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-22428

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Elena Whitham on 3 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its goal to “co-produce alcohol and drug service standards for young people”, as set out in its 2023-24 Programme for Government.

The Early Interventions for Children and Young People working group are currently developing recommendations of what good quality early intervention support services should be available across Scotland for young people with emerging problematic drug and alcohol use.

In Spring 2023, the working group began engaging with young people, using a co-design approach, to gather their views of what good support should look like. These findings, along with existing international evidence of good practice will be used by the working group to develop standards of support for children and young people.

The co-design work will conclude in January 2024.

The working group will then outline the minimum principles of support that is required by local areas to meet the needs of children and young people, providing early intervention support in a way young people want.

Question reference: S6O-02701

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to tackle the reported record levels of homelessness in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-21999

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 31 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates its guidance on the provision of wheelchairs on free, short-term loans will be fully implemented.

Question reference: S6W-21998

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 31 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-16001 by Kevin Stewart on 24 March 2023, whether it will provide an update on how many health and social care partnerships have implemented its guidance on the provision of wheelchairs on free, short-term loan.

Question reference: S6W-21954

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 26 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to address any issues at NHS Forth Valley since the reports of “intolerable” working conditions within the NHS board.

The Scottish Government supports and encourages an environment where those working in our health service feel confident to raise any concerns they may have, in the knowledge that these will be treated seriously and, where appropriate, fully investigated. Boards are expected to investigate concerns fairly and appropriately in line with national policies.

The Scottish Government expect NHS Forth Valley to work closely with trade unions to address and resolve concerns.

An Assurance Board was established in December 2023 to monitor and scrutinise NHS Forth Valley against an agreed Improvement Plan. The Assurance Board has met 13 times and continues to meet monthly to review progress.

Question reference: S6W-21951

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 26 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps have been taken to address reported whistleblower concerns regarding risk of harm to staff and patients at NHS Forth Valley.

NHSScotland supports and encourages an environment where those working in our health service feel confident to raise any concerns they may have, in the knowledge that these will be treated seriously, and where appropriate, fully investigated. This includes concerns about staffing levels and any compromise to patient safety. Boards are expected to investigate concerns in line with the NHSScotland Whistleblowing Policy.

The Independent National Whistleblowing Officer (INWO) was set up to provide a mechanism for external review where there are concerns of how a Health Board, primary care or independent provider has handled a Whistleblowing case.

Additionally, the Scottish Government seek assurance of the whistleblowing support in place for staff, as well as the process in Boards through regular contact with Board Executives, the Board Whistleblowing Champions, and via the annual Staff Governance Monitoring exercise.

Question reference: S6W-21952

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 26 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported concerns raised by the Independent National Whistleblowing Officer (INWO) that “it was difficult to understand” how NHS Forth Valley’s response “addressed the specific concerns raised” by whistleblowers.

All NHSScotland Health Boards report directly to the Independent National Whistleblowing Officer (INWO) on the recommendations from investigation reports. The Scottish Government do not become involved in INWO investigations, instead we will seek assurance through regular contact with Board officials and through the annual Staff Governance Monitoring exercise that actions are taken in line with the report.

Question reference: S6W-21955

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 25 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what actions have been taken to address the situation at NHS Forth Valley since the NHS board was placed on stage 4 of the special measures scale in November 2022.

Question reference: S6W-21950

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 25 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates that the Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry will (a) complete its evidence taking and (b) publish its final report.

We have always been clear that we want the work of the Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry to be delivered at speed, addressing the range of questions that people have, so that we can learn and benefit from lessons as early as possible.

It is for the Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry itself to comment on its work.

Section 17 of the Inquiries Act 2005 gives an inquiry Chair alone, rather than Ministers, responsibility for deciding how an inquiry should operate. Operational matters such as the timetabling, procedure and conduct of hearings are for the Chair to decide, entirely independent of government.

It is for the Chair to determine how to strike the right balance between addressing the wide range of questions people have and making sure that the inquiry can be delivered at speed, so that we can learn and benefit from lessons as early as possible.

The Scottish Government remains committed, in its role as sponsor, to providing operational support as the Chair considers necessary and appropriate, in order to enable the Inquiry to carry out its independent work and help ensure the progress made so far is continued.

Question reference: S6W-21953

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 25 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the findings of the “transformation team” that was dispatched to NHS Forth Valley in November 2022 after the Scottish Government placed the NHS board on stage 4 of the special measures scale.

Updates from the external support team and other matters relating to the escalation of NHS Forth Valley are discussed at meetings of the NHS Forth Valley Assurance Board.

The Assurance Board was established by the Scottish Government to support NHS Forth Valley in determining what steps are necessary to ensure the delivery of high quality governance, leadership and culture, and in doing so support improvements in performance in out of hours, unscheduled care, mental health, and integration.

The minutes of the Assurance Board meetings and other information relevant to the escalation of NHS Forth Valley are published here: NHS Forth Valley Assurance Board - gov.scot (www.gov.scot).