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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-37407

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 19 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made any evaluation of the pre-arrest diversion from drugs programme trialled by the Drug Deaths Taskforce in Inverclyde and the Highland Council area.

The regular reporting in achieving progress and outcomes of both these programmes are collated through the Corra Foundation.

An evaluation of the Inverclyde Early Help in Police Custody Service found that there were practical challenges involved in covering such a vast geographical. However, the project demonstrated good progress towards an effective model of early intervention support for people who use drugs and alcohol that are caught up in the justice system.

A range of methods are being used to collate the learning and impact of the Pathfinder programme that originated in the Inverness area. Due to a lack of referrals in that area the project is now based in Dundee, Lanarkshire and Glasgow, and a full evaluation will be available when it concludes in 2026.

Question reference: S6O-04640

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 May 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of Scotland participating in a UK-wide fan-led review of the live music industry, in light of the recent UK-wide survey of the industry.

Question reference: S6W-36125

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 17 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is encouraging the use of faecal calprotectin tests, which help to improve the diagnosis for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

We expect all healthcare professionals to follow best practice and adhere to current guidelines and standards when providing care and support for people with suspected IBD, including the use of faecal calprotectin tests, to help improve diagnosis for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

A national IBD pathway for NHS Scotland was published in January 2025: inflammatory-bowel-disease-ibd-pathway.pdf. This pathway is intended to be used for primary and secondary care health care professionals who are concerned that a patient may have undiagnosed IBD.

Question reference: S6W-36124

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 1 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government which NHS boards have the availability of faecal calprotectin tests, which help to improve the diagnosis for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

The Scottish Government does not hold this information which is a matter for NHS heath boards locally.

We are committed to ensuring that all people living in Scotland with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) including Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis are able to access the best possible care and support, and benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put people at the centre of their care.

Whilst our role is to set the strategic policy for the NHS in Scotland, it is NHS Boards locally who are responsible for service delivery. We expect all Boards to follow best practice and adhere to current guidelines and standards for people with suspected IBD and a national IBD pathway for NHS Scotland was published in January 2025: inflammatory-bowel-disease-ibd-pathway.pdf. This pathway is intended to be used for primary and secondary care health care professionals who are concerned that a patient may have undiagnosed IBD.

The pathway includes the use of faecal calprotectin tests which is supported by current clinical evidence for distinguishing between IBD and non-inflammatory bowel diseases (such as irritable bowel syndrome).

Question reference: S6O-04502

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 1 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding what support could be provided in Scotland to any Palestinian refugees resettled to the UK.

I have written to the UK Government several times, most recently on 3 February calling for a resettlement route for refugees from Palestine who choose to leave. I have also called for those with family members in the UK to be supported to join them.

We continue to urge the UK government to use its existing UK Resettlement Scheme, and ensure it is aligned with UNHCR to provide those who want to leave with the support they require. Our New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy supports refugees from the day they arrive.

Question reference: S6O-04515

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6O-04323

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to encourage the prescription of medicinal cannabis on the NHS for the relief of chronic pain.

Question reference: S6W-33841

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 3 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent IBD UK report, Crohn’s and Colitis Care in Scotland, and, in light of this, whether it will commit to allocating more resources to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) services to increase support and staffing for advice line services, with the aim that responses during a flare can be received by the end of the next working day, in accordance with the IBD standards.

The Scottish Government welcomes IBD UK’s latest report, Crohn’s and Colitis Care in Scotland: A Vision for Change and is committed to ensuring that all people living in Scotland with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) including Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis are able to access the best possible care and support, and benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put people at the centre of their care.

Whilst our role is to set the strategic policy for the NHS in Scotland, it is NHS Boards locally who are responsible for service delivery. We expect Boards to follow best practice and adhere to current guidelines and standards when providing care and support for people with IBD.

Our workforce planning guidance requires NHS Boards to take a demand-led approach by determining future staffing requirements in line with healthcare needs within their locality.

Anyone needing urgent medical help should contact their GP or NHS 24 (Telephone 111).

Question reference: S6F-03730

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 January 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 January 2025

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government plans to make creating sexually explicit “deepfake” images and videos a crime.

Question reference: S6W-32991

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 17 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many children from Scotland have been sent to secure accommodation in (a) England and (b) Wales since 28 August 2024.

The Scottish Government does not hold data on children from Scotland’s local authorities placed in secure accommodation outwith Scotland.

The responsibility for the placement and management of Scottish children in secure accommodation on welfare grounds through the children’s hearings system, or on an emergency basis under the authority of the relevant local chief social work officer, or remanded under section 51 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, or sentenced on summary proceedings under section 44 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, lies with each relevant local authority in Scotland.

Scottish Ministers are responsible for the management and placement of children sentenced on solemn proceedings under section 205 and 208 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995. Currently legislation does not allow for the placement of these children elsewhere in the UK. Our records show that no sentenced child from Scotland has been placed in secure accommodation in England and Wales or elsewhere in the UK.

While there may be some exceptional instances where a placement outwith Scotland would be appropriate, this should only be in the best interests of that individual child. Where practicable and appropriate, the view of the Scottish Government is that children should be placed as near to their home as possible.