- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 November 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus Robertson on 13 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture raised any concerns in relation to human rights during his recent visit to China.
Answer
I visited China between 22 – 29 November. The programme concentrated on the three pillars of the Scottish Government’s focus with China: tackling climate change and biodiversity loss; encouraging people-to-people links in areas such as education, culture and tourism; and promoting trade and investment links where mutually beneficial and in keeping with our values and national security interests.
As part of the visit, I met with senior government representatives, where I discussed the importance of human rights, emphasising the Scottish Government’s values and the importance of applying them to what we do, including in our relationship with China.
A constructive relationship with China is mutually beneficial, where consistent with our values and overall national security. This includes raising human rights, where appropriate, as I did during my visit.
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 December 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Christina McKelvie on 13 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what the appeal process is for Historic Environment Scotland land designations.
Answer
Questions regarding day-to-day operational matters of Historic Environment Scotland, including information relating to the appeal process for land designations, are best answered directly by Historic Environment Scotland.
There is information available on the Historic Environment Scotland website regarding the designations process, however I have also asked Historic Environment Scotland to write directly to the member with a response to his question.
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 December 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Christina McKelvie on 13 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12793 by Neil Gray on 12 December 2022, what information it has on how many Freedom of Information requests have been made to Historic Environment Scotland in 2023, and what percentage of those requests were answered on or within 20 working days.
Answer
Questions regarding day-to-day operational matters of Historic Environment Scotland, including information relating to Freedom of Information requests made to Historic Environment Scotland are best answered directly by Historic Environment Scotland.
I have asked Historic Environment Scotland to respond directly to the member with a full reply to his question in writing.
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 December 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Christina McKelvie on 13 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12785 by Neil Gray on 12 December 2022, what information it has on what the total cost was for an (a) adult, (b) concession and (c) young person Direct Debit membership for Historic Scotland in 2023.
Answer
Questions regarding day-to-day operational matters of Historic Environment Scotland, including information relating to Direct Debit membership prices, are best answered by Historic Environment Scotland.
I have asked Historic Environment Scotland to respond directly to the member with a full reply to his question in writing.
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 December 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Christina McKelvie on 13 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12786 by Neil Gray on 12 December 2022, what information it holds on how many sites that are managed by Historic Environment Scotland and its predecessor agencies have been (a) open, (b) temporarily closed and (c) permanently closed in 2022-23.
Answer
Historic Environment Scotland is making good progress on its inspection programme which is due to conclude at the end of March next year. The Scottish Government supports Historic Environment Scotland’s approach that continues to put the health and safety of individuals first, reopening sites only when safe to do so.
The information the Scottish Government holds is that of the 70 sites that had access restricted due to High Level Masonry issues, there is now full or partial access at 53 of those sites.
As this is not the full information requested, I have also asked Historic Environment Scotland to respond directly to the member with a full reply to his question in writing . Details of the inspection programme and site re-openings are published on the Historic Environment Scotland website.
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 December 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Christina McKelvie on 13 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to introducing statutory designation for the sites of important historic battles.
Answer
The Scottish Government recognises the importance of our many varied cultural and historic sites, which includes battlefields. We deliver support for the historic environment through our sponsorship of Scotland’s lead public body for the historic environment, Historic Environment Scotland.
Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for protecting sites of national historic significance through designations including listing buildings, scheduled monuments, and maintaining the Inventory of Historic Battlefields.
In 2019, Scottish Ministers issued a Direction which requires notification of any new applications for non-householder development that may affect designated historic battlefields to be given to Scottish Ministers. This allows additional considerations for the significance of the site to be taken into account during decision making and informs a national overview of development in the planning system that affects designated historic battlefields.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 04 December 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 13 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the predicted economic consequences of the expected closure of Grangemouth Refinery.
Answer
The Grangemouth refinery is an important economic asset for Scotland and whilst this announcement does not guarantee a cessation of refining operations, the Scottish Government is in the process of considering the wider potential economic impact of conversion to an import terminal.
According to the ONS the entire refined petroleum and chemicals manufacturing sector in Scotland accounted for 1.1% of total gross value added in 2021 of which the Grangemouth refinery is a part.
However, given how recent the announcement is, a more detailed analysis of the potential impact is yet be completed, including impacts on the immediate supply chain and the wider impacts on employment in the local economy via spending. Any potential changes to operations will require time and consideration of data that is not publicly available. Furthermore, it is important to note that some aspects of the announcement are still in development.
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 04 December 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 12 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the use of text messaging to communicate with patients when using NHS services.
Answer
Text messages have been used routinely and positively for many years in NHS Scotland. Scottish Government’s Information and Risk Assurance Team has been working extensively with Health Boards and other NHS delivery partners in assessing the proportionality of using text messages for different purposes, including appointment reminders, medication adherence, health education, and remote monitoring.
The benefits often identified across different NHS organisations include reduction in non-attendance, improved patient engagement, increased adherence to treatment plans, and cost-effectiveness. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) have previously stressed the importance of wording text messages appropriately and advice was given during the COVID-19 pandemic on messages not adding unnecessary confusion and being easy to read. We also recognise that the use of text messages is limited by critical privacy and security requirements and potential for misinterpretation.
The national Connect Me programme has been well received in allowing patients to report information like blood pressure readings via text message to receive feedback based on their condition. Alongside web and mobile app access, this importantly supports public choice in how they engage with NHS services whilst reducing the need for unnecessary appointments.
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 04 December 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Emma Roddick on 12 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with LGBT Health and Wellbeing regarding its New Scots strategy.
Answer
The Scottish Government is currently working with our partners at COSLA and the Scottish Refugee Council to refresh the New Scots strategy and we are undertaking a series of engagement events to enable both refugees and people seeking asylum to inform the strategy refresh. The first phase of the engagement work began in November and involved refugee leaders and organisations with expertise in supporting people seeking asylum and refugees. A representative from LGBT Health and Wellbeing attended one of these events.
The second phase, focused on those with lived experience, is currently underway and is being coordinated by Scottish Refugee Council on behalf of New Scots partners. It will run until the end of February 2024. This phase includes providing funding to enable local groups to run events which can be tailored to the needs of their specific groups and communities, for example to enable groups to run an event in their community language or to ensure that vulnerable groups have a ‘safe space’ to speak openly. LGBT Health and Wellbeing are liaising with the Scottish Refugee Council to contribute to this lived experience work.
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 04 December 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 12 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with NHS Ayrshire and Arran in relation to recruitment and retention of medical staff, particularly at University Hospital Ayr.
Answer
The Scottish Government maintains an ongoing dialogue with all health boards to discuss performance and issues such as workforce arising across the system. The last series of quarterly Biannual Performance reviews with each of the territorial health boards, including NHS Ayrshire and Arran concluded in September 2023.
In addition, the Centre for Workforce Supply (CWS), at NHS Education for Scotland (NES), throughout October and November 2023, attended by Scottish Government officials, held medical insight meetings with each individual health board - including NHS Ayrshire and Arran. Commissioned by the Scottish Government, the aim of these were to better understand medical workforce gaps; scope out whether international recruitment could help with filling vacancies; identify any innovative supply initiatives currently underway; and understand what centralised support from the Scottish Government or the CWS could help Health Boards.