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-24227

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 July 2019
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 31 July 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its analysis of the responses to its consultation on the Job Grant, what its position is on almost three quarters of the organisations that responded seeing potential unintended consequences, and whether it plans to amend the Job Grant in light of this.

Question reference: S5W-24228

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 July 2019
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 31 July 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its analysis of the responses to its consultation on the Job Grant, which highlights concerns among some respondents that certain groups are being overlooked, whether it is considering amending the Job Grant to take more account of the views of (a) disabled people and (b) ethnic minorities and refugees.

Question reference: S5W-24226

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 July 2019
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 31 July 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its analysis of the responses to its consultation on the Job Grant, what it is doing to amend the Job Grant to make it more accessible to people on zero hour contracts.

The Scottish Government is committed to introducing a Job Grant to support a smooth transition into employment for young people on low incomes. The analysis of consultation responses, published on 3 July 2019, shows that an overwhelming majority of individuals and organisations who responded believe that the Job Grant will meet this policy intention.

The Scottish Government will publish its response to the Job Grant consultation analysis in due course. This will address the issues raised by respondents and take into account the views gathered through our Young People’s Survey and our direct engagement with a range of stakeholders.

Question reference: S5W-24163

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 July 2019
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 31 July 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce a four-year health MOT pilot for people over 40, and, if so, how much it will cost.

Question reference: S5W-24081

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 01 July 2019
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 31 July 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to ensure that recipients of Carer’s Allowance Supplement are fully informed regarding when they will receive their payments.

Social Security Scotland announced at the end of last year that Carer’ Allowance Supplement payments would be made in June and December 2019. It was confirmed on the 5 June that the majority of carers will get their June payment on 24 June. This information was shared through the media, social media and stakeholders.

Those eligible for a payment were a sent a letter in advance, informing them they were due to receive a payment. Similar arrangements will be made for the December 2019 payments.

Question reference: S5W-24079

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 01 July 2019
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 31 July 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to increase the Carer’s Allowance Supplement.

Question reference: S5W-24087

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 01 July 2019
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 31 July 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance exists regarding the installation of netting around hedgerows, trees and other wildlife to protect nesting birds.

The Scottish Government is not aware of any specific guidance covering the installation of netting around hedgerows, trees and other wildlife.

There is currently no legislation that specifically prevents the installation of netting around hedgerows or trees.

However, Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 does makes it an offence to obstruct or prevent any bird from using its nest during the nesting season and this would include the use of netting.

Question reference: S5W-24366

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 July 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 30 July 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent Scottish Stroke Care Audit report, which suggested that thrombolysis door to needle times have stalled.

Question reference: S5W-24299

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 July 2019
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 30 July 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has plans to consider establishing treatment and guidance for psychopathy in adults.

Psychopathy is antisocial personality disorder. The Scottish Government has no plans at present to produce guidance on this. NICE clinical guideline [CG77] on “Antisocial personality disorder: prevention and management” was published in January 2009, and updated in March 2013. This guides clinical practice in the UK. The Royal College of Psychiatrists also publishes information for the public on personality disorders that includes information on psychological and physical treatment: https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mental-health/problems-disorders/personality-disorder

Question reference: S5W-24309

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 July 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 30 July 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on adopting integrated care systems across the NHS.

The Scottish Government are supportive of integrated care systems across health and social care.

That is why work is currently underway through the NES Digital Service (NDS) to develop a National Digital Platform to support the secure and effective flow of people's data across both health and social care. It aims to breakdown traditional integration barriers between for example primary and secondary care, across health board boundaries and between health and social care.