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: S4O-03019

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 March 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 March 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what European funding streams are available to help safeguard the cultural heritage of communities.

Question reference: S4T-00629

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 March 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 March 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that those who require social care services receive appropriate assistance.

Question reference: S4W-19935

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 February 2014
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 6 March 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its response to the Health and Sport Committee’s Report on Inquiry into the Regulation of Care for Older People, when a review of National Care Standards will take place.

Question reference: S4W-19629

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 February 2014
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 4 March 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Department of Health regarding the Scottish Public Inquiry into Hepatitis C/HIV.

I met with Jane Ellison, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health, on 11 February, to discuss the possible implications of the Penrose Inquiry. Officials are also in regular contact with counterparts from the other UK health departments.

Until Lord Penrose publishes his final report, we have no knowledge of what the inquiry will conclude or recommend, and any discussions are therefore limited.

Question reference: S4W-19934

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 February 2014
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 4 March 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what the waiting time is to see a specialist for people who present symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

Question reference: S4W-19459

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 January 2014
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 20 February 2014

To ask the Scottish Government when its consultation on strengthening the governance and accountability of NHS boards will (a) begin and (b) report.

Question reference: S4W-19460

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 January 2014
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 20 February 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether its consultation on strengthening the governance and accountability of NHS boards will consider measures to ensure that non-executive directors are appointed in a way that gives a balanced geographical representation of board areas.

The Scottish Government’s engagement on developing governance and accountability will explore a range of issues relating to the appointment of non-executive directors and representation on health boards.

Non-executive directors have a responsibility to maintain a strategic overview of the delivery of healthcare services to the entire population served by the board. They are not appointed to represent the interests of specific areas or individual communities.

Appointments to health boards are regulated by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland. The Commissioner’s Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments is clear that the purpose of our appointment process is to attract a diverse range of able applicants and appoint the most able to lead Scotland’s public bodies. However, it is important that these appointments are reflective of the populations they serve. Accordingly, all public appointments are merit based following an open, fair and impartial process.

Question reference: S4W-19628

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 February 2014
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 20 February 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take in light of the delay of the publication of the report of the Scottish Public Inquiry into Hepatitis C/HIV.

Lord Penrose, Chairman of the Scottish Public Inquiry into Hepatitis C/HIV acquired infection from NHS treatment in Scotland with blood and blood products (The Penrose Inquiry) wrote to me on 20 December 2013 informing me that, due to unforeseen personal circumstances and the warning letter process taking longer than anticipated, it will not now be possible for him to publish his report by the end of March 2014.

The Penrose Inquiry is independent of Scottish Ministers and, it is for the chairman to decide on the progress and timetabling of the Inquiry.

The chairman has agreed to provide me with a progress report at the end of this month.

Question reference: S4O-02940

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 February 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what areas of tourism it is prioritising in 2014.

Question reference: S4F-01898

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 17 February 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 February 2014

To ask the First Minister what steps the Scottish Government is taking to improve the inspection of care services.