Alex Cole-Hamilton

4 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it next plans to review regulations relating to the conduct of religious bodies.

Answer · Emma Roddick: There are no current regulations specifically aimed at the conduct of religious bodies, however, a number of areas of regulation may apply to religious bodies. The Scottish Government is currently running a collection of four public consultations on differen…

4 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what contact it has had with the Church of Scientology, and what the content was of any discussions.

Answer · Emma Roddick: National Records of Scotland were last contacted by the Church of Scientology in 2022 with regards to religious and belief bodies nominating to the Registrar General members they wish to be registered as empowered to solemnise marriages under Section 9 of the…

30 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to empower local authorities to exact penalties or levies on third party contractors who go over time on the delivery of a project, for example, road works.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Roads authorities have existing powers to issue legal directions against any work happening on their network, including to curtail works which overrun without an acceptable reason. These are discretionary powers, and it is for each authority to determine whet…

28 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on whether there are plans to consider restricting or banning the sale of disposable vapes.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Last week, we published our 2023-24 Programme for Government, which outlined our commitment to take action on the impacts of single use vapes. We will be consulting on measures to tackle the environmental impacts of single use vapes, including a proposal to …

28 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on whether there are plans to ensure that shops do not sell disposable vapes to those under the age of 18, including carrying out shop audits or random spot checks.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The purchase of tobacco and vaping products is age restricted and they should not be sold to, or purchased for, anyone under the age of 18. The Health (Tobacco, Nicotine etc. and Care) (Scotland) Act 2016 introduced new laws on the sale of tobacco and Nicoti…

28 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what further regulations are being put in place to restrict those under the age of 18 from buying disposable vapes.

Answer · Jenni Minto: We have a clear message on vaping – that it is one possible smoking cessation method and not a lifestyle accessory. Vapes should not be used by children and young people or adult non-smokers. Our 2022 consultation on Tightening Rules on Advertising and Promo…

28 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what steps are being taken to demonstrate the harmful environmental and health impacts of disposable vapes to school children.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Children and young people learn about the negative impact of tobacco and vaping products on their health through the Health and Wellbeing curriculum. This includes understanding the laws around sales of tobacco products, and how to make positive choices in so…

28 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Zero Waste Scotland estimate that up to 2.7 million disposable vapes were littered in Scotland in 2022, whether it will provide an update on what action is being taken to prevent the detrimental impact that vapes can have on the environment.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government’s 2023-24 Programme for Government, published on 5 September 2023, outlined our commitment to take action to reduce vaping among non-smokers and young people and to tackle the environmental impact of single use vapes, including consult…

24 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it provided for youth work in (a) 2007, (b) 2015 and (c) 2023, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Graeme Dey: Through the Block Grant, the Scottish Government's policy towards local authorities’ spending is to allow them the financial freedom to operate independently. It is their responsibility to manage their own budgets and to allocate the total financial resources…

24 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason SEPA reportedly only requires 4% of Scottish Water combined sewage overflow monitors to be reported to it, and whether SEPA will be requiring any of the 1,000 new monitors that Scottish Water is installing by the end of 2024 to be reported to it.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Rather than permanent monitoring, which is the common approach for water companies in England, Scottish Water worked with SEPA to carry out a comprehensive Scotland-wide environmental study programme to assess and model the impacts of its assets on water qual…

22 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to make land ownership in Scotland more transparent, particularly where land may be held by those currently under UK sanction or by other hostile parties.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government is committed to land reform and improving transparency of those who own and control land in Scotland is at the heart of our land reform objectives. The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 introduced the Register of Persons Holding a Contro…

22 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that local communities are aware of their rights in terms of community land ownership, and are better supported to access those rights.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Communities have a number of rights in terms of community ownership. There are four separate community rights to buy, most of which are compulsory purchase rights, as well as the right to request an asset transfer of an asset from a public body. In addition,…

17 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether breakdowns by demographic characteristics will be included in future sexual health data publications.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Public Health Scotland produces a range of reports on sexual health data, which include breakdowns by demographic characteristics where this is appropriate and feasible. There are no imminent plans to change any of the demographics reported on in these public…

17 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work is being done to tackle the reported rising rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Scotland following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Answer · Jenni Minto: A national STIs and Safer Sex awareness campaign led by Public Health Scotland launched in July.The first phase is focussed on condom use and knowing the signs and symptoms of STIs.A second phase planned for later in 2023 will focus on testing. A national pr…

17 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work is being done to reduce waiting times for sexual health services.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is currently developing a new Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus plan, which is due to be published by the end of Summer 2023 and will set out our priorities for the next three years. A key focus will be improving the accessibility of…

14 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19683 by Shona Robison on 31 July 2023, when the cross sector Working Group will be set up; who will be part of it, and what work has been undertaken so far.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: I refer the member to the question S6W-20630 on 29 August 2023. 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-committees/written…

14 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19778 by Graeme Dey on 25 July 2023, when the Scottish Funding Council guidance on reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete will be delivered.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) wrote to all college and university principals on 8 August 2023 highlighting the issue of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) and where they can find guidance on the identification and assessment of RAAC. The SFC …

14 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19677 by Shona Robison on 31 July 2023, when the scoping exercise will be completed.

