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: S5W-24978

Asked by: Michelle Ballantyne, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 August 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 19 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that all future NHS building projects are protected against problems with the water, ventilation and drainage systems.

We are establishing a national body for reducing risks in the healthcare built environment. The new national body will have oversight for the design, planning, construction and maintenance of major NHS Scotland infrastructure developments. It will hold expertise in these areas and critically, a clear understanding of the inter-relationship between the built environment and effective infection prevention and control.

The importance of a clean, safe environment for all aspects of healthcare should not be underestimated. To mitigate and reduce the risk of harm from the built environment - such as infections linked to water, ventilation and drainage systems, or injury from fire or electricity - harm prevention measures must be “designed-in” at the very outset of the planning, design and construction stages of our healthcare facilities.

Assurance mechanisms must be in place at all stages of the build and beyond, including impartial compliance monitoring . Compliance monitoring requires the input of national experts to independently assess that the key national standards, guidance and specifications required to ensure health systems are safe for patients have been adhered to. This body will provide advice and challenge to all capital investment projects currently in development, including the Elective Centre Programme, the Monklands Replacement Project, the Baird and Anchor in Aberdeen and the various primary health and social care centres across the country.

Question reference: S5W-24980

Asked by: Michelle Ballantyne, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 August 2019
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 19 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what action it plans to take to help tackle the reported increase in drug-related deaths in the Scottish Borders.

We note the increase in drug related deaths in the Scottish Borders - an increase from 13 in 2017 to 22 in 2018. Our strategy to tackle this, Rights, Respect and Recovery was published in November 2018. This strategy takes a comprehensive approach looking at education and prevention, harm reduction and treatment support for those who need it wherever they live in Scotland.

To deliver services and improvement in the Borders, the Scottish Government Direct Funding Allocation for Borders ADP for 2019-2020, supporting the Delivery of Alcohol and Drug Services, is £1 million. Also, through the National Development Project Fund, Eyemouth Recovery Hub (run by Borders Addiction Service) were allocated £35,000 for local support.

Question reference: S5W-25124

Asked by: Michelle Ballantyne, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 17 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to discourage landlords from posting advertisements for tenancies marked with "No DSS" or similar restrictions.

We believe that everyone is entitled to affordable accommodation that suits their needs. The use of the term “no DSS” in some adverts for private rented sector properties is something the Scottish Government strongly disapproves of.

While equality legislation is a reserved matter, we will continue to work with our stakeholders to address unlawful discrimination against tenants in receipt of benefits, including through the letting agent code of practice.

We will also consider how the statutory guidance for local authorities on landlord registration can be strengthened, including how local authorities can discourage landlords from withholding tenancies from tenants on benefits, as part of their duty to provide advice and assistance to landlords. Evidence of unlawful discrimination must also be considered as part of the fit and proper person test for landlords and any letting agents that act on their behalf.

Question reference: S5W-25067

Asked by: Michelle Ballantyne, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 17 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it can offer that no further departments or wards at the Borders General Hospital will be permanently closed.

The planning and provision of local healthcare services is primarily for NHS Boards, in line with national standards, policies and frameworks.

Should any NHS Board decide to take forward proposals to change current services, I would expect them to inform their approach with the meaningful engagement of all local stakeholders, in line with national guidance. Where any proposals from NHS Boards are designated as major service change, they must be subject to formal public consultation and, ultimately, Ministerial approval.

Question reference: S5W-25125

Asked by: Michelle Ballantyne, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 13 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government which businesses have been involved in user testing as part of the Job Start Payment service design process, and what this testing consists of.

We have engaged with eight employers in sectors which young people have told us that they have worked in or would apply for jobs in, including hospitality, retail and public sector. This engagement has informed our understanding of how job offers are made, the ideal length of the application window, and the best way to communicate about Job Start Payment to employers. We are using these insights to inform the service design of Job Start Payment as well as our communication plans to support its promotion and implementation.

Question reference: S5W-24999

Asked by: Michelle Ballantyne, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 August 2019
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 13 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to encourage uptake of the Council Tax Reduction scheme.

We have promoted take-up of the Council Tax Reduction (CTR) scheme, and continue to do so, as part of the Money Talk Team service (previously known as the Financial Health Check), which is delivered by the Citizens Advice Network in Scotland and supported by the Scottish Government. The Money Talk Team service aims to help lower income families and older people claim all the benefits and entitlements they are eligible for, including CTR, and ensure they are not paying more than they need to for basic goods and services.

Question reference: S5O-03539

Asked by: Michelle Ballantyne, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 September 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that funded childcare places are flexible enough to meet parents’ needs.

Question reference: S5W-25001

Asked by: Michelle Ballantyne, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 August 2019
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 10 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £3.3 million invested in the Financial Health Check programme provided by Citizens Advice Scotland has been spent.

Question reference: S5W-24998

Asked by: Michelle Ballantyne, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 August 2019
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 10 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of how the £3.3 million invested in the Financial Health Check programme provided by Citizens Advice Scotland has been spent.

Question reference: S5W-24491

Asked by: Michelle Ballantyne, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 26 July 2019
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 August 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what the average waiting time is for responses by Social Security Scotland to queries on Universal Credit Scottish Choices.