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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S5W-02505

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 23 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports regarding the conditions that the Whyte family from Forres faced when attending Spynie Mortuary near Elgin, and what its position is on the condition of mortuary facilities (a) in Moray and (b) nationally in light of the issues raised.

It is disappointing that the Whyte family did not receive an appropriate level of care from the Spynie Mortuary, however NHS Grampian have apologised to the Whyte family and they acted promptly with their partners in Police Scotland to ensure there would be no repeat of what was clearly a distressing situation. Alternative arrangements have been put in place locally, so that loved ones are viewed at Dr Gray's Hospital mortuary and NHS Grampian have been in regular contact with the family concerning their experience and the shape of future provision.

In terms of the national position, Scottish Government officials will pursue this matter with the NHS Scottish Property Advisory Group, which has responsibility for the management of NHS property. Any actions flowing from these discussions will be communicated direct to NHS Chief Executives.

Question reference: S5W-02504

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 23 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what procedures are in place regarding mortuary facilities to ensure that they should (a) be maintained to an appropriate standard and (b) take account of the sensitive issues that need to be considered when making arrangements for people to carry out an identification.

Scottish Health Planning Note 20, 'Facilities for Mortuary and Post-Mortem Room Services' is published by Health Facilities Scotland and provides guidance to NHSScotland organisations on planning and designing comprehensive Mortuary and Post-Mortem Facilities and includes guidance on:

the receipt, temporary storage, viewing and removal of bodies;

maintenance;

post-mortem examinations;

visiting relatives/friends;

teaching and research.

The guidance recognises that this can be a sensitive and difficult time and that where possible a 'serene and reassuring environment is desirable' in the waiting room, interview/counselling room, viewing room and bier room.

Question reference: S5O-00207

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 September 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to ensure that the Scottish Ambulance Service supports co-responding of emergency services to road traffic accidents.

Question reference: S5W-02640

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 21 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is putting in place to bring housing back into use on rural estates to address shortages.

The Scottish Land Fund offers grants of up to £1 million to help communities take ownership of the land and buildings that matter to them, as well as practical support to develop their aspirations into viable projects.

The £25 million Rural Housing Fund and the £5 million Islands Housing Fund provide support to organisations who wish deliver long term affordable housing by bringing empty properties back into use, as well as other approaches.

The Scottish Government also funds the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, delivered by Shelter Scotland, which provides practical support to councils and others through Empty Homes Officers and an advice service to bring private sector empty properties back into use.

Question reference: S5W-02641

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 20 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what legislation can assist communities that want to bring housing back into use on privately-owned rural estates in order to promote sustainable development.

There is a range of legislation available to assist communities throughout Scotland in acquiring housing on privately owned estates.

Legislation that is currently in place includes the Community Right to Buy in Part two of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 which was recently amended by the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2016. This gives a community the opportunity to register a community interest in land and, if successful, the opportunity to purchase that land when is it to be disposed of.

Legislation that is currently being progressed includes: Part four of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2016, which relates to Part 3A of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, which provides for a Community Right to Buy Abandoned, Neglected or Detrimental Land. This legislation is expected to be in force by summer 2017, and; Part five of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2016, which relates to asset transfer requests over land owned by prescribed public bodies. This will provide that any request for an asset transfer which is denied by an ‘authority’ must give reasons for doing so. This legislation is expected to be in force by the turn of the year.

Local authorities and other bodies currently have compulsory purchase powers.

Question reference: S5W-02046

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 August 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 15 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how many times consultancy vacancies have been advertised by NHS Grampian in the last 12 months, broken down by the (a) length of time of the vacancy and (b) location of each post.

NHS Grampian has advertised 66 consultant vacancies over the last 12 months and of these, 20% have been re-advertised. 28 of these vacancies were vacant for more than six months.

In the past 12 months consultant posts across NHS Grampian have been advertised in the following locations: Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital; Dr Gray’s Hospital, Elgin; Aberdeen Royal Infirmary; Royal Cornhill Hospital; Roxburgh House and Summerfield House.

Question reference: S5W-02047

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 August 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 15 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how much NHS Grampian has spent in the last 12 months on filling consultant posts at (a) Dr Gray's Hospital and (b) Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

Question reference: S5W-02225

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 August 2016
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 14 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the case for a new Moray sports centre and what (a) practical and (b) financial assistance it can provide toward this.

Question reference: S5W-02187

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 August 2016
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 13 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has evidence that homes in close proximity to wind farms can be devalued as a result of this, if so, what obligation there is on developers to provide compensation.

Question reference: S5W-02165

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 26 August 2016
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 12 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what steps Education Scotland has taken to share with other schools the innovative practice identified in its inspection report on Drumduan Upper School, on which it indicated its intention to work with the school, and whether it will provide further information on the best practice referred to in the report.

During an inspection of Drumduan Upper School, HM Inspector identified a great example of innovative practice. At a follow up visit to look at this in more detail, HM Inspector found that the school’s approach to creative learning also included a focus on developing skills for learning, life and work and this included daily singing lessons. This whole school approach aimed at benefiting young people’s health and work ethic.

HM Inspectors have been pleased to share this practice with other similar independent schools across Scotland, through professional engagement visits where the practice would be beneficial. As a result, we are aware of at least one other independent school, which has since visited this School to learn more about their practice in developing the curriculum and embedding creative approaches to learning and teaching.