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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-14873

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 26 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 7 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the GP contract proposal that was submitted by the Rural GP Association of Scotland in November 2017.

The Scottish Government welcomes the commitment made by the Rural GP Association of Scotland, in their November 2017 publication, to engage with the aspirations of the proposed 2018 GP contract, and their agreement that the themes of workload, recruitment and sustainability were core elements to address through the new contract and transformation of primary care.

The Scottish Government will continue to work to promote rural general practice through the remote and rural incentive scheme and through the Short Life Working Group on Rural General Practice which will help to ensure that the contract is delivered in a way that works well for rural areas, and will also look for additional ways in which rural general practice can be supported.

Question reference: S5W-14691

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 16 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 6 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5O-01775 by Humza Yousaf on 8 February 2018 (Official Report, c. 3), when it expects the Edinburgh Tram Inquiry to report its findings.

The Inquiry has yet to complete the Oral Hearings that are currently taking place and details of the order of events, documents and transcripts of the oral hearings are published on the Inquiry website at http://www.edinburghtraminquiry.org/ .

The Inquiry will then need to review the information obtained and consider further responses from witnesses who are subject to criticism before Lord Hardie can publish the report. The Inquiry must remain independent of Scottish Ministers, as it would be inappropriate for us to intervene with its investigations, particularly as Transport Scotland is cited as a Core Participant in the Inquiry.

Question reference: S5W-14769

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 6 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many consultant medical staff in each NHS board are currently suspended, broken down by length of time that they have been suspended for.

This information is not held centrally.

The management of Employee Conduct PIN Policy sets out the rights and responsibilities of boards, managers, employees and trade unionists/professional organisations in respect of employees who are subject to any disciplinary action and includes guidance on the suspension of staff. Decisions relating to disciplinary actions and how any related statistics are collated is a matter for each individual health board within the framework of their conduct policies and procedures.

Question reference: S5O-01861

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 February 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what impact its most recent teacher recruitment campaign has had.

Question reference: S5W-14692

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 16 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 28 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made by the Edinburgh Tram Inquiry since it was set up.

The Inquiry has considered a substantial volume of material running to millions of documents. It has also been necessary to speak to and then take formal evidence from a large number of people who were involved in the Project. Locating a number of them has proved to be a challenge. Some organisations and individuals involved have been reluctant to co-operate hence the need to convert the Inquiry to a statutory Inquiry in order to secure their assistance.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5O-01775 on 8 February 2018 which is available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/ormain.aspx

The Oral Hearings are currently taking place and details of the order of events, documents and transcripts of the oral hearings are published on the Inquiry website at http://www.edinburghtraminquiry.org/ .

Question reference: S5W-14546

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 28 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many people in each local authority area (a) with and (b) without an inherited bleeding disorder who have received support from the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme were alive on 11 July 2017, and how many have since died.

159 infected people with inherited bleeding disorders, 295 infected people without an inherited bleeding disorder, and 54 widows, widowers or partners of the deceased were registered with the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme (SIBSS) and alive as at 11 July 2017. According to their records as at 16 February 2018, 11 individuals who were registered with SIBSS have died since 11 July 2017. The information held by the SIBSS database does not record addresses by local authority area, nor is it possible to guarantee that beneficiaries' address details are up to date; therefore it is not possible to provide an accurate breakdown of those beneficiaries currently resident in each local authority area with or without an inherited bleeding disorder.

Question reference: S5W-13710

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 20 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many people are on the waiting list for sacral nerve stimulation procedures, broken down by NHS board.

Question reference: S5W-13730

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 12 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what gestational time limits are in place in each NHS board for the in-area provision of terminations of pregnancy under different grounds in the Abortion Act 1967, and whether it will publish this information to provide women with accurate information regarding their local healthcare provision.

This information is available on the Sexual Health Scotland website at http://www.sexualhealthscotland.co.uk/pregnancy/abortion via a link under the section entitled 'Where can abortions take place?'.

All NHS Boards will ensure that women are referred to another provider for their termination if the gestation of their pregnancy exceeds these limits, up to the maximum gestation of 24 weeks. Terminations of pregnancy carried out under Ground E - in other words where, in accordance with the Abortion Act 1967, 'there is substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped' - may be carried out at later gestations.

Question reference: S5W-14052

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 26 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 8 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its press release, More social security rights, on 19 January 2018, whether companions will be allowed under the new social security system in Scotland; what this will involve, and how this differs from the existing system.

The Scottish Government has been clear that companions will be able to attend assessments under the new social security system in Scotland, and we will ensure that any person accompanying someone to their assessment will be able to contribute to it.

We continue to hear from individuals that their ability to be accompanied at assessments is not being applied consistently by the Department of Work and Pensions. The new social security system in Scotland will differ in that the Scottish Government has enshrined the right to accompaniment in the Social Security (Scotland) Bill. This aligns with our commitment to build a system founded on the principles of fairness, dignity and respect and sends a clear message, leaving no room for ambiguity as to a person's rights.

Question reference: S5W-14050

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 26 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 8 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it stated in its press release, More social security rights, on 19 January 2018 that "under the current system people who attend assessments aren't able to have someone with them during the assessment"; whether this requires correction, and whether it will do so.

The Scottish Government's consultation on Social Security in Scotland in 2016 and the user research we have conducted with our experience panels has indicated that the ability to be accompanied is not being applied consistently by the Department for Work and Pensions. We understand that where an individual is accompanied, it is often the case that the person there to provide support is not allowed to participate. Support at an assessment can be vital to the individual's ability to communicate the impact of their condition.

The Scottish Government has enshrined the right to accompaniment in the Social Security Bill, removing any doubt as to the role of the person providing support. This aligns with our commitment to deliver a social security system which is founded upon the principles of dignity and respect.