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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-34833

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 4 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding what impact adopting the BE FAST (balance, eyes, face, arms, speech, time) test could have on the number of additional strokes that could be detected quicker annually.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on the number of additional strokes that could be detected by adopting BE FAST.

The Scottish Government’s position is that the current evidence base does not support a move to the use of BE FAST, and this is supported by Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland and Stroke Association, however we will regularly review this position based on the best available evidence.

Question reference: S6W-35061

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 3 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what plans it has to ensure that Transport Scotland takes action to mitigate any safety concerns regarding the Shawhead flyover in Coatbridge.

Regular updates will be provided by Transport Scotland to Ministers to ensure appropriate action is taken to address concerns at the Shawhead Flyover. The current position is that Transport Scotland has asked its maintenance contractor (Scottish Roads Partnership) to assess several options for works at the junction to improve driver confidence. This work is underway. In addition, Transport Scotland has also asked Police Scotland for the junction to be assessed by their Police Camera Safety Team in the next site selection exercise, which is due to begin in April.

Question reference: S6W-34821

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 3 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the number of people who have sought transgender chest surgery privately in each of the last five tears, including those who fundraise through online platforms.

Question reference: S6W-34822

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 3 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many GPs took early retirement in each of the last five years, also broken down by what proportion of the total GP workforce this represented.

Question reference: S6W-35068

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 3 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the reported concerns of HM Chief Inspector of Railways about “systemic” failings by Network Rail in ensuring the safety of bridges, tunnels, and stations, and how any such concerns may apply to Scotland’s rail infrastructure.

The safety of the rail network is a reserved matter under Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998. The rail infrastructure in Scotland is owned and managed by Network Rail. The Scottish Government has fully funded Network Rail to meet its obligations as specified by the independent Office of Rail and Road (ORR) and Scottish Ministers expect Network Rail to manage the rail infrastructure in a manner which provides a safe and reliable railway for the people of Scotland.

Senior Officials from the ORR and the Managing Director of Network Rail Scotland have confirmed to senior officials at Transport Scotland that this matter is being addressed within Scotland, a point also reflected in the Chief Inspector’s recent letter to Network Rail on this matter:

“…..Scotland can substantiate a recovery of examinations and structural assessments within [2024-29]” Control Period 7, CP7.

The letter itself can be found here: Non-compliance with structure examinations - Letter to Network Rail dated 11 February 2025

Question reference: S6W-34819

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 3 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been referred for transgender chest surgery, including masculinising mastectomies, in each of the last five years, also broken down by how many were aged (a) 17 to 25 and (b) 26 and over.

This information is not collected centrally by the Scottish Government and is an operational matter for NHS National Services Scotland, National Services Division (NSD).

Gender reassignment surgeries, as a treatment option for assessed gender dysphoria, are highly specialised and are carried out within the framework of a four-nations contract managed by NHS England. This contract is managed on NHS Scotland’s behalf by NSD.

Question reference: S6W-34826

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 28 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many additional procedures were expected to be carried out by the new national treatment centres for elective surgery by 2026, and what impact any delays to the centres has had on waiting times.

As outlined in our NHS Recovery Plan 2021-2026 annual progress update, published 18 December 2024, our five National Treatment Centres are expected to deliver an additional 20,000 procedures per annum once fully operational.

However, with the 2025-26 Budget proposing an additional £100 million to target long waits, coupled with efficiencies, we will see activity and capacity increase accordingly. Work is underway with Boards and partners to finalise plans and I would expect to see National Treatment Centre capacity increase to well over 30,000 procedures annually.

Question reference: S6W-35066

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 28 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that a third of all hip and knee replacements in Scotland are now paid for privately, and what measures it is taking to address lengthy NHS waiting lists for these procedures.

The principles of a health service free at the point of need are sacrosanct, and we are protecting this through our Budget which will provide a record £21.7 billion for health and social care. This includes £200 million to clear waiting list backlogs and improve capacity – ensuring nobody waits more than 12 months for a new outpatient appointment or inpatient/day-case treatment by March 2026. We will deliver over 150,000 extra appointments and procedures in the coming year.

We have already made significant progress against our investment of £30m in 2024-25 to drive targeted action to address the longest delays. To the end of January, Boards are reporting delivery of 75,500 against a plan of 64,000 appointments and procedures, including hip and knee replacement surgeries.

Question reference: S6W-34827

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 28 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the revised projected costs are for the proposed national treatment centre in Livingston, and how this compares with the original estimate of £70.9 million.

Question reference: S6W-34834

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 27 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government on what dates the First Minister has held meetings regarding the commitment to keeping The Promise for care-experienced children since May 2024; who attended; what was discussed, and what the outcomes were.

The Scottish Government is fully committed to keeping The Promise by 2030. Given the cross Governmental scope of the activity related to The Promise, the First Minister regularly discusses the commitment and has undertaken various engagements with the care community, meeting with children and young people with care experience, and the workforce who support them. To mark the recent 5th anniversary of the Promise the First Minister wrote to the care experienced community re-enforcing his commitment to The Promise and met with students with care experience at Glasgow University to discuss their experiences. The First Minister also chairs the Cabinet Sub-Committee on the Promise which was established to guide and support the cross-portfolio focus needed to deliver The Promise.