Questions and answers

Question reference: S6F-03006

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 15 April 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 April 2024

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-03005

Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 15 April 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 April 2024

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-03007

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 15 April 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 April 2024

To ask the First Minister, in light of the recent report by the Climate Change Committee, how the Scottish Government plans to accelerate action to ensure that Scotland achieves net zero by 2045.

Question reference: S6W-26265

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 15 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on the Childsmile programme in each of the last five financial years, also broken down by NHS board area.

Childsmile funding is provided annually to Boards through i) the Outcomes Framework and ii) direct allocation from the General Dental Services (GDS) budget.

The Outcomes Framework is a single source of funding to NHS Boards which provides for local flexibility on resource allocation to deliver clearly defined outcomes. The Framework has a strong focus on delivering strategic priorities such as prevention and reducing health inequalities.

Following years of non-recurring funding, £72 million was provided to NHS Boards in 2023-24 on a recurring basis to deliver all Outcomes, including deliverables on Childsmile. Funding for individual components of the Outcomes Framework, including Childsmile, is not separately identifiable within the total allocation and therefore no meaningful disaggregation can be provided.

In addition to Outcomes Framework funding which is provided to every Board, some Boards also receive direct programme allocations from the GDS budget to support Childsmile activities on a national and/or regional basis. Allocations provided to these Boards are therefore not indicative of activity undertaken within the geographic location given the co-ordinating role they undertake, and have not been provided in breakdown although they are included in total programme allocation.

The total value of allocations associated with Childsmile in each of the last five financial years is set out in the following table:

Year	Programme Allocation (£m)	Total Outcomes Framework (£m)
2019-20	2.3	62.9
2020-21	2.2	68.9
2021-22	1.4	74.1
2022-23	2.4	74.1
2023-24	2.7	72.2

From 2022-23, additional funding has been provided to all Territorial Boards and National Services Scotland to scale up Childsmile activity through the provision of additional toothbrushing packs and recruitment of additional Dental Health Support Workers. A breakdown of this funding by NHS Board for 2022-23 and 2023-24 is provided in the following table.

	2022-23 funding (£)	2023-24 funding (£)
NHS Ayrshire and Arran	113,739	113,739
NHS Borders	37,387	34,637
NHS Dumfries and Galloway	38,963	38,963
NHS Fife	98,984	88,834
NHS Forth Valley	79,240	68,271
NHS Grampian	108,700	90,338
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde	475,008	475,008
NHS Highland	62,647	53,203
NHS Lanarkshire	226,952	213,812
NHS Lothian	203,482	189,267
NHS Orkney	21,068	18,068
NHS Shetland	21,068	16,068
NHS Tayside	99,509	92,338
NHS Western Isles	21,067	20,867
National Services Scotland	242,000	337,000
Total	1,849,814	1,850,413

Question reference: S6W-26737

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 08 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 15 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-08992 by Humza Yousaf on 17 June 2022, what it has done to support NHS boards to test the introduction of models of care for long COVID, and how this has benefitted the management of other long-term and complex conditions, including Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME).

We have established a £10 million long COVID Support Fund, which aims to support NHS Boards to increase the capacity of existing services providing support to people with long COVID, develop these into more clearly defined pathways and to provide a more co-ordinated experience for those accessing support.

We have also commissioned NHS National Services Scotland to establish a National Strategic Network for long COVID. This brings together representatives from NHS Boards across Scotland to provide a forum for the exchange of learning and best practice in delivering supporting and services for people with long COVID.

In May 2023 we published an analysis of survey responses from NHS Scotland Boards on their arrangements for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) care. This is accessible at https://www.gov.scot/publications/myalgic-encephalomyelitis-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-cfs-services-scotland-findings-analysis-surveys-issued-nhs-boards-autumn-2022/ . The report highlights examples noted by NHS Boards of where practice developments relating to ME/CFS and long COVID respectively may have mutually supportive benefits for patient care, and the management of other long term conditions which share common symptoms.

Question reference: S6W-26522

Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Falkirk West, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 15 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered amending the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 (Contingency Planning) (Scotland) Regulations 2005 to include local resilience structures for MSPs in their constituencies or regions, including notifications and communications with all relevant partners.

The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 (CCA) and the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 (Contingency Planning) (Scotland) Regulations 2005 is the legislation which identifies categorised responders, and their duty to prepare for civil emergencies within Scotland.

The CCA divides responders into two categories, category 1 and category 2. The CCA imposes a set of duties on each category of responders. It does not confer any powers upon the categorised responders.

Under the terms of the amendment regulations, the structure which supports multi-agency co-ordination is the Regional Resilience Partnership (RRP). Currently there are three such groups in the North, West and East of Scotland. Within each RRP area are a number of Local Resilience Partnerships (LRPs) determined by the RRPs themselves.

The RRPs and LRPs bring together all the relevant organisations in an area to develop an effective approach in dealing with emergencies in accordance with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality.

The Scottish Government does not currently have any plans to review the accompanying regulations to the CCA to include MSPs as a categorised responder under the CCA.

Question reference: S6W-26240

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 15 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been distributed in each local authority area from the £50 million Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund since 2020.

