Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-36416

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 29 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken since the publication of the Manchester Arena Inquiry reports to review and strengthen the regulatory framework for private first aid and ambulance providers, including in relation to preparations for major events such as the Commonwealth Games.

Scottish Government continues to work closely with the UK Government on the development of Statutory Guidance that will support the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act, which received royal assent on 3 April 2025. We continue to encourage and signpost stakeholders to both the Protect UK and Gov.UK websites for information and updates on the legislation.

The Scottish Government continues to work closely with event organisers to ensure that Scottish Ambulance Service, NHS Boards and Public Health Scotland are appropriately engaged in planning groups for major sporting events. Public sector health colleagues work meticulously with the event organisers and any procured private first aid and ambulance services to ensure adequate first aid and health care is provided to event participants, workforce and spectators, in line with the guidance and requirements set out in the Green and Purple Guides.

The Green Guide, or ‘Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds’, provides guidance on safety at sports grounds for stadium operators and event organisers. The Purple Guide is aimed at event organisers who are responsible for managing health and safety and at events in more general terms.

Question reference: S6W-36413

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 29 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has set a timeline for consulting (a) first aid providers, (b) independent ambulance organisations, (c) the Scottish Ambulance Service, (d) representatives of the hospitality and events sector and (e) other relevant stakeholders on the regulation of private first aid and independent ambulance providers, and when it anticipates that this engagement will be completed.

Question reference: S6W-36410

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 29 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, what progress it has made on implementing measures to improve the safety of event attendees, including in relation to first aid provision and the regulation of private first aid companies and ambulance providers.

Provision of medical first aid at a major sporting event is the event organisers’ responsibility which, in this instance, is the Glasgow 2026 Organising Company.

The Scottish Government continues to work closely with event organisers to ensure that Scottish Ambulance Service, NHS Boards and Public Health Scotland are appropriately engaged in planning groups for major sporting events.

Public sector health colleagues work meticulously with the event organisers and any procured private first aid and ambulance services to ensure adequate first aid and health care is provided to event participants, workforce and spectators, in line with guidance and requirements as set out in the Green and Purple Guides.

The Green Guide, or ‘Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds’, provides guidance on safety at sports grounds for stadium operators and event organisers. The Purple Guide is aimed at event organisers who are responsible for managing health and safety and at events in more general terms.

Question reference: S6W-36411

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 29 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the adequacy of first aid cover at major sporting events, including in relation to the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, and whether it has taken any specific action to ensure that private first aid companies and ambulance providers meet appropriate standards.

Question reference: S6W-36412

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 29 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to launch its consultation on the regulation of private (a) first aid event cover companies and (b) ambulance providers, in light of its previous commitments and the reported significant first aid demands of the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

The Scottish Government is committed to implementing further regulation of independent healthcare, through a phased approach to ensure that Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) has the capacity and appropriate staff in place to regulate the independent sector effectively.

The Scottish Government plans to engage with HIS and other relevant stakeholders during 2025-26 to ensure the proportionate scope of regulation of the private ambulance and the first aid sector. We anticipate completing the engagement with stakeholders prior to the Scottish parliamentary elections in 2026.

Once scoping is complete, a public consultation will be brought forward detailing proposals for regulation of the sector.

Question reference: S6W-36415

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 29 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-18113 by Jenni Minto on 5 June 2023, whether it has conducted any further engagement with (a) Healthcare Improvement Scotland and (b) other stakeholders regarding concerns in relation to the regulation of private first aid companies, including in the context of large-scale sporting events such as the Commonwealth Games.

Question reference: S6F-03996

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 31 March 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 April 2025

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on whether the reported increased annual cost of Scotland's prisons to over £77,000 per prisoner represents good value for public money.

Question reference: S6O-04524

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 March 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many patients in hospital are waiting for a social care package assessment from North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership.

Question reference: S6T-02446

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 March 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider an independent external evaluation of the pilot scheme that provides victims in rape and serious assault cases with access to transcripts, in light of reports of some waiting a year for transcripts of their court cases.

Question reference: S6W-35355

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 17 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce a unified statutory framework regulating the use of restraint and seclusion on children across all state care and education settings, as set out in the letter from the Children and Young People’s Commissioner on 14 February 2025.

The Scottish Government is committed to reducing the need to practice restraint and seclusion. Across all settings we are clear that the use of restraint should only be used as a last resort in exceptional circumstances when it is the only practicable means of securing the welfare or safety of the child or another person.

A statutory framework covering all settings, including secure and residential care, health services and education settings would not be the most effective way of achieving a reduction of restraint and restrictive practice. Any scaffolding and support for children and young people in relation to restraint and seclusion, is best considered and addressed by each area independently to ensure that any support, training, guidance and reporting meets their needs in those particular settings.

The Scottish Government is committed to working with key partners, including the Children and Young People’s Commissioner and the Scottish Physical Restraint Action Group, to continue to reduce the use of restrictive practices through embedding transformational practice change and supporting developments in trauma responsive care.

Chamber and committees