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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-17373

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 9 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the objectives are of the ScotRail timetable consultation for the upcoming May 2023 timetable, and for what reasons each objective has been chosen.

As required by the Grant Agreement, ScotRail has consulted its May 2023 timetable with statutory consultees including Regional Transport Partnerships, Transport Focus and other public transport operators such as Calmac. No specific objectives are set by the Grant Agreement for consultation with statutory consultees. The May 2023 timetable is an interim position which seeks to deliver as reliable as possible a service for customers with the resources ScotRail currently has available, specifically traincrew.

ScotRail has developed further timetable proposals for Ayrshire, Inverclyde, Glasgow South Electrics and Edinburgh to Glasgow via Shotts routes and aims to publicly consult these in the coming months. The objectives set for the public consultation are:

1. To encourage customers and stakeholders to have their say and help shape the future of Scotland’s Railway.

2. To promote the proposed timetable changes and consultation as a positive step in the railway’s road to recovery.

Question reference: S6W-17374

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 9 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when the ScotRail timetable consultation for the upcoming May 2023 timetable concluded, and when the findings will be published.

Question reference: S6W-17579

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by George Adam on 5 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of all of its Special Advisers, broken down by portfolio area.

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-16578

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 of the Goethe-Institut on 5 December 2022.

The Director and I had a constructive meeting in December last year during which we discussed language learning in Scotland.

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.