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-11921

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 04 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to monitor the number of patients diagnosed with leukaemia in an emergency hospital admission.

The Scottish Government does not hold data on emergency presentations.

We are committed to reducing emergency diagnoses for cancer and have established three Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Services (RCDS) across NHS Scotland, with a further two sites announced by the First Minister on 10 October 2022.

RCDS provide primary care with access to a new referral pathway for patients with non-specific symptoms suspicious of cancer. The Clinical Leads for two of the Services are Haematologists, reflecting the role that this new model can play in diagnosing blood cancers including leukaemia earlier.

In addition, the Scottish Government will continue to work closely with primary care clinicians, including the Scottish Primary Care Cancer Group, to identify possible symptoms as early as possible and support appropriate referral via the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer.

Work is underway to develop a new earlier diagnosis vision in Scotland - this will form part of the new cancer strategy, due to publish Spring 2023. Measurements such as emergency presentation data, to track progress and improvements, are being considered.

Question reference: S6W-11927

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 04 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of how many additional haematologists are required in response to the projected rise in demand for blood cancer services.

NHS Scotland Health Boards determine consultant requirements locally, based on their service provision responsibilities and service configuration needs. Scottish Government workforce planning guidance requires Boards to take a demand-led approach by determining future staffing requirements in line with healthcare needs within their locality.

Under this Government, however, the number of Consultant Haematologists working in NHS Scotland has increased by 18.9% or by 15.5 WTE, from 82.1 WTE as at September 2006 to 97.6 WTE as at June 2022.

Future medical workforce needs are considered annually by the Scottish Shape of Training Transition Group (SSoTTG) wherein existing training numbers are reviewed and additional ‘expansion’ posts can be added where there is evidence of increasing future demand for specialist services within a particular discipline. Ministers have created 725 additional training places since 2014 following recommendations made by the SSoTTG, 152 of which were agreed to through the most recent consultation. This represents the largest annual expansion to date. The SSoTTG will review the number of training places in haematology within the upcoming consultation which will take place in 2023.

Furthermore, we are developing a new 10 year Cancer Strategy to launch in Spring 2023 which will take a comprehensive approach to improving patient pathways from prevention and diagnosis through to treatment and post-treatment care. This will be supported by a 3-year action plan.

Question reference: S6W-11872

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) adults and (b) children have been admitted to hospital with a primary diagnosis of asthma in (i) NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and (ii) NHS Ayrshire and Arran, in each year since 2010.

Asthma patient hospitalisations, age-sex standardised rate per 100,000

3 year rolling average	Ayrshire and Arran
	Rate	Numerator
2010-11 to 2012-13	112.55	423.33
2011-12 to 2013-14	111.16	419.00
2012-13 to 2014-15	117.72	439.33
2013-14 to 2015-16	113.08	420.67
2014-15 to 2016-17	118.08	439.67
2015-16 to 2017-18	123.96	461.00
2016-17 to 2018-19	130.07	479.67
2017-18 to 2019-20	133.05	489.33
2018-19 to 2020-21	106.34	389.00

3 year rolling average	Greater Glasgow and Clyde
	Rate	Numerator
2010-11 to 2012-13	105.78	1220.67
2011-12 to 2013-14	105.18	1215.00
2012-13 to 2014-15	108.62	1261.00
2013-14 to 2015-16	112.49	1310.33
2014-15 to 2016-17	113.27	1323.33
2015-16 to 2017-18	106.00	1241.67
2016-17 to 2018-19	99.69	1172.00
2017-18 to 2019-20	93.48	1109.00
2018-19 to 2020-21	80.13	955.67

Notes:

1. Patients discharged from hospital (annually) diagnosed with asthma: 3 year rolls average number and directly age-sex standardised rate per 100,000 population.

2. All rates are standardised against the European standard population (ESP2013) and 2011-base population estimates. Patient is selected only once per year, based on their first asthma related hospital admission for that year. Patient's demographic data (age, sex, location) are extracted from the first valid information within that stay.

