- Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Friday, 28 September 2018
-
Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 29 October 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the reasons for any differences between NHS boards in the uptake rates for breast screening.
Answer
There are two reports on breast screening uptake available on the ISD website, the most recent being up to 2012 data that was published in 2013 - see http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Cancer/Breast-Screening/ .
The main identified reason for differences in uptake in breast screening relates to socio-economic class. Uptake of breast screening between 2003 and 2012 has been about 17-18% lower in women who live in the most deprived areas of Scotland compared with those who live in the least deprived areas. This is why we are investing up to £5m of funding from the Cancer Strategy 'Beating Cancer: Ambition and Action' 2016 to reduce inequalities, raise awareness and improve uptake in screening, particularly amongst those less likely to participate. As part of this work, we are establishing a network, involving clinical and academic experts from across Scotland as well as third sector organisations to identify new activities and learn from local practice and innovation, to improve participation in screening programmes.
- Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Friday, 28 September 2018
-
Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 29 October 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the 2016 review by Healthcare Improvement Scotland, which found that nearly 4,000 women had not been sent screening invitations, how many of the women affected attended their follow-up screening appointments when invited.
Answer
62% of women affected arranged an appointment for breast screening with 49% of women attending for their appointment.
- Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Friday, 21 September 2018
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 2 October 2018
To ask the Scottish Government how many paramedics were working for the Scottish Ambulance Service at the start of each financial year since 2015-16, and, in each of these years, how many (a) have resigned or retired and (b) newly trained paramedics have entered the service.
Answer
Information regarding numbers of paramedics per financial year basis is not centrally held. ISD collect and publish NHSScotland workforce data on a quarterly basis. Information regarding paramedics, including joiners, leavers and age profiles can be found by following the link.
http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/2018-09-04/AHP.asp
- Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 September 2018
-
Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 26 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it takes to ensure that new afforestation proposals do not adversely affect curlews.
Answer
Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) is the Scottish Government’s forestry advisor and regulator and as such provides advice and guidance to land managers seeking to establish new forestry.
FCS recognises the importance of protecting the nesting habitat of curlew and the potential impact that new forestry may have, and has raised the profile of this species with all the FCS regional offices.
There is no curlew-specific advice or guidance currently provided by FCS. However FCS provides more generic guidance on safeguarding protected bird species, and applies this guidance to nesting curlew. FCS then works with the applicant on the assessment, interpretation and how the planting design could be developed so that the impact on birds and other aspects of the environment are acceptable.
The majority of woodland creation projects apply for financial support under the Forestry Grant Scheme. The scheme’s application process requires surveys and environmental information to be submitted where vulnerable species such as curlew are present or may be affected. In these cases FCS advise the land owner to seek advice from SNH and RSPB and to modify the planting scheme as appropriate, for example by reducing the scope for planting.
- Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 September 2018
-
Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 26 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that all curlew breeding sites of international importance are classified as special protection areas.
Answer
Criteria for the selection of Special Protection Areas (SPAs) are set out in the UK SPA Selection Guidelines which are published by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and available via the following web link http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-1405 . Following the third UK Special Protection Area Network Review and the completion of data collection, the UK SPA Selection Guidelines will be applied to identify any potential new special protection areas in Scotland for breeding curlew.
- Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 September 2018
-
Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 25 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the £118 million announced by November 2001 for the Scottish Bus Group pension fund, whether any further payments have been made to former bus workers; how much remains in the fund, and how any funds not paid to workers have been spent.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-04592 on 5 October 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .
The Scottish Government continues to make ex-gratia payments to eligible former members of the Scottish Transport Group pension schemes as claims are made. The response to Parliamentary Question S3W-04592 on 5 October 2007 explained that, at that time, £135,000 remained to be distributed. Since October 2007, a further 13 payments totalling £50,618.58 have been made leaving £84,381.42. The remaining funds have been reserved for distribution to identified eligible former pension scheme members.
All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .
- Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 September 2018
-
Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 24 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether the application round for the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) will be opened in 2019 and 2020 in order to secure funding that will benefit vulnerable farmland species, such as the curlew.
Answer
No decision has yet been taken, partly due to a lack of complete clarity from the UK Government in terms of longer term funding guarantees following Brexit. However, I fully recognise that land managers want to know as soon as possible whether a further AECS round will take place so that they can prepare applications in good time. I am therefore reviewing options in light of the latest information on HM Treasury funding guarantees, and will make an announcement as soon as possible.
- Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 September 2018
-
Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 20 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether it supports the use of rock armour to prevent erosion of beaches, and when and for what reason it took this position.
Answer
The Scottish Government supports the use of rock armour in appropriate locations as one of a range of techniques to manage coastal erosion.
This is a longstanding position, which accepts that in certain circumstances the protection of coastal assets is necessary and in the public and private interest. However, there are locations and times where the use of hard defences may not be in the long-term interest of sustainable coastal management.
- Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 September 2018
-
Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 26 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the potential for developing steam train tourism on the east coast.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 26 September 2018
- Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 September 2018
-
Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 19 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to provide appropriate agri-environment measures to support farmers and land managers carrying out conservation action for the curlew.
Answer
The Scottish Government is working hard to meet the targets set out in the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy through a range of actions including through the Biodiversity Challenge Fund and Scottish Natural Heritage.
Specific support for agri-environment is available through the Scottish Rural Development Programme 2014-20 (SRDP). The Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) is providing significant funding support across Scotland for the management of farmland birds and other species targeting in particular vulnerable species. In particular it provides support for habitat management for wader species, including curlew.
Since 2015, more than 2,220 contracts supporting habitat management for waders have been approved under the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS), with that number expected to increase once the 2018 round has been completed.
In addition, the Farm Advisory Service under the SRDP provides a range of assistance including one-to-one business support services including bespoke specialist advice on biodiversity and habitats.
