-  Asked by:     Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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                                            Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 February 2022
                                        
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                                        Current Status:
                                            Answered by   Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 February 2022
                                    
To ask the Scottish Government by what date it estimates that every eligible child living in (a) Argyll and Bute, (b) Highland, (c) Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, (d) Orkney Islands, (e) Shetland Islands, and (f) Moray council areas, will have a free laptop or tablet in their possession.
                                Answer
                                    The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all school-aged children and young people in Scotland have access to a digital device by the end of this parliament in 2026. 
 
                        
                            
                                
                                
                                        -  Asked by:     Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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                                            Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 February 2022
                                        
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                                        Current Status:
                                            Answered by   Humza Yousaf on 16 February 2022
                                    
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure an effective roll-out of the cystic fibrosis treatment, Kaftrio, to eligible children aged six to 11 years old. 
                                Answer
                                    Kaftrio ® has been available for the treatment of cystic fibrosis in patients aged 12 years and older since 1 September 2020. This follows a pricing agreement with the manufacturer. There is provision in the access policy and pricing agreement for expanding access to Kaftrio ® as licence extensions are granted by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The most recent extension in January 2022 allows for Kaftrio ® to be used in children aged 6 to 11 years.
This means that clinicians - working in cystic fibrosis treatment centres - can now prescribe Kaftrio ® for younger patients whom they consider will benefit from its use.
 
                        
                            
                                
                                
                                        -  Asked by:     Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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                                            Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 February 2022
                                        
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                                        Current Status:
                                            Answered by   Humza Yousaf on 16 February 2022
                                    
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to open a long COVID clinic in the north and north east of Scotland.
                                Answer
                                    In September 2021, the Scottish Government set out  our approach and 16 commitments  to improve care and support for people with long COVID in Scotland. Our approach is to ensure people have access to the support they need for assessment, diagnosis, care and rehabilitation in a setting as close to home as possible. Whilst long COVID clinics are one model NHS Boards may consider, we recognise that no one single approach is likely to fit all areas and circumstances.
It is for each NHS Board to develop and deliver the best models of care appropriate for their local population and that is why our Approach Paper underlines our commitment to making sure our NHS is resourced to respond innovatively to the needs of people with long COVID.
Our £10m Long COVID Support Fund will give NHS Boards additional resource to develop tailored approaches to best meeting the needs of people with long COVID in their local areas. This could include strengthening and improving the co-ordination of existing services, or establishing dedicated services (including ‘long COVID clinics’) if appropriate.
 
                        
                            
                                
                                
                                        -  Asked by:     Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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                                            Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 February 2022
                                        
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                                        Current Status:
                                            Answered by   Angus  Robertson on 16 February 2022
                                    
To ask the Scottish Government what advice has been provided to its Scottish overseas offices in relation to constitution matters.
                                Answer
                                    The Scottish Government's international offices are updated on all areas outlined in the Programme for Government including the constitution.
 
 
                        
                            
                                
                                
                                        -  Asked by:     Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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                                            Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
                                        
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                                        Current Status:
                                            Answered by   Ivan McKee on 16 February 2022
                                    
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any discussions it has had with the UK Government in relation to the delivery of freeports in Scotland; when it anticipates that freeports will be established in Scotland, and where these will be located.
                                Answer
                                    We announced on 14 February an agreement with the UK Government to deliver two Green Freeports in Scotland, working on an equal partnership basis. A package of reserved and devolved support will be available in the selected Green Freeports ensuring that Scotland can build globally competitive industrial clusters in the green industries of the future, deliver a just transition to net-zero, and create new high-quality, well-paid employment opportunities delivering Fair Work, including payment of the real living wage.
A competitive bidding process will be launched soon, with the winners to be announced later this year. As this will be a competitive, open and transparent process, I cannot prejudge this by commenting on possible locations.
 
 
                        
                            
                                
                                
                                        -  Asked by:     Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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                                            Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
                                        
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                                        Current Status:
                                            Answered by   Kevin Stewart on 16 February 2022
                                    
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has suspended the contract that was awarded to KPMG to construct the business case for the National Care Service, which is reportedly worth in excess of £500,000.
                                Answer
                                    The contract with KPMG to construct the business case for the National Care Service has not been suspended.
 
                        
                            
                                
                                
                                        -  Asked by:     Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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                                            Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
                                        
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                                        Current Status:
                                            Answered by   Kevin Stewart on 16 February 2022
                                    
To ask the Scottish Government when it became aware that KPMG had withdrawn from bidding for UK Government contracts.
                                Answer
                                    Officials were informed that KPMG had withdrawn from bidding for UK government contracts on 17 December 2021.
 
                        
                            
                                
                                
                                        -  Asked by:     Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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                                            Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
                                        
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                                        Current Status:
                                            Answered by   Kevin Stewart on 16 February 2022
                                    
To ask the Scottish Government when the contract was awarded to KPMG for it to construct the business case for the National Care Service.
                                Answer
                                    Following the procurement exercise the award decision was communicated to all bidders on 7 December 2021, with the contract being signed on 13 December 2021. It was subsequently published on the Public Contracts Scotland website on 10 January 2022.
 
                        
                            
                                
                                
                                        -  Asked by:     Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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                                            Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
                                        
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                                        Current Status:
                                            Answered by   Kevin Stewart on 16 February 2022
                                    
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there is any conflict of interest in the Head of Social Care and NCS Finance reportedly being a former employee of KPMG, in light of the contract with KPMG to construct the business case for the National Care Service.
                                Answer
                                    There is no conflict of interest between existing Scottish Government Civil Servants and the specialist consultancy services procured from KPMG in a fair and open procurement exercise. The Scottish Government has a clear contract award and management processes in place to prevent conflicts of interest and to support the delivery of fit for purpose outcomes. This includes clear requirements for separation of duties between finance and procurement decisions.
 
 
                        
                            
                                
                                
                                        -  Asked by:     Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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                                            Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
                                        
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                                        Current Status:
                                            Answered by   Kevin Stewart on 16 February 2022
                                    
To ask the Scottish Government whether the contract with KPMG to construct the business case for the National Care Service was awarded under the Crown Commercial Service Management Consultancy Framework Three.
                                Answer
                                    The contract was awarded under the Crown Commercial Service Management Consultancy Framework Three following a fair and open procurement exercise in line with Scottish Government guidance.