Alexander Stewart

7 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it expects to receive in Barnett consequentials from the UK Budget, and what its position is on allocating funds from this to support reinstating the Levenmouth rail link.

Answer · Michael Matheson: As a result of the UK Budget 2018, the Scottish Government will receive additional Barnett consequentials of £959.6 million over the years 2018-19 to 2020-21, the majority of which arise from planned announcements around Health. Even with these consequentials…

7 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to reduce the single-person council tax discount to 10% and, if so, what its position is on introducing a concession for older people.

Answer · Kate Forbes: We have no plans to reduce the council tax single person discount.

7 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the Safe Drive, Stay Alive project has had on road safety in the Forth Valley area, and whether it will consider allocating additional funding outwith the local government settlement to support the initiative.

Answer · Michael Matheson: We recognise the import role that our road safety partners play in running pre driver interventions such as Safe Drive Stay Alive. Pre-drivers are a priority focus area and we are committed to improving the road safety knowledge, attitudes and safe behaviours…

31 Oct 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when air passenger duty will be fully devolved.

24 Oct 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what Social Security Scotland's full-time equivalent headcount will be by 31 December 2018.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Social Security Scotland’s current headcount is 263, with a full-time equivalent headcount of 258.5. Subject to pre-employment checks for 15 new recruits, Social Security Scotland’s headcount is expected to be 278 by the end of the 2018 calendar year. The ex…

22 Oct 2018 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on the report from Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland, which suggests that one in five patients are not receiving the support they require.

15 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-18910 by Jeane Freeman on 27 September 2018, how consideration of evidence from acute stroke service reconfiguration elsewhere in the UK by the Thrombectomy Advisory Group will be used to improve aspects of acute stroke care, other than thrombectomy…

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Thrombectomy Advisory Group is responsible for ensuring that the strategic vision for the implementation of thrombectomy services in Scotland is developed and delivered. We will ensure that decisions relating to the proposed service are made in the best i…

15 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the terms of reference are of the Directors of Planning Thrombectomy Advisory Group.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The purpose, governance and remit from the Terms of Reference for the Thrombectomy Advisory Group (TAG) are below. These terms of reference were agreed in November 2-17 and are due to updated in December 2018. Purpose of the Group: The TAG provides a profess…

1 Oct 2018 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking in response to reports that there has been the biggest rise in HIV infection in Scotland for three decades.

19 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in reviewing the evidence from London, Greater Manchester and elsewhere regarding reshaping acute stroke services, as set out at page 72 of A National Clinical Strategy for Scotland, andby what date it will publish its findings.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government recognises the benefits of thrombectomy which can significantly improve outcomes and quality of life for some people who have had an ischaemic stroke by avoiding or reducing the level of disability. That is why the Directors of Planni…

10 Sep 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to recent figures from the Scottish Prison Service showing record levels of disorder, drug-taking and fire-raising in prisons.

29 Aug 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many stroke patients have been transferred to other parts of the UK for a thrombectomy in each of the last five years, also broken down by where the treatment was provided.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: This information is not held centrally. A Directors of Planning Thrombectomy Advisory Group is developing a national planning framework for the provision of thrombectomy for Scotland. It is anticipated the framework will be completed by spring 2019.

26 Jul 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the proposal in its Barclay Implementation consultation paper of 25 June 2018, which business and industrial sectors will be liable for the new business rates levy on out-of-town and online businesses.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Barclay Review recommended that a new discretionary power be created to allow Local Authorities to apply a rates supplement in certain circumstances, for out-of-town retailers or predominantly online retailers. It was also recommended that this be tested …

26 Jul 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent Scottish Stroke Care Audit report, which highlights that there are no hospitals in Scotland that offer thrombectomy procedures, whether any provision been made towards transferring eligible stroke patients to hospitals that can perform the procedure in the north o…

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Mechanisms already exist for cross border arrangements for treatments to be provided outside Scotland and home Board areas. A Directors of Planning Thrombectomy Advisory Group (TAG) is developing a national planning framework for the provision of thrombectom…

26 Jul 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) headline business rate poundage and (b) large business supplement has been in each of the last 10 years, including the current financial year.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The following table shows the poundage rate, large business supplement, and large business supplement threshold (rateable value) for each year from 2008-09 to 2018-19: Year Poundage rate (pence) Large Business Supplement (pence) Large Business Supplement …

3 Jul 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it can give that blue badge holders will be exempt from emission criteria across all low emission zones in a consistent manner, once a lead-in or sunset period has passed.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The subordinate legislation on Low Emission Zone exemptions will be set following passage of the Transport (Scotland) Bill. The legislative process will allow for further stakeholder engagement on Low Emission Zone exemptions to be aired as the Bill undergoes…

15 Jun 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS England relating to the development of a mechanical thrombectomy service in Scotland.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government has not had any formal discussions with NHS England regarding introduction of thrombectomy for ischaemic stroke. NHS Scotland Directors of Planning Thrombectomy Advisory Group is progressing planning for thrombectomy services in Scotl…

11 Jun 2018 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body for what reason it has removed the computer at the Queensberry House exit; what impact this could have on the ability to check visitor passes, and how it will ensure that this does not have security implications.

