Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-07350

Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 16 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the potential (a) cost and (b) resource implications over the next five years of allowing women from Northern Ireland access to NHS abortion services in Scotland; how much it will set aside each year to pay for this, and what discussions it has had with the Northern Ireland Executive regarding paying for this.

Question reference: S5W-07335

Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 16 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what websites it (a) funds and (b) directly runs relating to adolescent sexual health, and when the websites were last updated.

The Scottish Government does not currently run or fund any websites relating specifically to adolescent sexual health. However, the Sexual Health Scotland website is funded and operated by Scottish Government and does contain advice and information on a range of topics relating to sexual health and wellbeing.

In addition and in partnership with Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland via the Children, Young People and Families Early Intervention Fund and Adult Learning and Empowering Communities Fund (CYPFEIF and ALEC Fund) we have provided funding to Young Scot who we will support to develop a digital resource for young parents. This resource is being developed to meet the actions relating to young parents as set out in the Pregnancy and Parenthood in Young People Strategy but will include advice that will be applicable to all young people.

Question reference: S5O-00804

Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 March 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on 72% of respondents to its consultation on social security in Scotland believing that it should aim to deliver social security through already available public sector services and organisations.

Question reference: S5O-00791

Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 March 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome was of the discussions between it and the Scottish Council for Jewish Communities regarding the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of anti-Semitism.

Question reference: S5W-07334

Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 28 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to local authorities for the teaching of personal and social health education, also known as personal and social education, and when the guidance was last updated.

PSE is a taught subject which covers aspects of planning for choices and changes, substance misuse, relationships, sexual health and parenthood, in addition to aspects of physical activity, sport and health. There are six areas which provide a holistic view of health and wellbeing.

Mental, Emotional, Social and Physical Wellbeing;

Planning for Choices and Changes;

Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport;

Food and Health;

Substance Misuse; and,

Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood (RSHP).

Through Curriculum for Excellence, health and wellbeing is spread right across the curriculum and it is one of the three core areas that are the responsibility of all staff in the school, the other two areas being literacy and numeracy. Schools are encouraged to develop the curriculum to suit their local context and meet the needs of children and young people. It is good practice for schools to consult with children and young people and respond to their views appropriately, to ensure this meets the needs of all children and young people in the school or educational setting. The RSHP guidance highlights this good practice.

There is no specific guidance for local authorities for teaching of personal and social education (PSE), guidance is however made available on individual areas explained below and is updated regularly.

Question reference: S5W-07336

Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 28 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that young people have a say in formulating the personal and social health education teaching framework.

Question reference: S5W-07155

Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 24 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has provided to local authorities regarding legislation on the Named Person Service, and whether this guidance was updated following the judgement in the case, The Christian Institute and others v The Lord Advocate, on 28 July 2016.

The Scottish Government, in close collaboration with stakeholders, produced draft Statutory Guidance for Parts 4, 5 and 18 (Section 96) of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (the Act) and published this in December 2015. Through the policy document, which was issued to stakeholders on 26 October 2016, the Scottish Government gave advice on the draft Statutory Guidance following the Supreme Court judgment. The policy document is available on the Scottish Government website via the following link http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0050/00508709.pdf. The relevant sections are included below for ease of reference.

The substance of the draft statutory guidance on Parts 4, 5 and 18 (section 96) of the Act issued in December 2015 is still reflective of the Scottish Government’s expectations in terms of the delivery of GIRFEC, with the notable exception of how information sharing is to operate.

The draft statutory guidance describes how the requirement to share information with and by Named Persons was planned to operate when Part 4 of the Act was commenced. The guidance on Part 4 includes guidance on sections 23, 26 and 27 (Communication in relation to movement of children and young people; Information sharing; and Disclosure of information, respectively). These three sections specifically refer to the sharing of information. The Supreme Court judgment requires the information sharing provisions of Part 4 of the Act to be amended in order for them to be compatible with Article 8 of the ECHR. Therefore, the current draft statutory guidance on sections 23, 26 and 27 is not applicable for the time being until it is revised following amendment of the provisions. Any information sharing by and with those identified as Named Persons under GIRFEC policy can and should continue to operate in accordance with the existing legal framework and guidance on data sharing, human rights and children’s rights, including the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Human Rights Act 1998.

The draft statutory guidance on Part 5 of the Act (Child’s Plan) includes guidance on section 40 of the Act (Assistance in relation to child’s plan). This guidance states that the duty to provide assistance may include a duty to provide information, however, as Part 5 of the Act has not been commenced there is no statutory requirement to provide information in relation to Child’s Plans. The current draft statutory guidance on section 40 of the Act should, therefore, also be disregarded for the time being until the draft statutory guidance has been reviewed in light of any further legislative amendments. Any information sharing in relation to child planning can and should continue to operate in accordance with the existing legal framework and guidance on data sharing, human rights and children’s rights, including the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Human Rights Act 1998.

Question reference: S5O-00704

Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 February 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to acknowledge and commemorate the role of the founding Director of the Edinburgh International Festival, Rudolf Bing, in this its 70th anniversary year.

Question reference: S5O-00658

Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 8 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Prestwick airport is to receive loans of £40 million three years earlier than initially forecast, as reported by Audit Scotland.

The estimate of loan funding of £39.6m up to 2021-22 was made in a business plan produced in May 2014. Following that forecast, Ryanair decided to operate more services from competitor airports and reduced its presence at Glasgow Prestwick. Our current forecast is that total loan funding of £39.5m may be required up to March 2018.

We have been clear since we bought the airport just over 3 years ago that turning the business around will require a sustained effort over a number of years. I am pleased that the company is actively pursuing new commercial opportunities – for example a deal was recently struck with Chevron which provides a new blue chip tenant for the airport and brings new jobs to the area. The future success of Prestwick is not based only on passenger services and the management team are pursuing a range of opportunities across all parts of the business. We are happy to support these efforts so the company can have a positive long term future.

Question reference: S5O-00591

Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 25 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government when it will next meet the board of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

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