Questions and answers

Question reference: S6O-04310

Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 January 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding Ineos proceeding with the closure of Scotland's only refinery at Grangemouth, in light of the UK Government's reported £600 million loan to the company for a project in Belgium.

Question reference: S6W-33845

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 29 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to update its approach to dealing with gear conflict, in light of the last Marine Scotland report of the Task Force on Gear Conflict being published in 2015.

In June 2020 the Scottish Government built on the findings of the Task Force on Gear Conflict by introducing the Marking of Gear (Scotland) Order 168/2020. This order introduced restrictions on how buoys should be used to mark static gear, aimed at reducing gear conflict by making it easier to identify the owner of lost or displaced gear. This order requires that all creels and fleets of creels to be marked with a buoy manufactured for that purpose and that all buoys be of a bright colour and bear the registration number of the fishing vessel that deployed it.

As part of a pragmatic approach to gear conflict, Marine Directorate provides ongoing support where appropriate, encouraging fishers to work together to resolve difficulties locally and where possible, support local voluntary codes of conduct. In addition, our Coastal Offices operate a reporting mechanism for reporting gear loss. The aim of this is to utilise the available evidence to determine which vessels were active in the area and to establish contact, assisting those involved in arriving at an amicable outcome. It also ensures the necessary information is available, should Police Scotland require to be involved.

Question reference: S6W-33883

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 29 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government in what ways it feeds the views of the Regional Inshore Fisheries Groups into fisheries policy-making.

Our six national RIFG Chairs regularly meet both with fishing industry stakeholders throughout their respective areas, as well as Marine Directorate officials. Outputs of these meetings help ensure that the views of Scotland’s small fishing businesses, particularly those who do not have formal representation, are heard and incorporated into policy development.

A recent example of this relationship is Marine Directorate implementation of Interim Measures for protection of under-pressure crab and lobster stocks during 2024. The RIFG network took a lead role during an intense, month-long consultation period which involved engagement with over 400 fishers. These views were collated and helped inform policy advice on the use of short-term Interim Measures ahead of the 2024 fishing season.

Question reference: S6W-33653

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 29 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in implementing telemedicine solutions in rural healthcare settings, and what impact this has had on patient outcomes over the last five years.

See answer to question S6W-33537 on 27 January 2025 regarding progress. Telemedicine related developments focus on ensuring people get choice in how they access care services, support independent living and reduce unnecessary appointments, regardless of where they live.

An example of this is the rollout of Digital Therapy services which has been successfully completed with 35 evidenced digital treatments available in all areas of Scotland, including all rural and remote areas. Across digital therapy services a range of technologies have been integrated into clinical service delivery to ensure that services can be accessed in a variety of ways to meet the circumstances of the individual. Over 74,000 referrals and self-referrals were received into digital therapy services in 2023-24.

Data provided by local services indicates high levels of usage of digital therapy services across remote and rural areas, with good clinical outcomes and showing much greater levels of treatment, accessibility and availability in these areas. NHS Shetland, NHS Orkney and NHS Western Isles are some of the biggest users of digital therapies when adjusted for population.

Near Me video consulting for groups continues to show positive impact in areas such as travel miles saved. However, enabled choice is driving greater uptake and engagement with 81% of people completing Near Me group courses over just 75% attending in person. The average weight loss is 3.2kg for Near Me group sessions for weight management groups, nearly twice the average weight loss (1.7kg) for an in-person session. Further information is published here - near-me-groups-report-march-2023_0.pdf

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-33705

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 29 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken since May 2021 to improve the digitisation of medical records.

Question reference: S6W-33674

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 29 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to ensure that rural areas, including Aberdeenshire, are adequately equipped with healthcare resources to address future challenges posed by climate change.

It is the responsibility of all Health Boards in Scotland, including those with rural communities, to ensure they put measures in place to address future challenges posed by climate change.

The Climate Change Sustainability and Environment Team within NHS Scotland Assure is available to provide support and advice to Scotland's Health Boards on climate change adaptation actions, including addressing any issues specific to rural areas.

Question reference: S6W-33748

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 29 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the total expenditure on social media-related activities, including management, advertising, and content creation, has been in each of the last five years.

