Parliamentary questions
Alex Cole-Hamilton
2,700 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
31 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the reform of adults with incapacity legislation will take place, and who will be consulted.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Scottish Government officials are currently developing a series of proposals for reform of the Adults with Incapacity legislation based on the recommendations for change which arose from the Scottish Government's consultation on the Scottish Law Commission's …
31 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to further support the physical activity programme developed by SAMH.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The ALBA (Active Living Becomes Achievable) programme, a collaboration between the Scottish Government and SAMH, will build on the well-established links between physical activity and improved mental wellbeing, and includes partnership working with Leisure Tr…
31 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure distribution of best practice for early interventions for first episode psychosis, and to whom will it be distributed to.
Answer · Maureen Watt: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-08581 on 24 April 2017. 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/2…
31 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve the quality of anticipatory care planning approaches for children and young people.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is working with Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s Living Well in Communities programme which has a dedicated improvement workstream on Anticipatory Care Planning. This has included work with the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland …
27 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what part it plays in international (a) projects and (b) groups that tackle wildlife crime.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Work is being undertaken at the Scottish Government’s Scottish Advice for Science and Agriculture (SASA) on international projects to develop resources for DNA-based species identification in illegally traded species such as rhinos and pangolin. SASA are also…
27 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle the import of (a) ivory, (b) rhino horns and (c) other materials from endangered species.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. CITES is reserved to the UK …
27 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it offers to wildlife attractions to help them maintain security against break-ins.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government does not directly provide support to wildlife attractions to help them maintain security against break-ins. Police Scotland, Local Authorities, Community Safety Partnerships and their local partners work to raise awareness, for all bus…
15 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on introducing free or discounted travel for (a) part- and (b) full-time carers.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: There is a range of support available to carers in Scotland funded by the Scottish Government and local authorities. Although the National Concessionary Travel Scheme does not contain specific eligibility criteria for carers, eligible disabled people can app…
9 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings in the report, The Best Start, a Five-Year Forward Plan for Maternity and Neonatal Care in Scotland, how many midwives are currently regularly on call, and whether this would increase under the new model for continuity of care.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-07971 on 22 March 2017. 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/2…
9 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings in the report, The Best Start, a Five-Year Forward Plan for Maternity and Neonatal Care in Scotland, what the impact would be on the safety of the (a) patient and (b) midwife if the midwife is on call 12 hours prior to or after a shift.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government is delighted that Jane Grant, who chaired the review group which produced ‘The Best Start: A Five-Year Forward Plan’ has agreed to lead implementation of the report’s recommendations. In the coming weeks Jane will appoint an implementa…
9 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings in the report, The Best Start, a Five-Year Forward Plan for Maternity and Neonatal Care in Scotland, whether the new model of continuity of care would require additional staff and, if so, how many.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-07971 on 22 March 2017. 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/2…
9 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings in the report, The Best Start, a Five-Year Forward Plan for Maternity and Neonatal Care in Scotland, whether more than one midwife will be assigned to a patient to allow for 24-hour care each day and, if not, what implication this would have on its aspiration fo…
Answer · Aileen Campbell: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-07971 on 22 March 2017. 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/2…
9 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings in the report, The Best Start, a Five-Year Forward Plan for Maternity and Neonatal Care in Scotland, whether the new model of continuity of care will require all midwives to be trained in multiple disciplines and, if so, how much training this would involve and …
Answer · Aileen Campbell: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-07971 on 22 March 2017. 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/2…
1 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the review into the number, structure and regulation of NHS boards will be published.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Health and Social Care Delivery Plan published in December 2016 set out clear actions and milestones to deliver our 2020 Vision for better patient care and population health. This includes commitments on NHS Board reform in order to deliver better outcome…
1 Mar 2017 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason prisoners contesting their convictions are reportedly denied privileges afforded to the wider prison population.
