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-07238

Asked by: Siobhian Brown, MSP for Ayr, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 11 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 25 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendation by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Microplastics in September 2021 for all new domestic and commercial washing machines to be fitted with a microfibre filter to catch microplastics, and a Private Members' Bill being introduced in the House of Commons to give effect to this recommendation in England and Wales, what the Scottish Government's position is on introducing similar legislation in Scotland, and what action it is taking to stop microplastics from polluting the environment.

Microfibre shedding from synthetic textiles is a complex problem which adds to microplastic pollution in our environment. Fibres are shed at every stage of the product’s lifespan, from manufacture, through use, laundering and end of life.

Considerable research is being undertaken by industry to better understand this problem. Filters on washing machines will not necessarily reduce this form of pollution as it requires users to clean the filters. As a result the collected material ends up in landfill or washed down sinks, as evidenced through people emptying tumble dryer filters.

We will take an evidence-based approach on this issue, and are taking action on other forms of microplastic pollution, with a ban on microbeads in rinse-off personal care products, and significant ongoing work with the plastics industry to tackle plastic pellet pollution. We are able to take action on matters relating to environmental protection, and while trade and industry are reserved to the UK Government we continue to work for progress in these areas.

Question reference: S6O-00947

Asked by: Siobhian Brown, MSP for Ayr, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 March 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what support Ukrainian refugees will receive after arriving at a welcome hub in Scotland.

Question reference: S6O-00911

Asked by: Siobhian Brown, MSP for Ayr, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 March 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to regional food groups.

Question reference: S6W-06386

Asked by: Siobhian Brown, MSP for Ayr, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 3 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for a replacement scheme for Erasmus, following the UK's exit from the EU.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of educational mobility. While we remain committed to Erasmus plus, in the interim we are creating a Scottish Education Exchange Programme to support participants from across Scotland’s education system.

This is a Programme for Government commitment and will help maintain Scotland’s place as an outward looking, internationally connected destination for work and study.

Question reference: S6W-06202

Asked by: Siobhian Brown, MSP for Ayr, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 04 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 3 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether free bus travel for under-22s will be extended to include school buses for children attending education.

Many school children use public bus services to get to and from school and will benefit from the u22s scheme. Other pupils who are eligible for free school transport and use dedicated school transport or public bus services will continue to travel to school for free. We are working closely with local authorities to understand impact of the scheme on school transport and this will inform our planned review of the scheme after its first full year of operation.

Question reference: S6W-06181

Asked by: Siobhian Brown, MSP for Ayr, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 28 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been allocated to improve patient transport in NHS Ayrshire and Arran in (a) 2021-22 and (b) 2022-23; whether support is available for local charities that provide transport services for cancer patients, and, if so, how such charities can access available funding.

Question reference: S6W-06201

Asked by: Siobhian Brown, MSP for Ayr, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 04 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 22 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what work it is doing with NHS boards to ensure that NHS equipment can be recycled and reused, in light of reports that when some equipment, such as walking frames, are given to patients, there is often no option to return them to be reused.

Question reference: S6W-06179

Asked by: Siobhian Brown, MSP for Ayr, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 21 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates that the report on the consultation, Scottish Building Regulations: Proposed changes to Energy Standards and associated topics, will be published, and whether it will provide details of what the alternative options for new builds will be if Passivhaus standard is not being considered.

Question reference: S6W-06180

Asked by: Siobhian Brown, MSP for Ayr, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 21 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when arthroscopic procedures will recommence.

As Covid-19 case numbers fall, the Scottish Government is fully focused on supporting the remobilisation of orthopaedic services impacted by the challenges of the pandemic. We understand how difficult it is for those waiting for treatment. Orthopaedic services are recommencing, with NHS Boards undertaking clinically-prioritised urgent cases at present.

The National Treatment Centre Programme, which represents an investment of over £400 million in a network of new, elective and diagnostic treatment centres, will add extra capacity for hip and knee replacements across Scotland and support the recovery and resilience of orthopaedic services in the future.

Question reference: S6W-06178

Asked by: Siobhian Brown, MSP for Ayr, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 04 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 21 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether full face masks are being used as an alternative for people who may experience anxiety with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) masks whilst in HDU and ICU with COVID-19.

The current guidance can be found on the Central Alerting System (CAS). In the largest clinical trial (RECOVERY RS) CPAP reduced the risk of death or intubation (need to go on a ventilator). CPAP can be delivered via a tight fitting facemask, helmet or hood. Smaller clinical trials of helmet/hood CPAP have suggested that it may have equivalent benefit to facemask CPAP but more data analysis is planned. High flow nasal oxygen is a form of non-invasive respiratory support which can be used to facilitate breaks from CPAP and is better tolerated (more comfortable) than CPAP, but doesn’t improve outcome on its own. Whether facemasks, helmets or hoods are used in clinical practice is a decision left to individual boards and units, however they can be ordered if needed and many boards stock them routinely.