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-21709

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 June 2014
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 18 June 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the inclusion of hepatitis C testing in the opt-out routine antenatal testing.

The Scottish Government does not currently support the inclusion of hepatitis C testing for all women as part of routine antenatal testing.

The Scottish Government takes advice on screening programmes from the UK National Screening Committee (NSC). Current NSC advice is that universal screening for hepatitis C in pregnancy is not recommended. This is because there are currently no interventions which have been shown to significantly reduce the risk of transmission to the baby. The exception to this is the small group of women with HIV/HCV co-infection. In addition there is insufficient information on the prevalence of hepatitis C in the pregnant population and on the natural history of vertically acquired infection.

This is a rapidly evolving area and discussion is beginning to focus on a postnatal screening strategy and the identification of children who would benefit from early intervention. However the effectiveness of new treatment regimens in the paediatric population, and their impact on the assessment of screening, are currently insufficiently understood to justify recommending that all pregnant women should be offered screening.

The NSC reviews its decisions on a regular basis and will do so earlier if new evidence arises. We will take account of any new recommendation made by the NSC in regard to hepatitis C screening.

Question reference: S4W-21708

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 June 2014
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 18 June 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the possibility of effectively eliminating hepatitis C in Scotland.

The treatment and prevention of hepatitis C continue to be a government priority, and this is reflected in the five high-level outcomes within the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework.

The Scottish Government is also committed to developing innovative approaches towards the reduction and elimination of hepatitis C. We are currently funding a pilot study by University of Dundee into the treatment of actively injecting drug users, which aims to examine the potential to reduce rates of infection amongst this group.

The treatment and therapies subgroup of the National Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Advisory Committee is currently considering the rapidly evolving hepatitis C treatment landscape and will provide advice to ministers later this year on potential new policies and strategies for tackling hepatitis C in Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-21711

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 June 2014
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 18 June 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the introduction of opt-out hepatitis C tests for all prisoners as part of the prisoner induction process.

A study led by the University of the West of Scotland, and published in 2012 (Hepatitis C Prevalence and Incidence among Scottish Prisoners and Staff Views of its Management, Taylor et al), provided information on the availability of hepatitis C services to prisoners in Scotland. The study reported that a confidential blood borne virus service, incorporating hepatitis C (HCV), is available to all prisoners within the Scottish Prison Service. This service includes immunisations, HCV testing and counselling, HCV treatment and harm reduction awareness-raising.

The report also concluded that there is a very low incidence of HCV among the whole prison population. Most prisoners infected with hepatitis C are likely to be on short-term sentences and will also be in contact with services in the community.

Question reference: S4O-03389

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 June 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 June 2014

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what prices it will set for the proposed pilot of commercial access to the Parliament, and whether these will be reduced for non-profit or charitable organisations.

Question reference: S4O-03381

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 June 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 June 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how the single intelligence agency it proposes to create in an independent Scotland would protect citizens from unjustified surveillance.

Question reference: S4W-21388

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 May 2014
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 10 June 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether, in the event of Scotland becoming independent, it would support a process of regularisation for migrants as part of the transition to a new Scottish immigration system.

Question reference: S4W-21198

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 May 2014
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Burgess on 30 May 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking as a result of the UK Government's requirement on landlords to check the immigration status of prospective tenants.

Immigration is a reserved matter. However, these provisions, through their impact on private landlords and registered social landlords (RSLs), will have a significant impact on housing policy, which is devolved.

The Scottish Government has no evidence of difficulties with illegal migrants accessing rented accommodation from private landlords or RSLs. It believes that the provisions will place an unnecessary burden on private landlords and RSLs and, on several occasions, has made this point to the UK Government. It will continue to engage with the UK Government on this and to work with stakeholders in Scotland to ensure that their views on these provisions are made clear.

Section 35(3) of the Immigration Act confers a power on the Secretary of State so that different commencement days may be appointed for different purposes or areas. The Scottish Government understands that the UK Government intends to pilot these provisions in an area in England before taking decisions about further implementation in 2015. I have asked the UK Government to ensure that the Scottish Government is given time to conduct a full consultation with housing and other relevant stakeholders before it implements the provisions in Scotland.

Question reference: S4O-03249

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 May 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 May 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the role of massive open online courses in improving the employment prospects of women and young people.

Question reference: S4F-02102

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 May 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 May 2014

To ask the First Minister what steps Revenue Scotland would take to prevent tax avoidance practices in the event that Scotland had greater responsibility for taxation.

Question reference: S4W-20876

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 25 April 2014
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 8 May 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether the UK Government's proposed Infrastructure Bill, which is to include provision aimed at allowing companies to run shale gas pipelines under private land, will apply to Scotland and, if so, what the Scottish Government's position would be on legislative consent for devolved aspects.