Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-17358

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 4 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to encourage a nationwide implementation of electronic prescriptions across all NHS boards.

The Digital Prescribing and Dispensing Pathways (DPDP) programme aims to revolutionise Scotland’s prescribing and dispensing process by ultimately replacing the paper prescription, initially by developing an end-to-end digital solution for in-hours prescribing from General Practice right through to community pharmacy dispensing and improve patient experience for the general public. The DPDP programme will be rolled out to all NHS Boards.

Question reference: S6O-02217

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle homelessness in South and East Ayrshire.

Question reference: S6W-17359

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many staff vacancies there have been in older people's medicine (a) across Scotland and (b) in NHS Ayrshire and Arran, in each of the past five years.

The information requested on how many staff vacancies there have been in older people's medicine (a) across Scotland and (b) in NHS Ayrshire and Arran, in each of the past five years can be found on the TURAS NHS Education for Scotland workforce statistics site at: NHS Scotland workforce | Turas Data Intelligence (vacancy tab - Medical & Dental consultants, Geriatric medicine specialty drop down)

Question reference: S6W-16576

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress it has made towards creating a Scottish Education Exchange Programme.

Question reference: S6W-16664

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 27 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support people aged 71 to 74 who have reportedly been unable to get a breast screening appointment through the self-referral scheme, both pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the phased restart of self-referrals, women aged 71-74, and those over 75 with a history of breast cancer, are currently eligible to self-refer for a screening appointment. Where the eligibility criteria is met, a breast screening appointment should be offered within nine months of registration for self-referral. All screening centres across Scotland have taken steps to ensure their teams are aware of the eligibility criteria.

The Scottish Government is not aware of any reports of women unable to register for a self-referral appointment if they meet the eligibility criteria. We would encourage any women who have been unable to obtain an appointment to contact their local screening centre. The latest information on self-referrals and contact details for local centres can be found at Breast screening in Scotland | NHS inform .

Question reference: S6O-02194

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 April 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will increase funding for hospices to ensure that they can manage any rising costs, in light of the reported increase in the number of people in need of palliative care.

Question reference: S6W-16586

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 21 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the topic of Scottish independence was discussed during the meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and the Spanish Secretary of State for the European Union on 2 November 2022.

The Secretary of State and I had a constructive meeting in November last year during which we spoke about areas of collaboration with Spain, in particular depopulation, culture and the challenges of the cost of living crisis.

The subject of Scottish independence was not an agenda item in discussions. However, Scottish ministers will always be polite enough during international meetings to answer any questions put to them about the Scottish Government's stated policies, including a legal, constitutionally sound referendum, as set out in our Programme for Government.

Question reference: S6W-16579

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 21 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the topic of Scottish independence was discussed during the meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and United States Congressman, Steve Cohen, on 7 April 2022.

Congressman Steve Cohen and I held a positive meeting in April last year, in which we spoke about Scottish and US relations and Representative Cohen’s membership of the Friends of Scotland Caucus in the US Congress.

The subject of Scottish independence was not an agenda item in discussions, however Scottish ministers will always be polite enough during international meetings to answer any questions put to them about the Scottish Government's stated policies, including a legal, constitutionally sound referendum, as set out in our Programme for Government.

The Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and I had a constructive meeting in November last year during which he acknowledged Scottish Ministers’ need to conduct international business. I made it clear that I would continue to represent Scottish Government positions internationally, including on the constitution.

Question reference: S6W-16583

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 21 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the topic of Scottish independence was discussed during the meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and the Spanish Government's Cabinet Undersecretary for Culture and Sports on 2 November 2022.

The Cabinet Undersecretary and I had a constructive meeting in November last year during which we spoke about the shared challenges that the COVID19 pandemic had brought to the culture sector and our Culture Strategy for Scotland, setting out our vision on how to protect and empower culture.

The subject of Scottish independence was not an agenda item in discussions. However, Scottish ministers will always be polite enough during international meetings to answer any questions put to them about the Scottish Government's stated policies, including a legal, constitutionally sound referendum, as set out in our Programme for Government.

Question reference: S6W-16575

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 21 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the topic of Scottish independence was discussed during the meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and the Director General of the Instituto Cervantes on 3 November 2022.

The Director General and I had a constructive meeting in November last year during which Mr Garcia Montero shared the Cervantes Institute’s plans to open their first International University Chair at the University of Edinburgh in the coming months.

The subject of Scottish independence was not an agenda item in discussions. However, Scottish ministers will always be polite enough during international meetings to answer any questions put to them about the Scottish Government's stated policies, including a legal, constitutionally sound referendum, as set out in our Programme for Government.

Chamber and committees