- Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 December 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 16 January 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure the wellbeing of patients with chronic urinary tract infections.
Answer
The Scottish Government has supported the development of many urinary tract infection (UTI) resources to support people with these conditions and reduce the risk of infection. This includes evidence-based information and support available on the symptoms, treatment and prevention of UTIs on NHS Inform . We have also supported local access to support through the development of Pharmacy First in community pharmacies across Scotland which allows women with less complex UTIs to access free advice or treatment where appropriate.
We expect all healthcare workers in Scotland to follow best practice when providing care for people with UTIs. In support of this, guidelines on management of suspected UTIs were developed by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) in 2020. These support clinicians to provide advice to patients and carers on appropriate treatment, risks and lifestyle and behaviour issues which can support management and prevention of UTIs. The guideline was accompanied by supporting materials for clinicians and patients to improve dissemination and engagement with the new guidelines including a quick reference guide and patient booklet.
- Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 December 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 16 January 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what research has been undertaken to ascertain whether minimum unit pricing has led to consumers to switch from lower strength, lower volume products to higher strength, higher volume products.
Answer
Evidence from the evaluation of minimum unit pricing (MUP) has shown that consumers have responded to the introduction of MUP in a variety of ways including reduced purchasing of products whose price has increased, switching to smaller pack sizes, to more premium products and to lower strength products.
Public Health Scotland (PHS) are undertaking a comprehensive evaluation of MUP, which includes assessing the impact of MUP on health, crime, public safety and public nuisance in Scotland, and the impact on the alcohol industry. A final evaluation report will be published in 2023.
All published studies are available on the PHS website: https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 December 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 16 January 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to legislate to end unlimited recovery of hydrocarbons.
Answer
Oil and gas exploration and production, including licensing, remains reserved to the UK Government. The Scottish Government is clear that unlimited extraction of fossil fuels is not consistent with our climate obligations and is not the right solution to the real cost of living crisis families are facing. To reduce energy costs we need to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels. This means investing more in renewable energy and energy efficiency.
We are also supporting the fastest possible just transition for the energy sector and the oil and gas workforce, the communities in which they live and work, and the regional economies that have greatly benefited from oil and gas activities and have much to gain from the transition to net zero.
Our draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan was published for consultation on 10 January 2023.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 December 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 16 January 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Reform of NHS Dental Services Survey, when a public consultation will take place on any proposed changes to sevices.
Answer
The reform of NHS dental services survey was responded to by over 500 dentists, the survey built on the Oral Health Improvement Plan which was developed through wide ranging public consultation in 2017. The reform of NHS dental services is presently focused on delivering payment system reform and sustaining NHS dental access for the general public.
- Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 December 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 16 January 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-10697 by Tom Arthur on 21 September 2022, and in light of its draft 2023-24 Budget published on 15 December 2022, how it will ensure parity with England for commercial premises liable for the higher property rate, in line with the independent Barclay Review of non-domestic rates recommendation, and its commitment in its Framework For Tax to "reduce the combined poundage rate for the largest properties to match the equivalent rate in England over the course of the Parliament".
Answer
On 1 April 2020 the Intermediate Property Rate (poundage +1.3p) was introduced for properties with rateable values between £51,000 and £95,000 which would previously have been liable for the Large Business Supplement (2.6p).
On 1 April 2023 we will further reduce the number of properties liable for the Higher Property Rate, by increasing the rateable value threshold at which this applies from £95,000 to £100,000.
Combined with the lowest poundage in the UK, these reforms mean that over 95% of non-domestic properties are already liable for a lower property tax rate than anywhere else in the UK.
Tax policy decisions are made at annual budgets in line with prevailing economic decisions.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 December 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 16 January 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether any additional financial support will be provided for families with children to counteract any increased cost of infant formula.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-13273 on 12 January 2023. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 December 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 16 January 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on food banks providing infant formula, and whether it plans to provide clarity to (a) food and (b) baby banks on the best practice for providing formula, in light of reports that many are reluctant to distribute formula due to UNICEF guidelines.
Answer
Anyone supporting a family in desperate need should refer them to their local authority or a health professional such as a health visitor or midwife in order to make sure they are getting the holistic support they need, including financial advice and a referral to cash-first crisis supports such as the Scottish Welfare Fund.
Prioritising cash-first in response to food insecurity is in line with a human rights approach and consistent with UNICEF guidance. Following on from last year’s consultation, we are publishing our plan on ending in the need for food banks later this winter – this restates our commitment to this ambition and to continuing to work urgently with partners to strengthen cash-first support available.
The UNICEF guidance does not prevent the purchase and distribution of milk where there is no immediate alternative. UNICEF note that in certain circumstances food banks can make use of crisis funding to support families to purchase the right supply, but they discourage the redistribution of donated milk as this is not a secure, sustainable or appropriate route for ongoing supply.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 December 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 16 January 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that families can afford to feed their babies throughout the cost of living crisis, in light of the 2022 report by the charity, Feed, which refers to some parents watering down infant formula.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-13273 on 12 January 2023. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 16 December 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 16 January 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether the IMAX Theatre at Glasgow Science Centre is within the scope of the £5.5 million roof repair works currently being undertaken to replace the defective external cladding system at the facility.
Answer
The Glasgow Science Centre (GSC) is owned by the GSC Charitable Trust, a wholly owned subsidiary of Scottish Enterprise (SE). The Scottish Government is providing £5.5 million to SE to cover refurbishment work to GSC’s main buildings. A further £800,000 has been allocated to the work from SE’s budget. The work includes replacement of the titanium roof covering, installation of a new building management system and partial renewal of external glazing. The work does not include the IMAX Theatre.
- Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 16 December 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 16 January 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with implementing split payments for Universal Credit.
Answer
Scottish Government officials continue to work with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to ensure that policy proposals for Split Payments are deliverable within the technical constraints of the DWP’s Universal Credit system. We have also carried out work with other external organisations and people with lived experience of Universal Credit to ensure the policy proposal is robust and meets the policy intent, which is to provide everyone in Scotland with access to an independent income and create barriers to potential domestic abuse or financial coercion.