Funding for Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Supports and Services for children, young people and their families has been distributed to each local authority area as follows:

	2019-20 £	2020-21 £	2021-22 £	2022-23 £	2023-24 £
Aberdeen City	62,500	144,000	576,000	585,000	577,000
Aberdeenshire	62,500	197,500	790,000	797,000	809,000
Angus	62,500	81,500	326,000	322,000	324,000
Argyll and Bute	62,500	61,250	245,000	246,000	247,000
City of Edinburgh	62,500	34,750	139,000	135,000	136,000
Clackmannanshire	62,500	108,250	433,000	430,000	430,000
Dumfries and Galloway	62,500	111,250	445,000	434,000	427,000
Dundee City	62,500	83,000	332,000	326,000	328,000
East Ayrshire	62,500	67,000	268,000	270,000	271,000
East Dunbartonshire	62,500	73,500	294,000	290,000	291,000
East Lothian	62,500	65,250	261,000	268,000	271,000
East Renfrewshire	62,500	335,750	1,343,000	1,361,000	1,339,000
Falkirk	62,500	22,250	89,000	88,000	89,000
Fife	62,500	104,750	419,000	419,000	419,000
Glasgow City	62,500	261,750	1,047,000	1,040,000	1,036,000
Highland	62,500	434,250	1,737,000	1,759,000	1,755,000
Inverclyde	62,500	178,000	712,000	707,000	713,000
Midlothian	62,500	50,500	202,000	192,000	191,000
Moray	62,500	62,000	248,000	249,000	254,000
Na h-Eileanan Siar	62,500	68,750	275,000	274,000	276,000
North Ayrshire	62,500	92,500	370,000	360,000	359,000
North Lanarkshire	62,500	234,500	938,000	935,000	940,000
Orkney Islands	62,500	17,500	70,000	71,000	71,000
Perth and Kinross	62,500	103,500	414,000	418,000	423,000
Renfrewshire	62,500	113,500	454,000	453,000	452,000
Scottish Borders	62,500	82,250	329,000	334,000	335,000
Shetland Islands	62,500	20,750	83,000	84,000	85,000
South Ayrshire	62,500	70,750	283,000	283,000	282,000
South Lanarkshire	62,500	210,250	841,000	835,000	840,000
Stirling	62,500	73,250	293,000	291,000	281,000
West Dunbartonshire	62,500	58,250	233,000	231,000	231,000
West Lothian	62,500	144,000	511,000	513,000	518,000
Total	2,000,000	3,750,000	15,000,000	15,000,000	15,000,000
Total				£50,750,000

A further £15 million has been committed for financial year 2024-25.

Question reference: S6W-26481

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 15 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what the purpose is of its policy to make music tuition free in schools, and what its response is to reports that the policy could lead to a ban on private tuition during school hours and require paid lessons to be arranged outwith the school day.

The purpose of the Scottish Government’s policy on free instrumental music tuition is ensure that fees and charges are not a barrier to learning an instrument at school.

The policy has transformed instrumental music tuition in Scotland’s schools by funding all councils to eradicate unfair music tuition charges. The most recent Instrumental Music Survey published in December 2023 Instrumental Music Survey shows the number of pupils participating is at a record high.

The policy means that Local Authorities should not charge fees for instrumental music tuition at school.

Question reference: S6W-26087

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 15 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-25728 by Angela Constance on 4 March 2024, whether it can provide a detailed breakdown of the £91.23 hourly cost; what its position is on whether this cost represents value for money, and what details it can provide regarding the procurement contract for the audio transcription service, including any consideration that it has given to seeking alternative providers.

The Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service (SCTS) record solemn criminal proceedings using a Digital Audio Recording System. While the record of proceedings will be retained by SCTS, they are not routinely transcribed.

Transcription is done by an external agency and the details of the procurement contract are entirely a matter for SCTS. I can advise that SCTS has utilised a Crown Commercial Services (CCS) Framework RM1557 contract, available to all Government organisations. The benefits of this contract are, scalable services enabling pay for what you use, and the ability to increase or reduce what you need easily alongside a quick and easy route to market.

Question reference: S6W-26571

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 15 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the reportedly significant waiting times for access to diabetes technology, such as insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring systems, for people with type 1 diabetes across Scotland, including in NHS Lothian, and what steps are being taken to meet the national targets and align with reported advancements in NHS England.

The Scottish Government’s Diabetes Improvement Plan contains a key commitment to further increase access to existing and emerging diabetes technologies.

Between 2016 and 2022, we invested £29.6 million of additional funding specifically to support the increased provision of insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and emerging technologies such as closed loop systems.

We have also invested a further £350,000 through the Accelerated National Innovation Adoption pathway to help roll out the technology faster and more efficiently across Scotland. A key focus of this project is reducing regional variation and making access to technology more equitable across Scotland.

We continue to work closely the Diabetes Managed Clinical Networks (MCNs) within each Board, including NHS Lothian, to identify and resolve any issues raised by NHS Boards regarding accessing diabetes technologies, to ensure that all available resource is targeted to support the needs of local populations.

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