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: S7W-02987

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 04 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 21 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what training and guidance is provided to NHS Scotland staff on recognising heart attacks in women, including presentations that may differ from the symptoms traditionally associated with myocardial infarction.

The Scottish Government does not mandate a single national training programme recognising heart attacks in women for NHS Scotland staff. Decisions on workforce training and professional development are primarily a matter for individual NHS Boards, informed by national clinical guidance, professional standards and evidence-based practice.

NHS Scotland staff are supported through a range of clinical guidelines, professional education and evidence-based resources relating to the recognition, diagnosis and management of cardiovascular disease, including myocardial infarction. For example, NHS Inform provides dedicated information on women's heart health, including information on heart attack symptoms in women and the importance of seeking urgent treatment. NHS Inform also highlights that women may experience symptoms differently and may delay seeking help, emphasising the importance of recognising symptoms and accessing emergency care promptly.

Question reference: S7W-02986

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 04 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 21 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether women are more likely than men to experience delays in the diagnosis or treatment of a heart attack, and what action it is taking to address any such disparity.

While the Scottish Government has not undertaken a specific assessment of whether women are more likely than men to experience delays in the diagnosis or treatment of a heart attack in Scotland, we recognise that there can be sex differences in the presentation, diagnosis and outcomes of heart attacks and remain committed to ensuring that all patients have equitable access to timely diagnosis, treatment and care following a suspected heart attack.

Through Public Health Scotland's Scottish Cardiac Audit Programme and dedicated myocardial infarction audit, which includes a number of measures reported by sex, including incidence, mortality and survival following heart attack. This enhanced audit will support ongoing monitoring of outcomes, identification of variation in care and outcomes, and quality improvement activity across NHS Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-02984

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 04 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 21 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what work is being undertaken to identify and address any gender inequalities in the diagnosis, treatment and outcomes of cardiovascular disease.

Addressing gender inequalities in cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a key priority within our Women's Health Plan.

The Plan adopts a life-course approach to cardiovascular health, recognising the links between heart disease and factors such as pregnancy, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and menopause. In particular, work is underway to test care pathways designed to reduce and manage the lifetime risk of CVD among women who experience hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

The Scottish Cardiac Audit Programme funded by the Scottish Government routinely disaggregates relevant data by sex, supporting a better understanding of sex-based differences in cardiovascular outcomes and care.

Question reference: S7W-02988

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 04 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kirsten Oswald on 18 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider introducing arrangements, similar to the pilot programme in France, that would allow women who suspect that they have been the victim of drink or drug spiking to submit blood, urine or hair samples for laboratory testing without first having to make a formal complaint to Police Scotland.

The Scottish Government has and continues to take a proactive approach to understand the prevalence and address concerns about reported spiking in Scotland.

We have recently consulted on further protections for women in the criminal law, including in relation to spiking, and the analysis of responses to that consultation is currently underway, and will inform our next steps. We always seek to learn from effective interventions in any jurisdiction, although it is important to understand how any approach in a different jurisdiction may or may not operate effectively in Scotland, alongside current routes to report in both health and criminal justice services.

A similar pilot, Project Alliance, has been sponsored by the UK Home Office. The evaluation of that pilot will provide useful intelligence as we develop our response to spiking.

The Safer Scotland webpage provides guidance on reporting and support available to victims of spiking. We would always encourage anyone who suspects they have been spiked or witnesses an incident to report this to Police Scotland, and security in any venue they witness the behaviour.

Question reference: S7O-00299

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 September 2026
Current Status: Due to be taken in the Chamber on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how it is supporting MSPs to offer benefits to their employees, including those which promote healthy living and wellbeing.

Question reference: S7W-02773

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 31 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 15 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the outcomes of the initial pilot phase of the HPV self-sampling kit programme, and what the next stages are for the national expansion of HPV self-sampling.

Question reference: S7W-02774

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 31 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 15 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, following the introduction of the initial pilot phase of the HPV self-sampling kit programme, when it expects that the national expansion of HPV self-sampling will take place.

The first phase of the cervical screening HPV self-sampling pilot is expected to conclude in summer 2027, with subsequent phases anticipated thereafter, subject to evaluation findings. The Scottish Government remains committed to increasing uptake of cervical screening across Scotland and, in particular, to reducing screening inequalities. HPV self-sampling is one of a number of interventions being progressed to support this aim, alongside wider efforts to improve access to and participation in the cervical screening programme.

Question reference: S7W-02588

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 7 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects any changes to the recommended level of community benefit for solar developments, as proposed in its working paper, Refreshing the Good Practice Principles for Community Benefits from Onshore Renewable Energy, to take effect.

Question reference: S7W-02985

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 04 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 21 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the August 2026 publication of the Fifth Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction by the European Society of Cardiology, American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association and World Heart Federation, what assessment it has made of the implications for NHS Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-02718

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7W-01865 by Mairi McAllan on 17 August 2026, (a) what the current minimum level of school clothing grant is for (i) primary and (ii) secondary pupils, (b) when each minimum level was last increased, and (c) whether there are any plans to increase these minimum levels and, if so, when.