the introduction of the Counter Fraud Toolkit is a significant step forward in the Scottish Government’s (SG) management of the risks to public resources posed by fraud and corruption. Both the CFS and toolk…
24 Jun 2024 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister when the Cabinet will next meet.
20 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a feedback exercise in place to ensure that any required improvements to the home visits carried out by Social Security Scotland are implemented.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Social Security Scotland is focused on continually reviewing and improving its services. People are encouraged to give feedback, whether this is positive or negative, through the official Social Security Scotland feedback process to capture the experiences of…
20 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what reasonable adjustments Social Security Scotland is making in relation to communicating its visits to those with incapacity, such as those with Down’s syndrome, including any easy-read letters and other means of communication.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Social Security Scotland works closely with individuals and disability organisations to design it’s services. Every stage of the application process has been tested to ensure that Social Security Scotland are taking a human rights-based approach to what they …
20 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which external stakeholder groups were consulted in planning the exercise and the home visits carried out by Social Security Scotland in assessing need for Adult Disability Payments.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Social Security Scotland services were designed in consultation with clients and stakeholders. In shaping the design and Policy underpinning the service, staff consulted with the Disability and Carers Benefits Expert Advisory Group. As benefits launched the A…
20 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what training is provided to Social Security Scotland staff in relation to making reasonable adjustments in order to communicate meaningfully with the adults with incapacity that they visit at home.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Making reasonable adjustments to meet client’s needs is intrinsic to the design of Social Security Scotland. Client choice in application routes, appointment type, length and time of appointments are all things agreed in discussion with the client on the pre…
18 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the counter fraud strategy, Protecting Public Resources in Scotland, and, if so, within what timescale.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government plans to review and refresh all aspects of our approach to tackling fraud and corruption across government, including updating the counter fraud strategy Protecting Public Resources in Scotland. This is part of a wider strategic look a…
18 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to meet the strategic objectives outlined in the 2015 publication, Protecting Public Resources in Scotland.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Since the publication of the strategy, the Scottish Government (SG) has sought to raise fraud awareness and build professional networks utilising conferences and forums aimed at building a community of counter fraud professionals. Creation of the Integrity Gr…
3 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had or is planning to have discussions with manufacturers of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication in order to address any shortages.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is aware that supplies of various ADHD medicines continue to be intermittent. At present, market data and information provided by the UK Government indicates that some of these supply issues will continue into Autumn 2024. Scottish Gov…
3 Jun 2024 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister when the Cabinet will next meet.
1 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans are in place to address and minimise any disruptions to the supply of (a) Creon and (b) other medicines for people with cystic fibrosis.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is aware that there are global supply issues with Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy (PERT) medicines, including Creon ® , which are licensed for the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency for those with cystic fibrosis. Wh…