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-09956

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 June 2017
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Michael Matheson on 27 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in implementing the recommendations in the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland report, Audit and Assurance Review of the use of the Facial Search functionality within the UK Police National Database (PND) by Police Scotland.

The Scottish Government has established an independent advisory group to provide recommendations on a policy and legislative framework for police use of biometric data and associated technologies, and rules around retention. I am delighted that John Scott QC has agreed to take on the role of chair. The group draws its membership from Police Scotland, the Scottish Police Authority, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, the Scottish Human Rights Commission and the Information Commissioner’s Office and also includes academic and research expertise.

The group will meet over the coming months and is expected to report to me by the end of 2017. Further details can be found on the Scottish Government website at www.gov.scot/biometricdata

The biometrics field is evolving rapidly and new and emerging technologies must be used within a clear framework which incorporates human rights and ethical considerations. The group’s expert advice will ensure that we strike the right balance between protecting the public and safeguarding the rights of individuals in considering how our policy and legislative framework should be reviewed.

Question reference: S5O-01168

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 June 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the impact on Scotland of the UK Government's policy on refugees and asylum seekers.

Question reference: S5W-09486

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 May 2017
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Shona Robison on 30 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce acute hospital waiting times in the NHS.

As indicated by the First Minister on 18 May 2017 consideration was being given to providing additional funding to reduce waiting times. I can now announce that we are making available an additional £50 million to help NHS Boards improve performance. This funding will focus on all parts of the patient pathway - outpatient, diagnostic tests and inpatient and day case treatment.

This additional investment is part of the Barnett Formula consequentials for Scotland arising from the UK Spring Budget.

Question reference: S5W-09214

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 12 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 25 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action each NHS board is taking to improve the recruitment and retention of dermatology consultants and nurses.

It is for health boards to plan and deliver clinical services and ensure that they have the correct staff in place to meet the needs of their services and ensure high quality patient care. The Scottish Government works closely with all Boards to support their staff recruitment efforts.

Under this Government, the number of Consultants in NHSScotland with a specialty of dermatology have increased by 30.6 per cent. Since 2009, the number of Clinical Nurse Specialists with a specialty of dermatology have increased by 104.4 per cent.

Further information on the dermatology workforce is published by ISD Scotland and is available at the following links:-

https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/2017-03-07/Consultant_Staff_In_Post_D2016.xls

https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/2016-12-06/Clinical_Nurse_Specialists_S2016.xls

Question reference: S5W-09050

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 12 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how much VAT (a) Police Scotland and (b) the Scottish Fire and Rescure Service have paid in total, and what information it has regarding how this compares with the amount paid by counterpart emergency services in the rest of the UK.

The amount of unrecovered VAT incurred by the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) and the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service (SFRS) between April 2013 and March 2017 is of the order of £140m and is detailed in the following table.

	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16	2016-17	TOTAL
	£m	£m	£m	£m	£m
Scottish Police Authority	25.0	26.7	24.8	23.0*	99.5*
Scottish Fire & Rescue service	9.0	10.8	10.6	10.0*	40.4*
TOTAL	34.0	37.5	35.4	33.0*	139.9*

*: provisional figures.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on the amount of VAT incurred by counterpart emergency services in the rest of the UK. However, unlike in Scotland, territorial police and fire services in the rest of the UK can reclaim VAT.

We will continue to press UK Ministers over this disparity which could see a cost to the Scottish public purse of £280 million by the end of the current parliamentary session (2020-21).

Question reference: S5W-09063

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 10 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with North Lanarkshire Council regarding reports that the local authority has changed its policy regarding the administration of the pupil equity fund.

The Scottish Government has had regular dialogue with North Lanarkshire Council in relation to the administration of Pupil Equity Funding. We have received assurances from the council that it is has withdrawn a proposal that did not meet all the conditions associated with this funding. Pupil Equity Funding must enable Headteachers and school leaders to deliver activities, interventions or resources which are clearly additional to those which were already planned and targeted to closing the poverty related attainment gap.

Question reference: S5W-09150

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 May 2017
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Michael Matheson on 5 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by John Swinney on 31 January 2017 (Official Report, c.10) on the Scottish Government’s response to the independent review into the circumstances surrounding the death of Bailey Gwynne, whether the Cabinet Secretary for Justice has received a response from the UK Government to his letter seeking a UK-wide approach to address concerns regarding the online sale and delivery of knives.

The UK Government has responded favourably to the Scottish Government’s request for a joined up UK-wide approach to address mutual concerns about the online sale and delivery of knives.

The circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Bailey Gwynne at Cults Academy, Aberdeen, underlines why it is so vital that there are suitable controls in place to regulate and control the online sale and delivery of knives so that they cannot be obtained by our young people.

Officials from the Scottish Government and Home Office will now explore this issue further to ensure that any action that emerges has the maximum impact and addresses public safety concerns.

Question reference: S5F-01206

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 April 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 April 2017

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to protect children and young people online.

Question reference: S5W-08882

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 April 2017
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for the introduction of drug driving limits in Scotland.

I can advise that the Scottish Government intends to bring forward before the end of 2017 the necessary secondary legislation to introduce drug driving limits in Scotland.

This legislation will provide for specific limits for a range of drugs and will provide for commencement of drug driving limits in 2019. This timing will allow for criminal justice agencies such as Police Scotland, the Scottish Police Authority and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to make the necessary preparations for the introduction of drug driving limits. This includes making arrangements for the introduction of necessary testing equipment.

Question reference: S5W-08433

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 13 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government when its working group will commence work on habilitation provision recommendations contained in the Education and Culture Committee's 10th Report, 2015 (Session 4), Attainment of pupils with a sensory impairment.

The Scottish Government welcomed the Education Committee inquiry into the attainment of pupils with sensory impairment. In response the Scottish Government set up a Short Life Working Group to respond to the Committee’s recommendations. A plan which sets out actions to deliver against all of the recommendations was developed and we are confident of delivering against each.

A number of the actions to deliver the recommendations have already been completed and we are actively considering with key stakeholders the activities and actions required to deliver on the remaining recommendations by December 2018.