- Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 11 May 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 23 May 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, what its response is to the comment made by the managing director of the ScotRail Alliance to the Rural Affairs and Connectivity Committee on 9 May 2018 (Official Report, c.10) regarding the Glasgow-Falkirk-Edinburgh service that "we would like to deliver 42-minute journeys on the brand new electric trains for this December [2018]. Not every service will be 42 minutes this December—that comes the following year—but that is our aspiration. Clearly, that is dependent on our having the rolling stock from Hitachi to deliver it", and what target it has set ScotRail to deliver the full 42-minute service on every journey.
Answer
The intention to provide a 42 minute journey on the Edinburgh to Glasgow via Falkirk High route has always been aligned with the December 2018 timetable change date. Alex Hynes, ScotRail Alliance Managing Director, confirmed at his appearance at the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee on 9 May 2018 he expects a fastest journey time of 42 minutes to be achieved from December 2018. The Scottish Government welcomes his commitment to explore options to improve upon this in future years.
The ScotRail Alliance has already delivered journey time improvements with some electric services on the route achieving 44 minutes since the December 2017 timetable change.
- Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 11 May 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 23 May 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, what its response is to the comment made by the managing director of the ScotRail Alliance to the Rural Affairs and Connectivity Committee on 9 May 2018 (Official Report, c. 3) that, in light of the £1.6 million fine issued to the operator because of missed targets in 2018, "our performance against the standards that are set out… could be better", and how it expects ScotRail to improve its performance against these standards.
Answer
The Service Quality Incentive Regime (SQUIRE) is working as per design and continues to incentivise ScotRail to manage the improvement in performance of the services and facilities it is contracted to provide.
Due to the level of performance, Scottish Government requested action plans designed specifically to address the root causes of the poor performance. ScotRail delivered the action plans as per request but additionally instigated two organisational wide reviews, focussing on resourcing and recruitment and on managing pro-active and re-active maintenance.
It is envisaged that when the actions identified from the reviews are fully implemented they will have a significant positive impact on SQUIRE performance. Some of the actions have already been introduced and the early indications of improvement are encouraging.
- Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 11 May 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Maureen Watt on 23 May 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the seed funding for the service having ceased, how it will support the One Stop Shop initiative in providing support for people with autism and their families.
Answer
The one stop shop model was initially funded by the Scottish Government from the Scottish Strategy for Autism as a pilot to ensure autistic people received the support they needed following an autism assessment. There was an expectation that the six one stop shops would be embedded in local strategic delivery plans and become sustainable in each locality by the end of government funding. The remaining four One Stop Shops provide essential early intervention pre and post diagnostic support to autistic adults, children and their families and the services are valued however, the Scottish Government cannot continue to provide funding for local services.
Integration Authorities (IA) are responsible for the strategic planning and decision making for all services delegated to them, including services for autistic people, in line with their statutory obligations and Scottish Government policy. This means they are responsible for the delivery of local services and for the implementation of local autism strategies and action plans.
- Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 May 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Maureen Watt on 23 May 2018
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that autism services provide equal access to diagnosis.
Answer
The Scottish Strategy for Autism sets out a framework which seeks the removal of barriers to diagnosis across Scotland; however, diagnosis is a matter for Integration Authorities (IAs). Access to diagnosis varies across IAs, and in some there is no diagnostic provision for adults without a learning disability or a mental health condition. The Scottish Government is willing to work with IA to address these inequalities in access.
In 2016, the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network published SIGN 145, Assessment, diagnosis and interventions for autism spectrum disorder . The Scottish Government would expect IAs to follow these guidelines.
- Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 May 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Maureen Watt on 23 May 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what support is provided immediately after a diagnosis of autism.
Answer
This is a matter for Integration Authorities (IAs) and varies across Scotland. In some areas support is provided in-house, while in others it is provided by the national autism charities and local third sector organisations.
We recognise the importance of pre-and post-diagnostic autism support, and that is why the Scottish Government has committed to working with partners to develop a national autism resource. This resource will pull together information on all the national and local resources available to autistic people and their families.
- Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 May 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Maureen Watt on 23 May 2018
To ask the Scottish Government how it commissions autism services.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not commission autism services. Integration Authorities are responsible for the strategic planning and decision making for all functions delegated to them, including autism services for autistic people in line with their statutory responsibilities under the Public Bodies (Joint Working)(Scotland) Act 2014.
- Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 May 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Maureen Watt on 23 May 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what standards it expects from services that claim to offer specialism in dealing with autism.
Answer
The Scottish Strategy for Autism provides a framework for Integration Authorities (IAs), who are responsible for the strategic planning and decision making for all functions delegated to them, including autism services. The Scottish Government expects IAs to commission social care services which meet the needs of the autistic person for whom they are being commissioned. Social care service providers should ensure autistic people are met with recognition and understanding, and properly supported by trained staff.
- Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 May 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 22 May 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the finding in the report, No Problem Here: Understanding Racism in Scotland, that Scotland has a higher rate of murders that were known or suspected to have a racist element than the rest of the UK.
Answer
Racism is completely unacceptable and we are committed to tackling it.
Racist incidents and racist hate crime have shown a downwards trend in Scotland in recent times, with racially motivated homicides being rare (in 2016-17, there were two victims of homicide that were reported to have had a racial motivation, representing 3 per cent of all victims in the latest year). The total number of homicides has fallen by 47% in the past ten years with racially motivated homicides accounting for just 1.1% of the overall figure.
One incident is too many though and we are resolved to do everything that it takes to ensure that Scotland is a place where there is zero tolerance of prejudice or bigotry in any form. That’s why our Race Equality Action Plan: A Fairer Scotland for All was published in December and includes over 120 actions which we will take over the lifetime of this Parliament to tackle racism and to improve the lives of minority ethnic communities in Scotland. This includes work to tackle hate crime and prejudice, and build greater community cohesion.
- Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 May 2018
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 24 May 2018
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to reports that nearly £4 million is being spent on sending X-rays, and CT and MRI scans to radiologists outwith Scotland.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 24 May 2018
- Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 May 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 17 May 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the finding in the report, No Problem Here: Understanding Racism in Scotland, that black and minority ethnic applicants for large public sector organisations in Scotland had a 1.1% chance of being appointed, compared with 8.1% for white applicants.
Answer
Creating diverse workforces and inclusive workplaces that harness the talents of everyone is crucial to support continuous improvement in Scotland’s public services.
Public authorities are subject to a comprehensive set of equality requirements, as set out in the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012 (as amended). Those requirements include action to improve the delivery of policies and services as well as increasing the diversity of their workforce. Each public authority produces reports on progress with delivery at regular intervals and those reports are regulated by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
As part of the Scottish Government’s own equality outcomes as a public sector employer it has committed to increasing the diversity of its workforce to be reflective of Scottish society by 2025.
The Scottish Government, through our Race Equality Action Plan published in December 2017, has committed to a number of actions we will take over this Parliamentary session to drive positive change for minority ethnic communities in Scotland. These include engaging with a wide range of public sector employers in a discussion about what positive actions we can take to improve employment and progression for minority ethnic communities; and publishing a public appointments action plan detailing specific actions on research and positive action steps, in partnership with the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland, race equality and other relevant intermediary organisations.
