- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 04 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 28 April 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how many in-person visits have been undertaken by health visitors in each local authority area in each year since 1999.
Answer
The information requested is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 28 April 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how it has engaged with the construction sector in East Ayrshire to determine the demand for roof slating and tiling apprenticeship opportunities in the area, in light of reports that the National Federation of Roofing Contractors was unable to get a course re-established at Ayrshire College because it did not meet the requirement set out in the final report of the Skills Delivery Landscape Review, Fit for the Future: developing a post-school learning system to fuel economic transformation, that “to use resources to best effect, and to ensure funding and provision can be aligned to need (not just demand), then there must be a clear articulation of the areas that are a national priority”.
Answer
Skills Development Scotland has operational responsibility for delivery of apprenticeships in Scotland, including assessment of demand. There are currently 3 different pathways linked to the roofing sector (embedded within Modern Apprenticeship Construction frameworks).
Ayrshire college, as with all of Scotland’s colleges, is responsible for its own course provision and operational decisions. Scotland’s colleges work with the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) to ensure that education provision meets local and regional requirements. SFC has delivered on various asks from the college sector to help invest funds more effectively, including giving colleges a more flexible way to invest in vital changes to curriculums so they can meet local and national skills needs.
The Scottish Government funding for apprenticeships prioritises Construction frameworks. The construction and related occupational grouping accounted for the highest number of Modern Apprenticeship (MA) starts and MAs in training in 2023-24. MA allocations are also informed by consultation with employers through demand statements from Sector Skills Organisations and bodies, Industry Leadership Groups, Skills Investment Plans, and Regional Skills Assessments.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 28 April 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland report, Investigation into the care and treatment of Mr TU, published in March 2023, what steps have been taken to ensure that any disagreements within multidisciplinary teams regarding compulsory treatment orders are formally recorded, escalated appropriately, and addressed through second opinions where necessary.
Answer
It is for Boards to establish local processes for addressing disagreements within multidisciplinary teams, however it is for the Mental Health Tribunal to decide whether a Compulsory Treatment Order is to be granted.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 28 April 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland report, Investigation into the care and treatment of Mr TU, what progress NHS boards have made in implementing training to improve the identification and management of any risks relating to violence, substance misuse, non-engagement, and non-compliance among patients in mental health services.
Answer
The Scottish Government provide funding to NHS Education for Scotland (NES) who are responsible for developing and delivering healthcare education and training for NHS, the health and social care sector and other public bodies. We provided NES £30 million in 2024-25 to deliver multidisciplinary mental health education, training and workforce expansion for staff supporting adult and children mental health and psychological wellbeing.
This includes mental health training resources on risks relating to suicide, substance use, non-engagement and offending behaviour, as well as our trauma-informed and trauma responsive programme. These resources support implementation of the Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) standards and Core Quality Standards for Mental Health.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Independent
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 28 April 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to increase the uptake of abdominal aortic
aneurysm screening in NHS Ayrshire and Arran, in light of recently reported
local health warnings.
Answer
The Scottish Government is unaware of any particular concerns regarding uptake of abdominal aortic aneurysm screening in NHS Ayrshire and Arran. The social media posts reported in the press were routine reminders posted by NHS Ayrshire and Arran as part of a targeted campaign to raise awareness of all national screening programmes.
The latest Public Health Scotland report shows that 83.5% of men in Ayrshire and Arran attended abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening by the age of 66 years and 3 months for 2023/24. This exceeds the acceptable standard of 75%, and the national average of 77.3%. In addition, uptake was above the acceptable standard for men in all of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation quintiles.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 28 April 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported claims that schools are being discouraged from excluding violent pupils, and whether this reflects official policy.
Answer
This does not reflect Scottish Government policy, which is set out in our national guidance on exclusion ‘Included, Engaged and Involved Part 2: a positive approach to preventing and managing school exclusions.’
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 28 April 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what contingency planning or business support measures it is considering to mitigate any economic impact on businesses in Scotland of any new US trade barriers.
Answer
The Scottish Government continues to closely monitor and assess the direct and indirect impacts of new US goods tariffs, and is working closely with our enterprise agencies, the UK Government, and the business community, to assess the implications and consequences for the Scottish economy and businesses. Information for businesses on US tariffs can be found at https://findbusinesssupport.gov.scot/usa-tariffs
We will continue to promote the export growth of Scottish businesses in both current and emerging markets as they find a way through this challenging time.
In recognition of the significant impact of tariffs on both the Scottish and UK economy, the First Minister has called on the UK Government to provide additional measures and economic support in response.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 28 April 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out on whether there is a link between the reported fall in pupil suspensions and the rise in the number of teachers being assaulted.
Answer
Information on assaults on teachers is not held centrally as, under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, education is the responsibility of local authorities.
The biennial Attendance, Absence and Exclusions data collection gathers data on the number and reasons recorded for temporary or permanent exclusions from schools. These data show that there were 1,281 cases of exclusion (temporary or permanent) from publicly funded schools in Scotland during 2022-23 where the reason recorded was either ‘physical assault using improvised weapon against staff’, ‘physical assault using weapon against staff’ or ‘physical assault with no weapon against staff’.
- Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 28 April 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has allocated any funding to support the Scottish Assembly for the financial year 2025-26.
Answer
The Assembly will receive £107,152 in the first six months of 2025-26, with bids for three year funding from the Learning Disability Support Fund currently being considered. We expect successful bids to be confirmed in May 2025, with funding starting in October 2025.
- Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 28 April 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it provides support to the Scottish Assembly, and if this is the case, what kind of support it provides.
Answer
Over the last three years, the Scottish Government has provided the Scottish Assembly with £425,136 to build capacity via our leadership and engagement framework and £316,349 of core funding via our Inspiring Inclusion charity portfolio over the last 4 years. Both of these funds are managed and distributed by fund manager, Inspiring Scotland.
Inspiring Scotland offer management consultancy services to the Scottish Assembly’s executive team and Board and provide intensive support where needed. This includes support to explore alternative funding and income streams aimed at long term sustainability of the organisation.