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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 2294 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S5W-18585

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 20 September 2018

The majority of Scotland's GP practices (94%) are run by independent contractors. As such it is for practices to agree terms and conditions with the locums whom they engage, and so information on average GP locum rates is not held by the Scottish Government.

However, under the 2018 GP Contract GP Practices will provide more data on their practice workforce and related expenses, which will allow more transparency on GP locum use in the future.

Question reference: S5W-18587

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 18 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a maximum time for which a locum can be employed to cover GP vacancies, and what the average time for a locum providing GP cover has been in each of the last five years.

The Scottish Government does not set a maximum time for which a GP locum can be engaged. Locums can be engaged to provide cover for a variety of reasons, such as maternity or paternity leave, long-term study leave and sickness cover. It is for locums to agree their terms and conditions with the GP Practice or Health Board which engages them.

The National Primary Care Workforce Survey does not collect annual data on the average time for a locum providing GP cover, however under the 2018 GP Contract GP Practices will provide data on their practice workforce, which will allow more transparency on GP locum use in the future.

Question reference: S5W-18586

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 18 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) lowest and (b) highest rate is that GPs can offer for locum cover.

Question reference: S5O-02382

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 September 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to a recent Unison report, which states that owning a home has become "virtually impossible" for many public sector workers.

Question reference: S5O-02325

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 6 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that it has an ethical international relations strategy.

Our International Framework is underpinned by a commitment to Good Global Citizenship. Through our bilateral relationships with other nations we seek to make distinctive contributions in addressing global challenges, sharing our knowledge, skills and technical expertise for global good.

Our international development work focuses on alleviating poverty and we seek to build the UN sustainable development goals into our overseas projects wherever possible. In our partner countries we provide ethical leadership and a positive voice in the world on global issues such as solidarity, tolerance, human rights and climate change. This work is outlined in our Contribution to International Development Report published on Monday 3rd September

Question reference: S5W-17962

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 22 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has examined the consistency of methodology used by the First Tier Tribunal for Scotland to determine its rulings on rent increases.

Question reference: S5W-17967

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Ash Denham on 17 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome was of each of the First Tier Tribunal for Scotland’s rulings on rent increases, and what methodology was used to determine each ruling.

Question reference: S5W-17966

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Ash Denham on 17 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome was of any reviews that have been accepted of an initial ruling on rent increases by the First Tier Tribunal for Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-17965

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Ash Denham on 17 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many appeals for a review of the initial ruling of the First Tier Tribunal for Scotland have been accepted.

Question reference: S5W-17963

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Ash Denham on 17 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many appeals against rent increases the First Tier Tribunal for Scotland has overseen, and how many of these resulted in the rent (a) not increasing, (b) increasing by the amount proposed by the landlord and (c) increasing by an amount greater than that proposed by the landlord.