Social media related activities undertaken by the Scottish Government encompass abroad set of teams and workstreams. A significant proportion of the management of Scottish Government accounts on social media platforms and the production of organic content, is managed by internal teams.

Communication to specific audiences via social media is an integral part of every Scottish Government marketing campaign and incorporates e.g. videos, paid advertisements, website and social content and influencer marketing. Scottish Government marketing content and campaigns run across multiple social media platforms (in either paid-for or organic form) as part of integrated marketing and communications campaigns. All social media activity is developed to support defined policy outcomes and in line with key Scottish Government priorities.

Scottish Government marketing and advertising spend is published each year can be found at https://www.gov.scot/collections/marketing-spend/ including a breakdown by discipline and media type. As the 2024-25 financial year is not yet complete the information is not included.

Question reference: S6W-33750

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 29 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what contracts it has awarded to external companies for social media management and related services in the last five years, and what the total cost was of any such contracts.

Social media management involves the management of Scottish Government social media accounts across platforms, and the directly related services comprise organic content production and outreach to secure content from creators and influencers.

The majority of the Scottish Government’s social media management and organic content creation is managed by internal teams, supported occasionally by agencies where required.

The Marketing Services Framework covers the provision of all marketing services, including the development of materials to deliver targeted messaging, engagement with audiences and to support behaviour change. The Media Planning, Buying and Associated Services Framework covers services for a full range of media including television, radio, press, digital, online, cinema and out of home.

Social media management support would be covered by various lots within these frameworks, depending on the required service, such as:

Digital content production, including websites and routine i.e. non-advertising social media content is covered by Lot 3 Digital Marketing Services. The list of suppliers is here
Managing accounts or outreach on behalf of the Scottish Government is covered under Lot 4 Public Relation Services. The list of suppliers is here
Promotional Media to increase visibility of online content is covered by both Lots 1 and 2 for domestic and international use. The list of suppliers is here

The total spend by the Scottish Government against each of these Lots includes social media management and related services, but spend is not limited to this. The limitations are detailed, along with total spend for the last 5 years, below:

Digital Services agencies occasionally carry out social content creation for the Scottish Government – this is commissioned alongside activity such as website content creation, testing and improvement, and services relating to the successful, safe and secure functioning of websites - to meet the overall policy objectives of each project. A breakdown of the annual Scottish Government marketing spend on Digital Services contracts can be found here and the figures are outlined below:

2019-2020 - £566,678
2020-2021 - £265,975
2021-2022 - £432,181
2022-2023 - £133,378
2023-2024 – £96,302

Public Relation Services agencies carry out influencer marketing and social content creation for the Scottish Government, and this is commissioned alongside media relations and other PR functions to meet the overall policy objectives of the project. A breakdown of the annual Scottish Government marketing spend on PR Services contracts can be found here and the figures are outlined below:

2019-2020 – £411,238
2020-2021 - £530,488
2021-2022 - £695,596
2022-2023 - £281,760
2023-2024 –£340,111

Media Services agencies carry out media planning and buying for the Scottish Government to promote marketing activity including social media content over social media advertising channels. This is often commissioned alongside other online advertising channels such as paid for search and display advertising– to meet the overall policy objectives of each project.

A breakdown of the annual Scottish Government marketing spend on online channels via Media Planning and Buying contracts can be found here and the figures are outlined below.

2019-2020 - £1,333,735
2020-2021 - £5,057,831
2021-2022 - £6,265,931
2022-2023 - £1,459,995
2023-2024 – £1,168,354

To note, Scottish Government marketing outputs as a whole will be carried across multiple social platforms in either paid or organic form in the course of campaign activity, as this bolsters the desired policy outcomes in line with key Scottish Government priorities.

Scottish Government marketing and advertising spend is published each year and can be found at https://www.gov.scot/collections/marketing-spend/ including a breakdown by media type. As the 2024-25 financial year is not yet complete the information is not included.

Question reference: S6W-33708

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 29 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on NHS Scotland's progress on the digitisation of all patient medical records.

Question reference: S6W-33715

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 29 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting NHS boards to digitise legacy medical records, and what progress has been made on this over the last five years.

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