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-02000

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 August 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 26 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason The Scottish Stroke Improvement Programme 2016 Report records that 22 out of 29 hospitals did not achieve the 90% stroke unit standard, and what action it is taking to (a) address this and (b) improve equality in access to care across all NHS boards.

The Scottish Government's Stroke Improvement Plan (2014) sets out actions and priorities which aim to improve the experience and clinical outcomes for patients living with stroke across Scotland by supporting the community to adopt a seamless approach to the delivery of care across the recognised pathway for stroke for all patients regardless of where they live or are treated in Scotland.

The Scottish Stroke Improvement Plan Lead and Scottish Stroke Care Audit (SSCA) National Clinical Coordinator continue to work closely with each Health board’s stroke Managed Clinical Network (MCN) to ensure that the key priorities from the Stroke Improvement Plan and the Scottish Stroke Care Standards are implemented and monitored. This involves supporting the MCN in taking forward improvements through coaching and developing mechanisms for improving local services. The Improvement Plan Lead and SSCA Coordinator visit all Health boards at least once per year facilitating a formal Health board Annual Review Meeting to assess performance, discuss where standards are not being met and formulate an improvement plan with clearly identified actions where necessary. Data is reviewed six monthly and where necessary, a walkthrough of the patient pathway is conducted to identify areas where improvements in care can be made.

Question reference: S5W-02003

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 August 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 26 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of other countries doing so, for what reason Scotland does not audit longer-term rehabilitation in stroke care.

The Scottish Stroke Improvement Programme report published on 12 July contains data collected on stroke rehabilitation. From November 2015 to January 2016 a rehabilitation sprint audit was conducted in all acute and integrated stroke units and is again a focus for the Scottish Stroke Care Audit in 2016. The Stroke Improvement Plan, published in 2014 contains priorities on services focussed on transition to the community as well as supported self-management and living with stroke. Progress on the status of each NHS Board in relation to the priorities and actions in the improvement plan is closely monitored by the National Advisory Committee for Stroke.

Question reference: S5W-02315

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 15 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to providing funding for charitable trusts to carry out maintenance on public walkways.

A variety of funding sources are available for charitable trusts and other bodies to upgrade and carry out maintenance on public footpaths.

Grants to support the costs of the maintenance of urban public amenity areas in existing woodlands are available under the ‘Sustainable Management of Forests – Public Access’ option under the Woods In and Around Towns scheme, which is part of the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP). Details can be found at the following link: https://www.ruralpayments.org/publicsite/futures/topics/all-schemes/forestry-grant-scheme/sustainable-management-of-forests/public-access-woods-in-and-around-towns/.

In addition, the improving public access fund, which is part of the SRDP Agri-Environment-Climate Scheme, aims to support new and upgraded paths for public use: (https://www.ruralpayments.org/publicsite/futures/topics/all-schemes/agri-environment-climate-scheme/management-options-and-capital-items/improving-public-access/).

Scottish Natural Heritage has provided funding to support Paths for All to run a community grant scheme and Volunteering Matters to run an ‘Action Earth’ grants scheme. The Paths for All Community Paths Grants scheme is now closed for 2016 but offered up to £1,500 to help community groups maintain, as well as improve and promote, their local community paths: (http://www.pathsforall.org.uk/pfa/support/community-path-grants.html).

‘Action Earth’ grants range from £50 to £250 (up to £500 on a Local Nature Reserve) to purchase tools and materials or to cover volunteer expenses, for practical activities that involve volunteers in improving outdoor spaces: (http://www.communityscot.org.uk/news/article/action-earth-grab-grant/).

Question reference: S5W-02352

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 14 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what support it offers to young people with Asperger's who are (a) sitting exams and (b) planning to enter work after leaving school.

The Scottish Government want all children and young people to receive the support that they need to reach their full learning potential. This includes support when sitting exams and support for young people planning to enter the workforce.

