- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 07 August 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 4 September 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how regularly it meets with sportscotland to receive updates on its efforts to tackle racism in Scottish cricket.
Answer
I have met with sport scotland and Cricket Scotland on a number of occasions to discuss progress against the Changing the Boundaries report and will be meeting the interim CEO on 21 September.
The issue is also regularly discussed at monthly meetings between myself and sport scotland’s Chair and Chief Executive.
In addition, Scottish Government officials meet on a fortnightly basis specifically to discuss the work resulting for the Changing the Boundaries report as well as the issue of racism more widely.
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 07 August 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 4 September 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has confidence that all necessary steps are being taken to root out racism in Scottish cricket.
Answer
The Scottish Government is clear that there is no place for racism or discrimination of any kind in sport, or indeed wider society and we are working to ensure there is real and lasting change on this issue.
While there is clearly a long way to go, there have been some significant positive steps taken towards delivering change within the sport in recent months, and the Scottish Government has confidence that the necessary steps are being taken.
To ensure transparency around the progress made against the recommendations, sport scotland are publishing quarterly progress updates. The most recent update was published on 25 July and can be accessed on the sport scotland website.
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 07 August 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Christina McKelvie on 21 August 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the role that it and relevant agencies and bodies have played regarding the UK and Ireland's joint bid to host Euro 2028.
Answer
The Scottish Government is working in partnership with governments and football associations across the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland on the joint bid to host EURO 2028. This bid was submitted jointly by the five football associations of the UK and Ireland on 12 April, 2023. The winning bid will be announced on 10 October, 2023.
Together with the Scottish Football Association and partners across the bid nations, we are continuing to develop legacy, sustainability and governance plans, in the event of a successful bid. UEFA EURO 2028 will have a significant global reach and has the potential to leave a positive lasting legacy in Scotland by generating significant economic, environmental and social benefits. The bid vision – Football for all, Football for good. Football for the future’ – is a promise to help the Football Associations and UEFA grow a more diverse and inclusive game.
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 28 July 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 14 August 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to its plans for a National Care
Service (NCS), whether it has given consideration to the provision of
support for any care home residents who, during the period between any
legislation being passed by the Parliament and it coming into force, are in the
process of selling their home to fund their care, and, if so, whether such
individuals would receive financial support so as not to have to sell their
home, and what measures would be put in place where a charge is imposed by a
local authority that is greater than the value of such an individual's
property.
Answer
We are committed to delivering a National Care Service (NCS) to improve quality, fairness and consistency of provision that meets individuals’ needs. The NCS will have equality, dignity and human rights at its heart and will empower people across Scotland to make the choices that are right for them.
In the current system an individual can defer payment of part of their contribution to care home fees to avoid the need to sell their homes up front to meet these costs, this is a legal agreement between the individual and the council. Within the current system there are also provisions in place in the form of set capital levels to ensure an individual is not be charged more than the assessed level of resource they have.
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 July 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 14 August 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what it considers to be an acceptable distance
between existing residences and wind farm developments, and what its position
is on whether the number of separate wind farms in proximity to a residential
area should be taken into account when judging the suitability of a new wind
farm development.
Answer
There is no recommended minimum distance between onshore wind turbines and residential properties. Policy 11: Energy of National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) states that potential impacts on communities, nature and other receptors will be important considerations in the decision-making process. Additionally, the policy requires that project design and mitigation demonstrate how impacts on communities and individual dwellings, including residential amenity, visual impact, noise and shadow flicker and cumulative impacts will be addressed. All applications are subject to site-specific assessments.
Cumulative impacts are specifically referenced in Policy 11 and are a consideration in the determination of wind farm proposals. Furthermore, Planning Circular 1/2017: Environmental Impact Assessment regulations sets out guidance relating to the consideration of cumulative effects.
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 July 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 24 July 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it considers when taking a decision
on whether to override an existing local authority decision refusing planning
permission for a wind farm development, or aspects of such a development.
Answer
The majority of planning appeals are decided by reporters from Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) of the Scottish Government. Whilst Scottish ministers have the power to recall an appeal for their own decision, they would normally only do so in appeals that raise issues of national importance.
Windfarm appeal decisions are made on the planning merits of the case and in overall accordance with the development plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Reporters take full account of all submissions made by parties, including any representations from members of the local community. The reporter will carry out an inspection of the appeal site and surrounding area.
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 26 June 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 17 July 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the statement in the Transvaginal Mesh Case Record Review report, regarding the findings of the 2018 investigative review, that "Despite being well received, to date, none of the 46 recommendations made have been implemented by the Scottish Government", and how it plans to address this.
Answer
Professor Britton’s 2018 Investigative Review gave 46 recommendations regarding the process of establishing, managing and supporting Independent Reviews in Scotland.
We accepted and agreed with the vast majority of her conclusions and recommendations. The recommendations have already been reflected in a number of inquiries and reviews established in recent years. We are also developing guidance to support inquires and reviews that will build upon Professor Britton’s recommendations and hope to publish that shortly.
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 June 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Elena Whitham on 13 July 2023
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its action plan in relation to alcohol and stigma.
Answer
Removing the stigma attached to problem drug use and harmful drinking in Scotland is a key part of our alcohol and drug strategy.
In January 2023, we published the Stigma Action Plan as part of the cross-government response to the Drug Deaths Taskforce final report, aimed at tackling the stigma of substance use. The Action Plan has multiple strands of work to tackle public stigma and the institutional barriers that people face in accessing services and support, including in entering education and employment and in being able to achieve the best level of health and wellbeing.
We will shortly begin a co-design phase on the details of the actions outlined in the plan and will be engaging with partners and stakeholders in the drug and alcohol sectors.
We are supporting the development of the forthcoming UK-wide alcohol treatment guidelines, led by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. The guidance will look to introduce new approaches to treatment, including non-stigmatising service delivery.
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 June 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Elena Whitham on 13 July 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of any impact of health inequalities on (a) prevention, (b) earlier diagnosis and (c) treatment outcomes for liver disease patients.
Answer
Scottish Government has not undertaken any recent assessment of the impact of health inequalities in relation to liver disease patients. However Public Health Scotland (PHS) published a report in November 2022 that examined average mortality rates from liver disease in Scotland, including analysis by deprivation levels.
The risk of liver cancer and liver disease is increased by the impacts of harmful behaviours such as alcohol use. The Scottish Government is determined to do all that we can to reduce alcohol-related harm, which continues to be one of the most pressing public health challenges that we face in Scotland.
The PHS evaluation of Minimum Unit Price published on 27 June 2023 shows around 150 alcohol attributable deaths and 400 alcohol attributable hospital admissions each year have been averted since the policy was introduced. The policy also contributes to reducing health inequalities, with the study showing that the largest reductions in deaths and hospital admissions wholly attributable to alcohol consumption were seen in men and those living in the 40% most deprived areas.
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 June 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 4 July 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will present a timetable to the Parliament for the implementation of any recommendations that it accepts from the Transvaginal Mesh Case Record Review report.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19355 on 4 July 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 .