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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-27106

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 29 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 7 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will outline the rationale for a cut-off date of September for people aged 70 or over for eligibility for the shingles vaccine.

The 1 September cut-off date for the shingles programme has been in place since the introduction of the programme in 2013. At that point it aligned the offer of shingles vaccine with seasonal flu vaccinations.

The cut-off date ensures that only those eligible for vaccination within the current year’s programme as recommended by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) are included, and assists NHS Boards with planning and delivery locally, drawing up cohort lists (determined by date of birth) and the management of vaccine supply. It also supports the catch up programme for those who are aged 71-79 years who have not previously been vaccinated but remain eligible.

Question reference: S6W-27107

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 29 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 7 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to expand eligibility for the shingles vaccine.

Eligibility for the programme was recently expanded to allow some individuals to get protected at an earlier age. To deliver the programme effectively, NHS Boards will offer the programme on a phased basis over 10 years meaning by 2033 the vaccine will be routinely offered to everyone aged 60 and over.

Since 1 September 2023 the following groups have been eligible:

People who were aged 65 or 70 years on 1 September 2023
People aged 71–79 years who have not previously been vaccinated
People aged 50 years or over, about to start immunosuppressive therapy
People aged 50 years or over, with a severely weakened immune system
People aged 18 years or over who have received a stem cell transplant
People aged 18 years or over who have had CAR-T therapy

This phased approach is based on the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and to support NHS Boards to deliver the programme alongside other immunisation programmes.

There are no plans to expand eligibility any further at this stage. As with all vaccination programmes, the JCVI keeps its recommendations under review. If at any time the JCVI updates its recommendations around the shingles vaccination the Scottish Government will give this due consideration.

Question reference: S6W-26961

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 22 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 2 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what data it holds on any current physiotherapist vacancies across all NHS boards.

Question reference: S6W-26960

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 22 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 29 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the reported shortage in trained physiotherapists.

The Scottish Government recognise that there are circumstances when they will step in to address specific workforce challenges. In December 2019 as part of the Integrated Workforce plan, Scottish Government made a commitment to create 225 more MSK practitioners in Primary Care. To achieve this it has been critical to increase numbers of physiotherapists in training as newly qualified physiotherapists enable the replenishment of posts created by experienced physiotherapists moving to Primary Care as Advanced MSK Practitioners.

Due to the pandemic delays were experienced and a total of 37 students were recruited in 2021-22, and a further 52 were recruited in 2022-23. To date, 144 physiotherapy students have been recruited and the first cohort of students graduated in September 2023. A further recruitment of 50 students is planned for 2024-25, subject to funding.

Additionally, the Allied Health Professions (AHP) Education and Workforce Policy Review examined workforce and education issues and recommendations included promotion of AHP careers and aligning strategies to market a career as an AHP. An advisory group has been established to oversee the effective implementation of these recommendations.

Question reference: S6W-26871

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 25 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of any procurement legislation that requires public contracts for (a) new ferries and (b) operators of ferry service contracts to be put out to competitive tender.

Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL), as procuring authority for new vessels for the Scottish Government, operate under the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 and also comply with the statutory and legislative requirements derived from The Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014.

Contracts for Operators of Ferry Services are also subject to the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 and also comply with the statutory and legislative requirements derived from The Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014.

Question reference: S6W-26870

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 25 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of any contracts that Transport Scotland has awarded to external consultants in connection with the Ardrossan Harbour upgrade since 2016 to date.

Transport Scotland is not the procuring authority for the Ardrossan Harbour Re-Development Project, this is the responsibility of Peel Ports Group as the statutory harbour authority. Transport Scotland has as part of the design and planning stage; and as part of the business case cost exercise review appointed external consultants to undertake work.

Since 2016 Transport Scotland has appointed Peter Brett Associates for the 2016/2017 STAG report, MacWilliams Consulting for a project gateway review process; Turner and Townsend in 2023 for the cost estimate review and Morton Fraser MacRoberts (previously MacRoberts Solicitors) in relation to the work on the legal and commercial agreements which are ongoing.

Question reference: S6O-03356

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 April 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide further details of its reasons for removing its annual and interim targets for carbon emissions.

Question reference: S6O-03342

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 April 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to help resolve the industrial dispute by lecturers.

Question reference: S6T-01899

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 25 March 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to tackle child poverty.

Question reference: S6O-03289

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 March 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 March 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to support tenants, in light of reports of accelerating rents.