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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: S6W-22845

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 21 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what advice it has taken from the British Transport Police on the continuation of the alcohol ban on ScotRail trains.

Question reference: S6W-22753

Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 21 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the announcement of NHS Scotland's menopause and menstrual health workplace policy, what action it is taking with stakeholders across the (a) public, (b) private and (c) third sector to improve employers' awareness of menopause and menstrual health.

The NHSScotland Menopause and Menstrual Health Policy launched on 31 October 2023. Whilst the policy was written specifically for NHS Scotland, the supporting resources, including line managers guidance and workplace adjustment guidance, are intended for use more widely across a variety of employment sectors and are available on the National Wellbeing Hub which is accessible to the public.

With the publication of the Policy and Supporting Documents having recently taken place, work can now commence on promoting the policy more widely amongst employers across all sectors.

Question reference: S6W-22795

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated delivery date is for the new Edinburgh eye hospital to replace the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion.

The Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion Redevelopment Project, along with a large proportion of live construction projects across the NHS Scotland Estate, is currently on a period of pause, pending a holistic review by Scottish Government of funding availability. NHS Lothian remains in continual communication with Scottish Government to establish when this review will be concluded and when it will be possible to recommence project delivery. This project remains a priority for NHS Lothian, which has a dedicated Project Team mobilised to progress at the earliest opportunity.

The Scottish Government has advised that while they remain committed to the delivery of the new eye hospital, timescales for delivery have still to be determined.

Question reference: S6W-22712

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 21 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to any potential impact on multiple sclerosis (MS) nurses of the proposed National Care Service.

We remain committed to delivering a National Care Service to improve quality, fairness and consistency of provision that meets individuals’ needs. We are designing the NCS in partnership with stakeholders and experts, including NHS management and clinical staff.

The new national shared accountability framework agreed with COSLA and NHS will improve the experience of people accessing services by introducing a new structure of national oversight to drive consistency of outcomes and maximise the benefits of a reformed local service delivery.

The approach agreed provides that local authorities and Health Boards will retain delivery functions, staff and assets. NHS staff will continue to deliver those health services that are in scope for the NCS, together with existing community health providers.

During regional summer co-design sessions, we asked people with lived experience, third sector and statutory stakeholders about how community health services work with social care support and healthcare services. We will use what we have learned during these forums to continue to develop our approach to community healthcare in the NCS and how the National Care Service and NHS should work together.

Question reference: S6W-22883

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 21 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19399 by Jenni Minto on 11 July 2023, whether it will provide details of how the National Service Division’s National Specialist Services Committee is engaging with clinicians in Dundee and colleagues in NHS Scotland to determine how magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) treatment might be made more widely available.

Officials are engaging with NHS National Services Division (NSD) regularly on the national commissioning of this treatment.

An outline application for the commissioning of a national MRI guided Focussed Ultrasound Service was received from NHS Tayside in March 2023. Subsequent correspondence with NHS Tayside indicated the board was supportive in principle in moving forward with the more detailed planning required to develop a formal specification and proposal.

NHS NSD have encouraged the MRgFUS team in NHS Tayside to submit a formal application for national designation of the MRgFUS service in Dundee, supported by the health board’s Executive Leadership Team, for consideration and scrutiny. NSD hopes to receive such an application from NHS Tayside for 2024-25.

Question reference: S6W-22752

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 21 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is considering to better support parents and families facing foetal alcohol spectrum disorder during pregnancy and early years.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that Scotland’s babies have the best possible start in life. Before birth, midwives, maternity and other professionals can apply the values and principles of ‘Getting it right for every child’ to support parents in considering their wellbeing, and that of their baby.

As part of their booking process, all women are asked a variety of wellbeing questions, including on alcohol consumption, to assess for additional care needs which may assist them, and their families, to prepare for parenthood and facilitate positive maternal health.

All of Scotland’s young families are entitled to the support of a Health Visitor until a child starts school through the Universal Health Visiting Pathway. Where additional input is required, the pathway provides a gateway to other levels of Health Visiting provision and referrals to more specialised healthcare services.

Additionally we have established The Family Nurse Partnership programme which provides intensive, tailored support to eligible first-time mothers aged 19 and under across Scotland. An expansion of this programme will see an additional 500 families supported per year by the end of 2025.

Question reference: S6W-22723

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 21 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-21484 by Graeme Dey on 3 October 2023, whether it plans to exercise its convening power to assist employers and trade unions to work together to improve industrial relations in the college sector; if so, when it plans to do so, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

The Scottish Government has continued to use its convening power to meet both trade unions and employers to urge continued dialogue and collaboration over a range of workforce issues, including the ongoing pay negotiations. However, the Scottish Government has been absolutely clear that it has no locus to be involved directly in the national bargaining process. This position is in line with the findings of the Lessons Learned report and respects the national collective bargaining framework.

Question reference: S6T-01642

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the chief executive of Ferguson Marine is still entitled to a bonus despite the First Minister saying that he thought the practice should end.

Question reference: S6T-01639

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that stagnating workforce numbers, amongst other factors, are contributing to increased pressure on midwifery services.

Question reference: S6F-02572

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 November 2023

To ask the First Minister what support the Scottish Government is providing to households that are experiencing the pressure of increased energy bills, in light of Citizens Advice Scotland launching its Worried This Winter awareness campaign.