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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-24765

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 6 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of there being just over one year remaining to meet its commitment to eliminate hepatitis C (HCV) as a public health concern in Scotland by the end of the 2024-25 financial year, whether it will provide an update on (a) what progress it is making towards this goal and (b) how NHS boards are performing in relation to the treatment targets that it has set for them.

Progress towards eliminating hepatitis C (HCV) as a public health concern is monitored by Public Health Scotland (PHS) with the most recent surveillance report in December 2023 indicating that major progress continues to be made on a number of HCV elimination targets in Scotland. For example, 86% of those previously diagnosed have been treated for their infection (in excess of the World Health Organization target of 80%).

A key indicator of progress toward HCV elimination is prevalence of chronic HCV among people who inject drugs (PWID) which is monitored via the Needle Exchange Surveillance Initiative survey led by Glasgow Caledonian University in association with PHS. This found the prevalence of chronic HCV infection among PWID in Scotland had reduced by approximately 50%, from 37% in 2015-16 to 19% in 2019-2020. Results for the latest NESI survey conducted during 2022-23 are expected to be published in mid 2024-25.

Treatment targets are currently published at Scotland level only, however a new PHS-led blood borne virus and sexually transmitted infection dashboard is scheduled for launch in 2024-25 which will include data on HCV treatment (alongside other indicators) and will help to monitor progress on elimination at NHS board level.

Question reference: S6W-24747

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 6 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) meetings it has had with and (b) support it has offered to SkyeConnect regarding the development of a long-term tourism management plan for the Isle of Skye, in light of a reported increase in local tourism.

The Scottish Government is committed to growing and diversifying Scotland's visitor economy, and also to ensuring places across the country can develop, manage and benefit from tourism effectively and responsibly.

In August 2023, I met with SkyeConnect to discuss a range of issues related to the local visitor economy. SkyeConnect have received public sector financial support from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) for a range of destination development activities, including the development of a post-Covid recovery plan. HIE continue to offer practical support through their existing wide-range of client products and programmes.

In addition, the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill would give councils the power to introduce a visitor levy in all or part of their area to raise funding for local tourism facilities and services. Before a visitor levy could be introduced a local authority will be required to consult with local businesses, communities and tourism organisations.

The Scottish Government would welcome any local tourism management plan that is in line with Scotland Outlook 2030, the national tourism strategy.

Question reference: S6W-24755

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 6 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-24720 by Jenni Minto on 22 January 2024, whether it can provide information on (a) the names of (i) organisations that and (ii) individuals who are members of the Expert Group on eliminating cervical cancer, (b) whether the Expert Group's membership will comprise of any patients with lived experience, (c) when the group will meet and how often and (d) whether HPV home testing will be part of the group's remit.

As announced on 22 January, an Expert Group will be established to lead on scoping work to consider and provide recommendations on how Scotland will work towards reaching the targets set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to eliminate Cervical Cancer.

We are in the process of writing to individuals and organisations to invite them to become members of the Expert Group. Membership is expected to come from Scottish Government policy officials, clinicians, Public Health Scotland (PHS), National Services Division Screening team and Third Sector organisations such as Jo’s Trust. We are also seeking membership from individuals with lived experience.

The Scottish Government continues to explore all possible avenues, including HPV self-sampling, which may improve uptake of cervical screening towards the World Health Organisation (WHO) target of 70%. However, introduction of self-sampling is dependent on a recommendation from the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), the expert advisory group that advises all four UK nations on screening.

Question reference: S6W-24675

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 6 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-23223 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 12 December 2023, in light of its commitment to issue notifications of funding arrangements to third sector organisations no later than the end of March for funding beginning on 1 April, what processes it plans to put in place in relation to third sector funding in 2024 to ensure that this commitment is met.

As I said to the Social Justice and Social Security Committee on 25 January, we are absolutely committed to pursuing our commitments to Fairer Funding for the third sector through the 2024-25 budget process. This includes providing early notification of grants to organisations as soon as is practically possible and before the end March 2024 for funding beginning on 1 April.

The budget process is still ongoing. I will provide a further update to parliament on the implementation of this commitment after the end March 2024.

Question reference: S6W-24721

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 6 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can detail what its policies are in relation to designing clinical models for independent hospices.

Question reference: S6W-24667

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 6 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-23907 by Mairi McAllan on 9 January 2024, where “all available evidence from Scottish Government commissioned research and external sources” relating to transport demand management options will be published.

The research commissioned by Transport Scotland on equitable options for car demand management, referred to in the answer to PQ S6W-24666 on 6 February 2023, will be published in the coming months.

In addition, as outlined in the draft route map to achieving a 20% reduction in car km by 2030, published in January 2022, the Scottish Government intends to publish a demand management framework by 2025. This will set out our approach to transport demand management options, drawing on all available evidence from Scottish Government commissioned research and external sources, as noted in response to question S6W-23907.

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 .

Question reference: S6W-24653

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 6 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what impact assessment was conducted regarding the £7 million reduction to the “Support for bus services” budget line in its Budget 2024-25.

The Network Support Grant, currently paid at 14.4 p/km, has been fully funded to the level of forecast demand in 2024-25. This is lower than budgeted in 2023-24 as demand has not been as high as anticipated this financial year. 2023-24 funding was too high, as patronage failed to recover as quickly as anticipated and services were cut, this means that the 2024-25 figure is a more accurate assessment. The Network Support Grant cannot be viewed in isolation and is part of the package of support for bus services. With the launch of the young person's free bus scheme in January 2022, we are helping to embed sustainable travel behaviours and support bus patronage to grow.

Question reference: S6W-24707

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 22 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 6 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6F-02720 by Humza Yousaf on 18 January 2024 that “all homes and businesses in Scotland can currently access a superfast broadband service”, how many properties in Orkney currently have access to superfast broadband, defined as access to download speeds between 30-300mbps.

Question reference: S6T-01788

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 February 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the reported recall of 150,000 women who were wrongly excluded from cervical cancer screening since 1997.

Question reference: S6T-01780

Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 February 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to comments made by the chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service that prisoners may need to be released early due to overcrowding.