- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 29 August 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 18 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to ensure equitable access to
Xonvea for all pregnant women across Scotland, in light of it being routinely
available in parts of England, and the only medication licensed in the
UK to treat nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, including severe cases of
hyperemesis gravidarum, a condition that has reportedly been linked to the
tragic loss of pregnancies.
Answer
Following a full submission of doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine hydrochloride (Xonvea®), for the treatment of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP), for women who do not respond to conservative management, the SMC | Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) published not recommended advice found here: doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine hydrochloride (Xonvea) in May 2019. The marketing authorisation holder did not present a sufficiently robust clinical or economic analysis to gain acceptance by the SMC. The SMC would welcome a resubmission at any time.
Where licensed medicines, such as Xonvea®, are not routinely available on the NHS in Scotland, doctors can use the PACS Tier Two system to request access on a case-by-case basis. The cost of the medicine is not a decision-making criterion.
- Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 29 August 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 18 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what support is available for the diagnosis and treatment
of people with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes.
Answer
The Scottish Government recognises the challenges people with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) face in obtaining diagnosis and care. Diagnosis usually begins with a GP referral and may involve rheumatologists, geneticists, and other specialists. Hypermobile EDS (hEDS) is diagnosed clinically, while genetic testing is available for rarer forms of EDS.
EDS can affect people in different ways. While there is no cure for EDS, treatment and support focus on helping people manage symptoms and prevent complications. NHS Scotland provides multidisciplinary care through hospitals in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Aberdeen, and Scottish patients can access more specialist EDS services in England via cross-border referrals if clinically indicated.
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 05 September 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 18 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recently published report, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder; The Welfare State: Recommendations for Reform, how it will (a) act to improve the experiences of people with premenstrual dysphoric disorder applying for a social security benefit and (b) implement the report’s recommendations.
Answer
In Scotland, we have built a radically different system to change the way disability benefits are delivered. We ensure that the impact of fluctuating health conditions like PMDD have on people’s lives are fully taken into account when someone applies for a social security benefit.
For example, we have removed anxiety inducing and unreliable private-sector assessments which only offer a snapshot of an individual’s needs and fail people with fluctuating conditions like PMDD. Our person-centred approach ensures that the full impacts of a long-term health condition, including the impacts of pain and fatigue, are taken into consideration during the decision-making process.
The Sottish Government is committed to protecting and enhancing the social security system. We therefore welcome this comprehensive report and will carefully consider its findings alongside the Independent Review of Adult Disability Payment, which Scottish Ministers are committed to responding to by January 2026.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 08 September 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 18 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with UK defence contractors to safeguard Scotland’s role in shipbuilding supply chains.
Answer
The shipbuilding sector plays a vital role in supporting jobs and driving economic growth across Scotland. We are committed to promoting manufacturing and innovation, and Ministers continue to engage with businesses in the sector as part of that commitment.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 August 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 18 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government when the Minister for Drugs & Alcohol Policy and Sport last met with the Chief (a) Executive of NHS Grampian and (b) Officer of Health and Social Care Moray.
Answer
Since taking up this role in June I have not had a meeting with the Interim Chief Executive of NHS Grampian. I attended the Collaborative Response and Assurance Group on 11 August 2025 which the Chief Officer of Health and Social Care Moray attended.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 September 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 18 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on Scotland's economy, whether it will engage with the UK Government and Serco regarding the reported award of the Defence Maritime Service Next Generation Vessel Replacement Project to the Netherlands-based Damen Shipyards Group and ask for consideration to be given to the subcontracting of the work to shipyards in Scotland under social value requirements, similar to how the new Mersey Ferry contract was awarded to the Damen Group and then subcontracted to APCL Cammell Laird at Birkenhead.
Answer
Scottish Government engage regularly with the National Shipbuilding Office on matters including proposed procurement exercises, and we are aware that Damen have been awarded work to deliver tug vessels for the Royal Navy under a contract won by Serco. The delivery of these vessels is a matter for Serco, in partnership with Damen. In line with our national policy and legislation, the Scottish Government will continue to seek opportunities to achieve economic, social and environmental benefits in Scotland through our procurement activity.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 September 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 18 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will conduct an urgent review of sarcoma care and treatment in NHS Scotland.
Answer
All cancers, including Sarcoma, remain a priority for the Scottish Government and wider NHS Scotland.
The Scottish Government published our Cancer strategy 2023 to 2033 - gov.scot along with an initial three year Cancer action plan 2023 to 2026 - gov.scot in June 2023.
Our strategic aim is to improve cancer survival and provide excellent, equitably accessible care. The strategy and plan take a comprehensive approach to improving patient pathways from prevention and diagnosis through to treatment and post-treatment care and will focus on reducing inequities in access to cancer care and cancer outcomes. This means treatment and care will be equally good for everyone, including for those with Sarcoma and we are taking action to achieve this.
For example, on 6 August we published the clinically reviewed Scottish Referral Guidelines for Sarcoma to help ensure the right person is on the right pathway at the right time. These guidelines support primary care clinicians to identify those with symptoms suspicious of Sarcoma and identify those who require urgent assessment by a specialist.
We do not expect to conduct a specific review for sarcoma care and treatment at this time.
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 August 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 18 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made any progress towards a decision on the Waterborne Freight Grant Application, submitted by DFDS, in relation to the Rosyth-Dunkirk ferry route.
Answer
An application from DFDS to the Waterborne Freight Scheme was received by Transport Scotland in January 2024.
A formal decision and an offer of grant can only been made after detailed consideration of the application. Officials had begun work on this matter with the company, however, the Waterborne Freight Scheme was paused in 2024-25 due to budget pressures and has not been reinstated. The application from DFDS therefore has not progressed.
Should budget become available in future years, DFDS would need to resubmit their application for consideration. This is because some, or all, of the data the application contained may be out of date.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 August 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 18 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what work it is undertaking to ensure that any intellectual property created in Scotland is exploited in Scotland.
Answer
As the latest Programme for Government makes clear, the commercialisation of Scottish research and intellectual property (IP) is a significant economic opportunity. The Scottish Government and its agencies are working in partnership with universities and investors to unlock this potential through a range of initiatives. Examples include:
- £3 million Proof of Concept Fund – supporting researchers to transform new discoveries into investable commercial propositions.
- Techscaler network – working with universities to equip talented researchers and innovators with the entrepreneurial skills needed to translate ideas into marketable products.
- High Growth Spinout Programme (Scottish Enterprise) – provides tailored support and training for IP-rich spinouts with strong scaling potential.
- Investment collaboration – the Scottish Government and the Scottish National Investment Bank are exploring the creation of a dedicated fund for companies focused on commercialising new IP.
- Direct investment – both Scottish Enterprise and the Bank continue to invest directly in Scotland’s IP-rich companies.
- Infrastructure – the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise have invested in several key institutions focussed on the creation and commercialisation of new IP e.g. the Robotarium, the national network of innovation centres and the Dundee Life Sciences Innovation Hub.
- Asked by: Jackie Dunbar, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 September 2025
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 25 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the steps that it is taking to increase service capacity in GP practices within NHS Grampian.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 25 September 2025
