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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.

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Question reference: S5W-22544

Asked by: David Torrance, MSP for Kirkcaldy, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 April 2019
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jeane Freeman on 5 April 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its response to the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) report on the inquiry into Tayside NHS Board Endowment Funds, which was published on 1 February 2019.

I am pleased to announce that, in response to OSCR’s recommendations, I have appointed Julie Hutchison, an independent specialist in charities governance, to chair a review of the governance of NHS Endowment Funds in Scotland. Ms Hutchison will set up an expert Project Group which will submit a report to me before the end of this year. I have asked that this report makes recommendations on future structures and governance arrangements to ensure that those managing these charitable funds are able to demonstrate at all times that they are acting in the interests of the charity.

Question reference: S5W-21979

Asked by: David Torrance, MSP for Kirkcaldy, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 March 2019
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Clare Haughey on 8 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that those patients who require forensic mental health services receive the appropriate care and treatment to aid their rehabilitation.

In recent years there has been a significant adjustment in the delivery of forensic mental health services. My recent annual ministerial review of the State Hospital examined a number of issues, not least how the board responds to a decline in the number of patients detained in high security, and the development of medium secure services elsewhere. We have also seen the introduction of excessive security appeals for patients detained in medium security and a continuing move towards community services.

In order to enable forensic mental health services to be delivered as effectively as possible I am instigating a review more widely into the delivery of these services in recognition of these changes and new developments.

The review will consider;

The demand for forensic mental health services, including bed availability and use in hospitals across the levels of security;
Forensic mental health services in the community across Scotland;
The delivery of forensic mental health services in prison;
The governance and delivery of high secure forensic services in hospital, given the decline in the number of patients at the State Hospital;
The capacity of medium secure services to deliver forensic mental health services for all patients who require such services;
The impact of excessive security appeals across the forensic mental health system;
The availability of specialist open i.e. unlocked forensic rehabilitation services; and
The movement of patients from low or medium security into the community

We will set out further details on this operation and remit of the review, including its chair, in due course.

Question reference: S5O-02992

Asked by: David Torrance, MSP for Kirkcaldy, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 March 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact that Brexit will have on third sector funding.

Question reference: S5O-02937

Asked by: David Torrance, MSP for Kirkcaldy, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 February 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 28 February 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the impact that Brexit will have on Scotland.

The Scottish Government’s Chief Economist published analysis on 21st February indicating that a No Deal Brexit could be expected to push the Scottish economy into recession during 2019. The analysis indicated that there is the potential for the economy to contract by between 2.5%-7% depending on the way in which a No Deal Brexit evolves.

Previous analysis published in Scotland’s Place in Europe: People, Jobs and Investment outlined the long term implications of Brexit for Scotland’s economy. Our modelling inicates that by 2030 our GDP would be around £9 billion lower than if we stayed in the EU. That is equivalent to £1600 for every person in Scotland.

Question reference: S5O-02901

Asked by: David Torrance, MSP for Kirkcaldy, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 February 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 February 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the importance of foodbanks in supporting people in receipt of universal credit.

Question reference: S5O-02751

Asked by: David Torrance, MSP for Kirkcaldy, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 December 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how the roll-out of universal credit is impacting on local authority rent arrears.

Question reference: S5O-02591

Asked by: David Torrance, MSP for Kirkcaldy, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 November 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how accessible Universal Credit is for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities.

Question reference: S5O-02470

Asked by: David Torrance, MSP for Kirkcaldy, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 October 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 October 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve access to mental health services for LGBT+ people.

Question reference: S5O-02378

Asked by: David Torrance, MSP for Kirkcaldy, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what importance it places on community policing and how beneficial it considers it to be to communities.

This Government places the highest importance on community policing and welcomes the fact that the majority of people in our communities believe the police are doing a good or excellent job in their local area.

Localism is a key feature of the Scottish Government's Strategic Police Priorities, set by my predecessor in 2016 and due to be reviewed next year. I am pleased to say that these priorities are reflected strongly in Police Scotland and the SPA's ten year transformational strategy, Policing 2026 and in the implementation of that strategy. There is a great deal of work going on within Police Scotland to improve the service's responsiveness to local needs, ensuring that officers are visible within communities, working in partnership to keep people safe and support the most vulnerable members of our society. I believe Members should be very encouraged by the recent comments of the new Chief Constable regarding the importance of engagement with local communities and the empowerment of local police officers and staff across the country. I look forward to working with the Chief Constable and the SPA Chair to further build on the progress which is being made in this important area.

Question reference: S5O-02342

Asked by: David Torrance, MSP for Kirkcaldy, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 September 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to help small food retailers and convenience stores to provide healthy food options to local communities.