- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 30 September 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 18 October 2024
To ask the Scottish Government on what dates since 2022 the Pain Management Task Force has discussed migraine-related issues, and what the outcomes were of any such discussions.
Answer
The Pain Management Task Force oversees the implementation of the Framework for Pain Management Service Delivery in Scotland. Discussions at the Task Force are centred around delivery of the actions in the Implementation Plan rather than condition specific issues. While there have been no specific discussions on migraine-related issues at the Task Force, many of the actions in the Plan discussed at each Task Force meeting will benefit people with migraine, such as updated quality prescribing guidelines and the creation of a chronic pain Knowledge Hub, a resource available to all NHS Scotland staff and third sector organisations to deepen their understanding of chronic pain.
- Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 October 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 17 October 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what it anticipates the potential impact of any reduction in grant funding to the Timberlink coastal shipping service will be on Scotland's journey towards achieving net zero.
Answer
Discussions are ongoing so no formal impact assessment has been undertaken.
- Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 11 October 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 17 October 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to bring forward legislation in relation to any future Commonwealth Games to be held in Scotland and, if so, (a) when and (b) what matters will be covered.
Answer
The Scottish Government will not bring forward any legislation in relation to the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
For the 2014 Games, the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2008 Act was passed to support Government Guarantees in relation to street trading, advertising, ticket touting, and transport and provide for the acquisition of land for facilities and the funding of the Organising Committee. However, a key condition of the Scottish Government’s support for the 2026 Commonwealth Games is that Scotland will only act within its existing legal framework. This condition has been clearly communicated to both Commonwealth Games Scotland and the Commonwealth Games Federation and is accepted by all parties.
- Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 October 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 17 October 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how many journeys have been taken by young people under the age of 22 in (a) Inverclyde, (b) North Ayrshire, (c) West Dunbartonshire and (d) East Dunbartonshire using the concessionary bus travel scheme since its launch.
Answer
As of the end of day 30 September 2024, the amount of journeys made by young people under the Young Persons’ (under 22) Free Bus Travel Scheme since its launch, was (a) Inverclyde – 2,578,637, (b) North Ayrshire – 4,719,775, (c) West Dunbartonshire – 2,986,088 and (d) East Dunbartonshire – 2,251,144.
Journeys are based on the local authority in which the card was issued, therefore some journeys will have been undertaken outwith the local authority area.
- Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 October 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 17 October 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to those living in residential properties for which a right of lease in land is registered and granted for a period of more than 175 years and were not converted to ownership under the Long Leases (Scotland) Act 2012.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not offer support for individuals whose lease did not meet the criteria to convert under the Long Leases (Scotland) Act 2012.
Individuals with leases which did not convert should consider making contact with their landlord to establish whether they would be willing to consider ending the lease. Tenants should be aware that the landlord will be seeking compensation and the level will be dependent of the circumstances of the lease. Any such discussions will be a private matter which the Scottish Government will not be able to intervene or assist with. Advice from a legal adviser may be required.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 October 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 17 October 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to (a) raise awareness of the concept of “digital legacies” and (b) encourage people to make provision for their digital accounts and assets after they pass away.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not have any plans to raise awareness of digital legacies or to make provision for their digital accounts and assets after they pass away. The Scottish Government encourages all individuals to consider taking professional advice and make a will. Digital assets take many forms and will vary from one individual to another. Solicitors are best placed to offer advice tailored to a person’s specific circumstances and the Law Society of Scotland offers training and advice to its members on digital legacies and digital assets.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 07 October 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 17 October 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what the timeline is for the introduction of the proposed The Promise Bill.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to keep The Promise by 2030 and has recently set out further detail on activity underway in our Promise Implementation Plan Update 2024.
This includes a continued commitment to introduce a Promise Bill by the end of this parliamentary session, dependent on wider pressures on the Parliamentary legislative calendar. The Scottish Government continue to work with partners, including The Promise Scotland and COSLA, to identify areas where a legislative direction may support delivery of The Promise. There are a number of public consultations underway which, where appropriate, will inform any legislative change required. This is supported by a programme of engagement and participation with the care experienced community which is being led by Who Cares? Scotland and Barnardo’s.
- Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 October 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 17 October 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has produced an action plan on achieving compliance with Article 9(4) of the UN Aarhus Convention to ensure that access to justice is "fair, timely, equitable, and not prohibitively expensive".
Answer
The Scottish Government will be contributing to a UK wide report on compliance to the Aarhus Compliance Committee very shortly. The report will detail significant progress towards addressing concerns previously raised by the Compliance Committee.
Our “Vision for Justice in Scotland: three-year delivery plan” contains an action to engage with key stakeholders to inform and shape future legislative proposals in relation to the reform of legal aid. Those proposals will build upon the recommendations of the independent strategic review undertaken by Martyn Evans and upon subsequent public consultations. Discussions on legal aid reform will commence this year and will include environmental stakeholders.
- Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 October 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 17 October 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to bring forward legislation or regulation in respect of the legal status of residential properties for which a right of lease in land is registered and granted for a period of more than 175 years and were not converted to ownership under the Long Leases (Scotland) Act 2012.
Answer
The Scottish Government has no plans to bring forward legislation on long leases at this time.
The Long Leases (Scotland) Act 2012 converted certain ultra-long leases (over 175 years long) with an unexpired duration of 100 years (on the appointed day) into outright ownership. These periods were chosen based on research carried out by the Scottish Law Commission and is set out in its Report on Conversion of Long Leases (2006). Report on Conversion of Long Leases (Scot Law Com No 204)
The Scottish Government requires to ensure that any legislation that is put before the Scottish Parliament is compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). These provisions were considered to be consistent with Article 14 and Article 1, Protocol 1 of the ECHR.
- Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 October 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 17 October 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how many residential properties for which a right of lease in land is registered and granted for a period of more than 175 years were not converted to ownership under the Long Leases (Scotland) Act 2012.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold this information.
The Scottish Law Commission (SLC) Report on Conversion of Long Leases (2006). Report on Conversion of Long Leases (Scot Law Com No 204) provides several tables on the number of leases and the variations of length and duration. A survey of long leases was undertaken by the SLC see paragraph 1.14 and Appendix C for the results broken down into various categories.
