Parliamentary questions
Alex Cole-Hamilton
2,700 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
28 Sep 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what Transport Scotland's response is to the reported call of South Queensferry residents for box junctions to be introduced on the new bridge access roundabout on the northbound approach to the Queensferry Crossing.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Ramp metering equipment, which controls traffic flow onto the motorway from the Queensferry junction roundabout, has recently been installed as part of Intelligent Transport Systems measures and will become operational in the near future. An aim of this is to…
28 Sep 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review or amend the regulations governing where funerals can be conducted.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the member to the answer to S5W-19124 on 17 October 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.a…
28 Sep 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review or amend the regulations governing the storage and preparation of human remains prior to funeral.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Other than Health & Safety Executive guidance there are currently no regulations which govern the storage and preparation of deceased persons prior to a funeral taking place or where funerals may be conducted. The Scottish Government, in extensive consultati…
28 Sep 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review or amend the regulations governing the arrangement and conduct of funerals.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Part 3 of the Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act 2016 sets out who can make the arrangements for the burial or cremation of an adult, child, still-born baby and pregnancy loss. As part of the ongoing implementation of the 2016 Act, Part 3 will be laid before…
25 Sep 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve teacher recruitment in problem subject areas to tackle reductions in subject choice.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is taking a number of actions to improve teacher recruitment in problem subject areas, including supporting universities in the development of new routes into teaching, offering bursaries of £20,000 for career changers to do teacher tr…
18 Sep 2018 · Inspired Question
To ask the Scottish Government what financial support it will provide to HIV Scotland.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government has agreed to offer HIV Scotland £231,000 over the next three years. This funding will support the organisation to move to a sustainable financial position. The Scottish Government’s grant offer to HIV Scotland brings the total financi…
13 Sep 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage people to train to be (a) business management and (b) accounting teachers.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is taking a number of actions to support further improvement in teacher recruitment for all subjects including business management and accounting. We have taken decisive action to recruit and retain teachers through our Teaching Makes…
13 Sep 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many students have enrolled in (a) PGDE and (b) other qualifying courses in business education in each year since 2013.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The following table shows the number of students enrolled (full person equivalent) in either (a) a PGDE or (b) an undergraduate degree programme who have allocated Business Studies as their chosen subject, since academic year 2012/13. Student enrolments in E…
13 Sep 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason only five universities offer undergraduate or postgraduate education courses specialising in business, and what impact it considers this has on the (a) number of business management and accountancy teachers and (b) availability of courses available for pupils to study bus…
Answer · John Swinney: What is offered in way of undergraduate and postgraduate education courses is a matter for universities, given they operate as autonomous bodies. It is not practicable for each Initial Teacher Education university to offer teaching programmes in all subjects.…
13 Sep 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many business education teaching posts are vacant.
Answer · John Swinney: The latest available information on teacher vacancies can be found here: https://beta.gov.scot/publications/teacher-vacancies-statistics-2016-2017/ It shows that there were 23 vacant business studies teaching posts in Scottish secondary schools in Septembe…
13 Sep 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to OECD figures that record teacher pay in Scotland falling by over 5% in real terms over the last 12 years.
Answer · John Swinney: Teachers’ pay in Scotland is a matter for the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers. The Scottish Government was the first government in the UK to commit to lift the 1% public sector pay cap and this was reflected in the 2017-18 pay deal for teachers. T…
13 Sep 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) business management and (b) accounting teachers there have been (i) in Lothian and (ii) nationally in each of last five years.
Answer · John Swinney: Statistics on the number of teachers buy main subject taught are published in Table 3.9 of the teacher census supplementary tables, available on the Scottish Government here: https://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/teachcenssuppdata/Te…
13 Sep 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the number of pupils being entered for National 5 (and Standard Grade/Intermediate), Higher and Advanced Higher qualifications in Accounting has changed over the last 10 years.
