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-12583

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 12 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) average and (b) longest time taken for the the police to attend an incident when required following a 999 call has been in each year since 2014.

The Scottish Government is grateful to Police Scotland’s call handlers for their continued hard work to ensure that calls to the service are answered as quickly and as safely as possible.

In its 2021 briefing note, His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, (HMICS) noted significant progress in Police Scotland’s call handling processes and a commitment to pursue continuous improvement. Furthermore, this year’s HMICS assurance review on the service’s Contact Assessment Model (CAM) highlighted a number of successes in how calls are now triaged by handlers.

The Scottish Government does not collect data on Police Scotland 999 or 101 calls. Delivery of these services is a matter for the Chief Constable under the oversight of the SPA.

Police Scotland publish monthly reports on call handling which are available at: https://www.scotland.police.uk/about-us/what-we-do/how-we-are-performing/.

Question reference: S6W-12606

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 12 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what the identified comparative cost is per prisoner per annum for each of Scotland's custodial institutions, including young offender institutions, women's prisons, institutions operated directly by the Scottish Prison Service and any outsourced to a contracting party.

The calculated annual average cost per prisoner place within SPS is published in the SPS Annual Report and Accounts each year. For 2021-22 the annual average cost per prisoner place, which excludes capital charges, exceptional payments and the cost of the Court Custody and Prisoner Escort contracts, was £41,858 (2020-21 £39,350).

SPS do not currently calculate the average cost per prisoner place at an individual establishment level therefore this level of detail is not available.

Question reference: S6W-12535

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 12 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the contract to accommodate Ukrainian refugees, what the (a) total cost to date and (b) estimated cost up until the contract end date is of providing security for the MS (i) Victoria and (ii) Ambition.

Question reference: S6W-12607

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 28 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 12 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many new post-foundation specialty training posts for junior doctors in NHS Scotland there have been in each of the last 10 years.

725 additional training places have been created for trainee doctors since 2014. This includes 152 posts which were agreed to this year and will be recruited to in 2023. This represents the largest annual expansion to date, exceeding last year’s record by 13 places. An annual breakdown is included in the following table.

Data is not held for years prior to 2014.

Year	Number of posts created
2014	58
2015	15
2016	117*
2017	21
2018	26
2019	53
2020	70
2021	74
2022	139
2023	152
Total:	725

* includes 100 additional GP training places

Question reference: S6W-12811

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 12 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the World Health Organization's announcement that mpox is the new preferred term for monkeypox, with the name monkeypox to be replaced after one year, what assessment it has made of the impact of the name change on its existing public information campaign.

The Scottish Government are aware of the importance of ensuring consistent and non-stigmatising communications and welcome the World Health Organization’s announcement that mpox is the new preferred term for monkeypox.

Public Health Scotland (PHS), who lead on communications, are currently working with stakeholders to assess the impact and consider what action is required to highlight the change of name to the public.

Scottish Government will continue to work closely with PHS and stakeholders to amplify any agreed messaging.

Question reference: S6W-12779

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 12 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Public Health Scotland report, Births in Scotland, whether it will review any discrimination against people with mental health issues and learning disabilities during pregnancy, which was last reviewed in 2013.

The Scottish Government expects all women at all times, to receive high-quality, person-centred maternity care, tailored to their needs, with quality and safety for mothers and babies central to decision-making. Implementation of The Best Start is driving transformation in maternity care in Scotland, with women receiving continuity of carer throughout their pregnancy, resulting in improved relationships and outcomes. All women are asked as part of their booking process a variety of wellbeing questions in order to assess for additional care needs to assist women, and their families, to prepare for parenthood and facilitate positive maternal health.

The work of the primary midwife is likely to be particularly important for women with additional needs, including those related to mental health and learning disabilities. This is why we have prioritised the introduction of continuity of carer for the most vulnerable women and their families, as we know that, for women with a range of medical, social and psychological complexities, early intervention and coordinated multi-agency care can make a real difference to outcomes.

Question reference: S6W-12784

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 12 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many members of Historic Scotland there have been on 30 November in each year since 2007.

Question reference: S6W-12787

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 12 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has conducted any analysis of the financial implications of restoring all of the sites managed by Historic Environment Scotland, and, if so, whether it will provide a breakdown of the costs associated with the restoration of each site.

Historic Environment Scotland continues to review the budgetary requirements during its ongoing inspections programme. Findings from this programme will allow informed decisions to be made regarding the capacity and resources required to carry out any subsequent conservation and repair works.

Against the current challenging financial backdrop, the Scottish Government will maintain our support of Historic Environment Scotland to protect Scotland’s unique heritage and historic environment. I will continue to engage regularly with Historic Environment Scotland to discuss the access restrictions and restoration programme.

Question reference: S6W-12789

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 12 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government which local authority areas the members of Historic Environment Scotland’s HistoricScot Youth Forum reside in.

Question reference: S6W-12801

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 12 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many island communities impact assessments it has carried out since the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 was passed, broken down by year.