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.

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Question reference: S5O-03592

Asked by: James Dornan, MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 26 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 tackles coercive and controlling behaviour.

The Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 recognises domestic abuse is much more than physical abuse, and creates a specific offence covering not only physical abuse but other forms of psychological abuse and controlling behaviour that were previously difficult to prosecute.

The new offence means abusers who engage in a course of behaviour where they either intend to cause their partner to suffer physical or psychological harm, or else are reckless as to whether they are likely to cause such harm, can be prosecuted for the whole course of behaviour.

The Scottish Government provided £825,000 funding to Police Scotland to support the development of training for 14,000 police officers and staff. Police Scotland have also developed a self-completion e-learning package on the new legislation which was made available to all 22,000 staff.

I am encouraged by early indications of the use of the new offence, with over 400 crimes of domestic abuse recorded by Police Scotland in the first three months alone, and a number of convictions as the cases proceed through our courts.

Question reference: S5O-03483

Asked by: James Dornan, MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 August 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how much financial support the UK Government is providing for Scotland's R100 superfast broadband programme.

Question reference: S5W-23291

Asked by: James Dornan, MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 May 2019
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 4 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how the CashBack for Communities programme supports projects that aim to tackle sectarianism.

Since 2012 the Scottish Government has invested £14 million of funding to directly support work to tackle sectarianism. This has allowed organisations to test approaches, develop practice and deliver anti-sectarian education in schools, prisons, workplaces and communities.

Phase 4 of CashBack for Communities runs from April 2017 until March 2020. We are investing £17 million across 17 programmes focussed on disadvantaged young people covering every local authority area in Scotland.

YouthLink Scotland administers the CashBack for Communities Youth Work Fund, helping to build the capacity of young people and the youth work organisations who work to support them. As part of this fund six projects have received funding since 2018 to help tackle sectarianism.

2018-19 Projects -

St Luke's High School
New Farm Loch Community Council

2019-20 Projects -

St Luke's High School
East Dunbartonshire Council
Pilmeny Development Project
Kilwinning Youth Forum

On 15 May 2019 the Minister for Community Safety announced Phase 5 of Cashback, which will see a further £18 million invested into programmes supporting young people in areas hardest hit by crime over three years from April 2020. Applications are open until 28 June 2019. More information can be found at - https://cashbackforcommunities.org/funding-opportunities/

Question reference: S5O-03348

Asked by: James Dornan, MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 May 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the SQA and what was discussed.

Question reference: S5O-03317

Asked by: James Dornan, MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 May 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 May 2019

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Police Scotland.

Question reference: S5F-03339

Asked by: James Dornan, MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 May 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 May 2019

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government is marking Mental Health Awareness Week.

Question reference: S5W-22367

Asked by: James Dornan, MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 March 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 15 April 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what compensation is available to patients or their families when hospitals admit negligence, and whether it plans to streamline or simplify the claims process.

Patients harmed by medical treatment can claim for compensation directly from the Health Board, with or without legal representation, or through raising legal proceedings in Court. Compensation may be claimed where there has been injury or loss, and where it has been determined this has been caused by fault on the part of the Health Board. The value of compensation will depend on the nature of the injury or loss and factors such as loss of income and increased requirements for support.

The Scottish Civil Justice Council is developing plans to streamline the existing process by introducing a new Compulsory Clinical Negligence Pre-Action Protocol that encourages fair, just, and timely settlement of disputes before court proceedings are raised and to narrow the areas for litigation in cases that do not settle.

Question reference: S5O-02982

Asked by: James Dornan, MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 March 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it provides to organisations that aim to reduce and prevent sectarianism in society.

Question reference: S5O-02873

Asked by: James Dornan, MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 January 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 February 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support it has provided for mental health services in the current parliamentary session.

Question reference: S5O-02796

Asked by: James Dornan, MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met First Bus.