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: S5W-23769

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Independent
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 June 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 21 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on all medical practitioners being required to have an understanding of palliative care, and how it is ensuring that undergraduate medical students receive appropriate education on this issue.

The General Medical Council (GMC) plays the key role in setting and confirming that medical practitioners have an understanding of palliative care.

For undergraduates the GMC does not specify the curriculum, but it has set out new, high-level, ‘Outcomes for Graduates’, which state that ‘Newly qualified doctors must demonstrate that they can make appropriate clinical judgements when considering or providing compassionate interventions or support for patients who are nearing or at the end of life. They must understand the need to involve patients, their relatives, carers or other advocates in management decisions, making referrals and seeking advice from colleagues as appropriate'.

Medical schools have until summer 2020 to make sure their curriculum meets the standards set out in the new Outcomes for Graduates. The Scottish Government and NHS NES are working to support the Medical Schools in this work.

All newly qualified doctors follow the foundation curriculum for their first two years in postgraduate training, which is approved by the GMC. This requires them to have an understanding of palliative care.

Question reference: S5W-22849

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Independent
Date lodged: Friday, 26 April 2019
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 15 May 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how many children remain unvaccinated against (a) MMR, (b) diphtheria, (c) polio, (d) tetanus, (e) whooping cough, (f) rotavirus, (g) haemophilus influenza type B and (h) meningococcal types A, B, C, W and Y, also broken down by NHS board area.

Question reference: S5W-22850

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Independent
Date lodged: Friday, 26 April 2019
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 14 May 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what the percentage uptake of childhood vaccination for (a) MMR, (b) diphtheria, (c) polio, (d) tetanus, (e) whooping cough, (f) rotavirus, (g) haemophilus influenza type B, (h) meningococcal types A, B, C, W and Y has been in each of the last five years, also broken down by NHS board area.

Information services division (ISD) produce an annual report which sets out the uptake rate across Scotland of each of the childhood vaccinations. Please see the following link: https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Child-Health/Publications/2019-03-26/2019-03-26-Childhood-Immunisation-Report.pdf?94450014830

Teenage booster vaccinations are published in a separate annual report which can be accessed via the following link:https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Child-Health/Publications/2018-11-27/2018-11-27-TeenBooster-Report.pdf .

Question reference: S5O-03169

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Independent
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 April 2019
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 1 May 2019

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it expects to appoint a permanent chief dental officer.

We are giving this matter consideration and will make an announcement in due course.

The post of Chief Dental Officer is currently being filled on an interim basis by the Deputy Chief Dental Officer. He has considerable experience of working with the profession and in government and I have full confidence in him leading dentistry forward.

Under his excellent leadership we have seen real progress on some of the key actions in the Oral Health Improvement Plan, including a new Community Challenge Fund and domiciliary care arrangements.

Question reference: S5W-22565

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Independent
Date lodged: Friday, 05 April 2019
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 23 April 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme for boys will include a catch-up programme for all secondary school boys to ensure that they are protected.

The girls’ HPV vaccination programme has proved highly successful, with coverage exceeding 90% in the routine cohort. Achieving such a high uptake helps to stop the spread of HPV to boys due to herd immunity helping to protect vulnerable members of the community.

The HPV Vaccination is also offered to Men who have Sex with Men up to and including the age of 45 attending sexual health or HIV clinics.

We are currently giving due consideration to the available evidence regarding any catch up programme.

Question reference: S5W-22564

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Independent
Date lodged: Friday, 05 April 2019
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 23 April 2019

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to roll out vaccinations against human papillomavirus (HPV) for adolescent boys.

Question reference: S5W-22173

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Independent
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 March 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 26 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to provide funding support to Direction Bodies in order to offset the costs of increased employer contributions as a result of the National Health Service Superannuation and Pension Schemes (Scotland) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2019.

Question reference: S5W-22172

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Independent
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 March 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 26 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received any notification of Barnett consequentials as a result of the Treasury decision to provide funding to Direction Bodies in order to offset the increased employer contributions that will arise from the National Health Service Superannuation and Pension Schemes (Scotland) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2019.

Question reference: S5W-22171

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Independent
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 March 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 26 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact of the employer contribution uplift in the National Health Service Superannuation and Pension Schemes (Scotland) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2019 from 14.9% to 20.9% will be for Direction Bodies.

The UK Government had committed to provide funding to fully cover the increased pension costs for NHS employers, but current indications are that the Health consequentials that Scotland will receive will not meet 100% of the costs that we will face.

The Scottish Government has already and will continue to make clear to the UK Government that we expect this funding to meet all of the additional costs for the NHS in Scotland, including Direction Bodies. The total cost for NHS employers in Scotland is estimated to be £320 million in 2019-20.

The Scottish Government is awaiting clarity on the details of the UK Government’s funding commitment. Once clarity is received, the Scottish Government will take the appropriate steps to disperse the additional funding and, if there is a shortfall in the funding from the UK Government, to consider how that shortfall will be met.

Question reference: S5O-03076

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Independent
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 March 2019
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that children with complex needs and medical conditions are appropriately supported in their education.