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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: S6W-10383

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 6 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of how many individuals who died from liver disease in the past three years lived in (a) the 20% most deprived data zones in Scotland and (b) the 20% least deprived data zones in Scotland according to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.

Table 1 – deaths from liver disease (K70 – K77) by SIMD Quintile 2019-2021

		2019	2020	2021
Scotland	ASMR	18.4	20.7	21.8
	ASMR lower CI	17.3	19.5	20.6
	ASMR upper CI	19.6	21.9	23.0
	Number of deaths	1013	1144	1203
Quintile 1 (most deprived)	ASMR	35.3	36.8	39.9
	ASMR lower CI	31.5	33.0	35.9
	ASMR upper CI	39.0	40.7	43.8
	Number of deaths	343	355	387
Quintile 2	ASMR	23.6	26.3	28.9
	ASMR lower CI	20.6	23.2	25.6
	ASMR upper CI	26.5	29.4	32.2
	Number of deaths	246	277	301
Quintile 3	ASMR	16.0	19.8	19.9
	ASMR lower CI	13.6	17.2	17.3
	ASMR upper CI	18.3	22.4	22.5
	Number of deaths	181	228	228
Quintile 4	ASMR	13.3	12.8	14.1
	ASMR lower CI	11.3	10.8	12.0
	ASMR upper CI	15.4	14.8	16.2
	Number of deaths	159	154	169
Quintile 5 (least deprived)	ASMR	7.3	11.0	10.0
	ASMR lower CI	5.8	9.1	8.2
	ASMR upper CI	8.9	12.9	11.9
	Number of deaths	84	130	118

ASMR – Age standardised mortality rate

Lower CI – 95% lower confidence interval

Upper CI – 95% upper confidence interval

Source: National Records of Scotland

Causes of death categorised using the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Health Related Problems, 10 th Edition (ICD-10). Liver disease classified as ICD-10 codes K70-K77. Note that this is a wider definition than alcohol liver disease (code K70). For comparing SIMD quintiles, ASMRs are advised rather than number of deaths due to differing sizes and structures if the population across SIMD quintiles. Age-standardised mortality rates are presented per 100,000 people and standardised to the 2013 European Standard Population; upper and lower confidence intervals show the likely range of variation.

Question reference: S6O-01319

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 August 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the latest alcohol-related deaths statistics.

Question reference: S6W-10313

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 15 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 29 August 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the impact of (a) alcohol misuse and (b) obesity on liver disease mortality rates, in the West Scotland region.

We know that alcohol misuse and obesity are the two main risk factors (together with blood borne viruses) that cause liver disease.

Research by the British Liver Trust shows that alcohol-related liver disease accounts for 60% of all liver disease. The latest alcohol-specific deaths statistics published by National Records of Scotland in August 2022 show that in 2021 alcoholic liver disease caused 795 deaths which is an increase of 36 compared to the previous year.

Living with obesity or being overweight is also linked with an increased risk of developing a non-alcohol-related fatty liver disease (NAFLD). According to the 2019 Scottish Health Survey , two-thirds of adults in Scotland were living with obesity or being overweight. Obesity prevalence in Scotland has remained relatively stable since 2008.

The Scottish Government has not carried out a specific assessment of the impact of either alcohol misuse or obesity on liver disease mortality rates in the West of Scotland.

However, we are determined to address Scotland’s problematic relationship with alcohol and unhealthy diet. We are in the process of reviewing the Minimum Unit Price and Alcohol Brief Interventions policies with an intention to consult on a range of potential alcohol marketing restrictions as we continue to implement the 2018 Diet and Healthy Weight Delivery Plan .

Question reference: S6W-09992

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 July 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 18 August 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any proposed benefits of introducing compulsory microchipping for cats.

The Scottish Government has not carried out an assessment of any proposed benefits of introducing compulsory microchipping of cats.

The Scottish Government is aware of the DEFRA consultation and report on the microchipping of cats which was published on 4 December 2021. The Scottish Government will give full and careful consideration to the outcomes of that consultation and the UK Government response in due course.

Question reference: S6W-09897

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 July 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 18 August 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent campaign by the Brain Tumour Charity, what the average waiting time is for a patient to receive treatment, after referral by a GP on the suspicion of a brain tumour, in NHS Ayrshire and Arran.

Patients referred by GPs or under investigation or diagnosed with brain cancer in NHS Ayrshire and Arran would be automatically referred to the specialist brain tumour service centre at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde.

Statistics on patients waiting to receive treatment, after referral by a GP on the suspicion of a brain tumour are not held centrally by Scottish Government or Public Health Scotland (PHS).

Published statistics relating to the waits patients experience for new outpatient appointments and inpatient or day case admission, broken down by NHS Board and specialty, up to 31st March 2022, can be found in the link below. PHS does not hold information on the condition or diagnosis that patients are waiting to be seen for.

https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/nhs-waiting-times-stage-of-treatment/ .

Question reference: S6W-09973

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 July 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ash Regan on 10 August 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has consulted with legal professionals and victims’ organisations to review the Legal Aid system.

The Scottish Government consulted on proposals for reform of Legal Aid in Scotland between 27 June and 19 September 2019. The consultation sought views on developing a user centred, flexible and valued public service. Responses were received from across the legal profession, Scottish Women’s Aid and Victim Support Scotland. Analysis of the responses was published on 16 June 2020. There have been regular meetings with representatives of the legal profession; however, these have centred on support to the profession during the pandemic, issues connected to fees and attendant disruptive action. It is intended for more focused engagement to be undertaken, including with victims organisations to further develop the reform agenda.

Question reference: S6W-09905

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 July 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 4 August 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has commissioned a review to address gender-based violence and sexual abuse in educational settings.

We are committed to publishing a national framework for schools on addressing gender based violence. This work is being delivered by the Gender Based Violence in Schools Working Group who will also review existing resources and develop new resources where needed. We have also established the Gender Equality Taskforce in Education and Learning to identify ways in which systemic gender inequality in education can be eradicated. In accordance with the Bute House Agreement, in September 2021 the Gender Based Violence in Schools Working Group and the Harmful Sexual Behaviour Delivery Group met to consider existing work on addressing gender based violence in education settings and identify any gaps in the current approach. The minutes of this meeting can be found here . The Scottish Government have committed to commissioning an independent review following the completion of the work of both groups, which will consider the impact of the work, establish positive practice, and any further areas for improvement. In addition, we are taking forward a range of actions in schools such as teaching our children and young people about safe and healthy relationships through relationships, sexual health and parenthood education; and funding programmes, such as Mentors in Violence Prevention, aimed at reducing and preventing sexual harassment and violence in schools. Further and Higher Institutions are expected to adopt and adapt the Equally Safe in Higher Education Toolkit, assessing their own policies and practices against the Toolkit.

Question reference: S6W-09904

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 July 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 2 August 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has introduced a new health and wellbeing strategy for prisoners.

Question reference: S6W-09766

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 July 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ash Regan on 2 August 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many local authorities have access to the Scottish dog control database that was established by the Scottish Dog Control Database Order 2021.

Question reference: S6W-09728

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 July 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 2 August 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when the redevelopment of HMP Cornton Vale and the two Community Custody Units in Glasgow and Dundee will open.