Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S4W-30552

Asked by: Fiona McLeod, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 March 2016
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 14 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of the draft Bill on lifting the time-bar for survivors of historical child abuse.

Question reference: S4W-29943

Asked by: Fiona McLeod, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 15 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 23 February 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considered extended screening to include younger women ahead of the introduction of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

Evidence has shown that cervical screening in young women is more likely to pick up normal cell changes than screening in older women. This may result in unnecessary treatment and as such the risks of screening in this age group out-weigh the benefits. In light of this evidence, the Scottish Government did not consider lowering the age of screening before the introduction of the HPV vaccine.

Screening is not alternative to vaccination and all girls who have received the vaccine should continue to take up the offer of screening when they reach the eligible age.

Question reference: S4O-05579

Asked by: Fiona McLeod, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 February 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 February 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how the Justice Directorate is tackling violence against women.

Question reference: S4W-29961

Asked by: Fiona McLeod, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 February 2016
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Shona Robison on 17 February 2016

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the national clinical strategy for Scotland.

The national clinical strategy was published on 17 February 2016. The strategy sets out a clear vision for the development of sustainable health and social care services across Scotland for the next 10-15 years.

The strategy has been developed on the basis of extensive engagement with a broad range of clinicians, professionals and stakeholders over the past 10 months. The national conversation on ‘Creating a Healthier Scotland’ provides the ideal opportunity for further engagement on the proposals and we will therefore continue to converse with professionals and the public to ensure that the national clinical strategy genuinely supports us in planning change for a better future. A link to the strategy is provided: http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2016/02/8699.

Question reference: S4W-29538

Asked by: Fiona McLeod, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 January 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 11 February 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how many complaints the (a) Accountant in Bankruptcy and (b) Money Advice Trust has received about licensed bankruptcy trustees in the last two years for which information is available.

During 2014-15 and 2015-16, Accountant in Bankruptcy (AiB) received a total of 63 complaints about AiB acting as a trustee (including agents acting on behalf of AiB); and 24 complaints about independent trustees.

The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested about Money Advice Trust. This is a matter for Money Advice Trust, a private charity. Their contact details are: Money Advice Trust, 21 Garlick Hill, London, EC4V 2AU, Telephone – 020 7489 7796.

Question reference: S4W-29537

Asked by: Fiona McLeod, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 January 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 11 February 2016

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason a personal pension that merits top-up with pension credit is included as income for the common financial tool in a bankruptcy process.

The common financial tool was introduced to help achieve consistency and transparency in determining the level of contribution that a debtor might pay in respect of Scottish statutory debt solutions.

Experience has shown that a comprehensive understanding of the household income and expenditure position leads to the most effective outcome and accurate determination of the available contribution. Failure to establish the correct position may lead to contribution levels being too high and unsustainable, or insufficient leading to an unfair outcome for the creditors.

It is absolutely clear in legislation and guidance that no contribution is appropriate where income is derived solely from benefits. And where there is private income any contribution must not include any element of state benefits that are in payment.

Question reference: S4O-05551

Asked by: Fiona McLeod, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 11 February 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on negotiations with Digital Scotland and its partners regarding the second rollout phase of the superfast broadband programme to include homes built after August 2012.

We are working with a range of partners to finalise proposals for a second phase of public investment to extend superfast broadband access across Scotland. We expect to launch new procurement activity later in 2016.

As a first step, we will conduct an Open Market Review to identify planned commercial coverage across Scotland. This will include all premises, including homes built after August 2012. Where commercial suppliers confirm that they have no plans to provide superfast broadband access over the next three years, these homes will become eligible for public investment.

Question reference: S4W-29734

Asked by: Fiona McLeod, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 9 February 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-27774 by Jamie Hepburn on 21 October 2015, what progress has been made on commitment 1 of its mental health strategy to commission a 10-year on follow-up to the National Mental Health Services Assessment, Towards implementation of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 Final Report (the Sandra Grant Report).

Question reference: S4O-05527

Asked by: Fiona McLeod, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 January 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 February 2016

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason personal independence payments are included for income assessment as part of the common financial tool in a bankruptcy process.

Question reference: S4W-29280

Asked by: Fiona McLeod, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 January 2016
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 27 January 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that there is a commercial advantage for housebuilders to install superfast broadband in their developments.

Access to superfast broadband is an increasingly important factor for people when deciding where they want to live. Buyers of new homes will rightly expect these premises to be superfast enabled; those that aren’t are likely to be less attractive as a result.

The Scottish Government’s development plan policies aim to encourage developers to explore opportunities for the provision of digital infrastructure to new homes and business premises as an integral part of development. This should be done in consultation with service providers so that appropriate future-proofed infrastructure is available to new home owners.

Scotland is currently involved in transposition of Article 8 of the European Commission Broadband Cost Reduction Directive. This European Commission policy requires the creation of empty ducts or routes in and around buildings, along with corresponding access/termination points, to allow cable or fibre to be installed if the owner wishes. A Scottish Statutory Instrument will be laid in Parliament shortly.