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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-03854

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address the reported survivability bias in the Cancer Patient Experience Survey to ensure that the experiences of patients with a less survivable cancer are captured.

The care experience survey programme, of which the Cancer Patient Experience Survey is part of, is due to be under review shortly to allow for the context of COVID-19.

The Scottish Cancer Patient Experience Survey is run in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support and is designed to be comparable with Cancer Patient Experience Surveys run in England and Wales. A change in methodology, such as altering the sampling frame, surveying people at different stages of treatment or surveying the relatives of those who have passed away, would result in survey results that are not comparable to the English & Welsh survey results. Such a change would require extensive consultation with stakeholders.

In order to capture the experience of patients with a less survivable cancer we are using tools such as Care Opinion and working with our third sector partners to collate best available evidence.

Question reference: S6W-03783

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 15 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that customers at hospitality businesses such as cafés, bars and restaurants are using the Check in Scotland and Test and Protect systems, in order to tackle the spread of COVID-19.

The Scottish Government continues to encourage all businesses, including hospitality businesses, to encourage their customers to use the Check-In Scotland and Test and Protect systems. This activity includes engagement with businesses and sector organisations by officials and Ministers, the ongoing revision of supporting guidance and communications campaigns on the importance of the Test and Protect system in reducing transmission of Covid-19. The Scottish Government is thankful to the large majority of hospitality businesses who are using the Check-In Scotland scheme and to the very large numbers of people who are regularly ‘checking in.’

Question reference: S6W-02661

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 18 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-01641 by Graeme Dey on 16 August 2021, whether it can confirm that there is no opposition from Transport Scotland to the application from the Ferymuir Gait site developer to secure planning permission for the access arrangements to the Ferrymuir Gait housing development to be amended, to allow for unrestricted access.

Question reference: S6O-00446

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 November 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has issued related to the funding of ventilation in schools.

Question reference: S6W-03941

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 25 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 11 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure the safety of club-goers, in light of reports of people being spiked by injection in nightclubs.

Question reference: S6O-00380

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 November 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to encourage the public to travel by bus, in light of reports that the recent Transport Scotland COVID-19 transport trends indicate that concessionary bus travel is down by 35% on pre-pandemic levels.

Question reference: S6W-03853

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 10 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to join the National Pancreatic Cancer Audit.

The national pancreatic cancer audit is an NHS England initiative and Scotland participates in UK audits (Scottish Cancer Registry data is provided by Public Health Scotland). The Scottish HepatoPancreatoBiliary Network (SHPBN) has reported HepatoPancreatoBiliary (HPB) cancer audits annually since 2010. The 2013-2019 audits are based on quality performance indicators, including some specific to pancreatic cancer. The annual audit reports are available on the SHPBN website. The 2020 audit report is currently in progress.

Through the National Cancer Plan we have placed an emphasis on the less survivable cancers, including pancreatic, and improving their outcomes. We have provided funding and are working with the SHPBN to redesign pancreatic and liver pathways.

Question reference: S6O-00345

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 November 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to allocate additional funding in its forthcoming Budget to provide pay increases for frontline public sector workers.

Question reference: S6W-03425

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 01 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 18 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that people who do not have internet access can easily arrange their (a) flu and (b) COVID-19 booster vaccination.

Consideration for people who do not have digital access has been built into our vaccination programme from the start. Communication has gone out via non-digital channels and we have also undertaken a door-to-door paper leaflet drop with important information on vaccines. COVID-19 vaccine leaflets are available in audio, BSL, easy read and large print as well as other languages.

Those who do not have online access can call the COVID-19 National Helpline on 0800 030 8013. The helpline allows people to check and, where required, reschedule appointments. All information and services on NHS Inform are available via this phone line. We encourage people to double check their GP holds correct address details, to make sure that any appointment letter reaches them.

For those who are eligible for flu and/or COVID-19 booster vaccines, we have ensured that:

Those aged 70 and over or those who are clinically extremely vulnerable will receive a vaccine invitation by post or may be contacted by their GP.
Letters will be sent to those aged 60-69 years of age inviting them for vaccination from late October.
When the online booking portal becomes available for those in stage 2, people who do not have access to digital booking will also be able to book their vaccinations via the COVID-19 National Helpline.

Our forthcoming national marketing campaigns for both flu and COVID-19 booster will direct people towards both the online booking system as well as the phone line so no one should be left out.

Question reference: S6W-02904

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 18 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to raise awareness of leukaemia and its symptoms among (a) the public and (b) health professionals.

Our Detect Cancer Early (DCE) Programme is aimed at increasing early diagnosis rates of Scotland’s most common cancers while reducing health inequalities. DCE launched a new overarching campaign – Survivors - in September 2018 to reduce fear of cancer and empower people to act early if they notice any possible signs of cancer.

An interactive symptom-checker tool has been developed on DCE’s website (getcheckedearly.org) to help raise awareness of key symptoms, including those associated with leukaemia (fatigue, weight loss, recurrent infections). The NHS Recovery Plan, published 25 August 2021, commits a further £20 million investment to the DCE Programme, which will include additional public awareness campaigns.

A clinical refresh of the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer ( Scottish referral guidelines for suspected cancer - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) )has been completed, with revised guidelines published in January 2019. The Guidelines support primary care clinicians in ensuring those with symptoms suspicious of cancer are put on the right pathway at the right time. The Scottish Government continues to support Cancer Research UK’s Clinical Engagement Team to raise awareness of symptoms and best referral practice for all cancer types across NHS Scotland.

Scotland’s first three Early Cancer Diagnostic Centres (ECDC) are live, providing primary care with a new referral pathway for patients with non-specific symptoms i.e. fatigue, nausea, weight loss – this can often include patients with Haematological cancers.