- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 03 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 19 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether all drugs that are approved for prescribing on the NHS are available to be prescribed to people in prison.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-16574 on 19 April 2023. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 19 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-16093 by Jenny Gilruth on 28 March 2023, whether it, Transport Scotland, CalMac or CMAL made the final decision on chartering MV Alfred for the Clyde and Hebrides network.
Answer
The charter, and preceding discussions, for the MV Alfred from Pentland Ferries for use in Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service contract were a matter for the operator CalMac Ferries Limited.
In line with the Contract for the Provision of Ferry Services Between the Scottish Ministers and Calmac Ferries Limited, the confirmation of funding and agreement to proceed were provided by the Scottish Ministers prior to CalMac Ferries Limited deciding to sign the charter.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 19 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-14261 by Jenny Gilruth on 6 February 2023, and in relation to the two full time equivalent employees in ScotRail's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Team, whether it will outline their role, responsibilities and aims, including how each job role relates to ScotRail staff and passengers.
Answer
ScotRail advises that the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Manager (ED&I Manager) post ensures that its diversity, equality, inclusion, and engagement initiatives are a core element of its People Strategy and fully embedded across all areas of the organisation.
The ScotRail ED&I Adviser Reports directly to the ED&I Manager and supports the programme of work to ensure that ScotRail’s diversity, equality, inclusion, and engagement initiatives are delivered.
Full detail on roles and responsibilities are a matter for the employer. The Member may wish to contact Scottish Rail Holdings for further information, if required:-
[email protected]
- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 03 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 19 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether the range of drugs available for prescribing to prisoners is consistent across all prison estates; whether it will outline any variations and what the reasons are for these, and what body is responsible for deciding what drugs are available for prescribing in each prison estate.
Answer
The range of drugs that exist for clinicians to prescribe to people in prison across all prison estates is the same as those available to NHS patients across the same geographical areas (Health Boards).
There may be some difference in what the first line and second line formulary recommendations are in each of the Boards, with these differences being attributable to local variation in assessment of clinical and cost effectiveness.
The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) is responsible for approving all medicines for use in the NHS in Scotland. Once a medicine has been approved by the SMC it is then considered for addition to the local formulary by the Boards Area Drugs and Therapeutic Committee (ADTCC). The ADTCC is a statutory committee of the Board with responsibility for the safe and effective use of medicines in that Board.
All medicines approved for use in the NHS in Scotland are available to all people in prison regardless of location, through the same processes that are available to the non-custodial population.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 19 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government when the Minister for Community Safety last met with the Fire Brigades Union, and what issues were discussed.
Answer
The previous Minister for Community Safety met with the FBU on 2 February 2023. This meeting, which included Professor Anna Stec of the University of Central Lancashire, was specifically to discuss issues around the FBU DECON campaign including firefighter health screening, the SFRS estate and budgets.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 03 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 19 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what the timetabled dwell time at (a) Usan and (b) Montrose junction (signals MN39 and MN5) is, and on how many occasions in the last 24 months the dwell time has been exceeded to the extent that trains were officially "delayed" on this section of the railway.
Answer
This is an operational matter for Network Rail and ScotRail and as such Transport Scotland does not hold the information requested.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 19 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Scottish Fire and Rescue Service regarding taking preventative action to protect firefighters and their families from carcinogenic contaminants.
Answer
The Scottish Government moved swiftly to meet with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) after the Members debate on the FBU DECON Campaign on 19 January 2023. In addition to regular discussions with the SFRS Chair and Chief Officer, the former Minister for Community Safety met with the SFRS at their Headquarters on 21 February 2023 to discuss current actions that the SFRS are taking and also future plans to further protect firefighters from contaminants. Officials are also in close contact with the SFRS on an ongoing basis on these issues.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Christina McKelvie on 19 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on what the (a) short- and (b) long-term impact will be of the reported pause to Scotland’s involvement in the Venice Biennale, in light of the exhibition's reported role in promoting Scottish arts and culture worldwide over the last 20 years.
Answer
The Scottish Government recognises the important international platform offered by the Venice Biennale to promote the best contemporary art and architecture from Scotland on the world stage.
The decision by Creative Scotland and the other Scotland + Venice partners to pause their involvement in the Venice Biennale in 2024 allows for an important period of reflection and review.
The decision does not affect the delivery of the 2023 Scotland + Venice Architecture project, A Fragile Correspondence, which will take place in Venice from May – November, this year.
The Scotland + Venice partners will be undertaking sectoral engagement to explore new approaches to the project for the longer term while also looking to identify opportunities for artists and curators to experience the Biennale in 2024.
The Scottish Government is fully committed to supporting the Scottish culture sector’s international interests and ambitions and is currently developing an International Culture Strategy to that end.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 19 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether there are any plans to abolish toilet charges at train stations.
Answer
ScotRail currently has no plans to change its current policy on toilet charges at stations.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 03 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 19 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on whether it
plans to make road improvements to increase road safety at Toll of Birness on
the A90; what the evidence base is that indicates that any such road
improvements will increase safety specifically at that junction, and, if
(a) it has no such road improvement plans and (b) no evidence base exists,
whether it will confirm this.
Answer
Transport Scotland undertakes an annual assessment of the safety performance of the entire trunk road network, including the A90. This assessment considers accident patterns and rates in the form of Route Accident Reduction Plans (RARP), and screens all locations where three or more personal injury accidents have occurred in a three-year period. This ensures that full consideration is given to accidents that may be spread along a specific corridor. Further investigations are then carried out and, where appropriate, mitigation measures are prioritised for delivery.
Two interactive signs were erected in 2017 with a third interactive sign to supplement the northbound signs erected in 2021. These signs alert drivers to vehicles turning at the junction and encourage drivers to drive within the speed limit. Other work involved an additional northbound advance direction sign. There are currently no further road safety improvement plans at A90 Toll of Birness, however, this will be monitored through the Annual Road Safety Review.
