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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: S6F-02595

Asked by: Clare Haughey, MSP for Rutherglen, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 November 2023

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to tackle any stigma associated with disclosing a diagnosis of HIV, in light of World AIDS Day on 1 December.

Question reference: S6F-02449

Asked by: Clare Haughey, MSP for Rutherglen, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 October 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 October 2023

To ask the First Minister, in light of the launch of Scotland’s new HIV anti-stigma campaign in partnership with the Terrence Higgins Trust, what action the Scottish Government is taking to eliminate new transmissions of HIV.

Question reference: S6O-02625

Asked by: Clare Haughey, MSP for Rutherglen, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 October 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how the recently announced £500,000 Fund to Leave pilot will support women experiencing domestic abuse.

Question reference: S6W-21583

Asked by: Clare Haughey, MSP for Rutherglen, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 September 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Elena Whitham on 20 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its review of the minimum unit price.

I am pleased to announce that today we have published the Scottish Government report on the operation and effect of Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) in its first five years.

Later today, we are launching a consultation on the continuation of the minimum unit pricing legislation beyond 30 April 2024, when it is otherwise due to expire. We believe our proposals strikes a reasonable balance between the positive public health benefits and any effects on the alcoholic drinks market and subsequent impact on consumers.

The consultation builds on Ministerial engagement with business and health stakeholders which has taken place throughout the summer and is supported by an interim Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment which will also been published today.

We would encourage everyone to take the time to respond to the consultation.

Question reference: S6W-20420

Asked by: Clare Haughey, MSP for Rutherglen, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 04 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 29 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to expand access to at-home, postal, sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-19896

Asked by: Clare Haughey, MSP for Rutherglen, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 7 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the most recent level of health spending per person is in Scotland, and what information it has on how this compares with spending in (a) England and (b) Wales.

Based on HM Treasury’s Country and Regional Analysis (2021-22), frontline Health spend per head in Scotland is £3,377, which is £323 (10.6%) higher than in England and £74 (2.2%) higher than in Wales. Proportionally, this equates to almost £1.8 billion more spending on frontline health services in Scotland compared to England, and almost £405 million more compared to Wales – equivalent to around 44,000 and 10,000 nurses, respectively.

Question reference: S6W-19895

Asked by: Clare Haughey, MSP for Rutherglen, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 31 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the most recent levels of charges are for (a) prescriptions and (b) eye tests in Scotland, and what information it has on how this compares with charges in (i) England and (ii) Wales.

In Scotland, NHS prescriptions charges were abolished in 2011 and are free to all at the point of access. This is also the case in Wales where charges were abolished in 2007. Patients not entitled to free prescriptions in England are liable to a charge of £9.65 per item from April 2023.

NHS eye examinations in Scotland are free to anyone ordinarily resident in the UK and to some eligible overseas visitors. In England and Wales, the eligibility criteria for free NHS sight tests are different and can be accessed here: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/opticians/free-nhs-eye-tests-and-optical-vouchers/ .

Question reference: S6W-19882

Asked by: Clare Haughey, MSP for Rutherglen, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 July 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Maree Todd on 12 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made in relation to the consensus discussions on the National Care Service, as referred to at the launch of the First Minister’s policy prospectus, Equality, opportunity, community: New leadership - A fresh start.

Discussions between Scottish Government and COSLA officials have been ongoing since late April 2023 to reach consensus on the National Care Service. These discussions have, to date, focussed on accountability arrangements. Agreement has been reached where Ministers, local authorities, and NHS boards would share accountability, with councils retaining accountability for delivery functions, staff and assets. New governance arrangements will be introduced to ensure consistently high levels of service across the country, while building flexibility to meet varying community demands at a local level. This consensus is a significant, early success of the Verity House Agreement between national and local government.

Discussions have also recently begun with the trade unions and two of this summer NCS regional co-design events have taken place, with seven in person and five digital events still to run. The outcomes from all of this work will be brought together to inform next steps to be developed over the coming months. I will continue to update parliament on this work.

Question reference: S6W-19492

Asked by: Clare Haughey, MSP for Rutherglen, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 June 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Maree Todd on 29 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its progress in relation to the development its new Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy for Scotland.

Today I am pleased to announce the launch of the new Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy for Scotland, in partnership with COSLA.

The Strategy sets out our new long-term shared Vision for Mental Health and Wellbeing in Scotland, which is:

“of a Scotland, free from stigma and inequality, where everyone fulfils their right to achieve the best mental health and wellbeing possible .”

The Strategy is rightly ambitious. It covers all ages and all levels of need, and is built around the three pillars of “Promote, Prevent, Provide”. The Strategy identifies a set of outcomes that illustrate what a high-functioning whole system should look like, and the standard of support that anyone should be entitled to expect when they ask for help for any aspect of their mental health.

The Strategy reflects what we have heard over 18 months of consultation and co-production, with a particular focus on the voices of lived experience and the role of inequalities.

Whilst recognising that specialist services will always be a critical part of the whole system, the Strategy has a particular focus on the principles of prevention and early intervention, with support, care and treatment being delivered in a way that is as local as possible, and only as specialist as necessary. It also focuses on the social determinants and underlying causes of poor mental health, including inequalities. As well as being published jointly with COSLA, it is a cross-Government Strategy.

The accompanying Delivery Plan and Workforce Action Plan will both be agreed with stakeholders, and will be published in Autumn 2023. I will seek to secure a slot for a Ministerial statement at that stage to ensure that all members can contribute to a discussion on the full package of Strategy and Delivery Plans.

Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781805259275

Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy Executive Summary: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781805259282 .

Question reference: S6W-19494

Asked by: Clare Haughey, MSP for Rutherglen, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 June 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Maree Todd on 28 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish a response to the Scottish Mental Health Law Review.

I am pleased to announce that the Scottish Government has today published a high-level response to the Scottish Mental Health Law Review .

The Review, chaired by Lord Scott KC, recommended changes to mental health and capacity law, policy and practice to improve the protection and fulfilment of human rights in the short, medium and long term.

Our response outlines our intention to establish a new long-term programme of improvement and reform in response to the ambition set out by the Review. In it, we set out our vision for change and outline our priorities for reform.

The Mental Health and Capacity Reform Programme will update and modernise our mental health and capacity legislation to better align with international human rights. It will be a long term programme that supports change to give people greater control over their own lives, care and treatment.

An early focus will be on strengthening rights protections for Adults with Incapacity, improving support for decision-making and the way in which human rights are put into practice. The response and early priorities have been informed by our initial engagement with a range of stakeholders.

A process of broader engagement will commence over the coming months to develop and refine the detail of our plans and support progress in putting these into action. Further detail about the Programme and plans for delivery will be published in stages from Autumn 2023. I will seek to secure a slot for a Ministerial statement at that stage to ensure that members can contribute to a discussion on our plans for a Mental Health and Capacity Reform Programme.