Section E – Written questions lodged from 13 July to 17 July 2015
Questions marked with a triangle (Δ) are initiated by the Scottish Government in order to facilitate the provision of information to the Parliament.
Questions in which a member has indicated a declarable interest are marked with an "R".
S4W-26389 Bob Doris: To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated savings for patients will be in 2015-16 arising from free prescriptions that would not be age-exempt from charging in England for medications associated with the long-term conditions, (a) asthma, (b) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and (c) cardiovascular disease.
S4W-26391 Bob Doris: To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated savings for patients will be in 2015-16 arising from free prescriptions that would not be age-exempt from charging in England for medications associated with long-term (a) mental health and (b) dermatological conditions.
S4W-26620 Jim Hume: To ask the Scottish Government what training on mental health issues each NHS board has provided to staff in accident and emergency departments in each year since 2010.
S4W-26621 Jim Hume: To ask the Scottish Government how many psychiatric liaison staff there have been in accident and emergency departments in each NHS board in each year since 2010.
S4W-26622 Jim Hume: To ask the Scottish Government how many people referred by a GP to a mental health specialist in each year since 2010 were detained under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.
S4W-26623 Jim Hume: To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) primary and (b) secondary school teachers have sought specialist referral for mental health-related issues in each year since 2010, broken down by local authority.
S4W-26635 Claire Baker: To ask the Scottish Government how many stop and searches have taken place in the (a) (i) Clackmannanshire and Dunblane, (ii) Cowdenbeath, (iii) Dunfermline, (iv) Kirkcaldy, (v) Mid Fife and Glenrothes, (vi) North East Fife, (vii) Perthshire North, (viii) Perthshire South and Kinross-shire constituency and (b) Mid Scotland and Fife region in each of the last five years, broken down by people aged (A) under 12, (B) 12 to 15, (C) 16 to 25 and (D) over 25.
S4W-26636 Claire Baker: To ask the Scottish Government how many of the stop and searches in the (a) (i) Clackmannanshire and Dunblane, (ii) Cowdenbeath, (iii) Dunfermline, (iv) Kirkcaldy, (v) Mid Fife and Glenrothes, (vi) North East Fife, (vii) Perthshire North, (viii) Perthshire South and Kinross-shire constituency and (b) Mid Scotland and Fife region in each of the last five years resulted in a (A) positive finding and (B) (i) prosecution and (ii) conviction.
S4W-26638 Claire Baker: To ask the Scottish Government how many people who were subject to a stop and search in the (a) (i) Clackmannanshire and Dunblane, (ii) Cowdenbeath, (iii) Dunfermline, (iv) Kirkcaldy, (v) Mid Fife and Glenrothes, (vi) North East Fife, (vii) Perthshire North, (viii) Perthshire South and Kinross-shire constituency and (b) Mid Scotland and Fife region in each of the last five years were stopped more than once, and what information it has on how many times each person was stopped.
S4W-26640 Angus MacDonald: To ask the Scottish Government when it last discussed the reintroduction of a Rosyth to Zeebrugge passenger and car ferry service with DFDS Seaways.
S4W-26641 Angus MacDonald: To ask the Scottish Government whether the reintroduction of a car and passenger ferry service between Rosyth and Zeebrugge was discussed at the recent tripartite talks between it, Forth Ports and DFDS Seaways.
S4W-26642 Neil Findlay: To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-02674 by Keith Brown on 13 July 2015, whether any contractor, sub-contractor or employment agency working for any contractor or sub-contractor or agency on the Forth Replacement Crossing project employs workers via a payroll or umbrella company arrangement.
S4W-26665 Alison McInnes: To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Police Scotland plans to replace some multi-member ward plans with area plans; what consultation has taken place, and when any changes would be implemented.
S4W-26666 Alison McInnes: To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been transported by prisoner and custody escort services in each of the last three years, broken down by (a) age and (b) gender.
S4W-26667 Alison McInnes: To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) average and (b) longest (i) distance and (ii) time was for a person to be transported by prisoner and custody escort services in each of the last three years, also broken down by (A) age and (B) gender.
S4W-26668 Alison McInnes: To ask the Scottish Government how many times in each of the last three years prisoner and custody escort services have transported (a) children in the same vehicle as adults, (b) women in the same vehicle as men and (c) vulnerable detainees in the same vehicle as other detainees.
