- Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 May 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 17 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of any communications that it has had with the (a) Lord President of the Court of Session and (b) Judicial Office for Scotland regarding a public inquiry into criminal prosecutions relating to the takeover of Rangers FC, since the Scottish Government announced in February 2021 that it was committed to such an inquiry.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to a process of a judge-led inquiry once all legal proceedings are at an end. The exact form of inquiry and necessary engagement in relation to the inquiry will be determined at the point once all legal proceedings are concluded.
- Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 May 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 17 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6O-03191
by Jenni Minto on 13 March 2024, whether it still expects supplies of
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication in Scotland to have stabilised
by the end of May 2024, and whether, at that point, it expects NHS
Scotland and NHS boards to be able to prescribe such medication to new patients.
Answer
Various Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) medicines continue to experience limited and intermittent supply issues. We are aware that market data has indicated that some of these issues will continue beyond May 2024 into the Summer.
As the pricing and supply of medicines is a reserved matter for the UK Government, we continue to engage with them to find a lasting solution on minimising the impact of these medicine shortages on patients and their families.
The Chief Pharmaceutical Officer (CPO) sits on the UK Government’s Medicine Shortages Response Group (MSRG). The CPO continues to raise the issue of ADHD medicine shortages and has urged the UK Government to consider alternative solutions, if possible, for medicines with continuous and intermittent supply issues. There was general agreement that the situation wasn’t improving, and that the UK medicine supply team would consider what further could be done, including organising a meeting with the manufacturers to seek further solutions. We hope to be in a position to update on this further in due course.
For anyone who experiences difficulties in obtaining their prescribed ADHD medication, I encourage them to discuss this with their specialist, who should be able to review their circumstances and prescribe an alternative treatment if appropriate until stock supplies are stabilised.
- Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 May 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 17 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of any communications that it has had in the last 24 months with the Information Commissioner’s Office regarding the vulnerable persons database that is operated by Police Scotland.
Answer
The management of the interim Vulnerable Persons Database (iVPD) is a matter for Police Scotland. As with any other organisation, Police Scotland has a duty to gather and process personal data lawfully. The Scottish Government has had no communication with the Information Commissioner's Office regarding the iVPD during this period.
For further information on the iVPD please refer to answer S6W-27225 on 17 May 2024.
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: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 May 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 17 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of any communications that it has had in the last 24 months with (a) Police Scotland and (b) the Scottish Police Authority regarding the vulnerable persons database that is operated by Police Scotland.
Answer
The management of the interim Vulnerable Persons Database (iVPD) is a matter for Police Scotland. As with any other organisation, Police Scotland has a duty to gather and process personal data lawfully.
The iVPD is used to source information for both (i) the annual Official Statistics on police recorded domestic abuse incidents and (ii) social research on the volume and type of police recorded hate crime in Scotland.
As part of producing these reports, Scottish Government statisticians have regular and ongoing communications with their counterparts in Police Scotland about the iVPD and the topics of domestic abuse and hate crime. Examples of this include both the planning of updated publications (such as timings for data receipt and quality assurance) and discussions on any future changes that might be made to the methodology for producing these statistics.
- Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 May 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has offered (a) ScotRail, (b) Transport for Edinburgh and (c) bus operators any additional support to ensure that all people travelling to and from the upcoming Taylor Swift concert in Edinburgh can do so without any concerns for capacity issues on public transport.
Answer
I refer the member to the answers to questions S6W-27379 on 17 May 2024 and S6W-27276 on 14 May 2024.
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: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 May 2024
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Current Status:
Initiated by the Scottish Government.
Answered by Shona Robison on 17 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any implications of the UK Spring Budget for the 2024-25 Scottish Budget, and what its current position is on the 2023-24 Scottish Budget.
Answer
The UK Spring Budget, announced by the Chancellor on 6 March, generated £293 million of resource consequentials for 2024-25, of which £237 million relates to Health. Health consequentials will be passed on in full to the Health portfolio, in line with our manifesto commitment.
The remaining £56 million of resource funding will be passed on to local authorities to support the Council Tax freeze. This comes on top of the record funding I announced for local authorities back in December.
Disappointingly, Scotland received no new capital or financial transactions funding so the Scottish Government will continue to see a real-terms cut in our capital block grant – a cumulative loss of over £1.3 billion by 2027-28.
The 2023-24 budget in both resource and capital will be delivered on balance, which is a significant achievement given the pressures we have faced. As per normal practice, following the year-end process, Scottish Ministers will confirm the 2023-24 provisional outturn position to Parliament in June.
- Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 May 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 17 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-18553 by Emma Roddick on 14 June 2023, whether it has since received the initial findings, and whether it will publish these in due course.
Answer
The archival analysis element of the research is underway and the report is currently being drafted. We anticipate receiving the report from this work towards the end of summer 2024. The contract for the qualitative research was tendered twice but no compliant bids were received.
We intend to publish the report from the archival analysis in due course, and will work to ensure those who wish to provide feedback and share their experiences will be able to do so. We will then consider next steps thereafter.
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 May 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what recent correspondence it has had with Glasgow City Council regarding the impact of its Low Emission Zone (LEZ) scheme in reducing emissions from private car use and improving air quality levels.
Answer
Transport Scotland officials meet regularly with officials from Glasgow City Council, to discuss progress and learning around the impact of its Low Emission Zone (LEZ).
Statutory reports on LEZ performance and air quality monitoring are expected from Glasgow City Council in summer 2024 and will be published in due course.
- Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 May 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions (a) the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and (b) her officials have had with (i) ScotRail, (ii) Transport for Edinburgh and (c) bus operators regarding preparations for the upcoming Taylor Swift concert in Edinburgh.
Answer
Transport Scotland Officials, along with relevant transport stakeholders, routinely take part in the multi-agency Events Planning and Operations Group (EPOG) dealing with Events. EPOG is run by the City of Edinburgh Council as the lead planning authority in respect of events within Edinburgh, such as Taylor Swift.
Through the EPOG discussions, enhanced transport arrangements have been put into place across Lothian Buses, Edinburgh Trams and ScotRail services, to meet the increased demands expected at the Taylor Swift concerts.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 May 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress with the introduction of Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) on Dunoon-Gourock services provided by (a) CalMac Ferries and (b) Western Ferries.
Answer
Ferry fares policy, including Road Equivalent Tariff (RET), is currently being reviewed through the Fair Fares Review and Islands Connectivity Plan.
The draft Islands Connectivity Plan Strategic Approach, published for consultation on 1 February 2024, made a number of proposals around ferry fares policy, including RET.
The online consultation concluded on 6 May 2024 and responses will now be collated and analysed. Further detail on next steps and timescales will be confirmed in due course.
Any introduction of RET fares on the Gourock to Dunoon services would require careful consideration and an appropriate mechanism to reflect the commercial operator and ensure this meets with Subsidy Control requirements. Further work would be required to develop these proposals.