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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-39947

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 1 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government in relation to any funding grant, whether it will require the applicant body to sign and confirm that it will abide by and observe the principle that in its operations it will observe as an absolute right, freedom of expression within the law, and that any breach or failure to observe this requirement will result in the immediate withdrawal of funding and an obligation to repay any sum awarded.

In accordance with the Scottish Public Finance Manual, Scottish Government Grants are made subject to legally binding agreements. A model offer template sets out standard terms and conditions, which include standard clauses covering default and recovery of a grant. There is no specific reference to freedom of expression but there is a standard clause requiring grant recipients to ensure that “in relation to the project/programme, they and anyone acting on their behalf shall comply with the relevant law, for the time being in force in Scotland”

Question reference: S6O-04888

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 August 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the future award of any grants or loans to arts or public performance venues, whether it or any public authority, including Creative Scotland, will require applicants to observe and respect freedom of expression under the law in order to be eligible for financial support, and that failing to do so will require any funding provided to be repaid.

Question reference: S6W-39674

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
Date lodged: Thursday, 31 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 26 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what risk assessments have been carried out on the possible effects on patients if there is any further removal of NHS specialist treatments for chronic pain services.

Decisions about the planning and delivery of NHS services, including specialist pain treatments, are the responsibility of individual Health Boards. Boards are expected to consider the available evidence, local population needs and clinical advice when making decisions.

The Scottish Health Technologies Group is currently undertaking an independent review of certain specialist interventions for chronic pain. Their findings, expected on 28 November 2025, will support informed decision-making across NHS Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-39673

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
Date lodged: Thursday, 31 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 26 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government who has been appointed to the Evidence Review on Chronic Pain, which is being handled by the Pain Management Task Force; what the remit of the review is, and when the findings will be published.

The review for specialist interventions for managing chronic non-malignant pain in adults was commissioned by Scottish Government but is being led by the Scottish Health Technologies Group (SHTG), part of Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS). HIS and SHTG operate independently and neither the Pain Management Taskforce or the Scottish Government have a role in undertaking the review.

SHTG provides evidence-based advice to NHSScotland on health technologies to support informed decision making that improves health and care for people in Scotland. Its advice is underpinned by Health Technology Assessment (HTA) methodology which is a formal, internationally recognised, systematic and transparent process that considers the best available evidence. This includes clinical effectiveness, safety, cost-effectiveness, and the views of patients, healthcare professionals, and wider system implications.

SHTG have determined that they will make recommendations on the following four questions:

1. Is radiofrequency denervation effective, safe and cost effective for treating chronic non-malignant joint pain in adults?

2. Are injections (spinal axial blocks, sacroiliac joint injections, facet joint injections) with or without steroids effective, safe and cost effective treatment options for adults with chronic non-malignant pain?

3. Are lidocaine intravenous infusions effective, safe and cost effective for treating chronic non-malignant pain in adults?

4. What are patient views and experiences of chronic pain treatment in specialist secondary care settings?

The findings will be published on their website and are currently anticipated to be published on 28 November 2025. You can find more information here: Specialist interventions for managing chronic non-malignant pain in adults | Scottish Health Technologies Group.

Question reference: S6W-39381

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 6 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the most recent statistics are on the level of immunisation in the relevant population for (a) measles, (b) whooping cough, (c) mumps, (d) polio, (e) meningitis and (f) rubella, broken down by NHS board area; what its position is on whether these levels of immunisation are acceptable, and, if it does not consider any levels to be acceptable, what action it is taking to address this.

Public Health Scotland provide quarterly updates of immunisation uptake rates for children in Scotland. The most recent release was published on 24 June 2025 and provides uptake statistics for all childhood vaccines, including: the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine; the 6 in 1 vaccine (which protects against whooping cough, polio, tetanus, haemophilus influenzae type B and hepatitis B); and the meningitis B vaccine. The report can be found at the following link: Childhood immunisation statistics Scotland - quarter and year ending 31 March 2025 - Childhood immunisation statistics Scotland - Publications - Public Health Scotland

Quarterly childhood immunisation rates across Scotland remain high, reflecting both the hard work and commitment of our colleagues in the NHS and the recognition of the benefits of vaccination.

