Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-16576

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress it has made towards creating a Scottish Education Exchange Programme.

Question reference: S6W-16664

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 27 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support people aged 71 to 74 who have reportedly been unable to get a breast screening appointment through the self-referral scheme, both pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the phased restart of self-referrals, women aged 71-74, and those over 75 with a history of breast cancer, are currently eligible to self-refer for a screening appointment. Where the eligibility criteria is met, a breast screening appointment should be offered within nine months of registration for self-referral. All screening centres across Scotland have taken steps to ensure their teams are aware of the eligibility criteria.

The Scottish Government is not aware of any reports of women unable to register for a self-referral appointment if they meet the eligibility criteria. We would encourage any women who have been unable to obtain an appointment to contact their local screening centre. The latest information on self-referrals and contact details for local centres can be found at Breast screening in Scotland | NHS inform .

Question reference: S6O-02194

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 April 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will increase funding for hospices to ensure that they can manage any rising costs, in light of the reported increase in the number of people in need of palliative care.

Question reference: S6W-16578

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 21 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the topic of Scottish independence was discussed during the meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and the Director of the Goethe-Institut on 5 December 2022.

The Director and I had a constructive meeting in December last year during which we discussed language learning in Scotland.

The subject of Scottish independence was not an agenda item in discussions. However, Scottish ministers will always be polite enough during international meetings to answer any questions put to them about the Scottish Government's stated policies, including a legal, constitutionally sound referendum, as set out in our Programme for Government.

Question reference: S6W-16582

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 21 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the topic of Scottish independence was discussed during the meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and the French Minister of Culture on 4 October 2022.

The Minister and I had a constructive meeting last year in Paris during which we discussed culture, heritage and sports diplomacy.

The subject of Scottish independence was not an agenda item in discussions. However, Scottish ministers will always be polite enough during international meetings to answer any questions put to them about the Scottish Government's stated policies, including a legal, constitutionally sound referendum, as set out in our Programme for Government.

Question reference: S6W-16579

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 21 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the topic of Scottish independence was discussed during the meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and United States Congressman, Steve Cohen, on 7 April 2022.

Congressman Steve Cohen and I held a positive meeting in April last year, in which we spoke about Scottish and US relations and Representative Cohen’s membership of the Friends of Scotland Caucus in the US Congress.

The subject of Scottish independence was not an agenda item in discussions, however Scottish ministers will always be polite enough during international meetings to answer any questions put to them about the Scottish Government's stated policies, including a legal, constitutionally sound referendum, as set out in our Programme for Government.

The Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and I had a constructive meeting in November last year during which he acknowledged Scottish Ministers’ need to conduct international business. I made it clear that I would continue to represent Scottish Government positions internationally, including on the constitution.

Question reference: S6W-16577

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 21 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the topic of Scottish independence was discussed during the meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, Ian Russell and Sir Drummond Bone on 6 December 2022.

Question reference: S6W-16584

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 21 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the topic of Scottish independence was discussed during the meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and Spain's Director General for Policies Against Depopulation on 2 November 2022.

The Director General and I had a constructive meeting in November last year during which we exchanged views on the depopulation challenges that both Scotland and Spain face and, following from the work done recently by officials in the Scottish Government’s Population and Migration team, proposed a policy exchange so that we can learn from the expertise in both countries.

The subject of Scottish independence was not an agenda item in discussion. However, Scottish ministers will always be polite enough during international meetings to answer any questions put to them about the Scottish Government's stated policies, including a legal, constitutionally sound referendum, as set out in our Programme for Government.

Question reference: S6W-16585

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 21 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the topic of Scottish independence was discussed during the meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and the Secretary General of Paradores de Turismo on 2 November 2022.

The Secretary General and I had a constructive meeting in November last year during which Mr Ferrer and his colleagues provided me with an insight on the Paradores model and the work being done to repurpose and restore historical buildings and bring commercial activity to areas of historical importance.

The subject of Scottish independence was not an agenda item in discussions. However, Scottish ministers will always be polite enough during international meetings to answer any questions put to them about the Scottish Government's stated policies, including a legal, constitutionally sound referendum, as set out in our Programme for Government.

Question reference: S6W-16575

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 21 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the topic of Scottish independence was discussed during the meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and the Director General of the Instituto Cervantes on 3 November 2022.

The Director General and I had a constructive meeting in November last year during which Mr Garcia Montero shared the Cervantes Institute’s plans to open their first International University Chair at the University of Edinburgh in the coming months.

The subject of Scottish independence was not an agenda item in discussions. However, Scottish ministers will always be polite enough during international meetings to answer any questions put to them about the Scottish Government's stated policies, including a legal, constitutionally sound referendum, as set out in our Programme for Government.

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