- Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 04 February 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 16 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will assess the feasibility of conducting stethoscope checks and placing echocardiograms in community care settings in order to improve the detection and diagnosis of heart valve disease.
Answer
Where it is clinically appropriate to do so, patients of all ages will be examined with a stethoscope to listen for breathing and heart sounds. They may also have ECG electrical recordings of their heart rate, blood tests and have access to other investigations such as echocardiograms, rhythm monitors and blood pressure recordings, should these be required.
The Heart Disease Action Plan (2021) outlines our commitment to exploring innovative models of care for the diagnosis of heart disease, including a focus on improving access to echocardiography in the most appropriate setting for local needs.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 16 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what percentage of police officers, who are potentially able to, currently wear a body-worn camera on a regular basis, and what budget it has allocated to Police Scotland to increase these numbers.
Answer
Police Scotland have advised there are currently over 250 body worn cameras in use within North East Division. In addition, Police Scotland also equipped its Armed Policing officers ahead of COP26. In total 4.6 % of officers are currently equipped with Body worn Video (BWV). A consultation on a wider roll-out of body worn cameras closed in September 2021 and work is ongoing by Police Scotland to consider a national introduction.
The Scottish Government provided one off funding of £0.5m in 2021-22 to the Scottish Police Authority (SPA), to support the use of body-worn cameras for specialist officers for COP26.
For 2022-23, the total budget for policing is almost £1.4 billion, including an additional £40.5m increase in resource funding. The allocation of resources is a matter for the Scottish Police Authority and the Chief Constable.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 16 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any potential need for a public awareness campaign on the symptoms of heart valve disease.
Answer
The Scottish Government has not carried out an assessment of any potential need for a public awareness campaign on the symptoms of heart valve disease.
However, the Heart Disease Action Plan, published in 2021, clearly sets out our strategic direction to minimise preventable heart disease and ensure that everyone with suspected heart disease in Scotland has timely and equitable access to diagnosis, treatment and care. This includes prioritizing the awareness of risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Further, we have made commitments in the Women’s Health Plan to improve information and public awareness of heart disease symptoms and risks for women.
- Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 16 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any discussions it has had with the UK Government in relation to the delivery of freeports in Scotland; when it anticipates that freeports will be established in Scotland, and where these will be located.
Answer
We announced on 14 February an agreement with the UK Government to deliver two Green Freeports in Scotland, working on an equal partnership basis. A package of reserved and devolved support will be available in the selected Green Freeports ensuring that Scotland can build globally competitive industrial clusters in the green industries of the future, deliver a just transition to net-zero, and create new high-quality, well-paid employment opportunities delivering Fair Work, including payment of the real living wage.
A competitive bidding process will be launched soon, with the winners to be announced later this year. As this will be a competitive, open and transparent process, I cannot prejudge this by commenting on possible locations.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 16 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government when it became aware that KPMG had withdrawn from bidding for UK Government contracts.
Answer
Officials were informed that KPMG had withdrawn from bidding for UK government contracts on 17 December 2021.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 16 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government when the contract was awarded to KPMG for it to construct the business case for the National Care Service.
Answer
Following the procurement exercise the award decision was communicated to all bidders on 7 December 2021, with the contract being signed on 13 December 2021. It was subsequently published on the Public Contracts Scotland website on 10 January 2022.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 16 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has suspended the contract that was awarded to KPMG to construct the business case for the National Care Service, which is reportedly worth in excess of £500,000.
Answer
The contract with KPMG to construct the business case for the National Care Service has not been suspended.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 16 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there is any conflict of interest in the Head of Social Care and NCS Finance reportedly being a former employee of KPMG, in light of the contract with KPMG to construct the business case for the National Care Service.
Answer
There is no conflict of interest between existing Scottish Government Civil Servants and the specialist consultancy services procured from KPMG in a fair and open procurement exercise. The Scottish Government has a clear contract award and management processes in place to prevent conflicts of interest and to support the delivery of fit for purpose outcomes. This includes clear requirements for separation of duties between finance and procurement decisions.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 16 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether the contract with KPMG to construct the business case for the National Care Service was awarded under the Crown Commercial Service Management Consultancy Framework Three.
Answer
The contract was awarded under the Crown Commercial Service Management Consultancy Framework Three following a fair and open procurement exercise in line with Scottish Government guidance.
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 28 January 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 15 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what correspondence it has had with (a) NatureScot, (b) Country Sports Scotland and (c) other stakeholders regarding action to address reported concerns about the rapid decline of ptarmigan.
Answer
a) We are in regular contact with NatureScot on a range of wildlife management issues, including discussions on the management of ptarmigan.
b) The Scottish Government has had no direct correspondence with Country Sports Scotland in relation to ptarmigan.
c) The Scottish Government has had no direct correspondence with external stakeholders in relation to ptarmigan.