28 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many women have travelled from (a) the Republic of Ireland and (b) Northern Ireland to Scotland to obtain legal abortions in each of the last three years.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The total number of legal abortions performed in Scotland on women who are normally resident in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland during the period 2013 to 2015 was 5. As the numbers of legal abortions performed in Scotland on women who are normal…
28 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Scottish Social Services Council decision to increase its yearly registration fee from £30 to £80, and what discussions it has had with the council regarding this.
Answer · Mark McDonald: The Scottish Social Services Council, although an independent professional regulator, is a Non Departmental Public Body and subject to the normal governance procedures for Scotland’s NDPBs. The Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 sets out the responsibilit…
28 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to increase carers’ pay, in light of this being frozen for five years, and, if so, by how much.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Increasing Carer’s Allowance to the same level as Job Seeker’s Allowance is one of the key commitments we have made in respect of our new social security powers. This commitment reflects the recognition we give to carers who make such an important contributio…
28 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to encourage more people to become carers.
Answer · Mark McDonald: The delivery of social services is carried out by providers in the public, voluntary and independent sectors and we recognise the challenges faced by these employers in attracting people to become care workers. A key element in attracting people to work is ma…
28 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Scottish Social Services Council is increasing its yearly registration fee from £30 to £80.
Answer · Mark McDonald: The Scottish Social Services Council, as the Non Departmental Public Body responsible for regulation of the social services workforce, plays a key role in delivering long-standing policy to improve social services delivery and protect service users and the pu…
20 Feb 2017 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what evaluation has been made of its previous suicide prevention strategy, and how this will underpin its updated mental health strategy.
14 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to guarantee the day service at the Centre for Integrative Care.
Answer · Shona Robison: The decision to implement an ambulatory care model at the Centre for Integrative Care (CIC) will not change the range and type of services delivered. All therapies currently provided are available Monday to Friday, usually between 0900 to 1700. Therefore, the…
9 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to change the rules in relation to winding up the estate of a deceased person.
Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Scottish Government brought forward a number of changes to the rules in relation to winding up the estateof a deceased person in the Succession (Scotland) Act 2016 - http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2016/7/contents/enacted.
9 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to eliminate what is claimed to be a grey area in succession rules, which means that static motorhomes serving as the main residence of a deceased person are treated differently to a bricks and mortar home.
Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Scottish Government consulted on recommendations of the Scottish Law Commission for reform of substantive succession law between June and September 2015. The recommendations are based on the removal of the distinction between heritable and moveable proper…
8 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce the National Citizen Service, or an alternative, in Scotland.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-07030 on 24 February 2017. 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/parliamentarybusines…
8 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what alternatives to the National Citizen Service are available for Scotland’s youth.
Answer · John Swinney: There is a wide range of youth work opportunities available to young people in Scotland that provide similar outcomes for young people as the National Citizenship Service. For example: The Outward Bound Trust provides residential programmes for over 200 youn…
8 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on providing the National Citizen Service in Scotland.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government believes that youth work has a significant impact in improving the life chances of young people. The national youth work strategy for Scotland 2014-18 sets out our ambitions for improving outcomes for young people through youth work. I…
7 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Partnership for Action on Drugs in Scotland group does not include a member from the pharmacy profession, and what representation the profession has on each of the partnership's sub-groups.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government worked closely with key stakeholders to develop the Partnership for Action on Drugs in Scotland (PADS), including its membership. Members of the pharmacy profession are represented on the PADS Harm Reduction subgroup with individuals…
30 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when in 2017 the updated suicide prevention strategy will be published.
Answer · Maureen Watt: In Spring 2017 we will begin engagement with stakeholders regarding possible content of a future Suicide Prevention Strategy or Action Plan. This engagement will build on the engagement we undertook on the forthcoming Mental Health Strategy, and on engagement…
20 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the post of national coordinator of childhood bereavement services will be advertised.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-03840 on 10 November 2016. 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/parliamentarybusine…