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: S4F-00569

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 19 March 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 March 2012

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will reconsider its support for the continuation of the bonus points scheme for hospital doctors in light of a reduction in NHS jobs and a general pay freeze in the public sector.

Question reference: S4W-06072

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 March 2012
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 19 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can guarantee that every kinship carer will be given a full assessment and be provided with an emergency plan on request and, if so, what the programme for this will be.

The Looked After Children (Scotland) Regulations 2009 places a statutory duty on local authorities to carry out an assessment when a child is to be placed with a kinship carer. These regulations also place a duty on local authorities to have procedures in place to enable assessments to be conducted if the child has been placed with an unapproved kinship carer in an emergency.

To support local authorities’ comprehensive guidance on the regulations was published in June 2010 and training was delivered by our partners in every local authority.

Question reference: S4W-05751

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 February 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 6 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps Health Improvement Scotland takes to (a) review and (b) follow up the outcomes of NHS board responses to (i) fatal accident reports and (ii) sheriff judgements in relation to NHS treatment.

As part of their role in supporting NHS boards to deliver high quality healthcare, Healthcare Improvement Scotland reviews fatal accident inquiries (FAI) and sheriff judgements in relation to NHS treatment and advises NHS boards of any significant national learning points. Where appropriate they may offer improvement support to NHS boards and may also undertake further reviews of FAI findings through expert review groups.

Question reference: S4W-05875

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 February 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 6 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures the safety of patients who are provided with telehealth services by medical practitioners who are (a) not UK residents and (b) not registered with the General Medical Council.

Telehealth delivered through NHS 24 and the Scottish Centre for Telehealth and Telecare is at present provided by existing staff within territorial NHS boards. The Government is not aware of telehealth services being provided by non-UK resident, non-GMC registered medical practitioners within NHSScotland, but in any such event, the government would expect the health board(s) concerned to ensure the same standard of patient safety as they would for more traditional services.

Question reference: S4W-05879

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 24 February 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 6 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether all NHS staff have been informed about (a) their obligations regarding and (b) how they should be protected when raising concerns regarding patient care and safety, as set out in the Partnership Information Network (PIN) policy, Implementing and Reviewing Whistleblowing Arrangements in NHSScotland.

The revised Implementing and Reviewing Whistleblowing Arrangements in NHSScotland Partnership Information Network (PIN) policy details the rights and responsibilities of staff in relation to whistleblowing. NHSScotland boards’ local HR policies must meet or exceed the minimum standards set out within the national PIN policies and, in line with the NHSScotland Staff Governance Standard, must be appropriately communicated to staff. Additionally, the Implementing and Reviewing Whistleblowing Arrangements in NHSScotland PIN policy itself clearly sets out boards’ obligations in terms of communicating local policies developed in line with the PIN.

Question reference: S4W-05878

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 24 February 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 6 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what reports are made to its health directorate and NHS (a) boards and (b) partnership forums on concerns raised by clinicians.

The Implementing and Reviewing Whistleblowing Arrangements in NHSScotland PIN policy clearly sets out boards’ obligations in terms of local policies developed in line with the PIN. The operation of local policies, which should be monitored by the area partnership forums, should include regular feedback sessions with area partnership forums to evaluate progress and collect data on the nature and number of concerns raised. The Scottish Government does not receive reports, nor does it hold information on what reports are made to NHS boards or partnership forums, on concerns raised by clinicians.

Question reference: S4W-05401

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 February 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 6 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-03746 by Nicola Sturgeon on 11 November 2011, whether it is possible that a multi-pack of beer can be sold at a price less than it would cost if the same quantity of items in the pack were sold individually and, if so, whether it will amend the Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Act 2010 to prevent this.

If a retailer sells a single can of beer then a multi-pack of the same beer must be sold for no less than the appropriate multiple of the single can price. If a retailer does not sell a single can then no such restriction applies.

We have no current plans to further amend the Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Act 2010.

The Scottish Government has always been clear that setting a minimum price per unit of alcohol is a necessary adjunct to dealing with irresponsible promotions.

Question reference: S4W-05877

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 24 February 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 6 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether all NHS staff contracts have been revised to include terms and conditions regarding the protection of whistleblowers.

The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 provides legal protection in relation to whistleblowers. Such protection is therefore an implied term within the contracts of employment of all NHSScotland employees, and does not need to be stipulated as a specific written contractual provision.

Additionally, all NHSScotland boards are required to have in place local policies which meet or exceed the minimum standards set out within NHSScotland Partnership Information Network (PIN) Policies, including the Implementing and Reviewing Whistleblowing Arrangements in NHSScotland PIN Policy. Given that all NHSScotland employees have a contractual obligation to comply with their board’s local policies, their rights and responsibilities with regard to whistleblowing are further reinforced.

Question reference: S4W-05876

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 24 February 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 6 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether every NHS board has implemented the Partnership Information Network (PIN) policy, Implementing and Reviewing Whistleblowing Arrangements in NHSScotland.

NHSScotland boards’ local policies must meet or exceed the minimum standards set out within NHSScotland Partnership Information Network (PIN) Policies. Given that local policy review mechanisms will differ amongst individual boards, where new/revised PIN policies are published boards will be expected to ensure that their local policies are compliant within a reasonable timescale.

As part of monitoring performance against the Staff Governance Standard, boards must evidence that their local policies adhere to the national PIN policies.

Question reference: S4W-05476

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 February 2012
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 5 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive how many pregnant women in (a) 2009 and (b) 2010 were referred to a children's hearing or the Scottish Children's Reporter because of alcohol or drug abuse.

This is an operational matter for the Scottish Children’s reporter Administration (SCRA). I have asked the principal reporter to respond. He has responded as follows:

The information is not available in the format requested from SCRA’s central Referrals Administration Database.

It is therefore not possible to ascertain, without significant further work, including analysis of individual case files, the number of expectant mothers, themselves children or young people, who were referred on substance misuse grounds during the time period of interest to the member. Nor is it possible therefore to produce data on how many of these cases then proceeded to children’s hearings following referral to the Principal Reporter.

However, the Member will wish to note that, in terms of section 52(2) (j) (having misused alcohol or drugs) totals over the period of interest to the member, SCRA’s online statistical analysis shows:

2010-11

818 referrals received in respect of 744 children and young people

2009-10

1,230 referrals received in respect of 1,144 children and young people

2008-09

1,360 referrals received in respect of 1,188 children and young people.

Breakdowns of these figures by age and gender, as well as by local authority area, are available from SCRA on request.