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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: S6W-21449

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 18 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 2 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what strategies are being implemented to support palliative care delivery in rural and remote areas.

Question reference: S6W-21427

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Monday, 18 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 2 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-20844 by Paul McLennan on 13 September 2023, whether it will provide a breakdown by local authority of each property in the applications received and approved (a) prior to and (b) since the announcement on 19 July 2023.

The following table shows the number of applications received and homes formally approved prior to, and since 19 July 2023 by local authority in 2023-24. It should also be noted that discussions have taken place to support additional acquisitions with other providers but formal applications have either not yet been received or are in the process of being approved:

Date Range	Local Authority Area	No. of Applications	No. of Homes Applied for	No. of Homes Approved
1 April 2023 to 18 July 2023	Aberdeen City	1	4	4
	Angus	1	1	1
	Argyll and Bute	1	1	1
	Clackmannanshire	1	8	8
	Dundee City	2	2	2
	Falkirk	1	5	5
	Fife	1	25	25
	Glasgow City	2	2	2
	Highland	4	4	4
	Inverclyde	1	6	6
	North Lanarkshire	1	50	50
	Stirling	1	30	30
Sub-total		17	138	138

19 July 2023 to 18 September	Dundee City	3	3	3
	East Renfrewshire	1	10	10
	Fife	2	27	27
	Glasgow City	2	2	2
	Highland	23	27	27
	Inverclyde	1	20	20
	Shetland Islands	1	1	1
	West Dunbartonshire	1	4	4
Sub-total		34	94	94
Total		51	232	232

Question reference: S6W-21321

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 2 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering a Norwegian-style system where vessels would be required to report the coordinates of lost fishing gear when such a loss occurs, if it occurs in the offshore region outwith the 12 nautical mile limit, so that the gear could be recovered during an annual summer “clean up” organised by its Marine Directorate.

Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government is not considering a Norwegian-style system of funding and running an annual clean-up of fishing gear reported as lost. Scottish vessels are required to carry retrieval equipment aboard unless working exclusively within 12 nautical miles or never more than 24 hours at sea. Vessels must attempt to retrieve lost gear in a timely manner if it is safe to do so. Any gear that remains lost must be reported to the UK Fisheries Monitoring Centre. Fishing licence holders have been reminded of these responsibilities with a fact sheet from fishery offices.

Question reference: S6W-21432

Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 2 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how the Scottish Prison Service is responding to reported concerns from independent prison monitors that an estate-wide issue regarding the capacity of GEOAmey to transport prisoners, including those at HMP and YOI Grampian, has meant that prisoners have been unable to attend hospital appointments on multiple occasions.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

It is clear the Geo Amey contract, which SPS leads on behalf of justice partners, is not working as it should and causing disruption. The SPS with justice partners and Scottish Government is working to resolve the issues.

SPS are determined to ensure that the care, welfare, and service delivery on non-court elements of the contract are supported and delivered with equal priority as the management of court operations and the secure escorting of those in custody.

The National Prison Care Network has also written to NHS Board Medical Directors requesting that patients are not removed or reprioritised on waiting lists if failure to attend an appointment has been the result of any transport cancellation.

Question reference: S6W-21695

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 22 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 2 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the development of alternative technologies to replace traditional scallop dredging.

Marine Directorate staff participate in the ICES Scallop Assessment Working Group (WGScallop) and work closely with national and international research institutes and universities to understand recent advancements and changes to scallop fishing practices. Further details, terms of reference and a link to last year’s report can be found on the ICES community groups pages – when selecting “WGScallop”.

The working group will meet 10-12 October 2023 and a report will be made publicly available.

Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate are in regular communication with stakeholders we established a Fisheries Management and Conservation (FMAC) Scallop sub-group earlier this year. This forum brings together a broad range of scallop sector interests and is the ideal forum for developing stakeholder led solutions, including relating to gear technology, to help deliver sustainable fisheries. Marine Directorate staff are also involved with the Project UK Scallop Fisheries Improvement Projects and with Heriot Watt University and the Scallop Innovation Gear Projects.

Question reference: S6W-21644

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 2 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what support, including financial support, has been offered to NHS boards to bring forward the start date for autumn COVID-19 and flu vaccination programmes, in response to the detection of the BA.2.86 COVID-19 variant, also known as the Pirola variant.

The winter 2023 programme was always due to start on 4 September, so there was no need to bring that date forward. Our original plan was to start vaccination with those at lower risk and call those at highest risk slightly later in the programme, from mid-October. This was in line with JCVI advice, as protection is highest in the first three months following COVID-19 vaccination, so by vaccinating those who are at highest risk later, we would give them greater protection over winter and into the new year .

Although there is currently insufficient data to assess the potential severity or increase in transmissibility of new variant BA.2.86 (Pirola), in light of its emergence, along with the other nations across the UK, we took the precautionary measure to bring forward vaccination of care home residents, people aged 75 and over and people with weakened immune system aged 12 and over, where possible for Boards.

Our scheduling team has provided technical support to Boards to help them bring forward and re-order their scheduling plans. The Scottish Ambulance Service has also provided support to some Boards in vaccinating these groups. Public Health Scotland and Scottish Government have provided support in communicating these changes to the general public. The Flu & Covid-19 Vaccination team, including Scottish Government officials, has provided individual guidance and support to Boards where required.

No additional funding has been provided to Boards by Scottish Government, as we did not ask Boards to increase the numbers they are vaccinating, or to vaccinate all those eligible any quicker than the original plans. We have asked them to re-order and re-prioritise where possible, within their current planning and financial models.

Question reference: S6W-21435

Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 2 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when the minutes of the Women's Health Plan Implementation Programme Board for the meeting on 17 May 2023 will be published on the Scottish Government's website, and when the Board will next meet.

Question reference: S6W-21396

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 2 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it will review its ban on alcohol consumption on ScotRail services.

Question reference: S6W-21631

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 25 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 2 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many public sector grants have been awarded since 1 July 2023 without requiring recipients to provide appropriate channels for effective worker voice, broken down by the value of each grant.

Question reference: S6W-21630

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 25 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 2 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many public sector grants have been awarded since 1 July 2023 without requiring recipients to pay the real Living Wage, broken down by the value of each grant.