Alexander Stewart

8 Nov 2017 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what action it can take to ensure that any prepared food left over at the end of the day in the catering outlets is distributed to charitable causes.

Answer · David Stewart (on behalf of the SPCB): The SPCB is very conscious of the issue of surplus food being discarded as waste and has explored the options previously in response to questions raised by Members. Unfortunately, we are unable to distribute any prepared food that is left over at the end of t…

2 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish Stroke Improvement Programme 2017 reports that no NHS board delivers rehabilitation on a needs-led basis, what plans it has to improve stroke rehabilitation services, and when these plans will enable NHS boards to deliver such services on this basis.

Answer · Shona Robison: We know that early assessment / provision of rehabilitation within the first few days following an acute stroke by multi-disciplinary working achieves the best outcomes for the person. This is why it is included as a priority within the Scottish Stroke Improv…

25 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that NHS Forth Valley fills vacant consultant posts, and what its response is to reports that some posts have been unfilled for over three years.

Answer · Shona Robison: Under this Government, the number of consultants in NHS Forth Valley have increased by 49.9%, to 212.8 Whole Time Equivalent. It is normal for fluctuations in vacancies to occur as we expand capacity by recruiting even more staff. The Scottish Government is …

21 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what reassurances it can give to people in the Mid Scotland and Fife parliamentary region regarding the presence of combustible cladding on private high rise flats in the region.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Scottish building regulations since 2005 require that any cladding on high rise domestic buildings must be of non-combustible material or be part of a system that has been rigorously tested. In addition all local authorities within the Mid Scotland and Fife p…

19 Sep 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking regarding the charitable status of university commercial activities.

8 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to ensure that people recovering from stroke receive a whole care pathway approach that is consistent with international recommended practice.

Answer · Shona Robison: Our Health and Social Care Delivery Plan published in December 2016 sets out our aim for Scotland to provide high quality services with a focus on prevention, early intervention and supported self-management. It is about ensuring that those who use services g…

8 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce a stroke care strategy, and whether this will include rehabilitation.

Answer · Shona Robison: Our Stroke Improvement Plan (2014) sets out a comprehensive programme for further reducing the number of deaths from stroke and improving stroke treatment and care across the whole patient pathway including rehabilitation, as well as helping people’s longer-t…

8 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to ensure that it meets its obligations under article 26 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities with regards to stroke care, and what analysis it has made of how effective it has been in doing so.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government published 'A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People' in 2016; http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0051/00510948.pdf. This is our Delivery Plan to 2021 which demonstrates our commitment to upholding the principles of the UN Convention on the Ri…

23 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to retain (a) shops and (b) businesses in (i) towns and (ii) cities; how it can help them in reducing their bills; what its position is on introducing an extended 12-month period of business rates relief for them, and what specific support it can offer to those t…

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government acted decisively in light of the 2017 rates revaluation, cutting the rates poundage, limiting application of the large business supplement so that 8,000 fewer properties pay it, and expanding the Small Business Bonus Scheme so that it …

16 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle respiratory disease and what consideration it has given to banning aerosols and solvents in the workplace, on public transport and in other public places to protect the health of vulnerable people.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: Respiratory Managed Clinical Networks (RMCN) exist in most NHS Boards in Scotland. They work to improve the respiratory health and quality of life of patients, ensuring that they have equitable access to high quality respiratory services. The Respiratory Nat…

15 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure the protection of vulnerable children in Fife, in light of the recent number of child deaths in the local authority area.

Answer · Mark McDonald: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-10570 on 21 August 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 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a provision as part of its disability strategy, A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People, for medical rehabilitation for people who have experienced conditions such as stroke.

