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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-38118

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 9 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it currently funds any research into topical steroid withdrawal, and, if this is not the case, whether it plans to do so.

The Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist Office (CSO) supports open competitive grant and fellowship schemes for applied health research in Scotland across a wide remit that is inclusive of consideration of applications for funding for research relating to skin conditions such as topical steroid withdrawal. Applications submitted to these schemes are assessed through independent expert peer-review with funding recommendations made by independent expert committees. No projects for topical steroid withdrawal are currently being funded. CSO also invests in NHS Research Scotland to support NHS Boards host and participate in public, charity, and industry sector funded clinical studies and trials. This includes a Dermatology Research Network to support the delivery of clinical research on skin conditions. While a number of clinical studies of treatments for skin conditions are being supported, none relate specifically to topical steroid withdrawal.

Question reference: S6W-37919

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 5 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many GP practices are not currently participating in the national digital dermatology pathway.

Question reference: S6O-04791

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 June 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the reasons for there being more private hospital admissions in 2024 than in any previous year on record, according to recent Private Healthcare Information Network data.

Question reference: S6W-37918

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 3 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it will recommence the GP sustainability loan scheme.

Question reference: S6W-37793

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 3 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how the £4.5 million of funding for specialist support for long-term conditions announced in the Programme for Government 2025-26 will be allocated, broken down by (a) conditions it will cover, (b) services it will prioritise and (c) geographical focus.

Work is ongoing to determine how the additional £4.5 million announced in the 2025-26 budget to deliver new specialist support will be allocated to NHS boards, what conditions it will cover and the services it will prioritise. It is expected that NHS boards will develop support based on their understanding of local population need and synergies with existing local service provision.

We want this money to have maximum impact and are working closely and carefully with boards across Scotland to allocate it as quickly and effectively as possible.

Question reference: S6T-02556

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 June 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Scottish Enterprise has reportedly refused funding to Rolls-Royce Submarines, resulting in the potential loss of jobs.

Question reference: S6W-37654

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 27 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many mental health patients who are experiencing delayed discharge are waiting for a place in supported accommodation.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on where mental health patients specifically are awaiting discharge to, or the reason for delay.

Public Health Scotland (PHS) publishes an annual report and summary of occupied bed days and census figures. The report includes the total number of bed days occupied by people delayed in their discharge from hospital and the average number of delayed discharges across monthly census points. PHS published the latest release in December 2024 covering the financial year 2023-24 (available by visiting Delayed discharges in NHS Scotland annual summary of occupied bed days and census figures). The next publication is expected in June 2025.

Question reference: S6W-37653

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 27 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many supported accommodation places are available for mental health patients being discharged from hospital, and how this compares with each of the last five years.

Question reference: S6W-37576

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 27 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether the £5 million of hospice funding is to take account of the Agenda for Change pay rises only, or whether it is expected to cover the 2025-26 pay deal.

Question reference: S6W-37575

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 27 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will outline the timing and criteria for the allocation of the £5 million for hospices, which was announced in February 2025.

The Scottish budget for 2025-26 includes £5 million of investment to support independent hospices to provide pay parity with NHS levels. Officials are working with the Chair of the Scottish Hospice Leadership Group to explore mechanisms for providing this funding to hospices, while respecting existing commissioning arrangements with Integration Joint Boards (IJBs).

Officials have recently received further information from hospice colleagues to support this work, and we look forward to engaging further with Scottish hospices once this exploratory work has concluded.