- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 September 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 4 October 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its direct involvement in the setting of water charges for 2022-23, whether it will use its powers of direction to require it to be consulted or have its approval sought by Scottish Water on the setting of charges for the year 2023-24, in order to ensure that charges are set at a level that is affordable by households and businesses, in light of the current high levels of inflation.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-11011 on 4 October 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 September 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 4 October 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its direct involvement in the setting of water charges for 2022-23, whether it will use its powers of direction to require the Water Industry Commission to consult it or seek its approval on any actions that the Commission proposes that could require, or otherwise press, Scottish Water to propose a water charges scheme that would raise charges above the rate of inflation in 2023-24 and beyond.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-11011 on 4 October 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 September 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 3 October 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) recommendations on lung cancer screening and what action it is taking to implement these recommendations.
Answer
The Scottish Government is aware that the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) now recommend that the four UK countries should move toward the implementation of a targeted screening programme for lung cancer in adults aged 55-74 with a history of smoking.
The Scottish Government welcomes this recommendation, though notes that the UK NSC also acknowledges the significant complexities that must be worked through ahead of implementation. Scotland will play an active part in that work. The Scottish Government will also follow the advice of the National Screening Oversight (NSO) and Scottish Screening Committee (SSC) who will consider how the recommendation can best be taken forward in Scotland.
In the meantime, we have agreed to fund a one year extension of the University of Edinburgh’s feasibility study, LungScot, into targeted lung health checks for high risk individuals. This will help to inform future approaches.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 September 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 3 October 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what work is being undertaken on a national lung cancer screening programme in line with pilots that are progressing in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to S6W-10989 on 3 October 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 September 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 3 October 2022
To ask the Scottish Government when a national lung cancer screening programme will be rolled out.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to S6W-10989 on 3 October 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 September 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus Robertson on 3 October 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, following the reported cancellation of a planned trip by the First Minister to the UN General Assembly taking place from 20 to 26 September 2022 in New York, whether another minister is attending in the First Minister’s place, and, if so, which minister.
Answer
No plans were made for the First Minister, or any other Minister, to attend the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
The Minister for Environment and Land Reform represented Scotland at the Under 2 Coalition General Assembly, held during the recent 'Climate Week NYC'. Further details of this engagement will be reported to Parliament shortly.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 September 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus Robertson on 3 October 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what overseas visits are planned by the First Minister for the remainder of 2022-23.
Answer
Overseas visits undertaken by Scottish Ministers help protect and enhance Scotland’s interests, improve global networks, unlock new economic and trading opportunities and create domestic opportunities and benefits for the people of Scotland. For security reasons we do not comment on the future travel plans of the First Minister.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 September 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 30 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will direct the Water Industry Commission for Scotland to only take regulatory actions that are compatible with Scottish Water being able to deliver levels of water charges that are acceptable to Scottish Ministers at a time of high inflation.
Answer
Under the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 Ministers can only give the Water Industry Commission Scotland directions of a general or specific character as to the financial management or administration of the Commission
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 September 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 30 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider giving Scottish Water additional functions to (a) consult Consumer Scotland and have specific regard to its views on the affordability of water charges in advance of proposing a scheme of charges in any given year prior to submitting its annual scheme of charges to the Water Industry Commission and (b) advise Scottish Ministers of its considerations in this regard and publish them.
Answer
Consumer Scotland already has a statutory role and actively engages in the scrutiny arrangements underpinning the delivery of Scottish Water’s investment programme to ensure that Ministers’ objectives are being delivered. As a member of key strategic stakeholder groups Consumer Scotland advocates on behalf of customers on key industry policy issues, including on questions of affordability. Scottish Water’s Board must consider questions of affordability in finalising its Scheme of Charges; there are currently no plans to give Scottish Water additional functions in relation to charge setting.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 September 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 30 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has issued specific policy requirements or explicit directions to the Water Industry Commission or Scottish Water to statutorily require the Commission to set, and Scottish Water to raise, a specific minimum amount of funds from charges during the 2021-27 regulatory period.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-11009 on 30 September 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers