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-11018

Asked by: Bill Bowman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 31 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 19 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has paid to (a) each local authority and (b) businesses in the hospitality sector in each local authority area under the 12.5% non-domestic rates relief cap.

The Scottish Government does not make payments to local authorities or business in respect of the 12.5 per cent real-terms cap on 2017-18 rates increases for the hospitality sector.

The estimated cost of the cap in terms of reduced non-domestic rates income, which is being met by the Scottish Government, is estimated to be around £37 million. Outturn data on the final costs of the relief will be available following returns from local authorities after the financial year end.

Question reference: S5W-11019

Asked by: Bill Bowman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 31 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 19 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what contingencies (a) have been considered and (b) are in place to (i) process and (ii) apply the 12.5% non-domestic rates relief cap for businesses in the hospitality sector should there be a failure of the computer-processed payments system.

Question reference: S5W-11017

Asked by: Bill Bowman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 31 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 19 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses in the hospitality sector in each local authority area have applied for the 12.5% non-domestic rates relief cap; how many applications have been approved, and how many have received their payment.

Question reference: S5W-11133

Asked by: Bill Bowman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 19 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carried out of any public sector recruitment shortages resulting from the difference in the higher rate income tax threshold between Scotland and the rest of the UK.

Question reference: S5W-11134

Asked by: Bill Bowman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 19 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the potential impact of creating new income tax bands on (a) tax revenue and (b) the wider economy.

Question reference: S5W-11117

Asked by: Bill Bowman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 19 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions regarding extending the cap on business rates ministers have had with stakeholders, and what future discussions are planned.

Question reference: S5W-10900

Asked by: Bill Bowman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 13 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what promotion opportunities there are for community nurses who do not have a master’s degree.

Community nursing roles such as health visiting and district nursing require a post graduate specialist practitioner qualification. Other roles such as Advanced Nurse Practitioners require elements of education up to Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) Level 11, equivalent to Master's level study. However, if a Master's degree is deemed essential or desirable for a post it should be made clear to applicants in the person specification.

NHS Education for Scotland (NES) has published a Post Registration Career and Development Framework that can assist staff when they are planning their development needs. The framework can be found on the NES website via the following link: http://www.careerframework.nes.scot.nhs.uk/

In addition, the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF) applies to all staff who are employed under Agenda for Change (AfC) terms and conditions. The KSF and its personal development planning and review process lie at the heart of the career and pay progression strand of Agenda for Change, by providing a single, consistent and comprehensive framework for staff review and development. The framework can be found on the KSF website: http://www.ksf.scot.nhs.uk. Also, all staff should meet regularly with their managers to discuss their ongoing development.

Question reference: S5W-11115

Asked by: Bill Bowman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 12 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact would be on business of any increase in income tax, and what analysis it has carried out on this.

As set out in the recent Programme for Government, the Scottish Government intends to publish a discussion paper on income tax to generate debate before setting the budget for 2018-19. The paper will cover options to ensure the sustainability of public services and giving long term certainty to taxpayers. The Scottish Government looks forward to opening this debate and engaging with others about what kind of society and economy we want.

Question reference: S5W-10899

Asked by: Bill Bowman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 6 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is provided to NHS boards regarding which staff are authorised to administer medication from blister packs that are issued by pharmacists during residential care visits.

Schedule 1 of the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002 makes it clear that where a cared for person requires medicine, carers should assist with medication where this can be done without the physical involvement of a registered nurse or of a medical practitioner.

If an individual has an issue with carers who refuse to assist to administer medication that is not required to be administered by a registered nurse or other medical practitioner, they should in the first instance raise the matter with the care manager of the care provider. If they do not receive a favourable outcome they may wish then raise a formal complaint with the Care Inspectorate.

Individuals may also wish to contact the relevant local authority to make them aware as the care provider may be providing care on behalf of the authority.

Question reference: S5W-10586

Asked by: Bill Bowman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 30 August 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has provided from all funding streams to groups and projects aimed at tackling loneliness and social isolation in each year since 2007.

In seeking to support activity that addresses social isolation and loneliness, we have invested significant resources in local community based projects. Our Social Isolation and Loneliness Fund (£500K over 2016-17) supported a wide variety of local community projects across Scotland, ranging from basic life skills, creative activities, friendship groups, and support for vulnerable communities. Other funding streams have also supported work to build social connections, including the Promoting Equality and Cohesion Fund (£23.6m over 2008-17), the People and Communities Fund (£38.645M between 2012 to 2017) and the Community Choices Fund (£101K over 2016-17).