- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 10 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what impact assessment has been carried out to examine the potential impact on NHS Scotland laboratory transformation of the 19.4% reduction in genomics funding, as set out in the draft Budget 2023-24.
Answer
As a result of the 22-23 Emergency Budget Review genomics was allocated a revised budget of £5 million, which has been sustained for 23-24.
Neither the Scottish Government nor the Scottish Strategic Network for Genomic Medicine has carried out any specific impact assessments in relation to genomics. However the draft budget was published alongside an equalities impact assessment, high level carbon assessment and an analytical report on the Impact the Cost of Living Crisis is having in Scotland. All of this material can be found online via the following link.
Scottish Budget - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
The fiscal position remains challenging; however, the development of our transformation plans for the NHS Genetic Laboratories and Genomics Strategy is ongoing.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 10 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government when any remaining funding will be released to local authorities to allow them to fulfil the Scottish National Party manifesto commitment to issue every pupil in Scotland with an electronic device.
Answer
We are committed to ensuring that every school-aged child has access to a device to support their learning by the end of this parliament in 2026.
We have already provided £25m to local authorities, which supported the purchase of 72,000 devices and 14,000 internet connections for school children across Scotland.
The Capital Spending Review, published May 2022, set out high level spending plans for capital and provided an indicative allocation of £140 million to support the rollout of digital devices.
The budget published in December 2022 allocated £13 million budget for 2023/24. We will continue to develop delivery plans in partnership with Cosla and local authorities, including phasing and funding options for this commitment.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 10 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what commitments have been made by (a) the First Minister or (b) any other minister in relation to the Independent Living Fund, when any such commitments were made, and whether they have been delivered.
Answer
(a) In 2014, the Deputy First Minister committed to re-opening the Fund and provided £5.5 million per annum to enable ILF to re-open to new applicants for the first time since 2010.Through an extensive process of co-production, the ILF Scotland Transition Fund was developed as an alternative to re-opening the 2015 Fund. The Transition Fund was designed to support young disabled people with the transition to adult life. This entirely new fund opened to applications in December 2017.
(b) The Cabinet Secretary wrote to the ILF Scotland Board on 16 December 2022, 26 January 2023 and 27 February 2023 stating his support for ILF Scotland but indicating that re-opening the 2015 Fund could only progress when affordability and sustainability could be assured.
The Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care wrote to the Chair of ILF Scotland’s Advisory Group on 23 January 2023 stating that he remains committed to re-opening the 2015 Fund but is unable to do so due to financial constraints.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 10 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6F-01844 by Nicola Sturgeon on 23 February 2023, whether it will outline its plans for public and stakeholder engagement with regard to the proposals and policies to be included in the next iteration of the Climate Change Plan.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to providing opportunities to participate in shaping inclusive policies that promote mitigation of climate change in line with our Public Engagement Strategy for Climate Change. We are aiming to engage with stakeholders and members of the public during 2023 to inform the development of the next Climate Change Plan. This is in advance of a public consultation which will commence when the draft Climate Change Plan is laid in Parliament later in 2023 for a period of at least 120 days of scrutiny.
We are engaging on the next Climate Change Plan with stakeholders through a variety of means including the Climate Change Plan Advisory Group (CCPAG) and the Climate Policy Engagement Network. The CCPAG includes representatives of academia, NGOs, business and industry and trade unions, and meetings are planned to take place up to October 2023. The Climate Policy Engagement Network will consist of representatives of key sectors of interest, organisations and relevant experts to enable meaningful participation in delivery of climate change policy. Additionally as the draft Climate Change Plan continues to be developed, we will continue engagement at a sectoral level with stakeholder representatives and we are exploring other opportunities to engage with other relevant interests.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 10 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to recruit more inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) nurse specialists, in light of Crohn’s and Colitis UK’s recommended standard of 2.5 IBD nurse specialists per 250,000 patient population.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all people living with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) in Scotland are able to access the best possible care and support, and benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put people at the centre of their care.
Whilst the Scottish Government sets the strategic policy direction for workforce development with the NHS, it is up for individual health boards on how best to undertake recruitment planning.
Through the NHS Recovery Plan Scottish Government have committed to £1 billion of targeted investment for the recovery and renewal of Scotland’s health service and £600 million of investment support Health Boards and their staff through winter pressures. This includes £8 million to support the recruitment of 750 nurses, midwives and allied health professionals from overseas.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 13 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 10 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to raise awareness of thrombosis and the risks to people of the condition.
Answer
The Scottish Government regularly reviews its plans for public awareness campaigns and raising awareness of conditions such as thrombosis. We do not intend to run a public awareness campaign for deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, venous thromboembolism, and thrombosis at this time.
NHSinform.scot provides clear and accessible information on thrombosis related conditions, including, symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and prevention.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 10 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what recent meetings its ministers have had with the University of Glasgow management regarding the future of the Glasgow Lighthouse Lab.
Answer
The Glasgow Lighthouse Lab is contracted by the UK Government until March 2023 to undertake processing of PCR tests as part of the COVID-19 Infection survey (CIS). The CIS is outwith the control of the Scottish Government but officials are engaging with the UK Government and other devolved nations on its future. While no direct discussions have recently taken place between Scottish Ministers and representatives of the Lighthouse Lab, Scottish Government officials have been in contact with the University of Glasgow and also met with representatives of UNITE on 10 January to discuss recent developments.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 10 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the number of interim care placements that are currently beyond their agreed end date, broken down by local authority area.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold the requested information regarding interim care placements beyond their agreed end date.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 10 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the number of patients there currently are who have (a) been offered and (b) agreed to an interim care placement without the relevant Health and Social Care Partnership having put an interim care plan in place, broken down by local authority area.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold the requested information regarding interim care plans.
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 27 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Ben Macpherson on 10 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for social security benefits have been on behalf of (a) couples and (b) individuals in each year since 2018.
Answer
Social Security Scotland routinely produces information at application level and not by household type, such as on behalf of couples or individuals.
Information relating to applications received for benefits is routinely published by Social Security Scotland as part of Official Statistics releases and includes both monthly and financial year breakdowns of data.
These statistics are available at https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/about/statistics/social-security-scotland-statistics-publications .
