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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-31268

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Dorothy Bain on 3 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how long the average wait is before a post-mortem is conducted in Aberdeen, and how this compares to (a) Glasgow and (b) Edinburgh.

The average turnaround times for a non-suspicious post mortem to take place - measured from the later of the date of instruction from COPFS or the date the deceased is admitted to the designated mortuary to the date the post mortem takes place – is detailed in the following table:

Average Post Mortem turnaround time for non-suspicious deaths – April to October 2024

Aberdeen	Edinburgh	Glasgow
5 days	4 days	4-5 days

COPFS and pathology providers aim to conduct post mortems for suspicious deaths within 48 hours of the death being discovered.

Average turnaround time from the date of death to the date of postmortem for all deaths - April to October 2024

Aberdeen	Edinburgh	Glasgow
7.7 days	8.3 days	8.9 days

Question reference: S6W-31262

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Dorothy Bain on 3 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on forensic pathology services in Aberdeen in each of the last 10 years.

In Scotland, post mortem examinations instructed by the Crown are performed by Forensic Pathologists and NHS Consultant pathologists. Forensic pathologists perform a mixture of Forensic and non-Forensic examinations.

Aberdeen University provided a Forensic pathology service in Aberdeen in eight of the last ten years. Over those eight years, examinations were conducted by Forensic pathologists covering both Forensic and non-Forensic postmortems and it is not possible to separate the Forensic and non-Forensic pathology costs.

There has been no Forensic pathology service provider in Aberdeen in 2023-2024 and 2024-2025. COPFS-instructed non-forensic examinations in Aberdeen have been conducted by locum NHS consultant pathologists and Forensic services have been conducted by other Forensic service providers in Scotland. It is therefore possible to provide the costs of the Forensic pathology caseload in Aberdeen for 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 (forecasted figures from November 2024 to March 2025) and these are shown in the following table:

Year	2023-24	2024-25
Aberdeen University	359,162	0
Forensic pathology costs (outsourced to other areas)	143,360	146,076
Forensic pathology costs (in Aberdeen)	106,130.80*	19,485.37
NHS Grampian	1,120,393	1,589,371
Non-forensic Locum pathology in Aberdeen	103,162	234,188
Total	£1,832,207.80	£1,989,120.37

Please note the costs marked as * are for a locum forensic pathologist performing both forensic and routine postmortems

Question reference: S6W-31401

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 3 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many children are currently estimated to live in a household in which at least one parent or parental figure exhibited hazardous drinking behaviour, following the findings of the 2019 Public Health Survey.

Prevalence of children living with a parent with hazardous or harmful drinking levels was published in the 2019 Scottish Health Survey Report, available here:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-health-survey-2019-volume-1-main-report/pages/7/. Scottish Government is working to update this analysis based on the latest published data from the Scottish Health Survey and I will write to the member as soon as the information is available and a copy will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib number 65497).

Question reference: S6W-31407

Asked by: Stephanie Callaghan, MSP for Uddingston and Bellshill, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 3 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) action it has taken and (b) steps it is considering to support the urgent provision of humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza, in light of reports of aid entering the region reaching a historic low and a persistent risk of famine, and Israel's parliament voting to ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) from operating in the region.

Over the past year, the Scottish Government has committed £1m for Gaza and the wider Middle East, including £750k for UNRWA and a further £250k to the Disasters Emergency Committee, Mercy Corps and SCIAF. This money will provide food, water, medical assistance and shelter to displaced people across the region.

Given the intolerable suffering in Gaza, the fact that humanitarian access continues to be systematically blocked is unconscionable. Israel's decision to ban UNRWA will undoubtedly further undermine living conditions in Gaza. We continue to call for an immediate ceasefire and unfettered access to vital humanitarian aid for civilians across Gaza.

Question reference: S6W-31402

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 3 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to increase breast health awareness.

NHS Inform provides information regarding breast health, such as on the possible signs of breast cancer with recommendations to contact a GP with any concerns. All women aged 50-70 in Scotland are invited for breast screening every three years.

Evidence shows that the majority of breast cancers are diagnosed in women aged 50 and over. Women aged 71 and over can self-refer for breast screening, should they choose to. Information regarding the benefits of attending screening appointments is included in the invitation to screening appointments, as well as on NHS Inform.

Question reference: S6W-31295

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 15 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Dorothy Bain on 3 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many cases of medical mishap have been investigated by forensic pathologists in Aberdeen in the last year.

Question reference: S6W-31290

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 15 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Dorothy Bain on 3 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what plans are in place to ensure the (a) timely and (b) accurate completion of post-mortem examinations in Aberdeen.

COPFS work closely with the mortuary team and locum pathologists to ensure that post mortem examinations taking place in Aberdeen are completed within the target turnaround time in the majority of cases. Regular performance updates are provided to COPFS and stakeholders work collaboratively to address any performance issues.

All post mortems are completed by experienced NHS consultant pathologists following the Royal College of Pathologist guidance and standards.

Question reference: S6T-02222

Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 December 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of capacity in the NHS, in light of the critical incident declared by NHS Grampian on 28 November 2024.

Question reference: S6F-03615

Asked by: Marie McNair, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 December 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 December 2024

To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the reported concerns of not-for-profit social care providers regarding the impact of increased employer national insurance contributions on the sector in Scotland.

Question reference: S6F-03607

Asked by: Audrey Nicoll, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 December 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 December 2024

To ask the First Minister what progress is being made with the Scottish Government’s efforts to establish the country as a world leader in the green hydrogen sector.