Alexander Stewart

4 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding short-term let licensing, what its position is on whether holiday accommodation providers that have multiple similar premises types on the same site should be required to pay a licence fee for each individual accommodation that they provide.

Answer · Paul McLennan: It is for each licensing authority to take account of the legislation and guidance, and to agree and publish a local licensing policy and fee structure.

4 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there are any circumstances in which it would be acceptable or appropriate for an electricity distribution network company to retain equipment on land when the landowner has given notice to remove the equipment and a necessary wayleave has not been applied…

Answer · Gillian Martin: Regulation of electricity networks is reserved to the UK Government. Matters pertaining to the retention of electric lines on land are governed by schedule 4 to the Electricity Act 1989. The schedule sets out the circumstances and the timeframe within which a…

4 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there are any circumstances in which it would be acceptable or appropriate for an electricity distribution network company to fell trees on land in relation to which a wayleave is in place, but where the landowner has not been informed of the intention to …

Answer · Gillian Martin: Regulation of electricity networks is reserved to the UK Government. The Electricity Act 1989 schedule 4 sets out the powers that are available to certain distribution network licence holders to fell and lop trees and the circumstances in which such felling a…

4 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what issues are considered relevant when considering a claim for compensation from a landowner for the granting of a necessary wayleave, and whether such relevant issues should be detailed by the Reporter in their report to the Scottish Ministers.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Questions of compensation in respect of a necessary wayleave will not be addressed by the Reporter when making a recommendation on whether a necessary wayleave should be granted. Although, issues which relate to the impact on the use or enjoyment of the land …

28 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that some local residents were required by Clackmannanshire Council to evacuate their homes, in a majority council-owned block of flats, and move into short-term accommodation due to reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete being found and the flats being deemed unsafe…

Answer · Paul McLennan: Local authorities have a legal duty to help people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Under the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987, a person should be treated as homeless, even if they have accommodation, if it would not be reasonable for them to cont…

11 Sep 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

5 Sep 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Fraser of Allander survey that found that only 9% of businesses felt that the Scottish Government understands the business landscape in Scotland.

5 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to support rural hospitality businesses to locate or supply accommodation for their staff, in light of reports that a lack of staff accommodation is having an impact on the recruitment and retention of staff in this sector.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: This issue affects a range of sectors, including hospitality. We recognise that delivering affordable housing in rural areas presents different challenges. We are committed to delivering 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, of which 10% will be in our remote, ru…

27 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress regarding the recommendations made in June 2021's National Review of Eating Disorder Services.

Answer · Maree Todd: We published an update on our progress delivering the recommendations from the National Review of Eating Disorder Services in April 2023. This can be found here: National Review of Eating Disorder Services Implementation Group: final report - gov.scot (www.g…

20 Jun 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the latest Recorded Crime in Scotland statistics, which show an increase in the overall level of crime in Scotland.

20 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date eligible stroke patients in the NHS Forth Valley area will routinely gain access to a thrombectomy service.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Work is ongoing to establish the most effective means of further expanding access to thrombectomy, to maximise the number of patients able to benefit from this treatment, including eligible patients in NHS Forth Valley. Our new Stroke Improvement Plan includ…

20 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what savings have been made to date as a result of Scotland’s thrombectomy provision; how any such savings have been used, and what any additional anticipated savings are once (a) the thrombectomy hubs become fully utilised and (b) thrombectomy is available across the whole of Scotland.

Answer · Jenni Minto: This is a matter for NHS Health Boards. The information requested is not held centrally.

20 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to assure stroke stakeholders that (a) the updated national clinical guideline for stroke is embedded into the care provided by NHS Boards and (b) those who experience a stroke are gaining optimal benefit from this new published knowledge.

Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19301 on 4 July 2023. 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-committees/…

20 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether all patients who have a stroke will now receive a standard of stroke care as described by the updated national clinical guideline for stroke.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government expects NHS Health Boards to follow the recommendations in the National Clinical Guideline for Stroke for the UK and Ireland, published in April. The ultimate decision about a particular clinical procedure or treatment will always depe…

9 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the development of its refreshed tobacco action plan, which is due to be published in autumn 2023, whether it will consider including the introduction of regulations similar to those recently announced in Canada, which require health warnings to be printed directly onto indivi…

Answer · Jenni Minto: Our refreshed Tobacco Action plan will be published in autumn in this year, which renews our focus on meeting our ambitious target of a Tobacco-Free Scotland by 2034. We are considering a range of evidence, including the latest international evidence, and ar…

6 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support any businesses that have invested in improving broadband connections and the customers who rely on them, in light of reports that the fibre broadband infrastructure provider, Broadway Partners, has entered into administration due to rising interest rates and t…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is supporting a wider range of broadband providers through the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (R100 SBVS). We are also supporting full fibre providers by enabling access to rates relief on newly laid and lit fibre up until Marc…

6 Jun 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the finance secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding any impact that its fiscal policy platform will have on Scottish businesses, including tourism and hospitality businesses.

30 May 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the introduction of whole life sentences as an option for judges in relation to the most serious offences.

17 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported concerns of farmers that an emergency authorisation for the limited and controlled use of Asulox is at risk of not being made in time to control bracken during the 2023 season, whether it has come to a decision regarding any such authorisation, and, if not, when…

Answer · Lorna Slater: HSE, as the UK regulator for pesticides, is responsible for assessing emergency authorisation applications on behalf of governments across the UK, including for the Scottish Government. Recognising the importance of a timely response, the Scottish Government …

10 May 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it has conducted to ascertain the public’s perception of the frequency of police patrols in their local area.

5 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that everyone diagnosed with ovarian cancer has access to the best possible support.

Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-17800 on 18 May 2023. 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-committees/…

5 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address any regional variation in access to treatment for ovarian cancer.

Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-17748 on 18 May 2023. 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-committees/…

5 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to ensure there is support in place for GPs to interpret and act on CA125 blood test and ultrasound results.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-17798 on 17 May 2023 . 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-committees…

5 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to improve awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer.

Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-17797 on 17 May 2023. 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-committees/…

4 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Ministerial Population Taskforce.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Ministerial Population Taskforce continues to meet quarterly to provide oversight and cross-portfolio focus to the addressing of Scotland’s long term demographic challenges, set out in the 2021 Population Strategy. As Cabinet Secretary with responsibilit…

4 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Addressing Depopulation Action Plan will be published.  

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Ministerial Population Taskforce has committed to publishing the Addressing Depopulation Action Plan in Autumn 2023, which will include a place-based focus on a mixture of rural, island, and select urban locations across Scotland which are experiencing de…

3 May 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding actions to tackle mental health problems amongst farmers and crofters.

25 Apr 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government which victims groups it has consulted with on its proposed Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill.

25 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the policy of moving away from a vaccination model based on GP delivery, and whether it is considering reviewing this policy and returning to more locally-administered vaccinations at GP surgeries.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Five years on from the joint agreement between Scottish Government and the British Medical Association (BMA) on the 2018 GP contract, we have made significant progress in the implementation of Primary Care Improvement Plans (PCIPs). The Vaccination Transforma…

20 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to reduce the rates of alcohol-related deaths, in light of reports that they are at their highest rate for over a decade.

Answer · Elena Whitham: My deepest sympathy goes to all those affected by the loss of a loved one through alcohol. In the most recent data, we are starting to see the profound impact the pandemic has had on those with problematic alcohol use. We will use this information to understa…