For young people with an additional support need such as Asperger's who are sitting exams, a request can be made to the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) for reasonable adjustments to be made to remove barriers or mitigate adverse impacts. Responsibility for making such a request falls to the responsible body involved, as teachers are best placed to assess the specific needs of each young person. Where a request for an adjustment is made, the SQA will determine whether it is reasonable, based on individual need and on the need to maintain the standard and integrity of the qualification.

The Scottish Government, working in partnership with other agencies, has developed a number of strategies to improve the readiness of young people, including those with Asperger's, to join the workforce. The Scottish government also provides funding for a range of organisations that specialise in providing employment support for people with Autism.

Question reference: S5O-00129

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 September 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether its climate change plan will contain sectoral targets for waste, buildings, heat and transport.

Question reference: S5W-01782

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 August 2016
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 24 August 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the involvement of a representative on its Joint Housing Policy and Delivery Group in asking for the Scottish Government to assist in relation to the planning application by Sandlaw Farming for a housing development in Banchory represented a conflict of interest.

The Joint Housing Policy and Delivery Group includes representatives from 28 national housing related organisations. The Group offers Ministers advice on national strategic policy and delivery issues relating to housing. Members of the Joint Housing Policy and Delivery Group are expected to declare any conflicts of interest with respect to any topic being discussed by the Group. Specific housing developments are not discussed in the Group.

Question reference: S5W-01784

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 August 2016
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 24 August 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider publishing a register of cases in which ministers make contact, offer assistance or intervene in planning applications.

In the few cases where ministers intervene by recommending call-in of planning applications the reasons are publicly available. It is part of the day to day operation of the planning service that stakeholders, including government, communicate and it would not be practical to record and publish every case where there is discussion with government or its agencies. It would be for the planning authority in reporting to its Planning Committee to reflect any brokerage discussion relevant to the progress of any particular planning application and that would be both a proportionate and transparent reflection open to planning authorities.

Question reference: S5W-01780

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 August 2016
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 24 August 2016

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it made contact with Aberdeenshire Council in relation to the non-strategic/non-infrastructure planning application by Sandlaw Farming for a housing development in Banchory and whether it considers that this action was appropriate.

<>Contact between the Scottish Government and planning authorities is commonplace. In this instance contact was made in connection with a major housing proposal for private rented accommodation to request an update on the planning application and to enquire whether facilitated discussion had any role in the process. In the event, the planning authority were content to progress the application to planning committee and no further discussion took place.

Question reference: S5W-01781

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 August 2016
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 24 August 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what policy position determines its use of powers to become involved in non-strategic/non-infrastructure planning applications that have not become stalled in the planning process.

Scottish Planning Policy provides the policy context for Ministers’ expectations for the planning system. This underlines the importance of all those involved working together constructively and proportionately to achieve quality places. Whilst Scottish Ministers and planning authorities have respective formal roles which need to be respected, clear communication between all parties, including statutory agencies and Government can facilitate discussion and support efficient operation of the planning service. The Chief Planner’s brokerage role was reflected in the Government’s Economic Strategy (2011). However, any brokerage or discussion on individual cases is only progressed with the agreement of the principal parties and respecting the statutory role of both Ministers and planning authorities in the planning process.

Question reference: S5W-01783

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 August 2016
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 24 August 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reported concerns that there has been an increase in ministers intervening in local authority decisions regarding planning applications.

Scottish Ministers have a general power to intervene in the determination of a planning application but only where it appears there may be some matter of genuine national interest at stake. In practice, Ministers will exercise this power very sparingly, recognising and respecting the important role of local authorities in making decisions on the future development of their areas. As at 31 March 2016 there were approximately 788 live cases over one year old in the planning system, creating uncertainty for not only developers but the communities in which they are proposed. In year 2015-2016, planning authorities in Scotland determined 29,766 applications for planning permission. Through their power of call-in, Scottish Ministers intervened in 5 (0.02%) of those.