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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: S6O-01489

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 October 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to businesses in the hospitality sector, in light of the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and the cost of living crisis.

Question reference: S6W-11175

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 23 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 6 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its latest Scottish Health Survey annual report.

Question reference: S6O-01430

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 September 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is regarding the impact on Scotland of the UK Government’s reported plans to withdraw the Bill of Rights Bill.

Question reference: S6W-10624

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 26 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider conducting an analysis of the effectiveness of the Chill cold water swimming courses currently being run in England and, to a more limited extent, Scotland, and their potential as a public health measure provided through NHS boards.

The provision of advice to health professionals on the efficacy of particular treatments, whether clinical or non-clinical, is the responsibility of Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) who base their recommendations on Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guidelines, produced from the views of experts and the latest research. It would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to undertake this type of analysis but we are supportive of the concept of a person-centred approach to care which includes non-clinical options. This aligns with the principles of Realistic Medicine .

Question reference: S6W-10207

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 5 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will confirm that funded early learning and childcare will be available automatically from August 2023 for all four-year-olds deferred from starting school.

I can confirm that this legislative commitment will be delivered. From 1 August 2023, if a parent of a child that is still 4 years old on the date they are eligible to start school (i.e. children with birth dates on or between the day after the school commencement date in August – last day in February) defers their entry to school for a year, they can automatically access an additional year of funded early learning and childcare.

Question reference: S6O-01338

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 August 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government in what ways it will continue to ensure refugees arriving from Ukraine will be provided with adequate shelter and support on arrival in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-10176

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 23 August 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of the Resource Spending Review on 31 May 2022, whether any support will be made available for (a) new health services and (b) activities beyond those already committed to for the remainder of the current parliamentary session.

The Resource Spending Review set out broad parameters for resource spend to 2026-27, provided an overarching financial framework to support the focus on delivery of key Scottish Government priorities and put in place a foundation for ongoing efficiency and reform. It was not a budget, with the normal processes of the Programme for Government and annual budget being where policy and funding decisions are made.

Question reference: S6W-09582

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 04 July 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 20 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what can be done to reduce the need for those with Alzheimer's disease to wait in accident and emergency waiting rooms for extended periods of time.

Under the Redesign of Urgent Care (RUC) programme, NHS 24 is now available 24/7 and individuals or their carers who think they need to go to A&E but it is not an emergency can first call 111. Their symptoms will be assessed by trained professionals who will direct them to the most appropriate setting for their healthcare need.

Individuals may be directed to their local pharmacy, and they may also be offered a phone or video appointment with their GP or an A&E triage nurse, thereby avoiding a trip to hospital altogether. If A&E attendance is necessary an appointment time can be scheduled to reduce the time they need to spend in the department.

The RUC program aims to improve urgent care pathways for all, however it is potentially particularly beneficial for people with conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, who can find long waits in A&E particularly distressing.

The Scottish Government continues to co-fund Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Consultants in NHS Boards to provide expert advice on dementia care issues within acute, community and mental health hospital settings - as well as wider community locations including care homes.

They will support established principles and standards such as that systems are in place so that staff can easily identify someone with dementia and that hospitals have access to advice or assessment by a liaison service specialising in the diagnosis and management of dementia.

Question reference: S6W-09555

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 01 July 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 18 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for the introduction of dedicated baby loss units in hospitals across Scotland.

As outlined in the Programme for Government 2021 – 22 A Fairer, Greener Scotland: Programme for Government 2021-22 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) published in September 2021, the Scottish Government is committed to establishing a dignified and compassionate miscarriage service. As part of this, the Scottish Government wants to ensure that NHS Boards are able to provide dedicated facilities for women who are experiencing unexpected pregnancy complications.

As part of delivering on this commitment the Scottish Government will support the development of individualised care plans after a woman’s first miscarriage and take forward specific recommendations made in the Lancet series on miscarriage published on 26 April 2021 https://www.thelancet.com/series/miscarriage .

A scoping exercise into the availability of services within NHS Boards for miscarriage and unexpected pregnancy complications is underway. The results of this exercise will be analysed over the summer and will inform improvements to miscarriage services.

Question reference: S6W-09765

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 July 2022
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Neil Gray on 11 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its Super Sponsor scheme for displaced people from Ukraine.

The Scottish Government’s super sponsor scheme was introduced on 18 March 2022, to offer sanctuary in Scotland to displaced people from Ukraine. It works within the UK Government’s Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme and provides a fast and safe alternative to private sponsorship, meaning people can travel immediately and be provided with temporary accommodation, meals and a range of support, from assessing medical needs to applying for benefits. The Scottish Government is extremely thankful for the generosity of everyone right across Scotland who has expressed an interest in hosting, or who has offered their support to people displaced by the current conflict.

Statistics published on 7 July by the UK Government show that, as at 5 July, 22,451 confirmed applications sponsored by the Scottish Government had been made under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, and 17,377 Scottish Government sponsored visas had been issued. Scotland has to date welcomed 7286 displaced people from Ukraine – 11.5% of all arrivals in the UK – 4666 of whom arrived under the super sponsor scheme. Scotland has welcomed the highest number of applications, visas issued and arrivals per head of population of the four nations of the UK.

The rate of visa applications, visas issued and arrivals in Scotland under the super sponsor scheme continues to rise. As at 5 July, visa applications listing the Scottish Government as sponsor were up 21% on the previous week, with visas issued up 27% and arrivals under the super sponsor scheme up 20%. Based on applications submitted already, we could see between 9,000 and 18,000 additional arrivals in the coming weeks and months.

As set out in a policy position paper published today, the Scottish Government’s priority is to provide safe, comfortable accommodation and a wraparound support offer to the displaced people from Ukraine who have arrived in Scotland, and to those who will arrive in the weeks ahead, having applied for visas already.

In order to achieve that objective, the Scottish Government has taken the decision to pause the super sponsor scheme from 9:00am on Wednesday 13 July for a period of 3 months. This will allow us ensure that those displaced people who are already here, and those who will shortly be travelling to Scotland, are able to stay in appropriate temporary accommodation and get the right support ahead of moving into safe, sustainable longer-term accommodation.

The pause on new applications will not affect anyone who has already made an application or had their visa granted.

We will review our position in three months, but of course if circumstances change during that time we will bring that date forward.

This is a humanitarian crisis requiring a whole of Scotland response, and the Scottish Government will continue to work closely with local councils and with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to ensure that those displaced people who are already here, and those who have applied and are granted permission to travel, will be safe, secure and supported for as long as they need, after the dangers they have faced at home.