Answer · Shona Robison: The scoping exercise is complete with a final report anticipated by late September 2023. The specialists have been further commissioned to undertake a stage 1 desktop and stage 2 visual inspection of the SG Estate for the presence of RAAC. This work is antici…

14 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19674 by Shona Robison on 31 July 2023, which organisations it has contacted.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: To assist in engagement with public sector organisations, we have convened a Cross-Sector Working Group. This group met for the first time on 14 August. Organisations represented at the meeting were: Association of Local Authority Chief Housing Officers; Buil…

9 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason NHS Education for Scotland has reportedly been asked to support practitioners to complete annual health checks; whether it will provide the best practice information and guidelines for practitioners, including on the specific health needs of people with Down’s syndrome, a…

Answer · Maree Todd: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19616 on 6 July 2023. 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-committees/…

4 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to regulate or control the sale and use of electric scooters.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The legal use of electric scooters and decisions around their introduction is broadly a reserved matter for the UK Government. The UK Government has stated its intention to bring forward a new regulatory framework for vehicles such as electric scooters, howev…

3 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to move towards a uniform IT and booking service for GP practices.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Under the GP Contract, GP practices are required to provide online services to patients such as appointment booking and repeat prescription ordering. We recognise, however, there have been limitations to the systems currently in use, which is why, through con…

3 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there are plans to regularly release GP waiting time data.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Whilst there are no plans to collect GP waiting time data, Mr Yousaf announced last November the formation of the General Practice Access Group, with a view to understanding the challenges and issues affecting access to General Practice. This group will estab…

3 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to ensure robust primary care data collection and publishing.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Public Health Scotland currently publish a range of statistics relating to Primary Care services in Scotland: https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/?ic=topics-primary-care&q=&fq=topics%3APrimary+care%23&sort=pdesc . We continue to work with all pa…

1 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to receive a response from the Lord Advocate regarding the reported review on the legal feasibility of safe drug consumption rooms, and whether it will propose the scheduling of time for a ministerial statement to update the Parliament on the progress being made, and, if …

Answer · Elena Whitham: The decision on whether or not to issue a statement of prosecution policy in relation to the prosecution of users of any proposed safer drug consumption facility is for the Lord Advocate to consider in her position as independent head of the systems of prosec…

1 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people are working on a response from the Lord Advocate regarding the reported review on the legal feasibility of safe drug consumption rooms.

Answer · Dorothy Bain: The Lord Advocate is not undertaking a review of the legal feasibility of safe drug consumption rooms. The Lord Advocate received information in relation to a proposed safe drug consumption room which would operate in Glasgow. The Lord Advocate was asked, if…

1 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding is in place for the (a) management and (b) removal of any asbestos across the NHS estate in 2023-24. 

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is providing the funding per the following table for the financial year 2023-24. Health boards can use this funding to manage and remove asbestos as and when it is appropriate to do so.  2023.24 Health Board £m NHS Ayrshire & Arran…

1 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the budget has been for NHS estate maintenance in each of the last three years, and what plans it has to increase this funding. 

Answer · Michael Matheson: The following table presents the budget for NHS estate maintenance in each of the last three financial years. It is the intention of the Scottish Government to double the NHS estate maintenance funding over the Capital Spending Review period of 2021-2026.  2…

1 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans are in place for the removal of any asbestos, where it is damaged or in a poor condition, across the NHS estate, and what the timeframe is for this work. 

Answer · Michael Matheson: We recognise the hazard of asbestos and the risks to health it poses. However, asbestos is only dangerous when it is disturbed or in poor condition. The Health and Safety Executive’s guidance states that it is safe for asbestos to remain in place if it is in …

27 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of paragraph 2.11.9 of the Building standards technical handbook 2022: domestic, which was published on 1 June 2022, what its position is on whether the guidance offered on its website regarding the requirements for fire alarms, stating that households can use "either sealed ba…

Answer · Paul McLennan: The advice provided on the Scottish Government website is correct. Home owners may use either sealed battery or mains-wired fire alarms to meet the Tolerable Standard guidance. The Building Standards Domestic Technical Handbook 2022 sets a higher standard req…