- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 May 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 6 June 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on car-free zones around schools, and what plans it has to include provisions on this in its Miscellaneous Transport Bill.
Answer
In line with the Programme for Government commitment, the Transport Bill will be introduced to Parliament before summer recess. At this time the Scottish Government’s proposals in relation to responsible parking will be set out in detail and subject to the associated legislative scrutiny.
Local authorities have duties under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to provide secure expeditious, convenient and safe movement of traffic, including parking matters. Under the 1984 Act, local authorities can decide to restrict or prohibit parking by making a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO). A TRO can be promoted for a variety of reasons and is enforceable when the appropriate road signs or markings are displayed.
Local Authorities can use these powers to cover particular hotspots, such as car free zones near schools or larger areas, and need not necessarily prohibit parking at all times – this would very much depend on the wording of the TRO being promoted by the local authority.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 May 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 5 June 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of the financial costs associated with allowing people free access to their medical records.
Answer
As part of the preparatory work for the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) the Scottish Government eHealth Division has worked closely with NHSScotland Boards and considered the financial implications of these changes in legislation in consultation with the Information Commissioner's Office.
NHSScotland Boards recognised this is having a low impact as currently in most cases they do not charge for people to have access to their medical records.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 May 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 5 June 2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether any NHS boards are seeking to buy back land on which hospital car parks are located to allow free parking to be introduced and, if so, which (a) NHS boards and (b) hospitals.
Answer
The Scottish Government introduced free car parking on all NHS owned car parks in December 2008.
For the three PFI hospital car parks, the Scottish Government will continue to actively manage and review all historic PFI contracts effected before this Government’s commencement in office, with a focus on ensuring that contractual obligations are delivered and that contracts provide best value for money for the taxpayer.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 May 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 5 June 2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether additional resources will be made available to GP practices to help them deliver free access to medical records.
Answer
Scottish Government and the BMA have agreed that GP income should not be subject to arbitrary variation and should instead reflect the value of a GP’s work as an expert medical generalist. This can only be achieved by providing practices with the necessary funding for expert medical generalist work and the necessary expenses to support this work. To this end we have introduced a new funding formula to better address practice workload whilst investing £23 million to ensure that no practice lost funding in the transition.
The new GP contract – backed by investment of £110 million in 2018-19 – will also invest in placing additional primary care staff in GP practices to reduce GP practice workload. This includes an increased role and additional training made available for practice administrative staff who play a vital role in supporting patients in general practice.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 18 May 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Derek Mackay on 4 June 2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review legislation on the banding and valuation of properties for council tax purposes.
Answer
We have no plans to review the legislation on banding and valuation of properties for council tax purposes.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 May 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 1 June 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on people attending hospital appointments being required to pay for hospital parking.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-16571 on 5 June 2018. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at .
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 May 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Aileen Campbell on 31 May 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to providing funding to enable abortion clinics to provide their services free of charge to anyone regardless of their country of nationality or residency.
Answer
There are specific provisions, via amendments to the Functions of Health Boards (Scotland) Order 1991, which came into force in November 2017, that require NHS Boards in Scotland to provide access to abortion treatment free of charge for women resident in Northern Ireland. In addition, asylum seekers and refugees living in Scotland can also access abortion services free of charge.
The National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors)(Scotland) Regulations 1989 provide that people who are not ordinarily resident in the UK are, subject to some exceptions, liable to be charged for any treatment they receive. Emergency treatment and certain other specific types of healthcare and groups are excepted, but there is no general exception for abortion services (where the abortion is not emergency treatment provided in a hospital Emergency Department), so abortions are not normally available free of charge to overseas visitors.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 May 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Aileen Campbell on 31 May 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on regulating abortion in the same way as other healthcare procedures and removing any aspect of its practice from criminal law.
Answer
The Scottish Government believes all women should have access to abortion services as part of routine care, and available free from stigma.
I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-16699 on 31 May 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: .
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 May 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Aileen Campbell on 31 May 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' statement that “abortion services should be regulated; however, abortion - for women, doctors and other healthcare professionals - should be treated as a medical, rather than a criminal issue.”
Answer
The Scottish Government believes all women should have access to abortion services as part of routine care, and available free from stigma.
I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-16699 on 31 May 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: .
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 May 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Aileen Campbell on 31 May 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to introducing safe zones around abortion service providers to enable those visiting to do so free of harassment or pressure regarding their decision.
Answer
The Scottish Government recognises that protests can often be distressing for women attending hospital and we are continuing to monitor any reports about anti-abortion protests and to consider whether there is further action that should be taken as a result.