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-36656

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 24 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with NHS boards to better inform patients of how long they will be waiting after being referred to see a dermatologist.

We expect Health Boards to write to patients when the patient is added to a waiting list for treatment to provide an estimation of their treatment date. In circumstances in which this cannot be provided, Boards are expected to signpost patients to an online platform where the patient can access further information about the waiting time for their agreed treatment in the responsible Health Board.

The revised Waiting Times Guidance, published in December 2023, includes a standard package of communications that all Health Boards should be providing. This ensures that patients are provided with clear communications throughout their care journey setting out what they should expect and their responsibilities while they are waiting for their appointment, test or treatment.

The guidance also makes clear that communications can be in any form that the patient has consented to, including via telephone, electronically or by post. It is important that patients are asked to confirm their needs at the beginning of their journey and their preferred format when receiving communication from the Health Board.

Question reference: S6O-04587

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6W-36471

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 22 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of the projected funding gap of £457 million for Integration Joint Boards on its goal of preventative healthcare.

The 2025-26 Budget balances the requirement to address immediate pressures and recovery of the system whilst driving forward our long-term reform and prevention agendas, providing increased investment for NHS Boards, alongside continued focus to improve population health and outcomes through investment in quality community services, vaccination and screening.?

We continue to support delivery of priorities relating to prevention and early intervention by investing almost £2.2 billion for social care and integration, an additional £1.2 billion compared to 2021-22 spend.

The 2025-26 budget also includes over £2.2 billion for primary care to improve preventative care in the community, supporting the development of multidisciplinary teams in general practice, sustaining NHS dental care through enhanced fees and continuing free eye examinations.

Question reference: S6W-36470

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 22 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its target to increase the amount of heating and cooling supplied by heat networks, what recent discussions ministers have had with the UK Government regarding the affordability of heat networks for consumers.

I recently wrote to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero regarding the introduction of consumer standards for heat networks. I sought assurance about the use of pre-payment meters, recommending that their installation is banned where householders are identified as vulnerable, and that affordable repayment plans are offered as a prior step.

Implementation of the Great Britain wide consumer protection regime is progressing. Consumer Advocacy and Advice functions and a new Consumer Redress scheme started on 1 April 2025. Consumer Scotland is the new statutory advocacy body for heat network consumers in Scotland. Heat network consumers are now able to access direct support through Advice Direct Scotland either via Energy Advice | Energy Advice | energyadvice.scot or through the helpline (0808 196 8660). The Energy Ombudsman also started its statutory role in providing a dispute resolution service across Great Britain.

New heat networks consumer protection regulations across Great Britain will give Ofgem powers to investigate and intervene where prices appear to be disproportionate or unfair. Further detail of the forthcoming regulation can be found on Ofgem’s website: Heat networks | Ofgem.

Scottish Government officials regularly engage with their UK Government counterparts about consumer regulations, pricing and technical standards on heat networks and other energy policy.

Question reference: S6O-04565

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 April 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it is encouraging the growth of community energy projects.

Question reference: S6W-36356

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 11 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met NHS Lothian to discuss replacing East Calder Medical Centre; what the outcome was, and what future meetings are planned.

Question reference: S6W-36792

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 April 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 8 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to provide additional financial support for NHS boards to allow more adults with type 1 diabetes access to closed-loop systems.

Question reference: S6W-36657

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 April 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 6 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving to NHS boards to ensure that patients currently on a waiting list are able to access the new digital dermatology pathway.

Question reference: S6W-36655

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 April 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 6 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to its NHS Scotland operational improvement plan, what assessment it has made of the impact of the digital dermatology pathway on waiting times for patients currently waiting to see a dermatologist.

Question reference: S6W-36004

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 21 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 1 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to the Scottish Assembly for people with learning disabilities and/or autism.

Over the last three years, the Scottish Government has provided the Scottish Assembly with £425,136 to build capacity via our leadership and engagement framework and over the last 4 years has provided £316,349 of core funding via our Inspiring Inclusion charity portfolio. Both of these funds are managed and distributed by fund manager, Inspiring Scotland. The Scottish Assembly have an application for funding for 2025-26 submitted and applications are currently being considered.

To offset the changes to funding in 2025-26, we committed to a 6 month extension of the current funding allocated to the Scottish Assembly, which will total £107,152, to provide additional opportunities to explore alternative funding streams.

Inspiring Scotland offer management consultancy services to the Scottish Assembly’s executive team and Board and provide intensive support where needed. This includes support to explore alternative funding and income streams aimed at long term sustainability of the organisation.