Children (aged 0-15 years) hospitalised due to asthma, age-sex standardised rate per 100,000

3 year rolling average	Ayrshire and Arran
	Rate	Numerator
2010-11 to 2012-13	218.47	141.67
2011-12 to 2013-14	230.40	148.67
2012-13 to 2014-15	242.12	154.33
2013-14 to 2015-16	219.36	138.67
2014-15 to 2016-17	217.97	137.33
2015-16 to 2017-18	224.01	140.67
2016-17 to 2018-19	228.59	142.33
2017-18 to 2019-20	219.85	135.33
2018-19 to 2020-21	170.21	103.67

3 year rolling average	Greater Glasgow and Clyde
	Rate	Numerator
2010-11 to 2012-13	204.72	404.67
2011-12 to 2013-14	200.44	395.33
2012-13 to 2014-15	217.29	430.00
2013-14 to 2015-16	216.16	429.00
2014-15 to 2016-17	203.33	405.33
2015-16 to 2017-18	166.94	335.67
2016-17 to 2018-19	150.30	303.00
2017-18 to 2019-20	136.86	276.00
2018-19 to 2020-21	118.10	237.00

Notes: General acute inpatient and day case admissions for asthma in children aged 0-15 years; 3-year rolling average number and directly age-sex standardised rate per 100,000 population.

Source: PHS SMR01

This data is publicly available on ScotPHO’s profiles tool.

Additional data is also available in PHS’s annual Acute hospital activity and NHS beds information publication , which includes number of admissions by condition, age group and health board of residence (with asthma being one of the conditions).

3 year rolling average	Ayrshire and Arran
	Rate	Numerator
2010-11 to 2012-13	218.47	141.67
2011-12 to 2013-14	230.40	148.67
2012-13 to 2014-15	242.12	154.33
2013-14 to 2015-16	219.36	138.67
2014-15 to 2016-17	217.97	137.33
2015-16 to 2017-18	224.01	140.67
2016-17 to 2018-19	228.59	142.33
2017-18 to 2019-20	219.85	135.33
2018-19 to 2020-21	170.21	103.67

Question reference: S6W-11432

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 07 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of the potential impact on the patient experience of multiple GP practices across significant geographical areas being run under what is reportedly more recognisable as a franchise business model.

The Scottish Government believes that the independent contractor model of general practice is the model preferred by most GPs and is committed to maintaining it to ensure general practice remains an attractive profession (the BMA’s “The future of general practice” survey 2015 found that 82% of GPs supported maintaining the status quo).

It is for Health Boards to decide who to contract with to provide primary medical services, making use of such resources as the Health and Care Experience Survey which provides an indication of satisfaction rates across a range of local services, including GP practices, in Scotland as they do so.

Question reference: S6O-01604

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 24 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress of the work of the National Audiology Review Group on examining hearing services in NHS boards across Scotland and providing recommendations for a national plan for improvement.

The National Audiology Review Group continues its independent review of services having most recently convened on 25 October. The Cabinet Secretary will shortly be meeting with the Review’s Chair for an update on their progress and their developing recommendations.

The review is pursuing four workstreams encompassing the lived experience, governance, quality assurance and education and will fully report in the new year.

Question reference: S6O-01637

Asked by: James Dornan, MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 November 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any recent engagement it has had with the energy sector regarding support for those at risk of fuel poverty.

Question reference: S6O-01642

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 November 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to ban the installation of replacement fossil fuel boilers from 2025.

Question reference: S6O-01638

Asked by: Jenni Minto, MSP for Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 November 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what recent dialogue it has had with the UK Government regarding the potential impact on Scotland of the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill.

Question reference: S6O-01636

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 November 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide an update on any discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding infrastructure.

Question reference: S6O-01641

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 November 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address reported declining numbers of National 5 and Higher pupils taking STEM subjects in schools.