- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 28 April 2017
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport on 30 March 2017 (Official Report, c. 57), in light of the patients' survey suggesting that over 70% continue to experience pain, including after the implant has been removed, for what reason the final mesh report recommends that such surgery can take place.
Answer
In coming to the conclusions noted in its Final Report, the Independent Review considered a range of evidence, including the patient survey, all of which is summarised within the Report. The conclusions are based upon the totality of that evidence.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Derek Mackay on 26 April 2017
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers there are any flaws in the compiling of the Government Expenditure and Revenue Figures (Scotland) (GERS), and what its reasons are for its position on this.
Answer
Government Expenditure & Revenue Scotland (GERS) estimates the contribution of revenue raised in Scotland towards the goods and services provided for the benefit of Scottish residents under the current constitutional arrangements.
The methods used to compile Government Expenditure & Revenue Scotland (GERS) are set out publicly and have been agreed via public consultation, and in consultation with the Scottish Economic Statistics Consultation Group, which brings together users of Scottish economic statistics from a range of backgrounds, including academia, the public sector, and the media.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Derek Mackay on 26 April 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the veracity of the raw data used to compile the Government Expenditure and Revenue Figures (Scotland) (GERS).
Answer
Government Expenditure & Revenue Scotland (GERS) estimates the contribution of revenue raised in Scotland towards the goods and services provided for the benefit of Scottish residents under the current constitutional arrangements.
The data used to compile the GERS figures are, in general, National Statistics. The Scottish Government works closely with other UK Government departments to continuously improve the quality of data available to produce GERS.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Derek Mackay on 26 April 2017
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has confidence in its Chief Statistician and the quality of his work when taking responsibility for the Government Expenditure and Revenue Figures (Scotland) (GERS).
Answer
Government Expenditure & Revenue Scotland (GERS) estimates the contribution of revenue raised in Scotland towards the goods and services provided for the benefit of Scottish residents under the current constitutional arrangements.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Derek Mackay on 26 April 2017
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has confidence in the UK Statistics Authority and its independent assessment of the Government Expenditure and Revenue Figures (Scotland) (GERS).
Answer
Yes.
Government Expenditure & Revenue Scotland (GERS) estimates the contribution of revenue raised in Scotland towards the goods and services provided for the benefit of Scottish residents under the current constitutional arrangements.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 20 April 2017
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-24492 by Michael Matheson on 3 March 2015, whether similar bonuses have been paid to prison officers in the subsequent years and, if so, what the annual cost has been; how much it expects to pay out in future years; whether it classifies these as "one-off payments"; what its position is on whether such payments adhere to its overall pay policy; which other staff in the Scottish Prison Service qualify for or have received the bonuses and whether these bonuses will be considered as part of prison officers' baseline salary in future pay negotiations.
Answer
I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
There are no current plans to make similar payments to other SPS employees.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 27 March 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 20 April 2017
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-08004 by Shirley-Anne Sommerville on 24 March 2017, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding what its position is on the effectiveness of the (a) board and (b) management and executive team of Edinburgh College, including its handling of public funds.
Answer
The College Board operates in accordance with the Financial Memorandum between the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and the College and the Code of Good Governance for Colleges. Board structures have been reviewed and the Board itself has been active in supporting the Business Transformation Plan (BTP). A new Senior Management Team (SMT) has recently been brought together, comprising three new Assistant Principal posts with set remits. The SFC is working closely with the SMT through the Outcome Agreement process and BTP monitoring.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 27 March 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 20 April 2017
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-08004 by Shirley-Anne Sommerville on 24 March 2017, who the members are of the new Senior Management Team, and whether it will publish the set remit of each.
Answer
Further to my previous reply on 24 March 2017, you may wish to approach Edinburgh College directly for this information.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 27 March 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 20 April 2017
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-08001 by Shirley-Anne Sommerville on 24 March 2017, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding whether it considers that reduction in student activity at Edinburgh College has arisen because of poor planning.
Answer
As part of its planning process, Edinburgh College has undertaken significant reviews of its curriculum and course frameworks. This is combined with an emphasis on recruitment processes and retention.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 April 2017
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 27 April 2017
To ask the Scottish Government how many women in Scotland have been implanted with transvaginal mesh since 2007.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 27 April 2017