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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-27234

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 February 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 19 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider establishing an independent inquiry into the organisation of NHS boards, in light of more than half of them currently being subject to special measures.

The NHS Board Performance Escalation Framework provides an effective and transparent process for identifying and addressing concerns which may arise in relation to a health board’s organisation or performance. It provides a proportionate response to specific performance issues, including those related to issues of organisational effectiveness and governance.

There are currently six of a total of 21 NHS Boards in Scotland which are receiving additional support and subject to additional scrutiny consistent with being escalated on the Escalation Framework.

We have no plans to review the organisation of territorial health boards in Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-27180

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 17 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what the planning application status is for the Old Royal High School in Edinburgh.

The Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) are currently considering planning and listed building consent appeals in respect of the change of use, alteration and restoration of the former Royal High School Building at New Parliament House, Edinburgh.

The appointed reporters in these appeals have undertaken a number of hearings and inquiry sessions. Closing submissions have been received and a number of site inspections have also taken place. The reporters are currently in the process of finalising their report and recommendations to Ministers aiming to submit by the end of February 2020. It will then be for Scottish Ministers to consider the reporters recommendations and all other submissions made on the appeals before reaching their decision.

Question reference: S5O-04124

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 February 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has reviewed its transport procurement processes and criteria, in light of recent issues relating to ferry contracts.

Question reference: S5O-04113

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 January 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether Police Scotland has a policy of routinely fingerprinting dual nationals or British citizens born abroad.

Question reference: S5T-01973

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 27 January 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what preparations and provisions it is making in response to the coronavirus outbreak in China.

Question reference: S5O-04021

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 January 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider bringing forward to the Parliamentary Bureau a proposal for a debate on neurodiversity.

Question reference: S5O-03958

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 December 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the maximum backdating period is for the Scottish Child Payment.

Question reference: S5T-01916

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 09 December 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure the Royal Hospital for Sick Children is fit for purpose, in light of reports that the existing building needs over £700,000 of significant maintenance work.

Question reference: S5F-03787

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 09 December 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 December 2019

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to research suggesting that children in poorer areas have almost 10% fewer choices of subjects in secondary schools than those in better-off areas.

Question reference: S5W-26467

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 5 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider including disability as a criterion for widening access to university and contextualised admission and, if so, what work it will undertake to give effect to this.

The Commission on Widening Access concluded that access thresholds had the potential to increase participation in higher education for those from socio-economically deprived backgrounds and those with experience of care. Not all disabled students will face the same challenges in accessing higher education and we must consider the specific access barriers that students with a disability face to identify the most appropriate intervention. Scotland’s Higher Education Institutions individually consider all applications, including those from disabled applicants, to determine whether they have experienced disadvantage that impacts on their ability to demonstrate their full potential through their academic qualifications.

The Commission also recommended that the Commissioner for Fair Access should consider what further work is required to support equal access for other groups of learners. In February 2019 the Commissioner published a discussion paper on disabled students at university, which highlighted an increase in disclosures of mental health conditions. It is encouraging that learners are more open to disclosing a mental health condition and we must do what we can to support them. That is why in the current academic year we are investing £3.645 million in the sector so that colleges and universities can access and recruit additional counsellors.

We also continue to support disabled students through the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) - a non-income assessed allowance to cover any extra costs or expenses which may be incurred while studying.