Alex Cole-Hamilton

24 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that the Scottish Primary Care Information Resource is being decommissioned with effect from 31 August 2023, what plans are currently in place to replace this resource and ensure that there continues to be accessible data on Scottish primary care practices.

Answer · Michael Matheson: As part of wider improvements to General Practice (GP) IT, testing found that Scottish Primary Care Information Resource (SPIRE) could not continue to be fully supported without considerable redevelopment. This means that by the end of August 2023 SPIRE would…

24 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported comments of Sarah Stock, a professor in maternal and foetal health at the University of Edinburgh, that it was “entirely plausible” that short-staffing and COVID-19 pandemic pressures had played a part in rising death rates among newborn babies.

Answer · Jenni Minto: We need to understand if there are any underlying causes that explain the increase in neonatal mortality across Scotland in 2021-22 and that is why we have commissioned Health Improvement Scotland (HIS) to undertake a review of the deaths. The review will con…

24 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken as a result of the reported two spikes in the neonatal mortality rate in September 2021 and March 2022.

Answer · Jenni Minto: We have commissioned NHS Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) to undertake a review of the increase in neonatal mortality across Scotland in? 2021-22. The review will consider the systems, processes and governance for the delivery of neonatal care which are …

24 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what actions it has taken as a result of the reported post-neonatal mortality rate breaching its upper warning threshold in April 2023.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The death of any child or young person is a tragic event and our sympathies are with all parents and families affected. We are awaiting the results of the preliminary investigations into the April 2023 data from Public Health Scotland before we can confirm ou…

19 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19682 by Joe Fitzpatrick on 19 July 2023, which local authority has asked for financial support.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The local authority that has asked for financial support is East Lothian Council.

18 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many Ukrainians, who received visas through the Super Sponsor Scheme, arrived in the UK but never came to Scotland or registered with a Scottish local authority. 

Answer · Emma Roddick: The Scottish Government do not hold this information. Under the current constitutional arrangements in the United Kingdom immigration is fully reserved to the UK Government and is dealt with by the Home Office. If a displaced person from Ukraine has been issu…

18 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that care experienced young people are aware of their legal rights and have access to independent legal representation.

Answer · Natalie Don: The Scottish Government is committed to keeping The Promise, which sets out that young people with care experience must have access to independent advocacy and legal representation. The Promise recognises that advocacy requires different approaches and offeri…

11 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people who have disembarked the MS Victoria since 26 July 2022 have moved into (a) local authority and (b) private rental accommodation, and what proportion of those who have moved into local authority accommodation are in accommodation within the City of Edinburgh Council area.

Answer · Emma Roddick: The Scottish Government routinely publishes the latest data and information on the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme in Scotland, including the number of people who have disembarked welcome accommodation on the MS Victoria since it became operational on 26 July 2022…

10 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support Ukrainian refugees living in Scotland who are experiencing barriers in accessing medical treatment that they received while in Ukraine but can no longer access in Scotland.

Answer · Emma Roddick: The Scottish Government has issued guidance to Health Boards setting out our expectation that Health Boards will ensure Ukrainian refugees have access to local dental treatment and GP practices. Ukrainians living in Scotland have access to the same level of…

10 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many interim care beds were available prior to the announcement by the then Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care on 10 January 2023 regarding more beds being made available; how many were available during the period from 10 January to 31 March 2023, and how many beds are curr…

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government does not hold the information you have requested. The Scottish Government did publish information on the number of people who were discharged to interim care placements procured using the additional funding offer made to Health and Soc…

4 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its discussions with the banking sector regarding branch closures across Scotland.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government recognises the important role that bank branches play in Scottish communities. Despite financial services regulation being reserved to the UK Government, we have sought to engage with the banking sector following decisions they have ma…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to ensure that students are not impacted by any universities or colleges that have to close any of their campus buildings due to the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Health & Safety Executive, instructed by the UK Government, are developing a research methodology to assist with identification, assessment and remediation of RAAC. We will consider any steps required to be taken to ensure that students are not impacted b…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

Ministers have not met with universities and colleges to discuss RAAC. Scottish Government and the Scottish Funding Council officials have met on four occasions to discuss this matter, the last meeting of which was held on 5th July.  

Answer · Graeme Dey: Ministers have not met with universities and colleges to discuss RAAC. Scottish Government and the Scottish Funding Council officials have met on three occasions to discuss this matter, the last meeting of which was held on 5th July.

