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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-19467

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 17 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action is being taken to reduce reported backlogs at the Office of the Public Guardian regarding processing power of attorney applications.

The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) is part of the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service (SCTS). SCTS is an independent body corporate and does not answer directly to the Scottish Government (SG). Instead, it is directly answerable to its board, chaired by the Lord President.

OPG advise that they continue to fund a dedicated taskforce to reduce the time taken to process PoA applications. They have commenced a programme to develop a new case management system, which will provide greater online capability and greater effectiveness in PoA registrations.

Question reference: S6W-19354

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 26 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 17 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the statement in the Transvaginal Mesh Case Record Review report, regarding the findings of the 2018 investigative review, that "Despite being well received, to date, none of the 46 recommendations made have been implemented by the Scottish Government", and how it plans to address this.

Professor Britton’s 2018 Investigative Review gave 46 recommendations regarding the process of establishing, managing and supporting Independent Reviews in Scotland.

We accepted and agreed with the vast majority of her conclusions and recommendations. The recommendations have already been reflected in a number of inquiries and reviews established in recent years. We are also developing guidance to support inquires and reviews that will build upon Professor Britton’s recommendations and hope to publish that shortly.

Question reference: S6W-19459

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 17 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether funding from the National Post Diagnostic Support Service that supports autistic people will be backdated.

The Scottish Government is prioritising investment in a range of support available both pre and post diagnosis.

Our new £1 million Autism Support Fund will soon be launched by Inspiring Scotland. Individual funding awards will be announced following a fair and open application and assessment process based on set criteria. Where these criteria are met through projects already underway, funding can be backdated to 1 April 2023.

Question reference: S6W-19461

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 17 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what guidelines are in place to support Self Directed Support Scotland to provide training to personal assistants in autism-affirming ways.

Question reference: S6W-19452

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 26 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 17 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide an update as to what contact it has had with local authorities regarding the establishment of a pilot scheme for universal free school meals in secondary schools.

Question reference: S6W-19462

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 17 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update regarding the funding for post-diagnostic services to support autistic people.

Question reference: S6W-19453

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 26 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 17 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide an update as to what contact it has had with local authorities regarding the expansion of universal free school meal provision to P6 and P7 pupils.

Question reference: S6W-19460

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 17 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what funding is allocated to Self Directed Support Scotland to provide training to personal assistants in autism-affirming ways.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of Personal Assistants who offer bespoke, personalised and flexible care, enabling those with support needs to remain healthy and at home for longer.

The Personal Assistant (PA) Programme Board was established in 2021 to provide advice to Ministers on issues and actions needed to support this workforce. The work of the PA Programme Board Training sub group is led and informed by key stakeholders including PA employers. Work underway during 2023 includes funding of up to £91K, to build on the successful leadership in this area by Self Directed Support Scotland, to prepare a national PA training framework which will be developed with consideration of neurodiversity. Further information about the PA Programme Board is available at: Self Directed Support Scotland .

Question reference: S6W-19384

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 17 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering implementing formal protocols for risk stratification of patients requiring oncology services, in line with protocols put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Question reference: S6W-19403

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 17 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government to ensure that the benefits system UK-wide does not impede learning disabled, autistic and neurodiverse people in Scotland from going into training and employment.

The Scottish Government has not had discussions with the UK Government on this issue.

The Scottish Government is in discussion with the DWP about the proposed reforms set out in the Health and Disability White Paper published by the UK Government on 15 March, including to ensure that people in receipt of Scottish disability benefits are not disadvantaged in any way as a result of those reforms.

We are aware of concerns that have been raised about how the current operation of reserved benefits impacts upon learning disabled, autistic and neurodiverse people in Scotland going into training and employment and have set up the Scottish Access to Work Stakeholder Forum, led by the Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living, to support discussion with DWP on these matters.