S4W-26669 Alison McInnes: To ask the Scottish Government what risk assessment is made to determine whether (a) adult and (b) child detainees should be handcuffed while being transported by prisoner and custody escort services, and whether there is a presumption in favour of handcuffing during (i) the journey and (ii) embarkation and disembarkation.
S4W-26670 Alison McInnes: To ask the Scottish Government how many times in each of the last three years detainees have been transported to hospital by prisoner and custody escort services; how often information on their condition was provided to the service in advance of the journey, and how many were handcuffed while (a) being transported and (b) at the appointment.
S4W-26671 Alison McInnes: To ask the Scottish Government how many times in each of the last three years pregnant women have been transported to hospital by prisoner and custody escort services; how often health information was provided to the service in advance of the journey, and how many were handcuffed while (a) being transported and (b) at the appointment.
S4W-26672 Alison McInnes: To ask the Scottish Government how many hospital appointments have been (a) delayed and (b) cancelled in each of three years due to problems with the provision of prisoner and custody escort services.
S4W-26675 Alison McInnes: To ask the Scottish Government how many times in each of the last three years details about a person’s security arrangements and requirements have not been provided by the Scottish Prison Service to prisoner and custody escort services prior to their transportation.
S4W-26676 Alison McInnes: To ask the Scottish Government whether adapted prisoner and custody escort vehicles are always used for (a) disabled, (b) claustrophobic, (c) pregnant and (d) child detainees.
S4W-26677 Alison McInnes: To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of prisoner and custody escort vehicles has seatbelts, and what research has been undertaken on whether there is appropriate provision.
S4W-26678 Alison McInnes: To ask the Scottish Government whether people being transported by prisoner and custody escort services are offered (a) food, (b) drink, and (c) toilet breaks, and whether these are provided on all journeys.
S4W-26679 Alison McInnes: To ask the Scottish Government how many self-harm incidents have been recorded during prisoner escort and custody journeys in each of the last three years.
S4W-26680 Alison McInnes: To ask the Scottish Government how many complaints have been made about prisoner and custody escort services in each of the last three years, and how prisoners access information about how to make a complaint.
S4W-26681 Alison McInnes: To ask the Scottish Government whether children using the prisoner and custody escort service are always asked about their experience on arrival.
S4W-26682 Alison McInnes: To ask the Scottish Government when prisoners are given information regarding where an escorted journey is transporting them to.
S4W-26683 Alison McInnes: To ask the Scottish Government whether detainees attending court on consecutive days are able to exercise.
S4W-26684 Alison McInnes: To ask the Scottish Government how Police Scotland conducts its Public Consultation Survey.
S4W-26685 Alison McInnes: To ask the Scottish Government how Police Scotland plans to enhance the capability of the Scottish Safety Camera Programme.
S4W-26686 Alison McInnes: To ask the Scottish Government how Police Scotland’s national prostitution strategy will prevent harm; whether it will aim to ensure a standard national approach to dealing with prostitution; who will be consulted prior to its introduction, and when it will be published.
S4W-26687 Cara Hilton: To ask the Scottish Government how many injuries were sustained in nurseries in 2014-15 as a result of woodwork activities.
S4W-26688 Cara Hilton: To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there are no Scotland-wide regulations in relation to woodwork activities in nurseries.
S4W-26689 Alison McInnes: To ask the Scottish Government how many prisoner and custody escort vehicles have been involved in road traffic accidents during escort journeys in each of the last three years.
S4W-26690 Alison McInnes: To ask the Scottish Government how many times in each of the last three years prisoners have spent time in police custody instead of prison due to (a) delays in escort services, (b) late court appearances, (c) being locked out of prison and (d) other reasons, also broken down by the length of stay in police custody.
S4W-26691 Alex Johnstone: To ask the Scottish Government whether the First Minister or any other minister would meet the Dalai Lama in an official capacity if he visited Scotland again.
S4W-26692 Alex Johnstone: To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the role of the Confucius Institute for Scotland and Confucius Classrooms in Scotland.
S4W-26693 Jim Hume: To ask the Scottish Government how many people (a) up to and (b) over 18 years of age have been discharged from psychiatric hospitals with a principal diagnosis of learning disability in each year since 2010, broken down by NHS board.
S4W-26694 Jim Hume: To ask the Scottish Government what provisions there are for people with learning disabilities to be treated in the community.
