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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: S6O-02545

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 September 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the increase in patient charges for NHS dental treatment will be.

Question reference: S6O-02544

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 September 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what steps it is taking to support innovation and entrepreneurship.

Question reference: S6O-02546

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 September 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the winter flu and COVID-19 vaccination programme.

Question reference: S6O-02551

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 September 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to any benefits to islanders of restoring the monthly season ticket on the Largs to Cumbrae ferry route.

Question reference: S6O-02548

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 September 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the procurement process for the upgrade of Ardrossan harbour.

Question reference: S6W-20747

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 13 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered expanding the eligibility for the drug, Paxlovid, to people aged over 50.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium ( SMC) has collaborated with The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) on a multiple technology appraisal (MTA) of all COVID-19 treatments (known as TA878). NICE guidance for technology appraisal TA878 was published on 29 March 2023. The SMC published equivalent guidance in Scotland, recommending nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir (Paxlovid ® ) for restricted use within NHS Scotland, for the treatment of patients with increased risk for progression to severe COVID-19 as defined in the independent advisory group report commissioned by the UK Department of Health and Social Care .

The NICE and the SMC are currently collaborating on a partial rapid review of TA878 , and considering whether to recommend nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir (Paxlovid ® ) for the treatment of additional risk groups. The draft guidance from this partial rapid review, published on 17 August 2023, recommends that access to nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir (Paxlovid ® ) is extended beyond the current cohort, to individuals aged 70 years and over, and those with diabetes, obesity (BMI of 35 kg/m 2 or more), or heart failure. If there are no appeals from key stakeholders, the final NICE guidance is expected to be published on 13 September 2023, and will be incorporated into the original NICE technology appraisal guidance TA878. Following this, the SMC will publish equivalent guidance for NHS Scotland.

This advice is based on an assessment of the clinical and cost effectiveness of nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir (Paxlovid ® ) at a population level based on the best available evidence. The Scottish Government continues to closely monitor the outcomes of any further research to ensure that any decisions to make nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir (Paxlovid ® ) available to eligible individuals in Scotland in the future are based on the best available evidence.

Question reference: S6W-20757

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 13 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what it estimates the cost to NHS Scotland of treating diseases caused by smoking was in the last year for which figures are available.

Question reference: S6W-20751

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 21 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 13 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to reduce so-called "recreational vaping".

We have a clear message on vaping – that it is one possible smoking cessation method and not a lifestyle accessory. Vapes should not be used by children and young people or adult non-smokers.

Our 2022 consultation on Tightening Rules on Advertising and Promoting Vaping Products proposed restrictions on vaping products that strike a balance between protecting non-smokers from the potential harms of vaping, whilst providing existing adult smokers with the information they need to make an informed choice on cessation.

Officials are working to develop further action in this area, which will form part of our refreshed Tobacco Action Plan when it is published in autumn 2023.

Any action that we seek to take will build on the regulations that are already in place to restrict the marketing, promotion and sale of vaping products to under-18s.

We are also supporting work with young people to help them understand the risks related to vaping.

We continue to work with the UK Government, alongside Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Assembly, over joint approaches where appropriate and welcome their commitment to help address underage vaping.

The Zero Waste Scotland report on the environmental impacts of single use vapes highlighted an increase in the number of people using vapes in Scotland. The Scottish Government is committed to taking action on single use vapes, which includes our Programme for Government commitment to consult on a proposal to ban their sale and other appropriate measures. Our approach will be subject to further engagement, policy development and consultation, and informed by a stakeholder roundtable and engagement with the UK Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive.

Question reference: S6W-20754

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 21 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 13 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many working groups, reference groups, policy sub groups, network groups and other groups it has set up in relation to its delivery of the Women's Health Plan; what the full name of each group is, and who each group reports to.

There are two standing groups which support the implementation of the Women’s Health Plan .

The Women’s Health Plan Implementation Programme Board provides strategic oversight for the implementation of the Women’s Health Plan programme and reports to the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health. An officials’ working group referred to as a Delivery Group supports the Programme Board.

There are a number of networks and short-term sub-groups which are taking forward particular priorities identified in the Plan. More information about some of this work can be found in our recent interim progress update .

Question reference: S6W-20759

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 13 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much NHS Scotland and other agencies spent on all forms of smoking cessation in the last year for which figures are available.

The Scottish Government provides funding annually to Health Boards for smoking cessation and prevention services. The funding is provided as part of a wider Outcomes Framework allocation, whereby budget is provided to Health Boards to cover a range of outcomes. It is up to Health Boards to decide how much of this funding to allocate to each outcome. The published Scottish Budget for 2023-2024 includes £74.1 million for the Outcomes Framework.