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it will make available to universities and colleges that find reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete present in their buildings, in order to (a) manage and (b) remove it.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of establishing mechanisms at a Scottish, as well as UK, level to support awareness and action on this issue across many sectors within the built environment. Discovery of reinforced autoclaved aerated concre…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the NHS National Services Scotland safety action notice issued on 22 February 2023, whether it has a copy of any NHS board contingency plans in place to deal with an adverse incident involving reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete planks should it occur.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government does not hold NHS Boards' Business Continuity Plans and the responsibility for ensuring appropriate contingency arrangements are in place lies with the individual NHS Boards. Once the extent of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any risk posed to the effective operation of public services by any future disruption caused by (a) managing and (b) removing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, and how any disruption will be minimised for (i) children and young people learning in scho…

Answer · Patrick Harvie: It is the statutory duty of local authorities, the NHS and other public service providers to manage and maintain their estate. We have been in close contact with local authorities, the NHS and others and expect contingency plans to be in place to minimise any…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any estimate of the number of public sector buildings currently (a) partially and (b) fully closed due to issues related to reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, broken down by (i) building type and (ii) location.

Answer · Shona Robison: As noted in the reply to S6W-19672, five organisations have contacted The Scottish Government on the presence or suspected presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete within their building estate. At this time, the following public sector buildings a…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the availability of qualified structural engineers with specific experience in reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete to undertake survey work, as required by NHS National Services Scotland in its safety action notice issued on 22 February 2023.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The NHS Scotland Assure survey programme, which is considering all of the NHS Scotland Estate, is being conducted by a recognised expert organisation in reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings ministers have had about reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, and whether it will publish the minutes and any other documentation that accompanied these.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: Scottish Ministers discussed reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete at a Building and Fire Safety Ministerial Working Group meeting on 21 June. Agreed minutes of the meeting will be published on the Building and Fire Safety Ministerial Working Group website.

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports on 14 June 2023 that the UK Government has launched an expanded government-wide inquiry into the use of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, whether the Scottish Government has any plans to launch a similar programme of investigations and reporting.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government (SG) will establish a cross sector Working Group to raise awareness of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete across different sectors. This approach aligns with the UK Government and provides visibility and sharing of information acro…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that West Lothian Council has requested financial assistance from the Scottish Government to assist with the removal of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, whether any other (a) public sector and (b) private sector bodies have contacted the Scottish Government ab…

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government continue to engage with public sector and private sector bodies, and we have also received a request for financial support from another local authority.  

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has (a) made any estimate and (b) had any discussions regarding the cost of (i) managing the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in public sector buildings and (ii) removing RAAC from any such buildings entirely, and how much has been spent to date on add…

Answer · Shona Robison: We are engaging with public sector organisations to seek reassurance of both their awareness and of any action identified on this issue. From our discussions with local authorities regarding RAAC to date, West Lothian Council indicated that addressing RAAC i…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6F-02291 by Humza Yousaf on 29 June 2023, whether it will establish a national fund to assist (a) NHS boards, (b) local authorities and (c) other public sector bodies.

Answer · Shona Robison: In his answer, the First Minister identified a need to understand the scale and scope of the problem before discussions on any fund that might or might not be necessary. This remains the case. We are engaging with public sector organisations to seek reassura…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in private sector buildings, including those that were initially built for the public sector, and how it will raise awareness of any problems related to its presence.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The focus of our activity remains engagement with public sector organisations to seek reassurance of both their awareness and any action identified on this issue. Maintaining the safety of buildings is the responsibility of building owners, and this includes …

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of any reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete being present in (a) social housing and (b) private housing developments.

Answer · Paul McLennan: We do not hold any information on the presence of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete in current social or private housing developments. Building safety is a matter for the building owner, acting in accordance with the relevant legislation.  

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has identified whether reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete is present in any Scottish Government buildings.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has not undertaken an inspection for reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in the Core SG Estate since 2021 and as such has not identified any reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in the core SG estate. A specialist h…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in (a) public sector buildings and (b) privately owned buildings in Scotland.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: Scottish Government officials will continue to have discussions with the UK Government and the Health and Safety Executive on the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in the built environment. This will enable a consistent and informed response …

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has issued to (a) local authorities, (b) NHS boards and (c) other public sector bodies regarding reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has issued guidance on reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) to Local Authorities via the Scottish Heads of Property Services and the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland. NHS Scotland Assure, which is leading the…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that every public sector body is aware of the risks and dangers of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

Answer · Shona Robison: We are engaging with public sector organisations to seek reassurance of both their awareness and any action identified on this issue. Building owners and employers are responsible for managing the condition of buildings within their ownership or control, incl…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will establish a register of public sector buildings that have been found to contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

Answer · Shona Robison: Maintaining the safety of buildings is the responsibility of building owners. Our focus remains on engagement with public sector organisations to gauge awareness and response to this issue. This will include receipt of information on the status of buildings i…