S4W-26695 Jim Hume: To ask the Scottish Government how many mental health inpatients there have been in each year since 2010, broken down by (a) age and (b) gender.
S4W-26696 Jackson Carlaw: To ask the Scottish Government what sentencing targets there are for offenders with a history of mental illness.
S4W-26697 Jackson Carlaw: To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS boards regarding mental health policy in prisons.
S4W-26698 Jackson Carlaw: To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors the mental health of prisoners, particularly those whose mental health conditions were a contributory factor in their offending.
S4W-26699 Jackson Carlaw: To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that NHS boards with a prison in their area include data on mental health provision in that prison in their annual report as responsibility for the physical and mental health of prisoners was transferred from the Scottish Prison Service to NHS boards by the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010.
S4W-26700 Alison McInnes: To ask the Scottish Government how many times in each of the last three years prisoner and custody escort services have handcuffed detainees during (a) a journey and (b) embarkation or disembarkation.
S4W-26701 Neil Findlay: To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the diary engagements for the Minister for External Affairs and International Development for 6 December 2012.
S4W-26702 Jim Hume: To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent on A&E locum staff in each year since 2010, broken down by NHS board.
S4W-26703 Jim Hume: To ask the Scottish Government how many hours have been filled by A&E locum staff in each year since 2010, broken down by NHS board.
S4W-26704 Jim Hume: To ask the Scottish Government how many locum A&E consultants have been used to fill shifts in emergency departments in each year since 2010, broken down by NHS board.
S4W-26705 Jackie Baillie: To ask the Scottish Government how much is being allocated to each area being supported by the Attainment Scotland Fund and what the focus is of each area’s local improvement plan.
S4W-26706 Jackie Baillie: To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question SW4-25723 by Alex Neil on 3 June 2015 and its news release of 9 June 2015, Scottish Government signals planning modernisation, what particular areas it proposes to reform and what evidence base will inform the proposals.
S4W-26707 Stewart Maxwell: To ask the Scottish Government how much it has invested in early years (a) projects and (b) services since 2011 through the (i) Early Years Change Fund and (ii) public-social partnerships.
S4W-26708 Michael Russell: To ask the Scottish Government what (a) investment it is making and (b) encouragement it is giving toward innovation in the (i) growing of scallops through farming or ranching, (ii) collection of scallops by remote operated vehicles and (iii) new methods of fishing for scallops, including from deep waters.
S4W-26709 Michael Russell: To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with the work of inshore fisheries groups (IFG) and what action the IFG for the Argyll and Clyde waters is taking to help the industry in that area.
S4W-26710 Michael Russell: To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the possible increase in the use of static gear because of the restrictions on mobile gear that are likely to be imposed by changes to the current designation of marine protected areas.
S4W-26711 Michael Russell: To ask the Scottish Government how many incidents were reported to Marine Scotland in each of the last five years because of disputes between the users of static and mobile fishing gear, and how many led to (a) legal action, broken down by the number of times the complaints upheld and (b) prosecution, broken down by the number of convictions.
S4W-26712 Michael Russell: To ask the Scottish Government what scientific information it has on the status of stocks of velvet crab, and how many landings of the species have been recorded in each of the last five years.
S4W-26713 Michael Russell: To ask the Scottish Government what action Marine Scotland is taking to develop a creel management plan for areas in which there (a) has been, or might be, disputes between the users of static and mobile fishing gear and (b) is an expectation of increased pressure on stocks because of an increase use of static gear.
S4W-26714 Michael Russell: To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce Twin Otter aircraft for new routes, including between (a) Oban and Barra and (b) Glasgow and Barra via Oban.
S4W-26715 Michael Russell: To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with (a) Argyll and Bute Council, (b) Hebridean Airways, (c) Highlands and Islands Airports Limited and (d) others regarding increasing the number of routes served from Oban Airport.
S4W-26716 Tavish Scott: To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-26169 by Jamie Hepburn on 25 June 2015, when it will announce its decison on how the funding for (a) 2015-16 and (b) 2016-17 will be distributed among the NHS boards, and what freedom each board will have in deciding on how to spend its allocation.
S4W-26717 George Adam: To ask the Scottish Government how many children will be eligible for 600 hours of childcare from August 2015, and what information it has regarding how this compares with proposals in the Childcare Bill introduced by the UK Government.
S4W-26718 George Adam: To ask the Scottish Government how many P1 to P3 pupils have received free school meals since universal provision was introduced, broken down by local authority area, and what the estimated saving has been for the pupils’ families.
