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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-13863

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 26 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that all veterans and Armed Forces families do not experience disadvantage when accessing health services in Scotland.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all armed forces personnel serving and veterans living in Scotland are able to access the best possible care and support, including safe, effective and person-centred healthcare. Our policy states that all veterans should not face disadvantage for treatment for health problems as a result of service to their country. We regularly communicate this policy to all NHS Boards via Champions for Armed Forces and Veterans who are responsible for ensuring the implementation of this policy in every NHS Board.

It is the Scottish Government’s continuing aim to ensure that the long-term clinical needs of serving personnel and veterans are better understood and supported within the NHS. We work with key partners including the Ministry of Defence and other UK Governments to assist us with this.

The Armed Forces Personnel & Veterans Health Joint Group (“the Joint Group”), brings together NHS Champions, representatives of the serving community, veterans' organizations, Scottish Government officials and other stakeholders harnessing a range of expertise. The Joint Group works together on priority areas to drive progress in meeting the health needs of Armed Forces personnel and veterans.

Scottish Government works with the Scottish Veterans Commissioner. This work helps us to deliver what is important to individuals and their families, and to foster continuous improvement. Annual progress against the Commissioner recommendations can be found here SVC Annual Progress Report: Findings | (scottishveteranscommissioner.org)

The Scottish Government’s continued support for the Armed Forces and Veterans Community in Scotland is set out in The Strategy for Our Veterans - taking the strategy forward in Scotland: refreshed action plan - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

Question reference: S6W-13804

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 26 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many people with “no fixed adobe” have died while receiving treatment in NHS Scotland since 2012.

The exact information requested is not held centrally or by Public Health Scotland. Detailed below are published information that are available and relevant:

1. Estimates of the number of homeless deaths registered in Scotland during 2021 are published by the National Records of Scotland. These data include breakdowns by sex and age-group, council area and cause of death, but have no information on whether they were receiving NHS treatment. These figures are also based on a wider definition of homelessness than people with no fixed abode. The publication can be found here: https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/vital-events/deaths/homeless-deaths/2021

2. Published figures on numbers of patients with “no fixed abode” that have been admitted to hospital can be found within the within the Annual Acute Activity publication. Published data is available for a ten year period, from financial year 2012/13 to financial year 2021/22. Data on patient activity is presented in Table 2 – inpatient and day case activity, and the measure of interest can be found by selecting the NHS board of residence in the indicator drop down and either stays, episodes or patients within the measure drop down. Figures where ‘no fixed abode’ will then be listed in the table. The publication can be found here: https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/acute-hospital-activity-and-nhs-beds-information-annual/acute-hospital-activity-and-nhs-beds-information-annual-annual-year-ending-31-march-2022/

Question reference: S6W-13847

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 26 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the awarding criteria are for the Scottish Veterans Fund.

The criteria for the Scottish Veterans Fund are published on the Scottish Government website. The criteria for the 2023/24 fund can be found at the following link: Apply to the Scottish Veterans Fund - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

Bids for the Scottish Veterans Fund are assessed by an independent panel, chaired by the Scottish Veterans Commissioner, which recommends which projects should receive funding.

Question reference: S6W-13520

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 23 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 26 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has undertaken to identify the role that artificial intelligence can play in delivering health and social care services to address any demand and capacity issues.

Extensive work has taken place to develop projections for the health and social care workforce, including engagement with stakeholders to understand different user needs, and actively including these in the specification for the workforce projections.

This piece of work has and will take into account where appropriate the (a) three year workforce plans and (b) the Medium term financial framework as the work develops.

We aim to set out high level conclusions from projections in the coming months. Clearly, these projections are iterative and will respond to and change depending on emerging evidence and data including the impacts of AI on demand and capacity in the workforce.

Question reference: S6W-13527

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 23 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 26 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to upskill the cancer care workforce, including what guidance and support on developing leadership skills it has published.

I refer the member to the Scottish Government’s publications webpage. You can find the clinical leadership guidance here: Cancer workforce: clinical leadership guidance - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) . This has been cascaded across all regional cancer networks and amongst the Cancer Managers. In addition, presentations on clinical leadership have occurred across the regional cancer network steering groups.

Question reference: S6W-13501

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 26 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what funding has been provided for (a) systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT) and (b) acute oncology to help build a sustainable workforce, broken down by area of expenditure, since the start of 2022.

As outlined in the National Workforce Strategy for Health and Social Care, we have committed to funding up to £10 million on a phased approach which will support increased regional working, workforce recruitment and maximise capacity across the existing workforce through initiatives like non-medical prescribing and treatment closer to home. Over 2022, we have provided £1.5 million across Scotland, and the National Oncology Taskforce will shortly be considering recommendations to support sustainability of SACT services. As agreed with the regional cancer networks and Health Boards, these funds are being used to support SACT services.

The National Oncology Taskforce will shortly be considering recommendations to support sustainability of SACT services.

Question reference: S6W-13502

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 26 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent supporting health and social care staff in 2022 with their (a) practical and (b) emotional needs, including pastoral care and other measures to aid rest and recuperation, broken down by area of spending.

Question reference: S6O-01860

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 January 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will conduct an independent review into the maternity model in Caithness.

Question reference: S6O-01865

Asked by: Roz McCall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 January 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what impact its Town Centre Action Plan is having in communities in the Mid Scotland and Fife region.

Question reference: S6O-01863

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 January 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work of the ferries task force with Orkney Islands Council.