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 9397 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S4W-11027

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what plans there are to introduce a national register of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Question reference: S4W-11025

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what plans there are to conduct a cost analysis of the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and the potential cost savings of early and targeted treatment of the condition.

We have shared the Health Care Needs Assessment of Services for Adults with Rheumatoid Arthritis, conducted by the Scottish Public Health Network at our request, with NHS boards and have invited comments on the report and its recommendations. This includes Part D of the report: Cost Implications for Rheumatoid Arthritis Services in Scotland. We are currently gathering responses and will consider these and how we can support boards to take forward the recommendations in due course.

Question reference: S4W-11028

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how much each NHS board has spent on patients with rheumatoid arthritis who (a) self-manage and (b) do not self-manage their condition in each year since 2007.

Question reference: S4W-11029

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the cost to the economy from lost working days as a result of rheumatoid arthritis.

The information that would inform a comprehensive assessment is not held centrally. The Scottish Government wishes to minimise the impact of long-term conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis on the economy; firstly by appropriate prevention and treatment and secondly by supporting employers and employees to maintain work and employment. This is a key focus of our health works strategy and the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives offers a range of support to employers to help people with long term health conditions to continue to work while managing their condition.

Question reference: S4W-11015

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what action is planned in response to the recommendations in the Scottish Public Health Network's report, Health Care Needs Assessment of Services for Adults with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

The recently published Health Care Needs Assessment (HCNA) on Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) was conducted by the Scottish Public Health Network at the request of the Scottish Government. It outlines current RA service provisions across Scotland and makes a number of recommendations that aim to assist NHS Boards to plan and develop services for people living with RA.

A number of the recommendations within the HCNA are applicable nationally and we are currently considering these.

Question reference: S4W-11051

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 21 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what level of future pension contributions will need to be made by (a) the NHS and (b) each NHS board and what its position is on the suggestion in the Audit Scotland report, NHS financial performance 2011/12, that the level of such contributions is uncertain.

Question reference: S4W-11038

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 20 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-09936 by John Swinney on 25 October 2012, for what reason the NHS employer pension contribution is 13.5% in Scotland when it is 14% in England and Wales.

The employer contribution rate for the NHS pension scheme in Scotland was set at 13.5% based upon the last actuarial investigation report, published by the Government Actuary Department (GAD) in July 2008. This report was based upon data, methodology and assumptions set specifically for the Scottish NHS workforce and a separate similar process is conducted for the England & Wales NHS pension scheme.

Question reference: S4W-11039

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 20 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-09936 by John Swinney on 25 October 2012, what the annual cost would be of an increase in NHS employer pension contributions from 13.5% to 14%.

Question reference: S4W-10949

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 20 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what plans there are to take forward the revalidation of doctors.

Medical Revalidation is overseen by the General Medical Council (GMC), with commencement of the regulatory aspects reserved to the Secretary of State for Health. The Scottish Government has worked in partnership with a range of stakeholders to ensure Scotland’s health boards are ready to meet their obligations, and have put in place guidance and appropriate governance structures for the commencement of revalidation from December 2012. The Scottish Government has agreed a roll out plan with the GMC and will continue to work with partners and provide appropriate support to develop and modify guidance and products necessary to satisfy the GMC’s requirements for revalidation during the implementation period.

Question reference: S4W-10783

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 19 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-09435 by Nicola Sturgeon on 19 September 2012, what options it is considering to provide review arrangements for the Social Fund successor scheme.