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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-12720

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 12 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps the Scottish Prison Service is taking to ensure that those on remand are (a) assessed for and (b) offered support and/or treatment for (i) substance use and (ii) mental health issues.

All individuals have a healthcare consultation with an NHS healthcare professional within 24 hours of arrival.

Whilst in prison individuals can self-refer to see the NHS Healthcare team and where needed, SPS staff can also refer prisoners to the healthcare team.

The SPS Drug & Alcohol Strategy, currently under revision, aims to reduce re-offending and drug-related deaths by adopting the principles of recovery to reduce the supply and demand of illegal substances and the harm caused by problematic substance use. The revised Strategy will reflect the national approach to embed Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Standards across SPS.

Question reference: S6O-01562

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 November 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring adequate support provision is available for staff and pupils in schools.

Question reference: S6W-11243

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 1 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether the senior leaders who will "take responsibility for driving the necessary changes and reporting on progress" of the implementation of the Medication Assisted Treatment Standards, as announced by the Minister for Drugs Policy to the Parliament on 23 June 2022, have now been appointed by local authority chief executives and chief officers, and whether it will publish the name and position of each local authority's responsible senior leader.

In the letter of direction I issued to delivery partners on 23 June 2022 on implementing the MAT Standards, I asked for timed, specific plans for implementing the standards to be submitted and published. I also requested a lead officer be nominated to take responsibility for driving the necessary changes and reporting on progress for each area across the country.

I can confirm that a lead officer has been nominated by delivery partners for each of their Health and Social Care Partnership areas.

We are now scrutinising the submitted Implementation Plans to ensure they will deliver the standards and, we will be asking each area to publish their plans, which will detail the position of lead officers for each area.

Question reference: S6W-11300

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 31 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how it is marking the 20th anniversary of the Youth Music Initiative.

There is a range of activity being delivered by Creative Scotland to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Youth Music Initiative, which is delivered by Creative Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government. This includes activity to spotlight the successes of the YMI to date and projects to further strengthen the programme as part of this year's celebrations.

The projects include a targeted fund supporting five projects to encourage children and young people to engage with a wide range experimental music practice. Additionally there has been a Strengthening Community Music project which focuses strengthening the connections between the youth music sector across Scotland as they rebuild after the pandemic. There is also the Formal Sector Development Fund which supports the development of Music Service Managers and the formal music workforce by providing opportunities for reflection, collaboration, peer-to-peer networking, and project activity which supports a period of renewal and recovery.

More activity is expected and I will write to the member with an update in due course.

Question reference: S6W-11298

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 31 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide a list of any initiatives for which funding distribution has been paused while the Emergency Budget Review is completed, in light of reports in The Scotsman on 16 September 2022 that Creative Scotland was told by ministers that, in relation to the Youth Music Initiative for 2022-23, “all government portfolios have been asked to identify remaining non-contracted spend in 2022/23” and “to defer issuing contracts indefinitely”.

An update was provided to Parliament and the Finance and the Public Administration Committee on 7 September in relation to the Emergency Budget Review. This set out over £500 million of savings in order mitigate the impact of the cost crisis, to meet increased costs arising from public sector pay and unprecedented levels of inflation, and to support our Ukraine response.

As the majority of our spend cannot be changed at this stage of the financial year due to contractual and legal commitments, there are limited options to make savings. With a largely fixed budget, intervention to support those who need most help and manage the nation’s budget will be difficult without impacting further on planned spend and on programmes.

The Scottish Government had previously informed Parliament that a statement setting out an Emergency Budget Review, in relation to the 2022-23 Scottish Budget, was planned for the week commencing 24 October. However, following the unprecedented uncertainty and instability brought about by the UK Government in recent weeks, on 25 October I announced that the outcome of the Emergency Budget Review would be deferred until after the UK Government fiscal statement which was, at that time, scheduled for 31 October. On 26 October, the UK Government delayed its fiscal statement and independent forecast from the Office for Budget Responsibility until 17 November. As such, it is prudent to review the timing for the Emergency Budget Review. The Scottish Parliament will be kept informed regarding the timing of the statement.

Question reference: S6W-11299

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 31 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when distribution of funding for the Youth Music Initiative will be resumed following the “brief pause” reportedly advised in September 2022 by the Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development.

Question reference: S6O-01448

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 October 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to support the museum and gallery sector during the cost of living crisis.

Question reference: S6T-00904

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 October 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland's report, Ending the exclusion: Care, treatment and support for people with mental ill health and problem substance use in Scotland.

Question reference: S6O-01434

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 September 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring the availability of affordable housing, including for students at Scottish universities.

Question reference: S6T-00841

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 September 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how it is responding to the report, Drug-related Deaths in Scotland in 2021, which was published on 28 July 2022.