Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-18211

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 7 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to introducing a moratorium on the creation of bus stop bypasses, also known as "floating" bus stops.

Question reference: S6W-18209

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 6 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether any guidance is being developed for local authorities on the implementation of bus stop bypasses, also known as "floating" bus stops, and, if not, whether it plans to initiate any such work.

The updated ‘Cycling by Design’ document was published in 2021 and provides guidance for cycling infrastructure design on all roads, streets and paths in Scotland. It includes design guidance for incorporating cycle facilities past bus stops, with bus stop bypasses as one option. A series of training sessions on the guidance has been undertaken throughout 2022 and early 2023, with attendance by the majority of local authorities.

To inform the design guidance further, Transport Scotland commissioned Living Streets in 2021 to investigate issues of inclusion where bus stop bypasses have been introduced, primarily to accommodate cycle facilities. The study is due to report late summer 2023.

Question reference: S6W-18208

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 6 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement work has been undertaken to understand the impact of bus stop bypasses, also known as "floating" bus stops, on pedestrians, particularly (a) people with visual impairments, (b) wheelchair users and (c) older people.

Consultation was undertaken prior to publishing design guidance on bus stop bypasses in the updated ‘Cycling by Design’ document in 2021, and considered impacts on those walking and wheeling as they interact with cycling infrastructure. The consultation included representation from the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland, Guide Dogs Scotland, Royal National Institute of Blind People, Spinal Injuries Scotland, Living Streets, Cycling UK and Cycling Without Age.

To inform the design guidance further, Transport Scotland commissioned Living Streets in 2021 to investigate issues of inclusion where bus stop bypasses have been introduced, primarily to accommodate cycle facilities. The study has visited sites across the UK, photographing, measuring and recording behaviours of pedestrian and cyclists, and has analysed footage using fixed cameras. The study has also included a literature review, and consultation with a wide range of user groups including disabled people and others who are most at risk. The study is due to report late summer 2023.

Question reference: S6W-18207

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 6 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what work has been carried out to review the safety implications of bus stop bypasses, also known as "floating" bus stops, and whether it will confirm when any such work took place.

Transport Scotland commissioned Living Streets in 2021 to investigate issues of inclusion where bus stop bypasses are introduced, primarily to accommodate cycle facilities. The study has visited sites across the UK, photographing, measuring and recording behaviours of pedestrians and cyclists, and has analysed footage using fixed cameras. The study has also included a literature review, and consultation with a wide range of user groups including disabled people and others who are most affected. The study is due to report late summer 2023.

Question reference: S6W-17596

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 15 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to address the development and implementation of training that is based on the NICE 2021 guideline on myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), in light of its commitment to implement the guideline.

Our Neurological Care and Support Framework 2020-25 sets out our vision to ensure everyone with a neurological condition, including ME/CFS, can access the care and support they need to live well.

Through the Framework we have funded Action for ME and partners to disseminate an online learning module on ME/CFS for GPs and health professionals, authored by Dr Nina Muirhead, which aims to support person-centred care, informed by good practice and current research.

In addition to Scottish Government activities, we understand that NHS Education for Scotland (NES) are currently finalising a Practice Based Small Group Learning (PBSGL) CPD module for GPs, Pharmacist and Nurses working in General Practice/Primary Care.

Question reference: S6W-16494

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Elena Whitham on 27 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has provided to third sector organisations dealing with drug addiction in each financial year since 2007-08, also broken down by organisation.

Information prior to 2017-18 is unavailable as it was deleted in accordance with our standard records management practice, before the date of your request.

Funding at the local level is distributed through alcohol and drug partnerships and many of the projects and organisations we support at the national level also work in both alcohol and drugs, therefore it is not possible to disaggregate funding allocated specifically for drug services rather than drug and alcohol services.

Alcohol and Drug Partnerships commission services from both statutory and third sector providers. Data on how this funding is broken down is not held centrally. Financial accounts are published annually by Health Boards and Alcohol and Drugs Partnerships (ADPs) and accessible via each areas website.

Scottish Government funding for drug and alcohol services is allocated to various organisations these are grouped below as:

Core Funded Organisations (CFOs)
Other third sector organisations
Distributed via the Corra Foundation to third sector and grass roots organisations

Details of how funding was allocated by the Corra Foundation can be found in their published annual grants released from 2017 to 2021 at Publications - Corra

Table 1: funding for drug and alcohol services to third sector organisations. 2017-18 to 2022-23

Financial Year	Allocation £ (million)	Description
2022-23	89.3	Allocated to Health Boards for ADP commissioning
	3.1	Core Funded Organisations
	5.8	Third Sector
	13	Corra Foundation
2022-23 Total	111.2
2021-22	106.5	Allocated to Health Boards for ADP commissioning
	3.7	Core Funded Organisations
	3.7	Third Sector
	16.2	Corra Foundation
2021-22 Total	130.1
2020-21	76.6	Allocated to Health Boards for ADP commissioning
	2.2	Core Funded Organisations
	2.7	Third Sector
	7.7	Corra Foundation
2020-21 Total	89.2
2019-20	72.8	Allocated to Health Boards for ADP commissioning
	1.5	Core Funded Organisations
	0.5	Third Sector
	0.9	Corra Foundation
2019-20 Total	75.7
2018-19	72.8	Allocated to Health Boards for ADP commissioning
	1.5	Core Funded Organisations
	0.2	Third Sector
	2	Corra Foundation
2018-19 Total	76.5
2017-18	53.8	Allocated to Health Boards for ADP commissioning
	1.3	Core Funded Organisations
	0.06	Third Sector
	0.05	Corra Foundation
2017-18 Total	55.21
	537.91

Information prior to 2017-18 is unavailable as it was deleted in accordance with our standard records management practice, before the date of your request.

Question reference: S6W-16484

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 27 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many fast-track cancer diagnosis centres it (a) has built to date and (b) plans to build in the future, and whether it will provide as much detail as possible on any proposals it has to build more centres.

Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Services (formerly known as Early Cancer Diagnostic Centre) are established within existing NHS infrastructure.

RCDSs provide primary care with access to a new fast-track diagnostic pathway for patients with non-specific symptoms suspicious of cancer, such as weight loss and fatigue. So far, NHS Ayrshire & Arran, NHS Fife, NHS Dumfries & Galloway and NHS Borders have established a RCDS with NHS Lanarkshire expected to be operational by June 2023.

Question reference: S6O-02184

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, 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 what criteria are used to determine how much funding should be spent on active travel projects.

Question reference: S6W-16492

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 21 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on suicide prevention in each financial year since 2018-19, also broken down by NHS board.

Information on total spend on suicide prevention activity by individual Health Boards is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. Information on net mental health expenditure by individual Health Boards is published on the Public Health Scotland website Scottish health service costs under data files mental health expenditure Excel workbook . Note, however, that expenditure data is collected by broad specialties and does not identify suicide prevention work specifically. Suicide prevention will be an aspect of work across all mental health specialities.

Question reference: S6W-16483

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 21 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide a revised cost estimate for the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill.

Chamber and committees