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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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S4W-27309

Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 04 September 2015
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 17 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what the cost was of the new logo for the Glasgow alcohol and drug recovery service, including design and implementation across the alcohol and drug service.

It is for Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) to commission and oversee the provision of local drug and alcohol services. The Scottish Government would not intervene in local decision making as it is up to ADPs and commissioned services to decide how their allocated funding is spent according to local needs and in line with the evidence base for effective treatment provision but the Scottish Government would expect that ADPs seek to achieve best value in the procurement process and ensure they maximise their ability to invest in delivery of services for clients.

Question reference: S4O-04613

Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 September 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to so-called deep end GP practices in the most socio-economically deprived populations.

Question reference: S4O-04593

Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2015
Current Status: Answered by Aileen McLeod on 16 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it provides to local authorities that wish to invest in environmentally friendly initiatives.

The Scottish Government has treated local government very fairly despite the cuts to the Scottish Budget from the UK Government. The local government finance settlements have been maintained over the period 2012-16, with extra money for additional responsibilities, and, as a result, the total settlement in 2015-16 now amounts to over £10.85 billion.

The vast majority of this funding, including funding for environmental initiatives, is being provided by means of a block grant. It is therefore the responsibility of individual local authorities to manage their own budgets and to allocate the total financial resources available to them on the basis of local needs and priorities, having first fulfilled their statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities.

Question reference: S4O-04576

Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 September 2015
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 10 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce health inequalities in Glasgow.

Scotland’s health is improving, with people living longer, healthier lives. But despite the best efforts of both this and previous administrations, deeply ingrained social inequalities persist.

At its root this is an issue of income inequality – we need a shift in emphasis from dealing with the consequences to tackling the underlying cause, poverty. The focus must be in providing fair wages, supporting families and improving our physical and social environments.

The First Minister said in introducing our Programme for Government last week that we will invest more than £100 million this year to mitigate the impact of UK Government welfare cuts. We are also preparing to use our new, albeit limited, welfare powers. The new powers that are proposed in the Scotland Bill fall far short of what we would need to fully mitigate the harm caused by UK Government policies.

Question reference: S4W-27089

Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 17 August 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 1 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether the (a) ScotRail and (b) Network Rail franchise has a requirement stipulating that major work on the network is carried out at night

The ScotRail franchise sets out the Scottish Government’s specification for the operation of rail services rather than the delivery of rail infrastructure works. Network Rail is responsible for the operation, maintenance, renewal and enhancement of the rail infrastructure in Scotland and its activities are regulated by the independent Office of Rail and Road (ORR). The conditions upon which it must operate are set out in their network licence, a copy of which is available from the ORR website. Safety is Network Rail’s top priority and a significant proportion of infrastructure works are therefore required to be carried out at night when trains are not running.

Question reference: S4W-27090

Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 17 August 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 1 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what guidelines are included in the (a) ScotRail and (b) Network Rail franchise concerning night-time working close to residential areas.

The requirements set out within the ScotRail franchise relate specifically to the operation of passenger services. Network Rail is responsible for the operation, maintenance, renewal and enhancement of the rail infrastructure in Scotland and must manage this within defined regulatory and control frameworks. Its activities are regulated by the independent Office of Rail and Road (ORR) and the conditions upon which it must operate are set out in their network licence, a copy of which is available from the ORR website. Network Rail has broader social and sustainability obligations that require employees and contractors to respect the privacy, sensitivity, and property of those who live and work near the railway when undertaking engineering works. A range of measures are deployed to minimise noise and disruption from engineering activities and local resident and stakeholder engagement is encouraged prior to the commencement of major works.

Question reference: S4O-04534

Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what process communities should follow to apply for funding from the Town Centre Communities Capital Fund.

Question reference: S4W-25991

Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 08 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 17 June 2015

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-09440 by Kenny MacAskill on 11 September 2012, whether it has reviewed or is planning to review its policies to ensure that those communities most blighted by crime receive an appropriate share of funds seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Question reference: S4O-04447

Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 10 June 2015

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and what issues were discussed.

Question reference: S4W-25337

Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 April 2015
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 5 May 2015

To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons a GP would be unable to provide an NHS prescription for a homeopathic medicine that had been recommended by an NHS doctor.

<>It is the doctor who signs a prescription who carries legal and clinical responsibility and not the clinician who recommended it. GPs will often write a prescription based on another clinician’s advice but generally will only do so if they are in agreement that it is appropriate and if they are sufficiently knowledgeable about the use; interactions; and side effects, to take personal legal responsibility for writing the prescription for it. All GPs have the right to refuse to prescribe a treatment that they are not prepared to take clinical responsibility for.