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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: S4W-24676

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 10 March 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to NHS Western Isles to allow elective surgery to be carried out at the Ospadal Uibhist agus Bharraigh (Uist and Barra Hospital), Benbecula.

The Scottish Government provides policies, frameworks and resources to all NHS boards, including NHS Western Isles, in order that they can plan and deliver the services that meet the needs of their local population. In terms of NHS Western Isles budget, from 2014-15 to 2015-16, the board’s budget will increase by £1.7 million (2.7%) from £62.2 million to £63.9 million.

I have asked NHS Western Isles to write to you directly about the elective surgery carried out and Uist and Barra Hospital.

Question reference: S4W-24673

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 10 March 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on making available the capital grant of approximately £450,000 that has been estimated to be required to furnish the Bethesda Care Home and Hospice to a standard that would help reduce the level of delayed discharges at Western Isles Hospital, Stornoway.

Question reference: S4W-24651

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 10 March 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS beds were planned to be opened each week in winter 2014-15, broken down by (a) NHS board and (b) hospital, and how this compares with the number that were opened.

This information is not held centrally. The Scottish Government issued ‘Preparing for Winter Guidance’ to NHS boards on 23 September 2014, which advised boards to undertake detailed analysis and planning to effectively schedule elective activity based on forecast emergency and elective demand. Boards were also advised to ensure that this action specifically took into account the surge in activity in the first week in January. NHS boards signed off their winter plans by the end of November 2014.

Official statistics on the number of hospital beds relating to the quarters ending December 2014 and March 2015 will be published in March 2015 and June 2015 respectively.

The bed planning toolkit will be piloted across all NHS territorial boards from April 2015. This will support boards to develop a more consistent approach to bed planning over the short, medium and longer term to ensure that the right bed is available for the right patient at the right time.

Question reference: S4W-24674

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 10 March 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to support (a) patients and (b) the families of patients if they are referred to mainland hospitals due to delayed discharges at Western Isles Hospital, Stornoway.

We are working closely with NHS Western Isles and the Comhairle nan Eileen Siar to ensure a reduction in the level of delayed discharges. However, to date NHS Western Isles have not been required to transfer any patients to the mainland due to delayed discharges.

To assist all partnerships tackle delayed discharge we are investing £100 million over the next three years, and NHS Western Isles will receive a £640,000 share of this funding.

Question reference: S4W-24672

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 10 March 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce the level of delayed discharges at Western Isles Hospital, Stornoway.

Question reference: S4W-24545

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 20 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 5 March 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how many children have been admitted to adult psychiatric wards in each year since 2003.

Accurate data for the years prior to 2008-09 is not available.

Data taken from the Mental Welfare Commission shows the number of children and young people admitted to adult psychiatric wards since 2008:

Year	Number of children/young people admitted to adult psychiatric wards
2008-09	138
2009-10	147
2010-11	128
2011-12	115
2012-13	148
2013-14	179

Further information can be obtained from the following link:

http://www.mwcscot.org.uk/publications/statistical-monitoring-reports/

Question reference: S4W-24528

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 4 March 2015

To ask the Scottish Government (a) how and (b) by how much it expects Abellio to improve journey times on the (i) Highland Main Line and (ii) Far North Line.

We expect Abellio ScotRail to save around 10 to 12 minutes on the Highland Main Line by taking advantage of the government’s infrastructure investment on this route and introducing refurbished intercity high speed train rolling stock by 2019. We expect Abellio ScotRail to reduce journey times for services on the Far North Line; this is dependent on the outcome of Network Rail and First ScotRail’s current review of line speeds on the route. The scale of journey time reduction will be available on the conclusion of this review.

Question reference: S4W-24526

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 4 March 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Abellio in relation to the (a) Highland Main Line and (b) Far North Line.

Transport Scotland are meeting Abellio frequently to discuss a wide range of issues relevant to the delivery of the new ScotRail franchise, that will commence on 1 April 2015. The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring a continuously improving service for rail passengers, including services on the Highland Main Line and Far North Line. The new ScotRail franchise will bring popular high speed trains between Inverness and the central belt, increasing capacity, reducing journey times and improving on-train comfort. The new franchise will also deliver a scenic railway service on the Far North line.

Question reference: S4W-24529

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 4 March 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether it expects Abellio to provide trains on the Far North Line and the West Highland Line with upgrades to enhance the tourist experience and, if so, what upgrades.

Question reference: S4W-24527

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 4 March 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how many new trains it expects Abellio to provide to service the (a) Highland Main Line, (b) Far North Line, (c) West Highland Line north and (d) West Highland Line south.