S4W-26719 Stewart Maxwell: To ask the Scottish Government which early years (a) projects and (b) services have received support since 2011 through the (i) Early Years Change Fund and (ii) public-social partnerships, also broken down by the (A) amount received, (B) local authority area in which they are based and (C) number of families that have received support.
S4W-26720 Elaine Smith: To ask the Scottish Government, when criminal behaviour is reported to a procurator fiscal, who the fiscal’s office would correspond with regarding an alleged crime committed by a (a) member of the public, (b) police officer on duty and (c) police officer off duty.
S4W-26721 Elaine Smith: To ask the Scottish Government whether, in relation to the decision on whether to proceed with a case, it is normal practice for a procurator fiscal to correspond with the employer of a member of the public alleged to have committed a crime.
S4W-26722 Tavish Scott: To ask the Scottish Government what grant assistance it provides to fund technology that improves the health and productivity of livestock.
S4W-26723 Liz Smith: To ask the Scottish Government how many out-of-hours GP services have been removed from practices and hospitals in each year since 1999.
S4W-26724 Liz Smith: To ask the Scottish Government what average distance patients have to travel to access out-of-hours GP services.
S4W-26725 Liz Smith: To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to re-open (a) Newburgh and (b) Bridge of Earn railway station.
S4W-26727 Liz Smith: To ask the Scottish Government when it expects the British Transport Police to merge with Police Scotland.
S4W-26728 Liz Smith: To ask the Scottish Government how many additional calls it expects the Police Scotland call centre will receive following the proposed merger of the British Transport Police with Police Scotland.
S4W-26625 Rhoda Grant: To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to research the costs of its plans relating to improving outcomes for people experiencing out of hospital cardiac arrest and how these improvements could be achieved without incurring additional cost.
S4W-26626 Rhoda Grant: To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to raise public awareness of sudden cardiac arrest symptoms.
S4W-26627 Rhoda Grant: To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the number of people who are CPR trained or undergoing training and what plans it has to increase the amount of information that it collects.
S4W-26628 Rhoda Grant: To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to implement further CPR training in (a) schools, (b) workplaces and (c) volunteer groups.
S4W-26629 Rhoda Grant: To ask the Scottish Government how it will encourage owners, purchasers and suppliers of public access defibrillators to ensure that they are regularly serviced, maintained and registered with the Scottish Ambulance Service.
S4W-26630 Rhoda Grant: To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to put in place pathways and protocols that promote consistent best practice for the ambulance transportation of out of hospital cardiac arrest patients that reflects local geography and circumstances.
S4W-26631 Rhoda Grant: To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for the (a) development and (b) delivery of rural and remote pathways to address any inequality in out of hospital cardiac arrest outcomes by improving ambulance response times in rural areas.
S4W-26632 Rhoda Grant: To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce a law to protect people giving CPR from legal action when providing help in an emergency.
S4W-26633 Rhoda Grant: To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve processes to ensure that Scottish Ambulance Service and aligned staff are sufficiently supported to deal with the (a) physical, (b) psychological and (c) emotional demands of their jobs.
S4W-26634 Rhoda Grant: To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase the number of police officers and staff trained in the use of defibrillators.
S4W-26730 Murdo Fraser: To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to (a) reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 to 95% below the 1990 levels or (b) achieve a per capita emissions target of less than two metric tons by 2050.
S4W-26731 Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-26198 by John Swinney on 7 July 2015, whether its current position is based on the constitutional restrictions that apply, a policy opposition to prisoner franchise or both.
S4W-26733 Mary Fee: To ask the Scottish Government how many and what percentage of children are receiving two hours of physical education in school, broken down by year group.
S4W-26734 Mary Fee: To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to improve physical literacy in (a) children and (b) adults.
S4W-26735 Stewart Maxwell: To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on establishing the new national Scottish chronic pain management service and how this will benefit people with fibromyalgia.
S4W-26736 Siobhan McMahon: To ask the Scottish Government how many additional support for learning teachers there have been in each year since 2007, broken down by local authority.
S4W-26738 Siobhan McMahon: To ask the Scottish Government how many care assistants there have been in each year since 2007, broken down by local authority.
S4W-26739 Jenny Marra: To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of women invited for a smear test attends the test.
S4W-26740 Liam McArthur: To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to raising the rate of the Air Discount Scheme from 40% to 50%.
