Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-08460

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 19 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the work carried out by Catholic schools in communities across the country.

The Scottish Government welcomes the positive contribution that Catholic schools make to all of Scotland’s communities.

Modern Scotland is a multi-faith and multi-cultural society. The Scottish Government’s aim is that Scotland should be a place where young people of all faiths can follow their religion and achieve their potential and the Scottish Government works hard to protect our common values, including maintaining and advancing freedom of thought, conscience and religion. The Scottish Government value the significant contribution that all faith communities make to public life in Scotland, supporting the most vulnerable people in our society and developing community cohesion.

Question reference: S5W-08118

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 28 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding compliance with (a) seafarer welfare and (b) maritime safety regulations on new vessels ordered by private operators in the ferry industry.

No recent discussions have taken place with the UK Government regarding compliance with (a) seafarer welfare and (b) maritime safety regulations on new vessels ordered by private operators in the ferry industry.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency regulates vessels in UK waters, working with industry and international organisations to set standards for maritime safety and security. There are specific codes of practice for passenger ships operating in UK waters. All ferry operators need to follow the same code of practice, irrespective of whether the ferry is privately or publicly owned and operated.

Question reference: S5W-07951

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 21 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the report commissioned from Peter Brett Associates as part of the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance study of the Arran ferry service; how much the report cost, and when it will announce its final decision on the future of these services.

The report by Peter Brett Associates was published on the Transport Scotland website on 20 March 2017. The port operators and Councils have been invited to make comments on the report by 3 April 2017.

The PBA report was commissioned through Lot 4 (Maritime) of the Multi-Supplier Framework Agreement for Engineering and Transportation Consultancy Services at a cost of £45,925 plus VAT.

The final decision on the future of the service will be made once comments on the report have been received and considered.

Question reference: S5W-07569

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 27 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Mark McDonald on 13 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to increase the number of donor milk banks.

The Scottish Government currently has no plans to increase the number of donor milk banks in Scotland. However, a Scotland-wide donor milk bank was launched in 2013 to provide equitable access to donated breast milk for the smallest and sickest infants across Scotland. It is currently successfully accepting milk from across Scotland and providing milk to all of Scotland’s Neonatal and Maternity Units for the most vulnerable infants.

Question reference: S5W-07346

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 6 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many people in the NHS (a) Lanarkshire and (b) Greater Glasgow and Clyde area have multiple sclerosis.

Question reference: S5W-07345

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 6 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many specialist nurses there are in NHS (a) Lanarkshire and (b) Greater Glasgow and Clyde who are responsible for helping people with multiple sclerosis in their own home.

Information on the number of specialist nurses who are responsible for the delivery of Multiple Sclerosis care is published by ISD Scotland and is available at the following link:-

https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/2016-12-06/Clinical_Nurse_Specialists_S2016.xls

The data available does not specify whether specialist nurses are responsible for patients in home settings. Specific local information may be available from individual NHS Boards.

Question reference: S5O-00733

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 March 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to retain and recruit teachers to tackle shortages.

Question reference: S5W-06836

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 1 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to compensate students who have enrolled on undergraduate and postgraduate teaching courses and subsequently not been provided with promised placements.

Universities are responsible for the delivery of Initial Teacher Education (ITE) and it is for them to ensure that placements are provided and that complaints or concerns about courses are addressed. The General Teaching Council for Scotland have confirmed that in academic year 2015-16 all students studying ITE courses were provided with teaching placements and received their full entitlement as part of their degree. I understand this has also been achieved for the current academic year.

While the Scottish Government has no active role in allocating students to placements in schools, we have requested that the GTCS, the Association of Directors of Education (ADES) and the universities jointly review the system and take action to help improve the process at a national level.

Question reference: S5W-06839

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 1 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to hold to account universities that enrol students onto undergraduate and postgraduate teaching courses and subsequently fail to provide them with promised placements.

Universities are responsible for the delivery of Initial Teacher Education and it is for them to ensure that placements are provided and that complaints or concerns about courses are addressed.

While the Scottish Government has no active role in allocating students to placements in schools, we have requested that the GTCS, the Association of Directors of Education (ADES) and the universities jointly review the system and take action to help improve the process at a national level.

Question reference: S5W-06947

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 February 2017
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its statement on Scotland’s ferry services on 2 February 2017, what steps it will take to reassure CalMac Ferries staff and their trade union representatives that the existing contractual terms and conditions of employment for staff working on the 2016-24 contract for Clyde and Hebrides ferry services are unaffected by the review of ferry service procurement.

I am committed to keeping CalMac Ferries fully informed of the purpose and progress of the review, and on-going engagement with the trade unions involved.

Contractual terms and conditions of employment are a matter for CalMac Ferries as the employer. The public service contract also provides additional protections, including a no compulsory redundancy guarantee, continued provision of the CalMac pension scheme and payment of the living wage. I do not foresee the need for any changes to the current terms and conditions of employment during the review or as a consequence of any extension period being agreed.

Chamber and committees