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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-00734

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 2 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government on what basis it took the decision to stop women aged 70 and over from self-referring for breast cancer screening.

Following the pause of the breast screening programme in March 2020, there was a staged restart. This was based on expert clinical advice and the recommendations of the Scottish Screening Committee, and was agreed with Health Board Chief Executives as part of the planned remobilisation of the NHS. The breast screening programme resumed on 3 August 2020, initially prioritising those whose appointments were cancelled or delayed due to the pause. The programme is now at the stage of offering routine appointments for eligible women aged between 50 and 70.

The recovery of the breast screening programme, including reviewing the pause to self-referrals for the over 70s is monitored by the Breast Screening Programme Board, the National Screening Oversight Board and the Scottish Screening Committee. It should be noted that the risks and benefits of breast screening for people over the age of 70 have not been clearly established. Covid-19 and the measures to control its spread, such as physical distancing and the use of PPE, also continue to pose challenges to capacity in the screening programme. The decision to maintain the pause on self-referrals for the over 70s, though difficult, was therefore taken to allow the service to prioritise those who require to be offered appointments and for whom screening has clear benefits.

Question reference: S6W-00733

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 2 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of those screened for breast cancer were women aged 70 and over, in each year since 2010.

Question reference: S6W-00732

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 2 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to allowing women aged 70 and over to self-refer for breast cancer screening.

The pause to self-referrals for women over 70 is a temporary measure that is regularly reviewed by the Breast Screening Programme Board, the National Screening Oversight Board and the Scottish Screening Committee (of which the Scottish Government is a member). It will be lifted as soon as capacity allows. Meantime, the Scottish Screening Committee, the National Screening Oversight Board and the Programme Board are working with NHS NSD and Health boards to understand how the capacity challenges might be overcome.

Question reference: S6W-00651

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 14 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 1 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has plans for NHS Scotland to combine medical records in a database shared with third parties, similar to proposals set out by NHS Digital for England.

The Scottish Government has no plans similar to those set out by NHS Digital for England.

The national data opt-out policy applies to NHS England, and not NHS Scotland data. In England, there is legislation by which personal identifiable data, which would otherwise be subject to the Duty of Confidentiality, can be used for research purposes by default.

The Scottish Government recognises the value of data used for trustworthy research in the public interest to improve the health and lives of our population. In Scotland, personal identifiable health data subject to the Duty of Confidentiality is not used for research by default. Any use of personal data for research purposes is subject to rigorous independent scrutiny on a case-by-case basis, and accompanying evidence that the data is used fairly, lawfully and securely. As such, when processing relies on permission from the individual, Scotland operates under an opt-in model.

However, if individuals currently living in Scotland have previously resided in England, and used NHS England services during that period, they will have the opportunity to opt-out by the September 1 st 2021 deadline.

Question reference: S6W-00906

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 18 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 28 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-00406 by Jamie Hepburn on 17 June 2021, whether it plans to match the timeframes announced by the Welsh Government in establishing an alternative model of international exchange.

The Scottish Government will be able to provide more detail about a Scottish exchange programme in due course. The programme will be developed based on what would deliver the best value for Scotland and on the needs of Scotland and those of our learners and institutions.

In the meantime, we are engaging with the European Commission and European institutions in line with our commitment for Scotland to remain close to the Erasmus+ programme.

Question reference: S6W-00720

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 24 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-00307 by Ivan McKee on 7 June, whether it will provide an update on whether dancing is permitted at weddings in level 0 protection areas.

Dancing is not permitted at weddings in level 0 of the levels framework.

When we move beyond level 0, and out of the levels framework, almost all COVID restrictions will be removed for businesses and individuals. This will mean that dancing and singing at weddings will be able to resume at this time. In addition, businesses can reopen and can operate without restrictions on physical distancing or caps.

Some baseline measures will remain, including good hand hygiene and surface cleaning and continued compliance with Test and Protect. More guidance on these baseline measure will be provided prior to moving beyond level 0.

Question reference: S6W-00406

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 04 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 17 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what work it has undertaken to establish a new programme of international exchange; when it expects such a programme to be established, and for what reason this was not included in its plans for the first 100 days of the parliamentary session.

We do not support the UK Government’s refusal to participate in Erasmus+. Although we are working on a new programme, this will not be able to replicate in full the benefits of Erasmus+.

In-line with our manifesto commitments, we remain committed to both Erasmus+ and to international exchange. In the interim to securing our place back in Erasmus+ we have begun to consider options regarding a Scottish mobility programme. We are currently undertaking the necessary analysis that will inform our decisions relating to such a scheme.

Our view is that people across Scotland, in all education pathways, should have access to the benefits that international exchange provides. We will announce further steps in due course.

Question reference: S6O-00061

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 June 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to schools to enable them to hold modified sports events that can be attended by parents and carers.

Question reference: S6W-00497

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 04 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 16 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the timeline for the Islands Connectivity Plan.

Question reference: S6W-00468

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 16 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, to bring them in line with other forms of travel, what consideration it has given to reviewing social-distancing requirements on board ferries.

Physical distancing has been an important element in controlling the spread of COVID which is key to keeping our economy open and moving forward to recovery from the impacts of the virus.

Much work has been undertaken by operators in order to safely maximise capacity on ferries. The exemption from 10 July 2020 to allow 1 metre distancing on ferries, with appropriate risk mitigations, significantly increased passenger capacity, and continues to ensure that ferry services can support the reopening of the tourism sector that is so essential for the sustainability of island and rural economies, as well as enabling islanders to travel to the mainland.

The Scottish Government is reviewing physical distancing including its impact on transport, and an announcement of the outcome of this review is due shortly. Sectoral guidance will be updated to reflect the outcome of the review. Physical distancing has been an important tool for controlling the virus but, as with all restrictions, we will only have this in place as long as is necessary.