S4W-26741 Liam McArthur: To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase the rate of the Air Discount Scheme from 40% to 50%.
S4W-26742 Liam McArthur: To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the European Commission in the last two years regarding the (a) eligibility criteria and (b) scope of the Air Discount Scheme.
S4W-26743 Liam McArthur: To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Highlands and Islands Airports Limited in the last three months regarding landing charges.
S4W-26744 Elaine Murray: To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to make young people aware of possible hearing loss arising from listening to loud music in pubs and clubs.
S4W-26745 Alex Fergusson: To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to (a) monitor and (b) prevent the spread of giant hogweed.
S4W-26746Δ Bill Kidd: To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-25214 by John Swinney on 2 April 2015, what changes there have been in respect of the information provided, and what the total salary cost of employing special advisers was in 2014-15.
S4W-26747 John Wilson: To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the powers of the (a) Traffic Commissioner for Scotland and (b) public to take action against bus operators who fail to deliver agreed routes or withdraw or cancel services without advance notice.
S4W-26748 John Wilson: To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the Traffic Commissioner for Scotland and what was discussed.
S4W-26750 Alison Johnstone: To ask the Scottish Government, in view of the 98% consultation response in favour of a ban, when it will introduce legislation to ban the use of wild animals in circuses.
S4W-26751 Jackie Baillie: To ask the Scottish Government how many maternity beds there have been in each year since 2007-08, broken down by (a) NHS board and (b) hospital.
S4W-26752 Jackie Baillie: To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) midwife- and (b) consultant-led maternity units there are in each NHS board, broken down by hospital.
S4W-26754 Jackie Baillie: To ask the Scottish Government how many babies have been born in each year since 2007-08, also broken down by (a) NHS board, (b) hospital and (c) home birth.
S4W-26755 Tavish Scott: To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of the study that has found that the number of breeding puffins on Fair Isle has halved from 20,000 to 10,000 over the last 30 years.
S4W-26756 Lewis Macdonald: To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-26314 by Fergus Ewing on 13 July 2015, how it responds to the evidence to the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee on 3 June 2015 by (a) Kersti Berge of Ofgem that fully socialised electricity transmission charges would add £7 billion a year to the bills of Scottish consumers (Official Report, c. 28) and (b) Mike Calviou of National Grid that fully socialised electricity transmission charges would raise bills by around £10 per customer (Official Report, c. 25).
S4W-26757 Lewis Macdonald: To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-26125 by Fergus Ewing on 13 July 2015, when it will adopt the recommendations for government action in the document, Solar Energy- A Viable Contributor to Renewables in Scotland, to integrate solar as a core part of the Scottish renewables strategy and to revise the renewable energy road map to 2025 and beyond with specific plans and targets for solar energy.
S4W-26758 Lewis Macdonald: To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-26128 by Fergus Ewing on 13 July 2015, how much of the potential 4.3GW of onshore wind developments identified as in planning could be brought to fruition within the Renewables Obligation support scheme before it is closed by accelerating the planning process.
S4W-26759 Lewis Macdonald: To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-26128 by Fergus Ewing on 13 July 2015, whether it will list those onshore wind projects in Scotland that will lose financial support under the planned changes to the Renewables Obligation support scheme, and indicate how much potential electricity generation each represents.
S4W-26760 George Adam: To ask the Scottish Government how many children will be eligible for 600 hours of early learning and childcare from August 2015.
S4W-26761 George Adam: To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how the commitment in its programme for government to extend provision of early learning and childcare to 30 hours per week compares with proposals in the Childcare Bill introduced by the UK Government.
S4W-26762 Tavish Scott: To ask the Scottish Government how it will respond to the Scottish Crofting Federation’s concern that reintroducing species such as wolves, lynx and beavers would threaten the already challenging livelihoods of crofters.
S4W-26763 Tavish Scott: To ask the Scottish Government what action it plans to take in response to Scottish Natural Heritage’s report, Beavers in Scotland.
S4W-26764 Hugh Henry: To ask the Scottish Government how many people in Scotland are employed in renewables manufacturing engineering and how many of the jobs are located in the Renfrewshire Council area.
S4W-26765 Paul Martin: To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-26260 by Michael Matheson on 9 July 2015, how many registered sex offenders have been assessed and managed under the multi-agency public protection arrangements in each year since 2007, also broken down by community justice authority area.
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