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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-08333

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 12 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the actions of Well Pharmacy, in light of reports that the company is insisting that staff who test positive for COVID-19 continue to work when they are in patient-facing roles and dealing with clinically vulnerable people.

We expect health and social care employers, including community pharmacies, to follow the guidance on managing staff with symptoms of a respiratory infection, or a positive COVID-19 test.

This specifies that if staff test positive for COVID/19, regardless of whether they have symptoms, they should not attend work for a minimum of 5 full days. If they work with patients or service users in face-to-face settings, they can return to work if they have had 2 consecutive negative LFD test results (taken at least 24 hours apart).’

Question reference: S6O-01095

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 May 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on using Scottish Water's reserves to fund a £100 rebate for customers.

Question reference: S6W-08182

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 11 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action is being taken to ensure that severely immunosuppressed people are not at risk of contracting COVID-19 following the lifting of restrictions.

Before we made the decision to lift remaining legal measures and close the Highest Risk list, we and our clinical advisers carefully considered the impact on people who are immunosuppressed or immunocompromised. There is strong evidence to show that the vaccine is offering significant protection and preventing the majority of people whose immune systems are suppressed or compromised from becoming severely ill if they are infected with COVID-19.

We know that the degree of protection offered by the vaccines wanes over time, which is why booster vaccinations are needed to maintain the best protection against COVID-19 for those at highest risk of the severe effects of the virus. Second booster appointments for people with suppressed immune systems have already started.

However, we are also aware that for some of this group, it is not possible to mount a full immune response due to their medication, treatment or health condition.

Many immunosuppressed or immunocompromised individuals lived with and managed the risk posed by other diseases and infections before the COVID-19 pandemic, and will continue to be advised by their GP and specialist clinical team, who best know their individual circumstances, on how to reduce their risk of infection from both COVID-19 and other viruses. We’ve also made new treatments available to those who are eligible for them who will benefit the most – including some people who are immunocompromised or immunosuppressed .

Question reference: S6W-08100

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 11 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to develop an occupational health improvement strategy for the NHS in Scotland similar to that which is reportedly in place in other UK nations.

We are currently working with the NHS to consider a national occupational health improvement strategy for Scotland.

While this work is carried out, we continue to complement the wellbeing support available at a local level through our national wellbeing resources. These include the National Wellbeing Hub, a 24/7 National Wellbeing Helpline, confidential mental health treatment through the Workforce Specialist Service and funding for additional local psychological support.

We are also providing further support for practical measures to aid rest and recuperation alongside additional resources such as Coaching for Wellbeing and grief and bereavement support.

Question reference: S6W-08225

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 10 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the first UK pilot study of newborn screening for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), which was recently launched by the University of Oxford, what steps it will take to incorporate SMA screening in Scotland once this study is completed.

Any decision on whether or not to introduce screening for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) in Scotland will be guided by the recommendations of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), an independent expert advisory group which advises Ministers and the NHS in all four nations of the United Kingdom on screening policy. The UK NSC last reviewed SMA in 2018 and did not recommend screening for this condition.

The UK NSC is expected to review SMA screening later this year, taking into consideration the latest evidence since the previous recommendation in 2018. Should the UK NSC recommend screening for this condition, the Scottish Screening Committee, in consultation with medical experts in this field, will advise Scottish Ministers on the most appropriate future course of action for Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-08224

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 10 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering a pilot newborn screening programme for spinal muscular atrophy, and, if so, what the aim of the pilot will be, and within what timescale.

Scottish Government officials have been involved in initial discussions with academics and clinicians about the potential for a Scottish research study of newborn screening for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), and are awaiting a fully developed proposal. Any decision thereafter to run an SMA pilot will depend on the expert advice of the Scottish Screening Committee as well as the organisations that oversee implementation of any changes to the newborn screening programme.

Question reference: S6W-08050

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 10 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will extend the Young Patients Family Fund to cover outpatient as well as inpatient treatment.

Question reference: S6W-08052

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 10 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Young Patients Family Fund will cover travel to elsewhere in the UK for treatment.

The Young Patients Family Fund provides valuable financial support to eligible visitors of inpatients up to the age of 18 who are being treated in Scotland.

We recognise it is not possible to deliver all services and treatments in all locations. That is why, where patients are required to travel we already expect boards to take a patient centred approach and to have in place arrangements to allow and support people to receive treatment elsewhere. In addition, financial support for travel is available for patients and authorised escorts attending hospital appointments, in line with eligibility criteria and medical requirements.

Question reference: S6W-08051

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 10 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will extend the Young Patients Family Fund to include support for 18- to 25-year-olds.

The Young Patients Family Fund provides valuable financial support to eligible visitors of inpatients up to the age of 18. There are currently no plans to extend the age range.

Those aged between 18 – 25 years old continue to have access to the Patient Travel Expenses Scheme or the Highlands and Islands Travel Scheme, both of which provide eligible claimants with support to meet travel costs associated with outpatient appointments.

Question reference: S6W-08045

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 10 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been paid out under the Young Patients Family Fund in 2021-22, and to how many people.