Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-16141

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 March 2023
Current Status: Answer expected on 25 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, when it next negotiates NHS board terms and conditions with unions and staff representatives, whether it will take into account the Miscarriage Association's standards regarding pregnancy loss and miscarriage leave, in order to enable NHS boards to sign the Miscarriage Association's Pregnancy Loss Pledge.

Question reference: S6W-15520

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 16 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance is available from NHS Scotland for patients in island areas who are required to make multiple journeys to the mainland to receive vaccinations for overseas travel.

Question reference: S6W-15521

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 16 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance is available from NHS (a) Western Isles and (b) Orkney, (i) through the NHS board directly and (ii) in conjunction with mainland NHS boards, for patients requiring overseas travel vaccinations.

Question reference: S6W-15428

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 15 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what evidence-based appraisals of fixed links as solutions to strategic problems were carried out in preparation of Strategic Transport Projects Review 2.

The outcomes of the transport appraisal that supported second Strategic Transport Projects Review(STPR2), was published on the 8 December 2022 on the Transport Scotland website.

The appraisal was conducted in several phases which involved ongoing stakeholder engagement. The eleven regional and national Case for Change Reports were published in February 2021 and further details on these can be found here: STPR2 strategic approach | Transport Scotland .

Appendix D and E of the National Case for Change Report Initial appraisal: Case for Change - National - STPR2 | Transport Scotland , respectively detail those options sifted “in” and “out” for further consideration at next appraisal stage.

The outcomes of this final detailed appraisal, including details of the approach followed to appraise options, are contained in the published Final technical report - December 2022 - STPR2 | Transport Scotland .

Specific details on the results of the appraisal related to Recommendation 41 – Potential Fixed Links across the Sounds of Barra, Harris and between Mull and the Mainland can be found here: recommendation-41-potential-sound-of-harris-sound-of-barra-fixed-link-and-fixed-link-between-mull-and-scottish-mainland.pdf (transport.gov.scot)

Question reference: S6W-15429

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 15 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what plans the Scottish Government has regarding the cost of rail fares from March 2023, following the end of the rail fares freeze that was announced by the First Minister on 6 September 2022.

The Scottish Government has a strong record of maintaining lower rail fares compared to the rest of the UK, with our commitment to this shown by the rail fares freeze in our recent Programme for Government.

The decision was taken last year to freeze ScotRail fares to the end of March 2023 to support rail users during the ongoing cost of living crisis.

I am currently considering future fare options noting the current challenging fiscal climate facing rail passengers and funders.

Question reference: S6W-15430

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 15 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how its pilot scheme to remove peak rail fares will operate, and when it will publish the full details of the scheme.

The ScotRail peak fares pilot is scheduled to be undertaken in the next financial year (2023-2024).

Work on the precise methodology and design is ongoing with Transport Scotland officials working closely with Scottish Rail Holdings (SRH) and ScotRail to derive maximum benefit for this scheme.

Once this work has been completed an update will be provided well in advance of the ScotRail peak fares pilot commencing.

Question reference: S6T-01262

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 13 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many children and young people it estimates have not taken up the free bus pass.

Question reference: S6W-15207

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 7 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has in place in the event of the avian flu virus infecting human populations, in light of reports of avian flu being detected in non-avian wild mammals.

Avian influenza viruses remain predominantly a pathogen that affects birds with a small number of cases of mammals being infected worldwide. Evidence of mammal-to-mammal transmission in the wild remains very limited and the available genomic surveillance data reported by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) in the UK does not suggest widespread mammalian adaption of the virus.

The infection of mammals with influenza of avian origin remains uncommon, including in humans. Public Health Scotland (PHS), who lead on public health responses, have established processes in place should a human case of avian influenza be reported in Scotland, in line with any other notifiable disease.

The Scottish Government are working closely with PHS, and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on avian flu. Work undertaken by PHS to date includes; contributing to, and adopting interim guidance on the management of contacts of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 and participating in the UKHSA national incident management team, and a 4 Nations Operational Avian Influenza Subgroup.

PHS are also part of the Human Animal Infections and Risk Surveillance (HAIRS) group. HAIRS is a multi-agency cross-government horizon scanning and risk assessment group, which acts as a forum to identify and discuss infections with potential for interspecies transfer (particularly zoonotic infections). PHS contribute to risk assessments on avian influenza led from there, including on the risk of avian influenza from mammals.

Question reference: S6W-14813

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when the Fair Fares Review will be published.

Question reference: S6W-14765

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 2 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what funding is available to ensure that businesses can offer apprenticeships to fulfil any future demand for maritime roles, including skilled offshore wind, workboat, aquaculture and marine construction roles.

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