Tom Mason

24 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-13489 by Derek Mackay on 10 January 2018, in light of the reported downgrading of economic growth by the Scottish Fiscal Commission and the cabinet secretary's confirmation that its public sector pay policy is for one year only, what level of future…

Answer · Derek Mackay: In line with previous years, a range of economic factors will be considered, including affordability and the cost of living. We will also consider the views of stakeholders and will ask both employers and staff representatives to provide feedback on the curre…

24 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-13489 by Derek Mackay on 10 January 2018, in which the cabinet secretary stated that an increase in Council Tax of up to 3% would potentially protect household incomes, what its position is on whether it is possible to protect household incomes if p…

Answer · Derek Mackay: Income tax is paid by individuals on the basis of their earnings, and council tax by occupants of a domestic dwelling based on the property’s banding. There is therefore no direct link between the income tax and council tax an individual pays. The specific i…

24 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what role the consumption component of aggregate demand has in its plans to grow the economy.

Answer · Keith Brown: Scotland’s Economic Strategy sets out the need to pursue a more balanced form of economic growth, through a greater contribution from investment and net trade, rather than consumption in order to achieve growth that is sustainable in the long-term. However d…

24 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to questions S5W-13487 and S5W-13588 by Derek Mackay on 10 and 11 January 2018 respectively, how increasing Council Tax levels could impact on the consumption component of aggregate demand as a result of any decrease in household incomes from such a policy.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Scottish Government has capped locally determined increases to council tax in order to protect household income and deliver additional funding to support public services. Investment in vital public services underpins a strong economy and therefore supports ag…

24 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-13588 by Derek Mackay on 11 January 2018, whether it considers that raising domestic taxes and encouraging local authorities to raise Council Tax are the only ways to maintain the current quality levels of public services, and what the reasons are f…

Answer · Derek Mackay: The 2018-19 Local Government settlement, together with the additional £170 million I announced for local government as part of the Stage 1 of the Budget Bill on 31 January, together with local authorities ability to increase council tax levels by 3%, delivers…

24 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-13588 by Derek Mackay on 11 January 2018, in light of the cabinet secretary's comment that "the impact of this settlement on public satisfaction with local services will depend on how local authorities allocate the total resources available to them …

Answer · Derek Mackay: Local authorities are autonomous bodies, fully responsible for managing their own day to day business, however the Scottish Government are committed to working together with local government to ensure that the vital services the people of Scotland expect and …

24 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-13588 by Derek Mackay on 11 January 2018, what it considers the impact on public satisfaction could be if local authorities raise Council Tax levels by 3% in 2018-19 so that they can maintain services at 2017-18 levels.

Answer · Derek Mackay: If all local authorities raise their council tax levels by 3% next year, worth around £77 million, and this extra income is added to the original 2018-19 local government finance settlement which I announced on 14 December and the extra £170 million I announc…

24 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-13241 by Shona Robison on 9 January 2018, whether it will provide a breakdown of all of the recommendations made by the MLC Mental Health and Learning Difficulties care programme’s June 2011 to December 2012 review.

Answer · Shona Robison: The full set of recommendations produced by the Technical Advisory Group on Resource Allocation sub-group, which reviewed the Morbidity and Life Circumstances adjustment for the Mental Health and Learning Difficulties Care Programme, is as follows: Recommend…

24 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-13227 by Shona Robison on 9 January 2018, whether it will provide a breakdown of each of the projects to reduce waiting times that NHS Grampian has introduced, and details of the dates that its officials have discussed these with the NHS board.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Grampian are using the £4.9 million from the £50 million we made available to Boards in the current financial year to address long wait across the whole patient pathway including cancer pathways and specialties such as orthopaedics and ophthalmology. The …

24 Jan 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to borrow the maximum amount available for capital spending in the coming years.

Answer · Derek Mackay: We will make full use of the £450 million capital borrowing powers available in 2018-19. Final decisions on these borrowing arrangements will be taken over the course of the year reflecting an ongoing assessment of programme requirements. Decisions on future…

9 Jan 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve attainment levels across Aberdeen.

Answer · John Swinney: Improving the education and life chances of our children and young people is the defining mission of this Government and there is a collective responsibility to ensure continuous improvement in every school in Scotland. The latest exam results demonstrate rea…

20 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact it expects the 2018-19 real terms reduction in local authority funding for services to have on public satisfaction with local public services, given the reported 10% fall in the last five years in the proportion of people who are “very” or “fairly” satisfied with local public…

Answer · Derek Mackay: The 2018-19 local government finance settlement foresees an increase both in revenue and capital investment as part of a wider package of measures. Together with the additional power to increase Council Tax (worth around £77 million next year), this will gene…

19 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to figures in the report, Scotland Performs, which suggest that there has been a 10% reduction in the number of people who are "very" or "fairly" satisfied with local public services over the last five years; what action it is taking to address this, and what impact …

19 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to close the reported GDP growth rate gap between Scotland and the rest of the UK.

