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: S4W-03067

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 25 October 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued on the food and drink provided at breakfast and after-school clubs and what research it has commissioned on the nutrition provided and the role of these clubs in promoting healthy eating.

The Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007 places a duty on schools and local authorities to ensure that health promotion is at the heart of a school’s activities. The Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Regulations set high standards for school lunches and other food and drink served during the school day, including that provided at breakfast and after-school clubs. In 2008 the Scottish Government published Health Promotion guidance as well as guidance on implementing the nutritional requirements set out in the Regulations to assist schools and local authorities in fulfilling their duties. This guidance includes a section on “Standards for food outwith the school lunch”.

Eating for health can be explored across the curriculum and through many activities outwith the classroom. It is for schools and local authorities to decide whether to take opportunities provided by breakfast and after school clubs for such activities. The Scottish Government has not commissioned any research on the nutrition provided or the role of these clubs in promoting healthy eating.

Question reference: S4F-00205

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 October 2011
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 October 2011

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will investigate claims that patients are being offered unrealistic surgery appointments in England in order to circumvent waiting times targets.

Question reference: S4W-03069

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 18 October 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to provide funding to Citizens Advice Scotland for the additional provision of financial advice, welfare rights and employment advice in (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15.

Question reference: S4W-03068

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 18 October 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what increase in service was provided by Citizens Advice Scotland with the funding that it received from the Scottish Executive in December 2008 to provide additional support for people affected by the economic downturn.

A total of £1.109 million was distributed to 55 bureaux, covering 29 local authority areas. The increase in service varied according to the approach taken by individual bureaux, for example extended opening, training additional volunteers. Citizens Advice Scotland's report indicates that 18,233 clients were seen and 65,071 additional issues were raised, with the caveat that some bureaux reported only one figure or the other.

Question reference: S4W-03070

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 18 October 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that funding for the provision of independent advice on issues such as debt, welfare rights and benefits should be part of its move to preventative spending and a focus on earlier intervention.

Question reference: S4W-02907

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 23 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 5 October 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether bevacizumab is used in the NHS in the treatment of wet macular degeneration and, if so, whether side effects have been identified such as those recently reported in veterans in the United States of America.

Bevacizumab (Avastin) is licensed for the treatment of other conditions but is not licensed for the treatment of wet macular degeneration. However, the drug is used in many countries, including the UK, as an unlicensed medicine for the treatment of wet macular degeneration, by injection into the eye.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has received a small number of sporadic reports of internal eye infections associated with the injection of bevacizumab into the eye. There is no evidence, however, to suggest that these cases may be due to anything other than microbial contamination acquired during the injection procedure.

Question reference: S4W-02874

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 3 October 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation was carried out before the NHS dental bursary scheme was withdrawn.

Question reference: S4W-02876

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 3 October 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment was made of access to dentistry studies by people from less-well-off families before the decision was made to withdraw the NHS dental bursary scheme.

Question reference: S4W-02875

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 3 October 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what notice students already in receipt of bursaries were given that the NHS dental bursary scheme was being withdrawn.

Question reference: S4W-02877

Asked by: Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 3 October 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment was made on recruitment to (a) dental practices and (b) NHS dentistry before the decision was made to withdraw the NHS dental bursary scheme.