Chamber and committees

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-26233

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 18 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 5 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether the submissions to the Wolfson Economics Prize 2021, in response to the problem question, "How would you design and plan new hospitals to radically improve patient experiences, clinical outcomes, staff wellbeing, and integration with wider health and social care?", have influenced Scottish Government policy on the design of healthcare facilities.

Scottish Government policy for design quality in healthcare (DL(2010)19) looks to ensure that these elements are considered by designers and NHS Boards. This is assessed by the NHSScotland Design Assessment Process (NDAP) provided by NHSScotland Assure in conjunction with Architecture and Design Scotland (A&DS) is the vehicle for assessing design quality in NHSScotland Capital funded healthcare facilities developments and is an integral part of the Business Case process. The NDAP, along with the Sustainable Design and Construction (SDaC) requirements, ensures that a well rounded and measured assessment is made of the requirements of the objectives of each project they review.

This Wolfson Economics Prize competition of 2021 provided numerous innovative submissions in response to the problem question. Each of the runners up and the winner of the prize provided interesting responses to specific strands of healthcare design. The main themes featured in the Wolfson Economic Prize finalists are embeded in the NDAP and SDaC process to ensure sustainable, Person Centred Care.

Question reference: S6W-26228

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 18 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 5 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what work it has undertaken in the last 12 months to increase patient awareness of alternative pathways to primary care.

The Scottish Government has delivered the Right Care Right Place campaign during October to November 2023 which outlined the options for those seeking urgent medical care across A&E/999, General Practice and NHS 24 111. The campaign also promoted the self-help guides that are available on NHSInform.scot and messaging relating to multi-disciplinary teams within General Practices.

In addition, NHS 24 has delivered their healthy know-how campaign which promoted the option of contacting a local pharmacist, as well as our regular campaigns as to how best to use NHS services (including primary care) over the winter period.

Question reference: S6W-26279

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 5 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when all GP surgeries across Scotland will be able to use electronic signatures to authorise prescriptions.

Question reference: S6W-26175

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 15 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Emma Roddick on 5 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported concerns of the tourism industry regarding the potential impact on travellers to and from Scotland, what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the introduction of both the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), and whether it plans to work with the UK Government on a joint awareness campaign.

The tourism and hospitality industry plays a vital role in ensuring visitors enjoy their time in Scotland. Many rural areas of Scotland are particularly reliant on tourism to support the local economy.

Scotland must be able to continue to welcome people from all over the world each year to enjoy our vibrant culture, history, hospitality, and countryside.

Whilst immigration is fully reserved the Scottish Government are willing to work with the UK Government to ensure minimal disruption to travellers when the new EU systems are introduced.

Question reference: S6W-26207

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 15 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 5 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve equity of access to Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Services, particularly in Scotland's more remote and rural NHS boards.

Officials met with every Health Board’s Cancer Management Team in Scotland, including the Island Boards, in March 2024 to discuss their plans for establishing a Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Service (RCDS). The commitment remains, as reflected in Scotland’s Cancer Strategy, to achieve population coverage of an RCDS for eligible patients by Spring 2026.

The recent University of Strathclyde evaluation report https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/88280/7/Maguire-etal-2024-Final-report-of-the-evaluation-of-rapid-cancer-diagnostic-services.pdf showed that a virtual model is well accepted by patients and will be considered by Boards in the North of Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-26204

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 15 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 5 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what data it holds on how many patients have been diagnosed with a blood cancer through Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Services.

The recently published University of Strathclyde evaluation report https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/88280/7/Maguire-etal-2024-Final-report-of-the-evaluation-of-rapid-cancer-diagnostic-services.pdf showed that 13.5% of cancers diagnosed through the Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Services (RCDS) were blood cancers.

The Scottish Government does not hold data on exact numbers but work is underway with Public Health Scotland to create a national RCDS data-set.

Question reference: S6W-26497

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 5 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to evidence taken at the Scottish Parliament's Public Audit Committee on 21 March 2024 that the former chief executive of the Water Industry Commission for Scotland was paid six months' salary after resigning amidst reports of serious governance and expenses concerns.

Question reference: S6W-26390

Asked by: John Swinney, MSP for Perthshire North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 5 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when the review of the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer will be completed.

Question reference: S6W-26258

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 March 2024
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 5 April 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider establishing a short-life working group with representation from local authorities, private developers and community representatives to undertake a comprehensive review of the repowering process.

Repowering existing and operational wind generating stations will, in most cases, involve the full or partial replacement of a constructed generating station. This requires extensive construction works, such that a new development consent will be required. The process to consider these applications is already well established.

The recently signed Onshore Wind Sector Deal has a number of commitments that support the streamlining and speeding up of the consents process, as well as commitments from industry to collaborate with communities, engage at all stages of the project life cycle and offer impactful community benefits. These commitments all apply to repowering applications.

Question reference: S6W-26675

Current Status: Withdrawn