Answer · Keith Brown: The recent Programme for Government and draft Budget set out a range of significant measures to support growth in the economy. These measures, including a 64% increase of £270 million in the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work budget as part of a total investment of …

19 Dec 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment in last year's Budget to deliver a Scottish Screen Unit in 2017, and a similar commitment in its recent Draft Budget, what assurances it can provide that it will be delivered in 2018.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Creative Scotland has started implementation of the Screen Unit Blueprint, which I approved and was published on 11 December. The plan to deliver a Screen Unit within Creative Scotland was developed in partnership with our enterprise and skills agencies. Th…

18 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it is giving NHS Grampian to recruit additional clinical staff, particularly those specialising in children's mental healthcare, in light of it reportedly being the worst performing board in terms of the 18-week waiting time standard, meeting it in only 33.1% of cases.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government remain determined to hit the target of 90% of people seen within 18 weeks from referral to treatment for Psychological Therapies. We will continue to work with Boards, including NHS Grampian, to make sure that happens right across Scot…

18 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason NHS Grampian's funding for children's mental health services has reportedly reduced, in light of it reportedly being the worst performing board in terms of the 18-week waiting time standard, meeting it in only 33.1% of cases.

Answer · Shona Robison: In 2018-19 NHS Grampian will receive a baseline funding uplift of £18.5 million, and a share of the £175 million increase in funding for reform, which includes a £17m increase for Mental Health and CAMHS services. NHS Grampian is also benefiting from a share …

15 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the assertion that, if it continues to borrow £450 million per annum, it will reach the £3 billion fiscal framework limit after four years and, in light of this, what plans it has to repay debt stock.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The decision was taken to maximise infrastructure investment in 2018-19, with the associated beneficial economic impact by borrowing up to the £450m limit. Decisions on future borrowing levels will be taken as part of the 2019-20 and subsequent budget process…

15 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has reportedly confirmed a 3% public sector pay rise to the Scottish Fiscal Commission for 2018-19, but not subsequent years.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government has taken a progressive approach in our pay policy, delivering a 3% increase to all those earning up to £30,000; a limit of 2% on the increase in paybill for those earning between £30,000 and £80,000; and limiting the maximum pay incre…

15 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Fiscal Commission's reported opinion that leaving the EU is not one of the main contributing factors to the revised down forecast for economic growth in Scotland.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Fiscal Commission is responsible for producing independent economic and fiscal forecasts to inform the Scottish Budget. The SFC’s forecasts are informed by judgements on overall macroeconomic conditions across the Scottish and UK economy. The S…

15 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is whether local authorities raising council tax levels will raise consumption.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Council tax is a local tax and therefore the rate in each local authority area is decided by each Council. Councils may choose to increase the tax rate in their area by up to 3%. This flexibility will potentially generate an additional £77 million for public …

15 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported comment by the Scottish Fiscal Commission that relying on the decline of the savings ratio is "not sustainable", what action it is taking to boost consumption.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Fiscal Commission is responsible for producing independent economic and fiscal forecasts to inform the Scottish Budget. The Scottish Government has set out its plans for supporting the economy and enabling inclusive growth in the Draft Budget 201…

11 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of NHS Grampian only booking category one and two patients for surgery during the months of January and February, whether all NHS boards will become priority-only for one sixth of the year.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-13336 on 18 January 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/parliamentarybusines…

11 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on NHS Grampian only booking category one and two patients for surgery during the months of January and February, and what provision is being made for category three patients who may require treatment during this period.

Answer · Shona Robison: We expect all Health Boards, including NHS Grampian, to ensure all patients are seen within the required treatment time. However, we do recognise that during winter when Health Boards are experiencing winter pressures in relation to emergency care, that it is…

5 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Aberdeen City reportedly receives the lowest funding per head from the General Revenue Grant of all local authorities.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Local authority funding is allocated using a needs-based formula which is kept under constant review and agreed each year with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA).As a result of Aberdeen City Council having the lowest relative need they recei…

5 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to reduce the local authority revenue budget in (a) cash and (b) real terms.

Answer · Derek Mackay: As I announced on 14 December, the Local Government Finance Settlement for 2018-19 protects local government day to day spending for local services in cash terms, and delivers an increase in capital spending of £89.9m. Taken together with the additional spen…

5 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Aberdeen City reportedly experienced an almost £7 billion loss in revenue from sales in primary industries in 2016-17, in light of its news release of 13 September 2017 in which the Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy states that the approximate sales value of oi…

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The £7 billion figure referred to in the question would appear to have been calculated using turnover data from the Scottish Government Business in Scotland 2017 publication. The primary purpose of this publication is to provide information about the number o…

5 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its plan is for responding to long-term population growth and the increased burden that this may have on (a) public services and (b) welfare.

Answer · Keith Brown: The National Records of Scotland project that based on current trends, the population of Scotland will rise to 5.7 million by 2039, and that the population will age significantly, with the number of people aged 65 and over increasing by 53% between 2014 and 2…

5 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support the recovery of the oil and gas industry in Aberdeen and surrounding area.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: While the regulatory fiscal and legislative process in respect of the industry are reserved to Westminster and UK Ministers, a recognition of the industry’s importance to our energy mix and economy, The Scottish Government has strongly supported the sector du…

5 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the reported rise in the number of eating disorder cases in (a) Aberdeen City and (b) Scotland.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government sets national direction of policy on mental health and provides funding to agencies, including NHS boards and local authorities, to support implementation of policy. The management of local actions in implementing national policy, and…