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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-09347

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 6 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps were taken to promote the offer of a free commemorative book on Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee to school children in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-09686

Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 July 2022
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Humza Yousaf on 6 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address long waits for planned care.

We know that long waits have grown as a result of the pandemic, which is why we now need to focus on treating people that are waiting too long for treatment. That is why I am announcing a new set of targets for NHS Scotland to address the backlog of planned care, including some of the most ambitious targets in the UK. The targets are to eliminate:

two year waits for outpatients in most specialities by the end of August 2022
18 month waits for outpatients in most specialities by the end of December 2022
one year waits for outpatients in most specialities by the end of March 2023
two years waits for inpatient / daycases in most specialities by the end of September 2022
18 month waits for inpatient / daycases in most specialities by the end of September 2023
one year waits for inpatient / daycases in most specialities by the end of September 2024

These targets are very ambitious and will require a strong focussed approach to successfully achieve them. However it is important to note that a small number of patients will be unable to have their procedure within these timeframes for personal or clinical reasons.

Patients will be offered appointments as local to them as possible but some may be offered alternatives outwith their local health board area to reduce waiting times, for example, the Golden Jubilee University National Hospital or at National Treatment Centres as they become operational over the next year.

The approach will build on the success of the Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CFSD), which was established to drive innovation and introduce new ways of delivering care that will create additional capacity for inpatient, day case and outpatients.

The National Clinical Prioritisation Framework was also updated last month to provide flexibility in managing waiting lists, to ensure any patient waiting over two years is prioritised and treated, as well as those who require urgent clinical care.

Funding for the new drive will come from the £1 billion allocated for the NHS Recovery Plan.

Question reference: S6W-09368

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 6 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the updated draft fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4), and whether it will consult on the updated draft NPF4 once it is published.

On 22 June I wrote to the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee, confirming that I now intend to lay a revised NPF4 in the Scottish Parliament in the autumn. This is in order to ensure there is sufficient time to give full consideration to the detailed responses submitted during the consultation period and to ensure that the finalised version is robust for the important role NPF4 will have in the planning system. Once we have assessed the scale of changes to be made following the public consultation and Scottish Parliament scrutiny of the draft NPF4, I will be in a position to decide whether further consultation is necessary.

Question reference: S6W-09290

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 6 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that newly qualified teachers are able to secure a post in their own, or a nearby, local authority.

Local authorities are responsible for the recruitment and deployment of their staff. They have the autonomy to provide incentives to attract teachers to their area, and we know some have offered initiatives like free housing for an extended period.

During their probation year, Newly Qualified Teachers on the Teacher Induction Scheme (TIS) choose five local authorities where they are willing to work to complete their probation year, and are allocated a place balancing their choice with local need.

Question reference: S6W-09631

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6W-09632

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6W-09423

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 5 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when the Short Life Food Security and Supply Taskforce will publish its short-term recommendations.

Question reference: S6W-09363

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 5 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when the recommendations of the Ventilation Short-Life Working Group (a) were submitted to the Scottish Government and (b) will be published, and what the reasons are for any delay.

Question reference: S6W-09283

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 5 July 2022

Question reference: S6W-09303

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 24 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 5 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, following the reported cancellation of a proposed meeting with patient representatives on 20 June 2022, whether it can confirm that a rescheduled meeting will take place before the publication of the new Framework for Pain Management.

The Scottish Government intends to publish the Implementation Plan for the Framework for Pain Management Service Delivery in summer 2022. As advised in a letter to the Convenors of the Cross Party Group on Chronic Pain on 15 June, Ministers intend to meet with patient representatives of the Group once it has been published.

Extensive engagement of people with lived experience was carried out at all stages to develop the Framework. This includes through representation on the National Advisory Committee for Chronic Pain and a national survey of people with chronic pain and their carers. We have also sought input from other stakeholder groups during the development of the Framework including NHS staff, service planners and third-sector partners. This has included work to bring together the diverse clinical disciplines involved in pain management in order to inform and support activities to improve chronic pain services.

The draft Framework also underwent public consultation with a high level of responses from people with chronic pain and other stakeholders. We are grateful for the views and ideas shared through the consultation which have been used to inform the Aims and Actions we will set out in the forthcoming Implementation Plan. Officials will provide a draft of the Plan to Ministers within the coming weeks and publication is anticipated shortly after this.