Parliamentary questions
Alex Cole-Hamilton
2,700 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
10 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will lay the remaining regulations to allow for section 50 of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019, prohibiting pavement parking, to be commenced.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Transport Scotland is continuing to consult with Local Authorities and others to develop both the secondary legislation required to allow them to enforce the National pavement parking prohibition as well as the Parking Standards Guidance which will underpin t…
9 Jan 2023 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister when the Cabinet will next meet.
20 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill, whether it plans to include specific measures on (a) restraint and (b) the provision of secure transportation services under the heading of "Residential and Secure Care", in light of the recent consultation analysis that ci…
Answer · Clare Haughey: Following careful consideration of responses to the consultation on the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill, the Scottish Government is content that there is sufficient legislative provision to enable secure transport to be utilised when necessary, an…
15 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding will be allocated as part of its new biodiversity strategy in the current parliamentary session.
Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government has made significant funding commitments to protect and restore our biodiversity and is committed to invest an additional £500 million in our natural economy over the course of this parliament. Our recent funding package of £2.9 mill…
15 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what date it expects to announce new policies to support its biodiversity strategy, which was published on 13 December 2022.
Answer · Lorna Slater: We published our new draft Biodiversity Strategy on 13 December 2022, which sets out 26 Priority Actions to put us on the path to a nature positive future, and halt biodiversity loss by 2030. We are now working closely with public bodies and other stakeholder…
15 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to update its agriculture strategy in order to improve biodiversity, in light of the publication of its biodiversity strategy on 13 December 2022.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Biodiversity is at the heart of the Scottish Government’s Vision for Agriculture and our ambition to transform how we support farming and food production in Scotland. Our aim is to develop a support framework that delivers climate mitigation and adaptation…
14 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding the impact in Scotland of the UK's continuing membership of the International Energy Charter.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government is in regular contact with the UK Government’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy about the continuing discussions to renegotiate the Energy Charter Treaty, with a view to identifying and mitigating any particular …
13 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide an estimate of the average daily cost of delayed discharge in (a) 2020-21 and (b) 2021-22.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The cost information related to delayed discharge for the NHS is no longer included in the PHS publications. This is due to the ongoing impact of the pandemic where detailed cost data could not be submitted by NHS Boards to PHS.
13 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide an estimate of the cost of delayed discharge for the NHS in (a) 2020-21 and (b) 2021-22.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The cost information related to delayed discharge for the NHS is no longer included in the PHS publications. This is due to the ongoing impact of the pandemic where detailed cost data could not be submitted by NHS Boards to PHS.
8 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to any concerns raised by the Cross Party Group on Chronic Pain regarding 10 pain patient representatives, elected by other patients, reportedly not endorsing the draft framework for pain management service delivery or its subsequent implementation plan, due to the p…
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government published the Framework for Pain Management Service Delivery - Implementation Plan in July 2022. Extensive engagement of people with lived experience was carried out at all stages to develop the Framework including members of the Cros…
8 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to any claims by members of the cross party groups on chronic pain, long COVID, and arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions that it did not notify them about its proposed timing of the debate on chronic pain on 16 November 2022, and that this prevented them from inf…
Answer · Maree Todd: Details of Parliamentary business, including motions for debate, are published in the Business Bulletin when the Parliament is in session. This includes details of current and future business of the Parliament and the business motion setting out the date for …
8 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported views expressed by Scotland Versus Arthritis in its briefing on the Scottish Government's implementation plan for chronic pain services that (a) the plan lacks the necessary ambition, (b) the approach to change is too slow and (c) there is no identifi…
Answer · Maree Todd: We are grateful to Scotland Versus Arthritis for their support in developing the draft Framework for Pain Management Service Delivery as members of the National Advisory Committee for Chronic Pain. The Implementation Plan sets out, for the first time, an amb…
8 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6T-00960 by Lorna Slater on 15 November 2022, whether the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity plans to correct the Official Report, before the 20 working day deadline for doing so passes on 13 December 2022, in relation to the …
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government accepts that this statistic needs revising and we have already committed to undertake further work to quantify Scotland’s offshore wind potential. In response to the issues raised in the UK Statistics Authority’s letter, dated 7 Decemb…
8 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the point of order by the First Minister on 8 December 2022, whether she plans to correct the Official Report in relation to the statement that the claim that Scotland has 25% of Europe’s potential offshore wind resource is “is no longer appropriate to use because it is out o…
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government accepts that this statistic needs revising and we have already committed to undertake further work to quantify Scotland’s offshore wind potential. In response to the issues raised in the UK Statistics Authority’s letter, dated 7 Decemb…
7 Dec 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12660 by Keith Brown on 7 December 2022, whether it will provide the information requested regarding what the specific timeline is for the removal of all of Hikvision cameras and equipment that are installed within the Scottish Government estate; by…
Answer · Keith Brown: The work to replace and upgrade the security equipment across the Scottish Government estate is part of a multi-year improvement programme, and is therefore subject to the usual resourcing and prioritisation variables, common with such large-scale programmes.…
