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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: S5W-36113

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 March 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 18 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-10965 by Shona Robison on 14 September 2017, whether it will provide an update regarding the number of operations for the treatment of lipoedema that have been carried out each year, broken down by NHS board.

Our previous reply highlighted this information is not held centrally, as there is no Classification of Surgical Operations and Procedures (4th revision) code suitable to identify operations for the treatment of lipoedema in the data supplied by NHS Boards.

We are able to provide data for the number of liposuction and brachioplasty procedures that have been carried out by financial year, from 2006-07 to 2019-20 as these are procedures frequently used to treat lipoedema. Please note that these figures are for the total number of these procedures completed for all conditions; it is not possible to identify how many of these procedures were carried out to treat lipoedema.

Table 1. Number of liposuction procedures 1,2 ; by NHS Board; 2006-07 to 2019-20

NHS Board	Financial Year
NHS Board	06/ ‎ 07	07/ ‎ 08	08/ ‎ 09	09/ ‎ 10	10/ ‎ 11	11/ ‎ 12	12/ ‎ 13	13/ ‎ 14	14/ ‎ 15	15/ ‎ 16	16/ ‎ 17	17/ ‎ 18	18/ ‎ 19	19/ ‎ 20
Ayrshire & Arran	*	-	-	*	-	-	-	-	*	*	-	-	-	-
Borders	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	*	*
Dumfries & Galloway	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	*	*	*	-
Fife	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	*	*	*	11	6	13	9
Forth Valley	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	*	*	-	-
Grampian	*	22	*	*	47	72	81	66	75	61	62	31	48	58
Greater Glasgow & Clyde	71	100	124	81	153	133	101	149	170	197	217	191	185	143
Highland	-	-	-	-	-	*	-	-	-	-	-	*	13	*
Lanarkshire	-	-	*	-	-	-	-	*	-	-	-	-	-	-
Lothian	25	51	44	42	45	94	154	186	166	163	162	136	126	129
Orkney	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Shetland	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Tayside	39	40	50	52	55	*	75	89	85	64	51	45	47	56
Western Isles	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Golden Jubilee Hospital 3	73	51	56	61	66	65	57	53	39	31	40	24	8	*
Scotland	235	264	299	268	366	417	468	550	560	531	547	436	443	399

Source: Public Health Scotland SMR01 dataset as at 15th March 2021

Ref: IR2021-00185

* Indicates values that have been suppressed due to the potential risk of disclosure and to help maintain patient confidentiality.

- Denotes zero

1. The data relates to the following OPCS Classification of Surgical Operations and Procedures (4th revision) (OPCS-4) code:

S622 – Liposuction of subcutaneous tissue, not elsewhere classified

2. Any liposuction procedures that were carried out as part of another procedure have been excluded.

3. Since March 2008, the Golden Jubilee National Hospital moved to provide specialist services resulting in a case-mix of patients that differ substantially from the majority of other hospitals in Scotland.

Table 2. Number of brachioplasty procedures 1,2 ; Scotland; 2006/7 to 2019/20

Scotland	Financial Year															Total
	06/ ‎ 07	07/ ‎ 08	08/ ‎ 09	09/ ‎ 10	10/ ‎ 11	11/ ‎ 12	12/ ‎ 13	13/ ‎ 14	14/ ‎ 15	15/ ‎ 16	16/ ‎ 17	17/ ‎ 18	18/ ‎ 19	19/ ‎ 20
	6	13	9	10	9	15	2	5	5	8	5	3	6	5	101

Source: Public Health Scotland SMR01 dataset as at 15 March 2021

Ref: IR2021-00185

1. The data relates to the following OPCS Classification of Surgical Operations and Procedures (4th revision) (OPCS-4) code:

S033 – Excision of redundant skin or fat of arm

2. Any brachioplasty procedures that were carried out as part of another procedure have been excluded.

Question reference: S5O-05146

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 March 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what financial commitment it has made to support the delivery of the refreshed Heart Disease Improvement Plan.

Question reference: S5W-36162

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 March 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 17 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will fast track second vaccine doses for people with cancer, following research by King's College London and the Francis Crick Institute suggesting that people with solid-cancers, and particularly people with blood cancer, have antibodies significantly lower than non-cancer patients three weeks after the first dose and that waiting 12 weeks could leave these people at a higher risk of infection.

The Scottish Government follows the advice of the Joint committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) as they continue to monitor all aspects of data and evidence of vaccine effect in different groups, and have considered this data in people with cancer. At this time, the JCVI have not recommended any change in the approach to vaccination of this group. We are continuing to monitor evidence and will adapt their advice only if this becomes necessary. The CMO letter published on 9 March advises that clinicians may propose a shorter schedule if they think it’s needed in individual cases.

