Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-01989

Asked by: Gordon Lindhurst, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 August 2016
Current Status: Answered by Annabelle Ewing on 6 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how many speeding offences within 30 mph zones in Lothian have been recorded in each of the last 10 years.

The information requested is not held centrally. The Scottish Government publishes annual statistics on speeding offences recorded by the police, however we do not hold this data for specific speed limits or for geographies other than local authority level. As the Chief Constable of Police Scotland is responsible for the policing of Scotland, it would be best to contact Police Scotland directly.

Question reference: S5W-01988

Asked by: Gordon Lindhurst, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 August 2016
Current Status: Answered by Annabelle Ewing on 6 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how many speeding offences within 20 mph zones surrounding school facilities in Lothian have been recorded in each of the last 10 years.

The information requested is not held centrally. The Scottish Government publishes annual statistics on speeding offences recorded by the police, however we do not hold this data for specific speed limits or for geographies other than local authority level. As the Chief Constable of Police Scotland is responsible for the policing of Scotland, it would be best to contact Police Scotland directly at PO Box 21184, Alloa, FK10 9DE.

Question reference: S5F-00153

Asked by: Gordon Lindhurst, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 September 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 September 2016

To ask the First Minister what measures the Scottish Government is taking to reverse the reported decline in inward investment, including as a share of the UK total.

Question reference: S5W-01385

Asked by: Gordon Lindhurst, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 July 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 4 August 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report from Information Services Division Scotland showing that, between December 2015 and March 2016, the number of vacant NHS consultant posts rose by 9.8%, and what action it is taking to reverse this trend.

Under this Government we currently have the highest NHS staffing levels ever, with numbers of consultants increasing by a record 42.9% to over 5,000 Whole Time Equivalent.

While there is indeed a 9.8% difference between the two published statistics in December 2015 and March 2016, this comparison represents a percentage difference between two date ranges but does not reflect the overall rate at which consultant vacancies as a percentage of Establishment are recorded.

The most reliable data on consultant vacancies as a percentage of Establishment shows that consultant vacancy rates have decreased over the past year, dropping from 7.7% in March 2015 to 6.5% in March 2016.

It is normal to expect some fluctuation in vacancies throughout the year, and this is linked to our efforts to increase capacity by recruiting even more staff.

The Scottish Government is fully committed to a sustainable NHS and works closely with NHS Boards as they continue to proactively recruit to available posts.

Question reference: S5W-01386

Asked by: Gordon Lindhurst, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 July 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 4 August 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report from Information Services Division Scotland showing that, between December 2015 and March 2016, the number of NHS consultant posts that had been vacant for six months or more had increased by 14.2%, and what action it is taking to reverse this trend.

Under this Government we currently have the highest NHS staffing levels ever, with numbers of consultants increasing by a record 42.9% to over 5,000 Whole Time Equivalent.

While there is indeed a 14.2% difference between the two published statistics in December 2015 and March 2016, this comparison represents a percentage difference between two date ranges but does not reflect the overall rate at which consultant vacancies as a percentage of Establishment are recorded.

The most reliable data on consultant vacancies as a percentage of Establishment shows that the number of consultant posts vacant for six months or more was 3% as at March 2016.

It is normal to expect some fluctuation in vacancies throughout the year, and this is linked to our efforts to increase capacity by recruiting even more staff.

The Scottish Government is fully committed to a sustainable NHS and works closely with NHS Boards as they continue to proactively recruit to available posts.

Question reference: S5O-00071

Asked by: Gordon Lindhurst, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 June 2016
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of the retail industry to discuss government investment in town centres.

Question reference: S5W-00714

Asked by: Gordon Lindhurst, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 21 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that local authorities make provision for adequate as well as dedicated cycle routes in, to and through each of Scotland’s cities.

The Scottish Government provides funding directly to local authorities through the cycling, walking and safer streets capital grant for projects that build and promote safe cycling and walking paths. last year we also announced a new competition called community links plus which invites local authorities to bid for significant funding for on-road segregated cycle paths. I will announce the winner of this competition in the autumn.

In addition, the Scottish Government is investing record levels of funding in active travel, around £39 million in 2015-16 and I have made a commitment to match that in this current financial year. Sustrans receive the majority of this for its community links projects which this year has attracted matched funding of £23.5 million from local authorities and other stakeholders.

Question reference: S5O-00012

Asked by: Gordon Lindhurst, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 June 2016
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had or plans to have with NHS boards and local authorities regarding disabled access in and around hospitals and other health facilities.

Chamber and committees