Answer · Shona Robison: We published our disability strategy A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People – our Delivery Plan to 2021 for the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in December 2016. While there is no specific reference to stroke rehabilitation in the stra…

14 Jul 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many wind farm applications that have been turned down by local authorities have been subsequently (a) approved and (b) rejected by ministers on appeal since July 2016.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: *The number of wind farm applications that have been turned down by local authorities (or where the authority have failed to make a decision) and have been subsequently a) allowed and b) dismissed by Ministers on appeal since July 2016 are set out in the foll…

8 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5O-01072 by Alasdair Allan on 7 June 2017 (Official Report, c. 31), for what reason there is only one Scottish Development International office in South America.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: In line with the Scottish Government’s Trade and Investment Strategy, Scottish Development International deploys its resources where it can generate the best return for the Scottish economy while remaining open to new and emerging opportunities. SDI’s network…

6 Jun 2017 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many potentially lethal weapons have been seized by security staff in 2017.

5 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress the NHS is making with reducing bed blocking.

Answer · Shona Robison: The latest delayed discharge census (April 2017) was published on 6 June. It showed a reduction in bed days associated with delay, continuing the downward trend that has seen 25 out of 26 months showing a reduction on the equivalent month the previous year. …

5 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress the NHS is making with increasing the number of medical professionals.

Answer · Shona Robison: Under this Government we have the highest medical staffing levels ever, with numbers of consultants increasing by a record 46.2 per cent to 5,315.7 Whole Time Equivalent.* As part of our initiatives to sustain the future NHSScotland workforce, we are investi…

5 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress Education Scotland is making with increasing the number of school inspections.

Answer · John Swinney: Education Scotland expects to have increased the number of inspections it carries out by 9% by the end of Academic Year (AY) 2016-17, compared to AY 2015-16. It expects to increase the number of inspections in 2017-18 by a further 9.5%, compared to 2016-17.…

1 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to concerns regarding police response times to recent incidents at Dunfermline Bus Station, despite the area being monitored by a CCTV control centre.

Answer · Michael Matheson: This is an operational matter for the Chief Constable of Police Scotland.

1 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to ensure that children receive timely treatment for mental health issues.

Answer · Maureen Watt: We have put in place a £54 million comprehensive package of support to improve access to mental health services for children and adults, which will provide funding for additional staff, for workforce development and for in-depth improvement support to local s…

1 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve police response times.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Procedures for responding to individual incidents are an operational matter for the Chief Constable of Police Scotland. The Scottish Government is supporting policing through a commitment to protecting the police resource budget in real terms in every year of…

22 May 2017 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve cycling infrastructure, in light of recent research by Sustrans Scotland, which highlighted that T- junctions and roundabouts possess the highest number of collisions.

15 May 2017 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking in response to the Scottish Retail Consortium report indicating that the shop vacancy rate rose in the period from January to April 2017.

12 Apr 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what reassurances it can give that, and by what date, all outstanding 2015 pillar two common agricultural policy payments will be completed in full.

13 Mar 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that young disabled people are not subject to discrimination.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government is committed to equality for disabled children and young people in Scotland, and to ensuring that all children can achieve their potential. Disabled children and young people are a group facing significant inequality and significantly …

7 Mar 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support is in place to assist people who have had a stroke with their recovery and in becoming as independent as possible.

24 Feb 2017 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what measures it takes, especially during inclement weather, to ensure that the Garden Lobby floor is as safe as is possible for staff and visitors.

15 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take in the light of recent reports that the number of still births at NHS Forth Valley has risen above the national average during the first half of 2016.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: NHS Forth Valley has taken action locally to internally review all of their cases of stillbirth. The Board has also commissioned an independent external review to look into their 2016 stillbirths. The Scottish Government supports the action that NHS Forth V…

30 Jan 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take in light of the figures suggesting that 95% of pupils identified as having additional support needs are in mainstream schools.

21 Dec 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the reported real-terms reduction in revenue allocations for local authorities in the draft budget will have on the provision of services.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Taking next year's local government finance settlement plus the other sources of income available through potential increases in council tax, and Health and Social Care Integration, the overall increase in spending power to support local authority services am…