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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 1526 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6W-29629

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 06 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 18 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it carried out an Island Communities Impact Assessment in advance of the reported end of grant funding agreements for advice services in the Western Isles on 31 March 2024, and, if this is not the case, for what reason.

An Island Communities Impact Assessment has been carried out and will be published on the Scottish Government’s website The Scottish Government - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) by the end of September 2024. The current grant funding provision for the Western Isles Advice Project which is part of the Scottish Legal Aid Board’s Early Resolution and Advice Programme, will continue under the existing criteria for funding until 30 September 2024.

Question reference: S6W-29675

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 06 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 17 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the availability of disease modifying therapies for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS).

The Scottish Government is committed to increasing the availability of medicines that patients in Scotland need.

In Scotland, the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) appraises the clinical and cost-effectiveness of newly licensed medicines, following receipt of a submission from the manufacturer. Since 2003, the SMC has accepted 17 medicines for use/ restricted use to treat Multiple Sclerosis (MS) within NHS Scotland.

Where the SMC accepts or accepts with restrictions, a medicine, or on an interim basis, then there is a clear expectation that NHS Boards will consider it and make it (or its equivalent) available. This is considered by each NHS Board Area and Drug and Therapeutics Committee.

NHS Boards are expected to reach a decision within 90 days of being informed of the SMC advice, which provides time to consider any issues associated with the implementation of the medicine, such as changes to the care pathway and staff training. Boards should publish their decision on their website within 14 days of the decision.

The SMC appraisal is undertaken independently of Scottish Ministers and is based on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of the medicine at a population level. Ultimately, the decision to prescribe any medicine is for the clinician in charge of an individual’s care.

We recognise that innovation remains crucial to finding a cure for MS, which is why we have funded £1.9 million to support a four-year research project led by NHS Lothian and Edinburgh University to develop a new approach to guide the treatment of MS and help people have better control of their condition.

The Precision-MS Study will introduce precise measurements of brain health to people with MS, with the ultimate aim of helping to ensure the right treatment at the right time, to the right person.

Question reference: S6W-29596

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 17 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many organisations in the Highlands and Islands region have been ordered to pay a victim surcharge for a (a) conditional discharge and (b) fine, in each year since 2021.

Question reference: S6W-29600

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 17 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been raised from victim surcharges ordered from offenders aged under 18 at date of offence in the Highlands and Islands region in each year since June 2022.

Question reference: S6W-29597

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 17 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many offenders aged under 18 at date of offence in the Highlands and Islands region have been ordered to pay a victim surcharge for a (a) conditional discharge, (b) fine, including a Youth Rehabilitation Order or Referral Order, and (c) custodial sentence, in each year since 2021.

Question reference: S6W-29598

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 17 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been raised from victim surcharges ordered from offenders aged 18 or over at date of offence in the Highlands and Islands region in each year since June 2022.

Question reference: S6W-29604

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 17 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have participated in workshops organised by (a) Scottish Union Learning and (b) Community Enterprise to tackle online scams and promote internet safety, since its announcement of funding for this purpose on 20 September 2023.

Question reference: S6W-29599

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 17 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been raised from victim surcharges ordered from organisations in the Highlands and Islands region in each year since June 2022.

Question reference: S6W-29602

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 17 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many victim surcharge orders were (a) paid on time, (b) paid late and (c) not paid at all by criminals in each year since 2021.

Question reference: S6W-29606

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 17 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its engagement with local authorities in the Highlands and Islands region regarding any impact of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in buildings.

The Scottish Government continues to routinely engage with local authorities across Scotland as part of ongoing work ensuring all key stakeholders such as building owners, representative organisations and professional bodies can share information and best practice on RAAC management, where required. Engagement is primarily through the Scottish Government led Cross Sector Working Group but also via Scottish Futures Trust for school estate interests and the Scottish Heads of Property Services (SHoPs) network.