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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-15844

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Friday, 10 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to introducing a minimum standard or an implementation strategy for basic facilities across all NHS boards, to provide all doctors with places and time to rest and sleep, access to nutritious food and drink, and the tools needed to do their job, as recommended in the General Medical Council report, Caring for doctors Caring for patients, published in November 2019.

Question reference: S6W-15873

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 10 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 24 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much wealth it estimates will be extracted from (a) the local areas for investment and (b) Scotland as a result of the returns expected on investment flowing from the Memorandum of Understanding between NatureScot and Hampden & Co, Lombard Odier Investment Managers and Palladium.

Question reference: S6W-15823

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of GP practices are using personal lists.

Question reference: S6W-15869

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 10 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 24 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what other models to achieve natural capital investment in Scotland were examined before NatureScot agreed a Memorandum of Understanding with Hampden & Co, Lombard Odier Investment Managers and Palladium, and whether it will publish any assessment of alternative models that it undertook.

The Scottish Government has increased public investment and support in our natural capital through a variety of methods. This includes the £65 million Nature Restoration Fund, and the Facility for Investment Ready Nature in Scotland (FIRNS) that was launched in February this year. However, the Global Biodiversity Framework that was agreed at COP15 last year identified leveraging responsible private finance as a key target, and in Scotland alone it is estimated that there is a finance gap of £20 billion to meet nature-related outcomes.

For the purposes of this agreement, NatureScot entered into discussions with Hampden & Co., Lombard Odier Investment Managers and Palladium and mutually agreed that a Memorandum of Understanding would best define the ways of working and respective roles of parties, as is commonplace.

Question reference: S6W-15843

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Friday, 10 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the comments in the Expert Working Group report, 48-hour maximum working week (without averaging) for Junior Doctors in Scotland, that there is neither a consistent set of standards, nor an implementation strategy, across all NHS boards to establish such uniform standards to facilitate the spread of best practice in relation to staff wellbeing and combating fatigue.

Question reference: S6W-15867

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 10 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 24 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether NatureScot is free to enter into other Memoranda of Understanding with other parties in relation to (a) the geographic areas described in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NatureScot and Hampden & Co, Lombard Odier Investment Managers and Palladium and (b) other areas, and whether, by signing the MOU, it has given exclusive rights to the matters subject to the MOU, and that this is only variable with the written consent of the parties entered into the MOU.

Question reference: S6W-15831

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 10 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve diagnosis of coeliac disease.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all people living in Scotland with long term conditions such as coeliac disease are able to access the best possible care and support, and benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put the person at the centre of their care.

We recognise that more needs to be done and we expect all Health Boards to fully implement the Coeliac Disease Pathway in Scotland to improve diagnosis for those with coeliac disease. Our £70 million Endoscopy and Urology Diagnostic Recovery and Renewal Plan is increasing capacity and supporting workforce training. This also includes a commitment to promote and implement guidelines for non-biopsy diagnosis for coeliac disease, which is expected to reduce waiting times for diagnosis for this condition.

Health Boards have developed plans to increase capacity, workforce and activity. Mobile Endoscopy Units are providing access to an additional six endoscopy rooms to help people get the diagnostic tests they need. Additional activity throughout the week, including weekends, will help reduce diagnostic waits.

By using the Gluten Free Food Service (GFFS), available in all community pharmacies in Scotland, patients are provided with gluten-free food prescriptions. There are also clinical benefits associated with the annual pharmacy health check that pharmacists are required to carry out under the GFFS for adult patients who have coeliac disease.

Question reference: S6W-15850

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 24 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken on the financial impact of extending 20 mph speed limits.

The Scottish Government has provided local authorities with an additional £1.4 million in funding to undertake the necessary road assessments to identify the number of communities where a speed limit reduction is appropriate and the financial costs for implementation. This work is scheduled to conclude in Spring 2023 and will enable the multi-partner 20 mph Task Group to then scope the next steps, options for implementation and understand the financial impact of extending 20 mph speed limits in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-15849

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 24 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made towards achieving its commitment to roll out its national strategy for expanding 20 mph zones, as announced in its Programme for Government 2022-23.

A multi-stakeholder task group has been established to progress the most effective route for implementation of the strategy. As well as a subgroup of experts to investigate and a define place criteria for roads that are appropriate for 20 mph speed limits.

Recognising the need to identify the number of roads affected and the financial implications, the Scottish Government has supported local authorities with an additional £1.4 million in funding to undertake the necessary roads assessments. This work is scheduled to conclude in Spring 2023 and will enable the multi-partner 20 mph Task Group to then scope the next steps and options for implementation.

Communication plans are being developed, with research underway to shape a national campaign that will focus on promoting the benefits of lower speeds and encourage behaviour change pre and post implementation.

Question reference: S6W-15871

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 10 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 24 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what earnings NatureScot estimates Hampden & Co, Lombard Odier Investment Managers and Palladium will make from their involvement in delivering the terms of the recently agreed Memorandum of Understanding, and what returns for investors it estimates any investment opportunities arising will give.