- Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 30 January 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 9 February 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what work has been done with (a) NHS boards, (b) clinicians and (c) the third sector to reduce any variation in the quality of mental health support access for people with diabetes across the country.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-14415 on 9 February 2023. 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: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 30 January 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Elena Whitham on 9 February 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how many tribunals there are; how (a) much funding and (b) many staff each has in 2022-23, and in which year each was established.
Answer
There are three types of tribunals which operate in Scotland. Scottish tribunals which deal with devolved issues and have specific jurisdiction in Scotland (such as the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland) and tribunals which deal with reserved issues but have specific Scottish jurisdiction and structures (such as the Pensions Appeal Tribunal for Scotland), these are administered by the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service. Other tribunals exist which deal with reserved issues and have Great Britain wide structures administered by His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (such as the Employment Tribunal). The Scottish Government can only comment on those administered by the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service.
As at 1 February 2023, the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service administer the Scottish Tribunals (consisting of the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland and the Upper Tribunal for Scotland), the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland, the Lands Tribunal for Scotland, and the Pensions Appeal Tribunal for Scotland. The First-tier Tribunal for Scotland is split into six Chambers.
The respective funding, staffing and year established for each of these tribunals is listed in the following table.
Tribunal | Funding* | Number of staff in post as of 1st February 2023 | Year established |
Created by Tribunals (Scotland) Act December 2014 |
Upper Tribunal for Scotland** | £7,413 | 0 | December 2016 |
First-tier Tribunal for Scotland | Housing and Property Chamber | £4,157,686 | 61 | December 2016 |
Health and Education Chamber | £388,545 | 4 | January 2018 |
Social Security Chamber^ | £3,361,006 | 26 | November 2018 |
General Regulatory Chamber † | -£6,096 | 5 | January 2018 |
Tax Chamber | £116,693 | 2 | April 2018 |
Local Taxation Chamber | £750,414 | 11 | Commences April 2023 |
- Council Tax Reduction Review Panel | £104,790 | 2 | October 2013, functions transfer into the Local Taxation Chamber April 2023 |
Other Tribunals |
Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland | £9,343,829 | 70 | October 2005 |
Pensions Appeal Tribunal Scotland | £399,470 | 4 | Present form since 1943 (in existence since 1919) |
Lands Tribunal for Scotland" | £95,302 | 2 | October 1970 (originally legislated 1949) |
*Funding is for operational funding (direct running costs) and does not include overheads. |
** Does not include judicial resource costs of £93,299 transferred to the Judicial Office for Scotland. |
^staff posts and funding includes additional 11 staff to transfer in from His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service on 1st March 2023. | |
† Costs within the General Regulatory Chamber are recharged to local authorities. |
" Does not include salaried tribunal members. | | |
- Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 30 January 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 9 February 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what work has been done with (a) NHS boards, (b) clinicians and (c) the third sector to promote good practice in mental health support for people with diabetes.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-14415 on 9 February 2023. 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: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 January 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus Robertson on 9 February 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has plans to purchase any new pieces of artwork in 2023, and, if so, whether it can provide details of any such pieces.
Answer
There are no plans to purchase artwork in 2023.
- Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 January 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 9 February 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of people with type 1 diabetes have been recorded as having a diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) episode, in each year since 2007.
Answer
The information requested is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 9 February 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on whether it plans to extend the contract for the MS Ambition beyond the current contract end date of 31 March 2023.
Answer
There are no plans to extend the contract of MS Ambition beyond 31 March 2023.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 9 February 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will no longer need the MS Ambition beyond the current contract end date of 31 March 2023.
Answer
The use of MS Ambition was always intended to be a temporary measure and the contact will end on 31 March. Our Priority now is on moving people safely from the ship and towards longer-term accommodation. As part of the joint Glasgow City Council-Scottish Government ‘Disembarkation Strategy’, the council is leading a regional approach with neighbouring authorities to maximise the number of suitable volunteer hosts and social housing opportunities for guests on board. Where a guest refuses a host or social housing offer or where there is no suitable alternative they will be allocated further welcome accommodation before the closure of MS Ambition. However, this may be in a different part of Scotland.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 January 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Lorna Slater on 8 February 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what work it is considering with local authorities to ensure that vaping products and e-cigarettes are properly disposed of and recycled, including examining how trading standards relate to this issue.
Answer
I have commissioned an urgent review of the environmental impacts and management of single-use vapes. Zero Waste Scotland will lead on the review, which will examine available evidence and consider potential options to tackle the issue.
The review will consider of a range of approaches and implementation considerations, including the role of local authorities and others in helping to ensure responsible recycling and disposal, as well as enforcement issues.
We will consider the evidence and expert advice and bring forward policy options in due course.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 January 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Lorna Slater on 8 February 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance, advice and/or support is provided to retail outlets that sell vaping and e-cigarette products in relation to the disposal and recycling of those products.
Answer
Vapes and e-cigarettes are subject to the provisions of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2013 (the WEEE regulations). As such, anybody who sells a vape or e-cigarette to a consumer has obligations including to accept the return of WEEE from private households subject to certain conditions.
Guidance for retailers subject to these obligations, including on how to join a scheme which will discharge this obligation on a retailer’s behalf, is available here: https://www.gov.uk/electricalwaste-producer-supplier-responsibilities
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 January 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 8 February 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether an independent inquiry into the 2005 conviction of Luke Mitchell for the murder of Jodi Jones in 2003 is being considered by the Lord Advocate.
Answer
Where a person has been convicted of any offence, including murder, they can appeal against the decision of the independent court. Even where the normal appeals route is exhausted, if the person considers they have suffered a miscarriage of justice, they can apply to the independent Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission (SCCRC) to have their case reviewed. The SCCRC have a power to refer a case back to the High Court for a fresh appeal if they believe there may have been a miscarriage of justice, and it is in the interests of justice to do so. If an applicant is dissatisfied with how the SCCRC have considered their application, it is open to the applicant to seek judicial review of the SCCRC's decision not to refer their case to the High Court.
Under the Inquiries Act 2005, the Scottish Ministers are empowered to establish a public inquiry where particular events have caused, or are capable of causing, public concern, or where there is public concern that particular events have occurred. In view of the fact that Mr Mitchell's conviction for murder remains in place following appeals and consideration by the SCCRC, the Scottish Ministers are not currently giving consideration to a public inquiry in respect of Mr Mitchell's conviction.
