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-02048

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 April 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making toward introducing an opt-out system for organ donation.

Question reference: S5O-02015

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 April 2018
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 25 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the devolution of immigration law.

The Scottish Government has published evidence setting out why the UK Government’s approach to immigration does not meet Scotland’s needs. We want a more humane migration system tailored to Scotland’s needs, an approach endorsed by this Parliament.

When we published our discussion paper “Scotland’s population needs and migration policy” in February, Fiona Hyslop wrote to the Home Secretary providing them with our proposals and requesting a meeting. We are still awaiting a formal response.

In fact, the Cabinet Secretary and I have now written five separate letters to the Home Secretary and Immigration Minister since the start of 2018 raising policy issues and seeking meetings.

I remain disappointed and frustrated at the lack of engagement from the UK Government on immigration. It’s unacceptable that repeated requests to meet to discuss these issues with the previous Immigration Minister weren’t even responded to. Given the negative effects UK immigration policy is having on Scotland’s economy and society, and in light of the public statements made repeatedly by UK Ministers that they will engage fully with the Devolved Administrations, I think these discussions should take place as soon as possible.

I’m hopeful we will be able to do that soon, as the current Immigration Minister has agreed in principle to a meeting, and I look forward to seeing her at the earliest convenience.

Question reference: S5W-15467

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Annabelle Ewing on 17 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to tackle the reported rise in tool theft from vans, and whether it will take steps to ban the ownership of devices that are used to gain access to vans.

The Scottish Government remains committed to tackling crime across Scotland. Recorded crime is at its lowest level since 1974, and down by 38% since 2007-08.

The Scottish Government is committed to building safer communities by supporting: local authorities; Police Scotland and partner agencies such as Crimestoppers, Neighbourhood Watch Scotland and the Scottish Business Resilience Centre; and communities themselves in helping to create an environment where people feel safe and supported and where everyone takes responsibility for their own actions and how they affect others.

In October last year, Police Scotland established "Operation Performance" in Lanarkshire to tackle tool theft from vans which focussed on tracking down offenders and educating the public. Working with Neighbourhood Watch Scotland, Police Scotland provided preventative advice to owners which included marking all tools and boxes with a permanent marker or etching. Operation Performance resulted in over £250,000 worth of stolen tools being recovered.

I understand that the devices sometimes used in this type of crime to block the locking signal, can be something as simple as another legitimately available remote control device which works on the same frequency. Therefore it is important that drivers remain vigilant and manually ensure that their vehicle is locked before leaving it unattended. Police Scotland are clear that crime prevention messaging is a priority and will continue to educate the public on this issue, ensure information is shared and that any processes put in place are replicated in other areas to discourage individuals from similar type crimes.

Question reference: S5O-01967

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 April 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on increasing the legal entitlement to paternity leave, and what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding this.

Question reference: S5W-15145

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 15 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when the revised operational guidelines for the High Hedges (Scotland) Act 2013 will be produced.

Question reference: S5O-01914

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 March 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to mark the UN International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Question reference: S5O-01853

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 8 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration is being given to protecting green belt areas as part of the Planning (Scotland) Bill.

Question reference: S5O-01877

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 March 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to tackle sectarian-related crime.

Question reference: S5W-14783

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 February 2018
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Shona Robison on 22 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what funds it is making available to NHS boards for 2018-19.

The Health portfolio resource budget will increase by over
£400 million in 2018-19 to £13.1 billion, a 3.4% uplift.

As part of this uplift, our frontline NHS Boards will receive £354.5 million (3.7%) of direct additional funding in 2018-19, of which £179.5 million for a general allocation uplift and a further £175 million increase for investment in reform.

This investment will support our commitment that more than half of frontline spending will be in community health services by the end of this Parliament, and will allow us in 2018-19 to continue our progress in seeing the shift towards this balance of spending. In 2018-19 it will also support a further shift in the share of the frontline NHS budget dedicated to mental health and to primary, community, and social care.

Details of Boards’ revenue resource and capital allocations for 2018-19 are as follows:

Revenue Resource:

NHS Frontline Boards

Total Uplift	Total Uplift	Total 2018-19 Allocation
£m	%	£m

Ayrshire and Arran	11.6	1.7%	694.9
Borders	3.0	1.5%	200.6
Dumfries and Galloway	4.3	1.5%	289.1
Fife	12.1	1.9%	636.6
Forth Valley	10.3	2.1%	506.8
Grampian	18.5	2.1%	920.6
Greater Glasgow & Clyde	31.8	1.5%	2,154.5
Highland	12.0	2.0%	604.3
Lanarkshire	20.7	1.8%	1,156.1
Lothian	29.0	2.1%	1,384.3
Orkney	0.7	1.5%	47.7
Shetland	0.7	1.5%	48.7
Tayside	13.7	1.9%	734.8
Western Isles	1.1	1.5%	73.0
National Waiting Times Centre	0.5	1.0%	54.0
Scottish Ambulance Service	8.6	3.7%	237.9
The State Hospital	0.3	1.0%	34.8
NHS 24	0.7	1.0%	66.3

Total Frontline NHS Boards	179.5	1.9%	9,845.0

Investment in reform	175.0	1.8%

Total additional funding for Frontline NHS Boards	354.5	3.7%

In addition to the investment in frontline patient-facing NHS Boards, £791.3 million will continue to be invested across NHS National Services Scotland, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, NHS Education for Scotland and NHS Health Scotland.

In addition to the resource allocations, there will be recurring allocations of
£16.9 million which will be applied to Boards’ baseline budgets in 2018-19.

Capital Resource:

Territorial Boards	£m
Ayrshire & Arran	8.3
Borders	2.4
Dumfries & Galloway	3.5
Fife	7.4
Forth Valley	6.1
Grampian	12.8
Greater Glasgow & Clyde	37.4
Highland	6.6
Lanarkshire	12.4
Lothian	23.5
Orkney	1.0
Shetland	1.0
Tayside	9.5
Western Isles	1.2
Total	133.1

National Boards
National Waiting Times Centre	2.7
Scottish Ambulance Service	1.8
National Services Scotland	3.4
Healthcare Improvement Scotland	0.2
The State Hospital	0.3
NHS 24	0.3
NHS Education for Scotland	0.5
NHS Health Scotland	0.1
Total	9.3

In addition to the capital allocations above, a further £209 million held centrally will be used to support infrastructure investment across the sector. This will ensure continued support from the capital investment strategy to support the delivery of the National Clinical Strategy and the Delivery Plan. This also includes funding to progress our £200 million commitment to expand the Golden Jubilee Hospital and develop five elective care centres in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Inverness and Livingston.

Question reference: S5O-01678

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 January 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many local authorities pay the minimum level for school clothing grants.