Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-34305

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 14 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to ensure that the training for people who work with people with epilepsy includes the administration of rescue training, meets industry standards and is safe.

Question reference: S5O-04923

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 January 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the recommendations of Lord Bew’s agriculture funding review.

Question reference: S5W-33941

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 23 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities will have delivered the required spaces to ensure 1,140 hours of funded childcare by December 2020, and which it expects will have (a) done so by April 2021 and (b) not done so by August 2021.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic local authorities and ELC providers have continued to work extremely hard to progress the expansion and ensure as many families as possible can benefit from increased hours of funded ELC ahead of the statutory implementation date.

Work has continued to secure the required workforce and to re-phase capital programmes as construction activity resumed after lockdown.

I can advise that local authorities are continuing to offer expanded hours where they can, and to progress expansion plans ahead of setting a new statutory date. 14 Local Authorities are already offering 1140 hours to all families; and 18 Local Authorities are offering at least 600 hours of funded ELC to all families, and 1140 to some or most families.

Of the 18 Local Authorities still to deliver full roll out of 1140 the following indicative dates have been shared with the Scottish Government, however councils may deliver before these dates. The indicative dates below are subject to change due to future changes in public health measures and/or Covid-19.

Glasgow City Council is delivering an 1140 model but is unable to ensure universal provision due to current public health measures
Orkney and Perth and Kinross are working towards full role out in January 2021
West Dunbartonshire are working towards full role out in April 2021
Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, East Ayrshire, East Lothian, East Dunbartonshire, City of Edinburgh, Falkirk, Fife, Highland, North Ayrshire, Moray, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire and West Lothian are working towards full roll out in August 2021.

Question reference: S5W-33421

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 16 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on activities and projects relating to the 2014 Heart Disease Improvement Plan, broken down by activity or project.

Question reference: S5W-33420

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 10 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the implementation of the 2014 Heart Disease Improvement Plan.

Treating and preventing heart disease is a national clinical priority for Scotland. We continue to implement our Heart Disease Improvement Plan 2014, which sets out the priorities and actions to deliver improved prevention, diagnosis treatment and care for people living with and affected by heart disease in Scotland.

Latest ISD statistics from January 2020 show that the mortality rate for coronary heart disease fell by 32.4% between 2009 and 2018. This decrease in mortality rates show that our strategy for tackling heart disease is delivering important improvements for patients. However, we are determined to continue improvements in this area, and to respond effectively to the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Therefore, discussions are already underway with National Advisory Committee on Heart Disease (NACHD) regarding a successor plan to the 2014 Heart Disease Improvement Plan. We aim to publish a successor plan to 2014 Heart Disease Improvement Plan next year.

Question reference: S5W-33422

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 10 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions have taken place regarding a successor plan to the 2014 Heart Disease Improvement Plan, and when it will publish a successor plan.

Treating and preventing heart disease is a national clinical priority for Scotland. We continue to implement our Heart Disease Improvement Plan 2014, which sets out the priorities and actions to deliver improved prevention, diagnosis treatment and care for people living with and affected by heart disease in Scotland.

Latest ISD statistics from January 2020 show that the mortality rate for coronary heart disease fell by 32.4% between 2009 and 2018. This decrease in mortality rates show that our strategy for tackling heart disease is delivering important improvements for patients. However, we are determined to continue improvements in this area, and to respond effectively to the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Therefore, discussions are already underway with National Advisory Committee on Heart Disease (NACHD) regarding a successor plan to the 2014 Heart Disease Improvement Plan. We aim to publish a successor plan to 2014 Heart Disease Improvement Plan next year.

Question reference: S5O-04838

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 December 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what it considers the potential economic impact will be on rural and island economies of rewilding measures.

Question reference: S5W-32884

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 23 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering proposals such as a period of (a) free bus journeys for all, (b) off-peak rail travel all day and (c) free train travel at weekends to encourage people back into the habit of using transport services.

Supporting the resurgence of a vibrant public transport network will be a vital step in the COVID recovery. While physical distancing remains in place capacity will continue to be restricted, and the higher Tiers of the Strategic Framework discourage unnecessary use of public transport. Once the pandemic has passed, encouraging a return to public transport will be a key component of the economic recovery, and a key way to help achieve climate change targets. Over the coming months we will be exploring a range of options for the future of all modes of public transport.

Question reference: S5O-04793

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 November 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact on Scotland might be of the UK health secretary not ruling out mandatory COVID-19 vaccination, and to what extent it considers that such a position could be exploited by conspiracy theorists and so-called anti-vaxxers.

Question reference: S5O-04774

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 November 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact of Brexit will be on the road haulage and logistics sector.

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