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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.

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Question reference: S5W-21615

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 11 February 2019
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 5 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of the potential impact of Brexit on science sector jobs.

The Scottish Government has undertaken an analysis of the long term impact that Brexit could have on different sectors of the Scottish economy. A summary of this modelling work was published in the latest State of the Economy report, released on 13 February 2019. A link to the impact analysis, which illustrates the potential long run impact of a modelled Free Trade Agreement scenario, can be found at https://www.gov.scot/publications/state-economy-february-2019/ .

Furthermore, on 21 February 2019, the Scottish Government’s Chief Economist published an economic analysis of the implications of a No Deal Brexit on Scotland. The report considers sectoral exposure to a No Deal Brexit. The report can be accessed from ttps://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781787816138.

Question reference: S5W-21422

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 February 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 4 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the reported shortfall in cancer diagnostic staff, and what its longer term workforce strategy is for maintaining levels of diagnostic staff.

We increased the numbers of radiology trainees by 26 between 2014 and 2017. In 2017 the Cabinet Secretary announced an additional £3 million for a further increase in the number of radiology trainees in Scotland by at least another 50 by 2022.

We are investing £4m in the Scottish Radiology Transformation Programme to improve diagnostic imaging capacity across Scotland, and improve IT connectivity.

A number of NHSScotland Boards have invested in training for radiographers, extending their roles to include report reading, ultrasound examinations and some diagnostic procedures.

In 2018 NHS Scotland Boards ran an international campaign to recruit up to 32 consultant grade radiologists. Since the campaign, many Boards have also recruited Radiologists via local recruitment methods. In many cases these Boards have retained these doctors following their CCT and have been able to offer them a Consultant-level position.

We are working with the Scottish Cancer Taskforce, who are feeding into the development of the Integrated Health and Social Care Workforce Plan.

Question reference: S5W-21487

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 February 2019
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 21 February 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how much it is spending in mitigating the UK Government's welfare reforms.

Question reference: S5W-21377

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 01 February 2019
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 19 February 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its report, Fuel Poverty: Scottish Government response to working group reports, whether it will confirm which of the recommendations that were made by the Scottish Rural Fuel Poverty Task Force in the report, Delivering affordable warmth in rural Scotland: action plan, it has (a) endorsed, broken down by the progress being made with the implication of each and (b) rejected, broken down by reason.

The Scottish Government’s response to reports by the Scottish Fuel Poverty Strategic Working Group and Scottish Rural Fuel Poverty Task Force set out the range of actions underway to address the recommendation they made. Since then we have put in place further actions to address many of the recommendations.

For example, we consulted on a new fuel poverty strategy, including a new definition that takes account of recommendations made by the Rural Fuel Poverty Task Force. Following consideration of responses received, we published a Draft Fuel Poverty Strategy on 27 June 2018, alongside the introduction of the Fuel Poverty (Target, Definition & Strategy) (Scotland) Bill to Parliament.

We have also established the independent Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel that is taking forward a range of actions to inform Scottish Government policy. The Panel has been tasked specifically with monitoring and reporting on the delivery of the recommendations made by the Scottish Fuel Poverty Strategic Working Group and Scottish Rural Fuel Poverty Task. The Panel discussed how to monitor the recommendations at their last meeting in December and is actively putting in place a process for monitoring the recommendations. This will be reported in due course.

Question reference: S5O-02905

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S5O-02790

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in advancing the case and funding for a new Levenmouth rail link.

Question reference: S5F-02984

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 14 January 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 January 2019

To ask the First Minister what impact reductions to local government budgets could have on the National Performance Framework.

Question reference: S5O-02771

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 January 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for the single farm payment scheme post-Brexit.

Question reference: S5O-02741

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 December 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to analysis by COSLA, which suggests that the 2019-20 Local Government Settlement will result in a £237 million reduction to the core revenue budget and a decrease in the core capital budget of £17 million.

Question reference: S5W-20372

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 13 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5T-01371 by Michael Matheson on 4 December 2018 (Official Report, c. 3), what action is being taken by ScotRail in response to reports of an increase in the scale and frequency of (a) overcrowding and (b) cancellations on the Fife Circle; what work it is carrying out to ensure that the overall customer experience on these services improves, and how it will monitor the effectiveness of this.

The Member will be aware that the industrial action over rest day working impacted significantly on ScotRail’s recent performance on the Fife Circle, notably the level of cancellations which subsequently impacted on overcrowded services. You will be pleased to note a deal to resolve the dispute has been agreed and the work to rule action withdrawn and this will see services impacted by industrial action returning to normal.

When all the HST trains are in service ScotRail will redeploy some of the existing class 170 trains to Fife and this will mean more peak trains will be formed of 6 carriages and off peak services will generally be 3 carriages.

ScotRail is delivering a programme of performance improvement initiatives, including changes to maintenance regimes for infrastructure and rolling stock on Fife routes,

ScotRail’s performance and actions being delivered to support performance improvement are challenged, monitored and discussed between Transport Scotland officials and the ScotRail Alliance at regular forums.