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: S5W-26716

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 December 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 20 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what the terms were for NHS Highland being placed at level 4 of the NHS Board Performance Escalation Framework, and what key performance indicators it will use to determine whether this status should be retained or changed.

As I have already informed Parliament in the answer to question S5W-20143 on 23 November 2018, NHS Highland was raised to stage 4 in the NHS Board Performance Escalation Framework in November 2018 following concerns about the Board’s financial position and internal governance. Further information on the NHS Board Performance Escalation Framework can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/nhs-scotland-and-integration-authorities-consolidated-financial-reporting-2019-2020/ .

The performance of NHS Highland is considered against a wide range of performance targets - both operational and financial - and is scrutinised by the Scottish Government’s National Performance Oversight Group. The Group is co-chaired by the Director of Delivery and Resilience and the Director of Community and Social Care. The Health and Social Care Management Board (comprising all Health and Social Care Directors and chaired by the Director General) meets on a weekly basis and takes advice from the National Performance Oversight Group on issues relating to performance, delivery, finance, quality and safety. In addition to providing tailored support to the Board, an Oversight Group, chaired by the Deputy Chief Medical Officer, has recently been established to support NHS Highland.

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/28877.aspx

Question reference: S5F-03803

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 16 December 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 December 2019

To ask the First Minister what alternative holiday arrangements have been made for staff from the emergency services who will be working over the festive period.

Question reference: S5O-03929

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 December 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to assist NHS Highland to reduce its reliance on locum staff.

Question reference: S5W-26368

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 21 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether a contractor has been appointed to fix the Cairngorm Funicular Railway (CFR), and, if not, when a contractor will be appointed; what the total cost is of repairing the CFR and, of that total cost, how much funding it is making available.

It remains the intention of Highlands and Islands Enterprise to repair the Funicular. The associated costs are currently high level estimates which is why Highlands and Islands Enterprise are continuing to carry out the appropriate due diligence around the technical aspects. This will help fully capture the totality of financial costs associated with this complex work and help inform the procurement of a construction contractor.

Question reference: S5O-03825

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 November 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what extra support or guidance it provides to older people during periods of cold weather.

Question reference: S5O-03788

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 November 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how many schools in the Highlands and Islands are being considered as part of the next phase of its Learning Estate Investment Programme.

Question reference: S5W-26134

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 01 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 12 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy's commitment in response to the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee’s Review of Priorities for Crofting Law Reform, what actions it has taken to explore the potential for areas of common grazings to be used for the creation of new crofts.

Question reference: S5O-03753

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 November 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how long it keeps electronic and written records of policy advice to ministers.

Question reference: S5O-03641

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 October 2019
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of his comments in the chamber on 4 December 2018, whether the minister for veterans raised with the UK Government Members' views regarding historic allegations involving Army veterans from Scotland who served tours in Northern Ireland.

Question reference: S5O-03571

Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 September 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support people in the Highlands and Islands who are experiencing social isolation and loneliness.