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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-41079

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 14 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce "Jess’s Rule" in Scotland for patients who present three times with the same symptoms or concerns.

The Scottish Government does not know at this juncture, what the rolling out of Jess’s Rule will require in terms of implementation either by GPs or NHS England. We will be in a position to consider the benefits of the rule when we know more.

However, the Scottish Government understands that the RCGP learning resource which supports “Jess’s Rule” is available to GPs who are members in Scotland as well as in England. We would encourage GPs to make use of this resource.

Question reference: S6W-41078

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 14 October 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will mirror changes to the GP contract that are equivalent to those being applied in England from 1 October 2025 that will require GP practices to keep their online consultation tool open throughout core hours for non-urgent requests and queries.

The Scottish Government are listening carefully to the views of Scotland’s GPs. Negotiations are ongoing with the BMA around further investment to support general practice.

This investment will build on the new £15 million investment this financial year to support workforce retention and recruitment, build service capacity and support the day to day running of GP services.

GP services should be delivered – equitably, sensitively, reasonably and appropriately, making the most effective use of resources and systems currently available.

Question reference: S6W-41075

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 October 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 4 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care last met with (a) Alzheimer Scotland, (b) Cancer Research UK, (c) Marie Curie, (d) Prostate Cancer UK, (e) Age Scotland, (f) MacMillan Cancer Support, (g) Parkinson’s UK, (h) Royal College of Psychiatrists, (i) British Heart Foundation, (j) National Autistic Society, (k) MND Scotland, (l) Scottish Action for Mental Health, (m) Children’s Hospices Across Scotland, (n) Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland and (o) Versus Arthritis.

Question reference: S6O-04950

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 18 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Strathclyde Partnership for Transport regarding the extension of the current operating hours of the Glasgow Subway beyond 6.12 pm on Sundays.

Question reference: S6T-02658

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to reports that the synthetic drug, spice, has been found in vapes that are being sold to school children.

Question reference: S6W-39281

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 4 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider establishing a baseline offer for HIV peer support provision.

The Scottish Government recognises the value of peer support and continues to be guided by the consensus views of the HIV Transmission Elimination Delivery Implementation group, alongside input from our third sector partners, as we consider opportunities to strengthen peer support provision in Scotland.

A mid-plan report is expected to be published by Public Health Scotland in late August, which will outline progress made against the goals set out in our HIV Transmission Elimination Delivery https://www.gov.scot/publications/ending-hiv-transmission-scotland-2030-hiv-transmission-elimination-delivery-plan-2023-26/, as well as proposing next steps and prioritisation of further actions as we move into the next phase of our HIV transmission elimination efforts.

Question reference: S6W-39282

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 30 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider introducing a national programme to re-engage the reported increasing number of people diagnosed with HIV who have disengaged with HIV care.

The latest data on people living with HIV in Scotland and not attending for HIV treatment and care can be found in Public Health Scotland’s (PHS) HIV in Scotland surveillance report, which is available at: https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/hiv-in-scotland/hiv-in-scotland-update-to-31-december-2023/.In their report, PHS noted that changes to service delivery during and since the COVID-19 pandemic mean that the reported proportion of diagnosed individuals receiving treatment may be an underestimate. Work is currently underway, led by PHS, to better understand the cohort of individuals who are no longer engaged with HIV specialist services and, therefore, not in receipt of treatment and care. This exercise will refine and improve the accuracy of this reporting and will inform the next phase of our HIV transmission elimination efforts beyond 2026.

The Scottish Government has committed to rolling out Emergency Department opt-out testing for blood borne viruses in the areas of highest diagnosed prevalence, which will identify undiagnosed patients as well as providing an opportunity to re-engage patients who are not currently in care.

Question reference: S6W-39283

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 29 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the adequacy of access to peer support services for people with HIV across Scotland.

The Scottish Government is currently undertaking a programme of Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus local area visits to Scottish territorial NHS Boards which provides an opportunity to explore the levels of peer support available for people living with HIV.

The visits have identified excellent examples of peer support for people living with HIV, including use of digital solutions to reach individuals in rural areas where access can be more challenging. We continue to work collaboratively with NHS Boards and actively promote the sharing of best practice to help address any gaps identified through these visits.

Question reference: S6W-38889

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 3 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what alternative projects it has planned to improve direct connectivity between the city of Glasgow and Glasgow Airport, in light of the cancellation of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link (GARL) proposal, and what the timelines are for the delivery of any such projects.

The second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2), which was published by the Scottish Government in December 2022 to inform future transport investment in Scotland, identifies the Clyde Metro as one of its recommendations.

The ongoing stage of development of Clyde Metro, known as the Case for Investment, is being led by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), supported by Glasgow City Council leading various workstreams alongside SPT, with Transport Scotland providing a project assurance role.

This key stage of the development process includes consideration of access improvements to Glasgow Airport and will inform decisions around network selection, phasing and implementation. The Case for Investment stage is well underway and is currently anticipated to be complete by mid-2027.

Further details on the Case for Investment stage can be obtained by contacting SPT directly at clydemetro@spt.co.uk.

Question reference: S6W-38890

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 3 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it had made of the potential economic impact on the (a) city of Glasgow and (b) wider Scottish economy of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link (GARL) project, prior to the cancellation of the project.

The Stage 3 Report containing the Economic Impact and a separate Assessment of Wider Economic Benefits of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link were published by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport in 2005-2006.

Link to the Stage 3 report containing Economic Impact: https://web.archive.org/web/20070211160357/http://shandwick.fs-server.com/spt/uploaded/ufile467.pdf.

Link to the Wider Economic Benefits Report: https://web.archive.org/web/20070211160637/http://shandwick.fs-server.com/spt/uploaded/ufile476.pdf.