5 Dec 2022 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister when the Cabinet will next meet.
30 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) guidance it offers and (b) regulations are in place for local authorities, in relation to the siting of 5G mobile telecoms masts.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 is the principal piece of legislation governing the use and development of land. The act is supported by various pieces of subordinate legislation, such as the Town and Country Planning General Permitted Deve…
30 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it next plans to (a) review and (b) update alcohol licensing legislation for on-sales premises.
Answer · Elena Whitham: While the Scottish Government keeps alcohol licensing legislation under review, there are no current plans to update legislation for on-sales premises. Operation of the alcohol licensing regime is the day-to-day responsibility of independent Licensing Boards …
29 Nov 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is regarding the impact in Scotland of the UK Government decision to restrict the use of security cameras made by companies subject to Chinese National Intelligence Law.
25 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the timeline is for the removal of any Hikvision cameras that are installed within the Scottish Government estate.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is in the process of replacing and upgrading security equipment across its estate as part of a multi-year improvement programme. All existing CCTV kit and equipment, including Hikvision and other companies’ products, are being replace…
25 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to introduce tighter rules regarding local authorities, its agencies and businesses partnering with security and technology firms that are reportedly linked to the Chinese government, such as Hikvision and Dahua Technology.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government expects all public sector bodies to undertake appropriate due diligence on companies in receipt of public money. Ultimately, it is for councils to make decisions on how best to deliver services to their communities.
25 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to prevent the use by Police Scotland of cameras and other items manufactured by (a) Hikvision and (b) Dahua Technology.
Answer · Keith Brown: The operational use of surveillance technology across the Police Scotland estate is a matter for Police Scotland.
25 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to provide local authorities and its agencies with support to uninstall any Hikvision cameras that are currently installed across Scotland.
Answer · Keith Brown: The operational use of surveillance technology within Local Authorities is a matter for each Local Authority. Ultimately, it is for councils to make decisions on how best to deliver services to their communities.
25 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there are any plans to remove any Hikvision cameras that are currently being used within the Police Scotland estate.
Answer · Keith Brown: Development, management and use of surveillance technology in Scotland is a matter for local partners, including Police Scotland, working in partnership to consider their local needs.
24 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide the attendance figures for (a) Dandelion project and (b) any other Scottish UNBOXED events.
Answer · Neil Gray: Unboxed was a major UK-wide programme celebrating creativity and innovation, featuring ten large-scale commissioned projects designed to reach millions on-line and in person, bring people together and showcase the Four Nation's creativity. Scottish Ministers…
24 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much public money it has spent on preparing for a second independence referendum since the UK General Election in 2019.
Answer · Angus Robertson: On 22 March 2021, the Scottish Government published a draft Independence Referendum Bill. The total costs of publication were £258.22. Costs incurred for the Lord Advocate’s reference to the Supreme Court were published on 22 September. The information can b…
23 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will next review Land and Buildings Transaction Tax thresholds.
Answer · Tom Arthur: As the Deputy First Minister noted in his appearance at the Finance and Public Administration Committee meeting on 4 October 2022, decisions in respect of amendments to the rates or bands for LBTT are to be taken as part of the Scottish Budget. This ensures t…
22 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will next review the cap on funding for Scottish students seeking to study at Scottish universities.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government works closely with the SFC and Scottish Universities on an annual basis to review and deliver sustainable funding for universities and the whole tertiary sector when setting the budget allocation. This flexibility allows the numbers of…
18 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to procure the C-19 YRS app to help people with Long COVID manage their symptoms.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: NHS National Services Scotland is currently conducting a procurement process to robustly assess digital products available to support the assessment and screening of people with long COVID, and determine which one is best placed to meet the needs highlighted …
18 Nov 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is the case that only 70% of the 2022-23 funding for the treatment of Long COVID has been made available to NHS boards, and, if this is the case, when it will provide the remaining 30%.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-12234 on 5 December 2022. 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-committ…