- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 December 2020
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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.
Answer
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.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 20 November 2020
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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.
Answer
We have spent over £1M since 2014 to support implementation on the Heart Disease Improvement Plan. This has included funding to improve heart failure care; support the work of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Champion; deliver a refresh of the HEARTe online learning resources; work on atrial fibrillation, and participation in the National Cardiac Audit.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 20 November 2020
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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.
Answer
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.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 20 November 2020
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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.
Answer
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.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 December 2020
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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.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 16 December 2020
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 October 2020
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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.
Answer
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.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 November 2020
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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.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 26 November 2020
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 November 2020
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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.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 19 November 2020
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 26 October 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 6 November 2020
To ask the Scottish Government, to help alleviate the reported parking problems in the town, what consideration it has given to the feasibility of building a new railway station with park and ride facilities at Largs Yacht Haven as part of its £24 billion infrastructure investment plan.
Answer
Investment decisions must be founded on robust evidence. There is an ongoing process to identify future transport investment, that is the second Strategic Transport Projects Review. During the option generation process, an option for a new station at Largs Marina has been proposed. This will now be subject to consideration and appraisal, along with other options for the Ayrshire and Arran Region. STPR2 is due to be concluded in Autumn 2021.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 November 2020
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Current Status:
Initiated by the Scottish Government.
Answered by Michael Matheson on 5 November 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether it still plans to return Glasgow Prestwick Airport to the private sector.
Answer
Since the Scottish Government bought Glasgow Prestwick Airport (GPA) in 2013, we have been clear that it is our intention to return the business to the private sector when the time is right. The senior management team at GPA has continued to engage with potential buyers and investors to discuss proposals for developing the business under new ownership.
Good progress continues to be made by GPA to increase revenue; deliver operating efficiencies; and pursue exciting opportunities for the future. In light of that progress, GPA will shortly place a notice in the Official Journal of the European Union inviting expressions of interest in GPA. Any proposals submitted as a result of the notice would be considered carefully before any decision was taken to divest our shareholding in GPA or any part of it. We will provide an update to Parliament should any credible expressions of interest be received, while respecting the need to maintain confidentiality for commercial reasons.