Answer · Jackson Carlaw: The computer was removed from this area as it was not required for the successful operation of security functions at the Queensberry House exit. The computer was not used for checking passes or for any direct security services in that area.

11 Jun 2018 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to reports that Yammer, which is a social network available in every school, is being used to target vulnerable children.

5 Jun 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that, under the minimum pricing rules for alcohol, wholesalers that also sell to trade could use the minimum pricing mechanism to sell below the ceiling unit price.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the Scottish Government’s statement of 31 May 2018: “We are aware of a technical issue related to the interpretation of how Minimum Unit Pricing operates in respect of trade sales by wholesalers which have opted, for whatever reason, to…

29 May 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take in light of recent Police Scotland figures, which highlight that missing person investigations have increased by almost 1,000 in the last year.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: In May 2017, the Scottish Government launched Scotland’s first ever National Framework for Missing Persons, and we are now delivering the actions in the Framework to improve multi-agency working and standardise approaches to risk assessment and return discus…

16 May 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support retailers and reduce the number of vacant premises on high streets.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: As I set out in my response to Jackie Baillie in? S5O-02117, the Scottish Government recognises that the High Street retail sector in Scotland is being significantly impacted by fundamental changes to shopping habits and competition from businesses that are ?…

10 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it can give residents in Dunfermline, St Andrews and Glenrothes who are reportedly facing NHS service reductions, and what action it plans to increase capacity.

Answer · Shona Robison: Recent changes to out of hours primary care services in Fife are a short term measure to ensure that appropriate levels of patient safety are maintained. NHS Fife is reviewing its longer term arrangements for out of hours care and has undertaken an option app…

19 Apr 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many brain cancers have been diagnosed following emergency admission in each of the last seven years, broken down by NHS board, and how this compares with other cancers.

Answer · Shona Robison: This information is not held by the Scottish Government or by NHS National Services Scotland's Information Services Division (ISD).

19 Apr 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) shortest, (b) longest and (c) average waiting time between referral and treatment for brain cancer has been in each of the last seven years, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Shona Robison: Brain and Central Nervous System (neurological) tumours are not included in the routine cancer waiting times data collection. ISD Scotland have a rolling annual audit, the Extending Tumour Sites project. This introduces a tumour type that has not previously b…

19 Apr 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the mortality rate for brain cancer has been in each of the last seven years, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Shona Robison: Information about mortality rates for malignant brain cancer is held by NHS National Service Scotland's Information Services Division (ISD) and can be accessed at this link: http://isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Cancer/Cancer-Statistics/Brain-and-Central-Nerv…

16 Apr 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with its proposed GP sustainability loans, and whether all GP premises will be surveyed in 2018-19 to provide the information required for their maintenance or improvement.

Answer · Shona Robison: Progress is being made on the implementation of the GP Premises Sustainability Loan Scheme. Eligible GP practices will shortly be asked to provide a note of their interest in applying for a GP Sustainability Loan and will be informed of the categories for pri…

21 Mar 2018 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what information it has regarding how many times smoke alarms in the campus have been triggered by the suspected use of e-cigarettes or vaporisers since its policy regarding their use was introduced.

Answer · Kezia Dugdale: The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body has not recorded any incidents where smoke alarms were known to have been activated by e-cigarettes since the Smoke Free Policy was amended to include e-cigarettes in 2014.

21 Mar 2018 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what action it is taking to ensure that its policy regarding the use of e-cigarettes and vaporisers is adhered to, and whether it will consider (a) running an awareness campaign and (b) placing additional signage around the campus regarding the use of such items.

Answer · Kezia Dugdale: The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body publishes its Smoke Free Policy which restricts smoking and the use of e-cigarettes to locations within the Queensberry House courtyard, the Passholders' entrance and the public part of the Scottish Parliament's groun…

12 Mar 2018 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the effect of the Scottish income tax rate on military personnel.