Question reference: S5W-35979

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 March 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 17 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether unpaid carers should have access to a social security payment that is equal or similar to the real living wage.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting unpaid carers in recognition of the vital role they play, and we have already improved the social security support available to unpaid carers in Scotland, through our Carer’s Allowance Supplement and Young Carer Grant.

On 17 March we issued a discussion paper to stakeholders setting out proposed aims for Scottish Carer’s Assistance, our replacement for Carer’s Allowance. The aims are based on what we have heard from carers, and the organisations who support them, about how the existing support could be improved. The paper has been designed to inform consultation with carers and stakeholders to develop final aims for this support and also sets out our intended process for making decisions on proposals for Scottish Carer’s Assistance. It recognises that some proposals may be capable of being put in place from the launch of the new assistance but others could only be taken forward over the longer term.

Question reference: S5W-34216

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 16 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what the anticipated level of wastage is for the (a) Pfizer vaccine and (b) overall COVID-19 vaccination programme.

Our modelling contained within the Scottish Government’s Vaccine Deployment Plan took a deliberately cautious approach. Based on the information provided by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) we set our expectations of delivery based on our expectations of available supply, using an assumption of 5% wastage.

Some wastage is unavoidable for a variety of reasons based on the characteristics of the vaccine, logistical issues with cold chain supply, storage failure and/or specific clinical situations such as a breakout of COVID-19 in a care home.

To date, our latest management information indicates a wastage rate of around only 1.8% - well below our planning assumption of 5%, which is a precautionary approach for worst case scenarios and in line with global best practice.

Question reference: S5W-34217

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 16 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine have been allocated to each NHS board for (a) December 2020 and (b) January 2021.

As of Monday 1 March 2021 the total number of doses allocated was 2,138,450. The total number of doses allocated refers to the number of doses that have been made available by Public Health England to the Scottish Government for ordering, and is the cumulative amount allocated up to 11:55 1 March 2021.

The Scottish Government has been very clear from day one that the pace of our national vaccine programme is dependent on vaccine supply and delivery timescales and we continue to work closely across the 4 nations to ensure this is as smooth as possible .

Question reference: S5W-35881

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 March 2021
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 12 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the impact on Scotland-based recording artists of the Official Charts Company (OCC) ceasing to publish its Scottish Singles Chart since December 2020, and what discussions it has had or plans with (a) OCC, (b) the Musicians’ Union and (c) other stakeholders regarding whether the chart can be reinstated.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of the Scottish Singles Chart to Scotland’s music scene, in helping to bring artists to wider audiences and boosting their profile. The chart has played an important role in showing what the people of Scotland are listening to and buying, and often reflected different trends when compared to UK charts.

The Scottish Government has spoken to the Official Charts Company to understand why the chart has been withdrawn. We are continuing to engage with the Official Charts Company along with Creative Scotland, the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) and representatives from Scottish radio stations to explore options to bring about the return of the Scottish Singles Chart, and to consider any further opportunities to support Scottish artists in reaching wider audiences.

Question reference: S5W-35655

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 March 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 12 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on designating foster carers as a priority group for COVID-19 vaccinations, in light of their role in safeguarding the welfare of vulnerable children.

All of our decisions in response to COVID-19 have been guided by the latest evidence and advice from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, Health Protection Scotland, our Chief Medical Officer, and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The JCVI advises all UK Health Departments on immunisation, including the efficacy and safety of vaccines.

Senior clinicians do not support the prioritisation of foster carers in cohort 2 as the JCVI prioritisation list is based on the objective of the COVID-19 immunisation programme being to protect those who are at highest risk from serious illness or death. Currently prioritisation for staff is based primarily on the vulnerability of the group that a carer is working with rather than their own role, and children and young people are not deemed to be high-risk.

Question reference: S5W-33694

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 11 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the anticipated uptake of a COVID-19 vaccine by (a) NHS staff and (b) the public.

Question reference: S5W-33693

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 11 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to counter any misinformation regarding a COVID-19 vaccine that may reduce uptake.

The Scottish Government is working with faith based, third sector and community groups to reach out to more people from deprived communities to increase the vaccine uptake.

We have put in place financial and practical support to ensure all parts of our community have the knowledge and confidence to participate in this vaccination programme and to remove any practical barriers.

We have introduced webinars for the social care staff and continue to dispel any misinformation regarding Covid-19 through our proactive community engagement.

All Covid-19 related information is available in on NHS Inform ; in British Sign Language (BSL), audio, Easy Read and large print formats.

The translation of Covid-19 related material is available in more than 20 foreign languages.

Further work is also underway to ensure we can reach other groups including those who are homeless and those who suffer from addiction issues.