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: S5W-27978

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 16 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 23 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with foodbanks regarding providing additional assistance to people affected by the current pandemic.

In addition to introducing a £350m package of funding and coordinated support for individuals and communities affected by COVID-19, we are in frequent contact with key national stakeholders such as the Trussell Trust, the Independent Food Aid Network and FareShare who are monitoring the availability of food supplies to community based organisations.

We will be connecting these groups to Local Resilience Partnerships who are undertaking vital frontline work allowing better support for people who may be worried about accessing food and other essentials whether due to an income drop or self-isolation, including older adults.

Question reference: S5W-27930

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 13 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 23 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it supports the UK Government’s budget decision to not increase Corporation Tax.

The Scottish Government believes in fair taxation that supports economic growth and protects Scotland’s position as an attractive proposition for businesses. However, Corporation Tax remains reserved to the UK Government. It is important that any developments in this area are balanced and evidence-based.

In terms of headline corporate tax rates, we would not support a race to the bottom. Ultimately, the Scottish Government believes that all tax powers should be devolved to the Scottish Parliament so that fiscal decisions that affect the people of Scotland can be made here.

Question reference: S5W-27931

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 13 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 23 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it supports the UK Government’s budget decision to not increase the top rate of income tax.

The Scottish Government is proud of our fair and progressive approach to income tax, and would encourage the UK Government to do the same. Whilst we have continued to prioritise this for a number of years, the UK Government has previously prioritised tax cuts for the well off. The Scottish Government welcomes the fact that, at Budget 2020, the UK Government stuck to their previous commitments, didn’t deliver another tax cut only for the rich, and didn’t increase the tax gap for higher earning Scots relative to the rest of the UK.

Question reference: S5W-27932

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 13 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 20 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it supports the UK Government’s budget decision to not increase taxes on alcohol.

Alcohol duty is reserved to the UK Government. The Scottish Government would expect any changes, or otherwise, in the rates of alcohol duty to be balanced and robustly evidence-based.

The Scottish Government believes tax policy should be fair and progressive and should support both businesses and individuals. Ultimately, the Scottish Government believes that all tax powers should be devolved to the Scottish Parliament so that fiscal decisions that affect the people of Scotland can be made here.

Question reference: S5W-27933

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 13 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 20 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact is on the economy of the recent fall in the price of oil.

The recent falls and volatility in the global oil price reflect the ongoing developments regarding the COVID-19 pandemic impacting on global demand accompanied by supply increases following the breakdown of the OPEC+Russia agreement.

Oil and gas production is worth 9.3% of Scotland’s GDP and supports an estimated 101,400 jobs through direct, indirect and induced effects. While the industry has become more efficient following the recent industry downturn, a prolonged period of low prices would present significant challenges.

The Scottish Government’s Oil and Gas, Energy Transition Strategic Leadership Group plays a key role for engagement between the sector, Government and the wider public sector, and is a strategic forum engaging on the key issues and challenges affecting the sector. The SLG membership is cross industry (including operators, contractors and SMEs), academia, trade unions and industry trade bodies.

Question reference: S5F-04009

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 March 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 March 2020

To ask the First Minister for what reason Scottish Enterprise has suspended new grant funding for business.

Question reference: S5W-27110

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 2 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will advise NHS boards to integrate Parkinson’s medication management into ward staff education.

The safe and effective management of medicines is overseen through the Health Boards' Medicines Governance Strategies and implemented locally under Safe Use of Medicines protocols and Clinical Governance frameworks.

The Chief Pharmaceutical Officer has met with Parkinson's UK since the publication of their report, and has agreed to help communicate the patient safety issues in relation to medicines as much as possible. In addition, I expect Boards to share, through the structures established for such purposes, examples of best practice with the potential to benefit patients more widely across NHS Scotland. This would of course include any such learning from NHS Grampian's pilot in partnership with Parkinson's UK Scotland.

Question reference: S5O-04232

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 February 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will uprate Members' staff cost provision in line with the Scottish Government uprating of 3%.

Question reference: S5F-03958

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 17 February 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 February 2020

To ask the First Minster what action the Scottish Government is taking to prepare the NHS to deal with coronavirus.

Question reference: S5W-27109

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 6 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) communication it has had with NHS boards and (b) action it is taking regarding the need for people with Parkinson’s to get their essential medication on time when they are in hospital.

It is for Boards to ensure that operational processes are in place to safeguard those patients with medicine regimes are adhered to when they are in hospital.

The Scottish Government continues to work with NHS Boards in transforming hospital pharmacy services as set out in Achieving Excellence in Pharmaceutical Care (AEiPC), published in August 2017.

AEiPC sets out nine commitments and complimentary actions to transform the role of pharmacy across all areas of pharmacy practice, increase capacity, and offer the best person-centred care. It sets out the priorities, commitments and actions for improving and integrating pharmacy and pharmacy services in Scotland.

The AEiPC Advisory Group was established to take forward the nine commitments and supporting actions. Key stakeholders on this group, include representatives from NHS Board Directors of Pharmacy, Community Pharmacy Scotland, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, Acute Services Lead Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, and the Scottish Pharmacy Clinical Leadership Fellows.