However, the Scottish Government is aware that there are decreases in uptake compared with previous years, a trend which has been observed globally. We are working with Public Health Scotland and Health Boards to increase vaccination uptake, address health inequalities and support those eligible for vaccination.

Question reference: S6W-39390

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 6 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any impact on its vaccination policies in Scotland, whether it has received any information from the UK Government regarding measles deaths in England, and, if so, what information, and whether it will make it publicly available.

Scottish Government officials continue to work closely with colleagues across the four UK nations to ensure cooperation and, where appropriate, alignment on vaccination policy, but we have received no specific information from the UK Government regarding measles deaths in England.

While Childhood immunisation rates in Scotland remain high, we are working with Public Health Scotland and the NHS to increase vaccination uptake in communities across the country. Measles is a highly infectious disease and can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening complications. The MMR vaccine is safe, and it is vital that all those eligible receive both doses of the vaccination, especially because of the current global threat of measles to international and domestic travellers.

The Scottish Government urges parents and carers to take their children to be vaccinated when invited to do so to enable them to be protected against serious disease, including measles, meningitis and pertussis.

Question reference: S6W-39386

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 28 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in the event of any deaths as a result of any failures in relation to vaccinations, what its position is on whether it would have any legal liability regarding the families affected.

Question reference: S6W-39389

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 28 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made an estimate of any potential savings that could result from NHS Highland restoring the vaccination services to GPs that were previously administered by them prior to 2023, and, if so, what any such estimate is.

Highland HSCP are putting in place a mixed-model for vaccinations. GP delivery is expected to be key in some aspects of this model, but the plan is for a collaborative approach rather than one that relies solely on GP delivery.

Oversight of how the mixed model is developed and deployed to deliver local and accessible vaccination and immunisation services in a cost effective way will ultimately remain the responsibility of Highland HSCP.

Health boards are funded to offer vaccination in a way that best suits the needs of their communities, supported by national frameworks, such as Public Health Scotland’s (PHS) 5-year Vaccination and Immunisation Framework and Delivery Plan. This plan specifically sets out that boards should “ensure availability of a range of flexible, responsive, and good-quality immunisation services that meet the needs of all communities, including our rural and island communities”.

Question reference: S6W-39383

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 28 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the provision of a centralised vaccination service, such as that in NHS Highland, is safe, in light of reports that NHS Highland is not able to share data with GPs on the vaccinations being provided.

Since April 2022, Health Boards have been responsible for delivering vaccines. The vast majority of adult vaccinations, including flu, Covid, RSV, shingles and pneumococcal are visible to GPs via their GP-IT system.

Currently, childhood and non-routine vaccinations do not automatically flow into GP-IT from the separate systems that record them, but this pre-dates the move from GP to Health Board delivery.

Any associated patient risk is mitigated by Health Boards providing GPs with a list of childhood and non-routine vaccinations they have administered. The Scottish Government funds GPs to manually input these into their GP systems.

Question reference: S6W-39380

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 28 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when GP vaccination services will be fully restored to GPs in NHS Highland; whether it anticipates that this will happen by the end of 2025, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

In January of this year, Scottish Minsters agreed to Highland HSCP putting in place a mixed-model for vaccinations. GP delivery is likely to be key in some aspects of this model, however, the aim is to take a collaborative approach to delivering vaccinations.

Since 2022, Health Boards have been responsible for delivering vaccination programmes. However, the Scottish Government recognises the need for flexibility to account of specific, local circumstances that might negatively affect vaccine uptake, which is why Ministers agreed to the development and implementation of a mixed model.

The Scottish Government and Public Health Scotland continue to engage with Highland HSCP to support a flexible and responsive immunisation service.