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-19394

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 15 October 2018
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 7 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on concerns that there is an increased level of prescribing anti-depressants, and what action it will take in this regard.

The Scottish Government has worked hard to reduce the stigma faced by people with mental health problems. As this stigma declines we would expect more patients to seek help from their GPs for problems such as depression. People with mental illness should expect the same standard of care as people with physical illness and should receive medication if they need it.

Any prescribing is a clinical decision for a patient’s doctor and there is good evidence that GPs assess and treat depression appropriately. We are also committed to improving access to alternatives, such as psychological therapies, that increase choice and best accommodate patient preference.

Question reference: S5W-19393

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 15 October 2018
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 7 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what the level of prescribing anti-depressants was for the last year that its previous performance target was in place and in each year since.

Question reference: S5W-19396

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 15 October 2018
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 7 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what services it has in place to help people suffering from withdrawal from anti-depressants.

Support for people coming off antidepressant medication is available from a range of sources. In the first instance, individuals should go to the prescriber, or their GP for help. Problematic medication withdrawals are best managed by routine, day time services that provide continuity of advice and contact. Emergency advice is unlikely to be necessary but is available from standard out of hours and NHS 24 services. Telephone support is also available from Breathing Space for people with anxiety and depression.

Question reference: S5W-19487

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 October 2018
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 6 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when GP practices can expect to receive sufficient flu vaccinations for (a) adults and (b) children.

Question reference: S5W-19484

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 October 2018
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 6 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that people who are entitled to a flu vaccination receive it this winter, and when it expects the programme of vaccinations to be complete.

The seasonal flu vaccination programme runs from October to March however it is expected that the vast majority of vaccinations will have taken place by end November.

Central to the programme is our social marketing strategy. On 1 October the programme launched a new campaign to focus on the importance of flu vaccination with the aim of encouraging everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated.

In addition to the marketing campaign, we have directly contacted everyone over 65 as well as the parents of all children aged 2-5, inviting them to make an appointment with their GP practice.

Question reference: S5W-19486

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 October 2018
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 6 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to engage with GP practices to ensure that they receive the correct quantities of the flu vaccination this year and in subsequent years.

Scottish Government, including the CMO, and partners such as HPS and National Procurement produce and distribute specific communications for GPs in the run up to the season to assist practices in planning. This year communications included updates to GPs highlighting the JCVI recommendations and a request to review their eligible patient numbers to identify the quantity of vaccines required for their eligible groups.

Question reference: S5W-19485

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 October 2018
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 6 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what the risks are to older people, those with health conditions and for children this winter in the event of a shortage of flu vaccinations.

Seasonal flu vaccination is offered to all those at increased risk of the complications of flu on the basis of advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. Eligible individuals who were unable to be vaccinated would be at higher risk of contracting the flu or serious flu-related consequences. Flu is not currently circulating to any significant degree in Scotland. This means there is still time for people to be vaccinated.

Question reference: S5W-19483

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 October 2018
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 6 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there is a reported shortage of flu vaccinations available to GP practices this year.

More vaccine was ordered this season than last in Scotland, but there can be local mismatches between supply and demand for a variety of reasons. Health Protection Scotland coordinates a national group to smooth any local supply issues for GPs, within the overall volume of stock that is held within Scotland. This group is meeting regularly to support the NHS Boards and their practices. This group has observed that there appears to have been a higher early demand in some GP practices this year for the vaccine provided for those under the age of 65. This demand is being managed within the available supply. Scottish Government has also provided additional funding to allow extra vaccine to be procured and provided to GPs which are now being distributed.

Question reference: S5F-02746

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 November 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 November 2018

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the proposal by Scottish Water to remove the 25% single person discount from at least 500,000 customers, including older people.

Question reference: S5W-19587

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 October 2018
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 2 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the socio-demographic profile of people in receipt of the Scottish Water single person discount.

We do not hold any data on the socio-demographic profile of households that qualify for single status discounts.

Citizens Advice Scotland's (CAS) latest research report takes a closer look at characteristics that may indicate whether a household will struggle to pay for water and sewerage charges. It also provides an analysis of various proxies that could be used to determine affordability and at how additional financial support could be targeted towards households that need it most. A copy of that report can be found at: https://www.cas.org.uk/publications/charting-new-course-study-developing-affordability-policy-water-and-sewerage-charges .