Answer · John Swinney: The following table shows the number of entries in Accounting and Accounting and Finance over the last 10 years for secondary school pupils, for which data is available. Number of entries 1 in Accounting and Accounting & Finance for secondary school pupils 2…
13 Sep 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what percentage of state secondary schools are entering pupils at (i) National 5, (ii) Higher and (iii) Advanced Higher Accounting level in 2018-19, and how this compares with the equivalent exam in each of the last 10 years.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government does not hold the information on the number of state secondary school pupils entered for National Qualifications for 2018-19. Data on the number of pupils entered for Accountancy at National 5, Higher and Advance Higher for the last 10…
13 Sep 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there is no provision to study for a business education degree in Edinburgh.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-18827 on 15 October 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877…
11 Sep 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-18230 by Kevin Stewart on 4 September 2018, when ministers will receive the first analysis of the amount of affordable housing delivered through the £6 million funding to Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-18753 on 27 September 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusin…
11 Sep 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-18230 by Kevin Stewart on 4 September 2018, how much investment is still to be committed to meet its affordable housing target by March 2021.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-18753 on 27 September 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusin…
11 Sep 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-18230 by Kevin Stewart on 4 September 2018, what monitoring of the £6 million provided to Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association has been undertaken by officials supervising the More Homes Scotland programme.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-18753 on 27 September 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusin…
11 Sep 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-18230 by Kevin Stewart on 4 September 2018, whether it expects to use analysis of the impact of its funding to Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association to shape further investment in affordable homes, and, if so, on what timescale.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-18753 on 27 September 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusin…
11 Sep 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-18230 by Kevin Stewart on 4 September 2018, how it will judge the relative value for money of its funding into Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association compared to its other strands of investment in affordable housing.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-18753 on 27 September 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusin…
11 Sep 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-18230 by Kevin Stewart on 4 September 2018, what steps it has taken to encourage more partnership funding, such as that operated by Hearthstone Investment.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-18753 on 27 September 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusin…
11 Sep 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-18230 by Kevin Stewart on 4 September 2018, whether it has considered further investment in Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association since the initial £6 million investment.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Hearthstone provided initial private finance loan investment to Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association (CRE) to enable delivery of social rent homes through this scheme. CRE subsequently repaid the loan to Hearthstone but continue to work with the local auth…
11 Sep 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to consider a restriction of the use of mesh implants for hernia repairs.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: There are currently no plans to restrict the use of mesh in hernia repair.
11 Sep 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the use of mesh implants for hernia repairs, similar to that of vaginal mesh implants.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The use of mesh to treat hernia repair is accepted practice across the UK and there is presently no medical evidence to suggest it should not be used. The Scottish Government therefore has no plans to carry out a review into its use.
11 Sep 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of any instances where mesh implants for hernia have resulted in long-term health issues for the recipient.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: As with any surgical procedure, there is a risk of complication and the Scottish Government has received a small number of letters from patients describing symptoms after hernia mesh surgery. However, the use of mesh in hernia repair is accepted practice acro…
11 Sep 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what criteria it uses when deciding what types of cancer should be tracked for statistical purposes.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Following consultation in 2008 with patients, voluntary sector, clinicians and individuals within NHS Boards, the scope of cancer waiting times targets in Scotland was extended from 2010 as announced in Better Cancer Care: An Action Plan (2008). The views of …
11 Sep 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what types of cancer (a) are and (b) are not tracked as part of the cancer detection and treatment rate statistics.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government has two Cancer Waiting Times (CWT) standards that apply to adults over 16 years, these are:a 31-day target from decision to treat until first treatment for new cancers regardless of the route of referrala 62-day target from urgent refe…
11 Sep 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the list of types of cancer being tracked for statistical purposes.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government has two Cancer Waiting Times (CWT) standards that apply to the most common cancers, these are:a 31-day target from decision to treat until first treatment for new cancers regardless of the route of referrala 62-day target from urgent r…
7 Sep 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether its proposed Transport Bill will have scope to (a) increase the protection and (b) criminalise the illegal use of parking places for disabled people.
Answer · Michael Matheson: It is already a criminal offence to misuse a blue badge. The Disabled Persons' Parking Badges (Scotland) Act 2014 provided greater powers to local authorities to enforce the rules of the blue badge scheme, including allowing spot checks by non-uniformed autho…
7 Sep 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-02578 by Humza Yousaf on 22 September 2016, what progress has been made in establishing the stakeholder group to increase awareness on social media regarding parking places for disabled people.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Transport Scotland formed the parking stakeholders working group, consisting of parking managers from all local authorities, who have met a number of times to discuss parking issues including the need for a publicity campaign regarding Disabled Persons' Parki…