- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 July 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 26 July 2021
To ask the Scottish Government by what date the breast cancer self-referral scheme for over-70s will resume.
Answer
The option for women aged 71 and over to self-refer for a breast screening appointment will resume once capacity in all screening centres returns to pre-Covid or close to pre-Covid levels. This is based on the recommendation of the Scottish Screening Committee, the National Screening Oversight and the Breast Screening Programme Board, all three of whom are keeping the situation under regular review. They are also working closely with Health Boards to increase appointments and meet this criteria as soon as possible. We continue to emphasise that everyone should remain symptom aware and report any symptoms to their GP immediately for these to be investigated.
- Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 23 July 2021
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Current Status:
Initiated by the Scottish Government.
Answered by Michael Matheson on 26 July 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome is of its latest review into border health measures, and whether there will be any changes to the regulations.
Answer
We have reviewed the border health measures closely over the last 28 days and have assessed that there continues to be a requirement for the regulations to remain in place to reduce the risk of imported transmission and safeguard public health in Scotland. The regulations continue to be an important and proportionate part of the Scottish Government response to managing the pandemic.
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 July 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 26 July 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether, in the light of findings contained in the research report, Home Truths, which was published in 2020 by the Scottish Home Education Forum and Home Education Scotland, it will take forward (a) some or (b) all of the 16 evidence-based recommendations in the forthcoming review of statutory home education guidance.
Answer
As the Deputy First Minister set out in his answer to S5W-33331 on 2 December 2020, officials continue to actively engage a range of stakeholders on issues relevant to home education guidance, and will listen to the views of all stakeholders in the preparation of the guidance.
The guidance will set out the legal position on home education and further information on the roles and responsibilities for home educators and for local authorities in relation to home education; and to support and encourage the collaborative development of relationships based on mutual trust and respect that function in the best interests of the child.
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
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 July 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 26 July 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-36073 by Mairi Gougeon on 24 March 2021, what plans it has to ensure that it is a statutory requirement that alcohol labels include (a) the Chief Medical Officer's 14 units weekly low-risk drinking guidelines, (b) health warnings and (c) ingredients, should the forthcoming UK Government consultation fail to address all of these elements.
Answer
We remain committed to improving health messaging on alcohol products in Scotland. Our Alcohol Framework is clear that we expect producers to include the UK Chief Medical Officers’ low-risk weekly guidelines of 14 units on product labels as well as nutritional information and health warnings. Information must be easily readable and on pack rather than provided elsewhere.
We, along with the Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive, are continuing discussions with the UK Government on their plans for calorie labelling on alcohol products in England, in order to explore options for approaching alcohol labelling requirements on a four-nations basis. We would consider taking action on a unilateral Scottish basis if an effective four nations approach cannot be agreed.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 14 June 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 23 July 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of the plastic that was collected for recycling in each of the last five years was subsequently recycled.
Answer
We do not hold the data centrally to accurately report the proportion of plastics collected for recycling that are recycled.
Data on the materials processed at Materials Recovery Facilities, from sampling undertaken by SEPA, is available here: Recyclate quality | Scotland's environment web
We are continuing to work with local authorities to support high quality recycling, and taking steps to improve the quality of waste data. We are working with the UK Government, other devolved governments, and agencies such as SEPA, to develop and implement an electronic waste tracking system.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 June 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 23 July 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out a feasibility study on building a new plastic recycling plant.
Answer
As set out in our Programme for Government in 2020, we are working with local authorities, the deposit return scheme administrator and potential investors to explore options that will unlock reprocessing investments and to ensure that we manage more of our own waste within Scotland. This has included an assessment of volumes of materials, including plastics, collected for recycling.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 24 June 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 23 July 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how many people died of food poisoning in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
Answer
There were no death certificates stating any involvement with food poisoning in each of the last five years.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 24 June 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 23 July 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to extending the NHS bursary to all students in the allied health professions.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-00813 on 14 July 2021. 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
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 18 June 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 23 July 2021
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the cost of managed hotel quarantine is a fixed price regardless of which hotel the person is staying in.
Answer
The UK Government (UKG) are the principle contract owners and managers of the Managed Quarantine Service (MQS) and its suppliers. The UKG are therefore best placed to provide information in relation to the costing model of allocation of managed isolation facilities to travellers.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 18 June 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 23 July 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how many cases of (a) aspergillus, (b) pneumocystis jirovecii, (c) staphylococcus epidermidis and (d) COVID-19 were diagnosed at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital between 1 October 2020 and 1 March 2021, broken down by (i) date and (ii) hospital location.
Answer
The information requested relating to (a) Aspergillus, (b) Pneumocystis jirovecii, (c) Staphylococcus epidermidis and (d) COVID-19 cases by hospital site is not centrally held by the Scottish Government. This information is held locally for local learning and quality improvement and can be sourced by contacting PublicAffairs@ggc.scot.nhs.uk.