- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 August 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Ben Macpherson on 2 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how many additional trading standards officers local authorities will need to employ in the future to deliver (a) its agenda in response to the impact of Brexit, (b) the recovery from COVID-19 and (c) the standards expected from its environmental agenda.
Answer
Any assessment of the number of employees required to carry out future trading standards work is a matter for councils and their national body COSLA to undertake. Trading Standards Officers are employed by Scotland’s local authorities, who are independent corporate bodies, responsible for the management and sustainability of their workforce. Scottish Ministers engage routinely with COSLA which provides an opportunity for areas of concern for local government to be raised should our partners in local government believe this issue requires further discussion in future.
- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 August 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Ben Macpherson on 2 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the 2019 Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS) trading standards' workforce survey, including its findings regarding the impact of (a) Brexit and (b) the greater environmental protection requirements arising from its green agenda.
Answer
Trading Standards Officers are employed by Scotland’s local authorities. Local authorities are independent corporate bodies, responsible for the management of their workforce. The outcome and response to the findings of the SCOTSS survey is therefore a matter for councils and their national body, COSLA. However, in recognition of the sustainability challenges facing the service, we understand that SCOTSS and COSLA continue to engage on developing a workforce strategy for the future.
- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 August 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Ben Macpherson on 2 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had or plans to hold with the Scottish Funding Council regarding supporting universities and colleges to ensure that there is capacity to grow and develop the number of trading standards officers required to meet any increase in demand arising from the (a) impact of Brexit, (b) recovery from COVID-19 and (c) changes in the environmental standards that are delivered through local authorities.
Answer
The Scottish Government has not and does not plan to hold any discussions with the Scottish Funding Council on this matter unless approached or asked for support by our partners in local government. Scottish Ministers routinely engage with COSLA which provides an opportunity for areas of concern for local government to be raised.
Trading Standards Officers are employed by Scotland’s local authorities and it is therefore a matter for them, as independent corporate bodies with responsibility for the management of their workforce, to ensure that there is sufficient capacity to meet their future needs and requirements.
- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 August 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Ben Macpherson on 31 August 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had or plans to hold with COSLA regarding any increased demand on the organisation’s trading standards officers arising from the delivery of the (a) recovery from COVID-19, (b) economic recovery and (c) increased environmental safety standards for goods and services.
Answer
The Scottish Government engages regularly with COSLA, including on Covid recovery, and the well-established mechanisms in place provide an opportunity for future discussions on this matter should COSLA seek to raise this with the Scottish Government.
- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 15 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government (a) whether and (b) when it plans to introduce a digital certificate with QR authentication for vaccine record information, in light of this being required by people working and travelling abroad where it is expected in the receiving country.
Answer
Yes, in summer 2021 our current vaccination status letters will be replaced by fully digital Covid Status Certificates to be used for outbound international travel. The World Health Organisation is currently developing international standards for this, and it is expected this will include either a QR code or 2D barcode. We are working across the Common Travel Area and our four nations to put in place our fully interoperable digital solution that aligns with these international standards being developed. This digital solution will also have an accessible option for those that need it, such as those who do not have a smart phone.
- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 05 March 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 23 March 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the economic impact of the decision by HM Revenue and Customs to transfer all the functions and 200 jobs from its National Compliance Risk offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh to England.
Answer
The HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)change programme which includes major business restructuring and a review ofall of its accommodations is primarily a matter for Her Majesty’s Government. Nodetailed discussions have taken place with the UK Government to date. However,I understand that no decisions have yet been made in relation to the long-termlocation of National Compliance Risk work and no Risk posts will be moved fromcurrent locations until the regional accommodation review process has beencompleted.
Other work may move to Scotland asbusiness streams reorganise. HMRC have already moved 142 posts to Scotlandunder the Government relocation programme and may move further posts as theirplanning work develops. It is therefore too early to speculate on the impact inScotland of any possible job losses.
As we have previously noted,we will take account of potential job losses within the context of futurerelocation decisions.
- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 February 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 8 February 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS Lanarkshire would have been legal entitled to exclude non-GP companies limited by shares from the recent tendering process for GP medical services in Harthill.
Answer
It is for NHS Lanarkshire tomake arrangements for the provision of primary medical services in its area, andto consider, and comply with, all legal requirements in doing so.
- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 26 January 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Des McNulty on 5 February 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will reply to my letter dated 2 November 2006 regarding the safe containment of hazardous waste during demolition.
Answer
We do not appear to havereceived the Member’s letter of 2 November 2006 on this issue. However,we did receive an e-mail, dated 10 November, from the Member on the same topic,and a reply to this e-mail will be issued shortly. We apologise for the delayin responding.
- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 January 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by George Reid on 1 February 2007
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what measures have been undertaken to assess and address the security implications for the Parliament building complex of the Microsoft Government Leaders Forum (GLF) Europe being held on 30 and 31 January 2007.
Answer
The security implications ofhosting the 2007 Microsoft Government Leaders Forum have been considered veryseriously. The measures undertaken have been based on advice from Lothian andBorders Police and other security authorities and have drawn on previousexperience of managing events held in the Parliament.
- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 January 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by George Reid on 1 February 2007
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what financial contribution it will receive from the Scottish Executive towards security costs for the Microsoft Government Leaders Forum (GLF) Europe.
Answer
All additional securitycosts incurred by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will be met byMicrosoft. Any additional costs incurred by the Executive are a matter forthem.
