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: S6W-19555

Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 12 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any discussions ministers have had with industry regarding the progress of systematic software upgrades to assist with the new ScotEID database ahead of 1 January 2024.

The Scottish Government works closely with partners to ensure the ScotEID multispecies database system is fit for purpose and meets the requirements of Industry stakeholders. The system is driven by innovation and continuous improvement, to ensure future challenges can be met. ScotEID will continue to support legacy IT systems used in other parts of the United Kingdom.

We recognised the importance of working with the sector on testing technologies and researching different systems, including the benefits that it could accrue to both the industry and government and welcomed proposals set out in a voluntary industry led pilot on the early adoption of electronic identification of cattle (Bovine EID). As a result, the Scottish Government issued funding for this voluntary industry led initiative for Bovine EID through the Programme for Government.

Question reference: S6W-19371

Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Elena Whitham on 10 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the timescale is for the research study being carried out for Public Health Scotland, by Figure 8 Consultancy, Glyndwr University and King's College London, into the demand for residential rehabilitation amongst people who use drugs in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-19370

Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Elena Whitham on 10 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether there are any plans for a research study into the demand for residential rehabilitation amongst those who are alcohol dependent.

There are currently no plans for a research study into the demand for residential rehabilitation amongst those who are alcohol dependent.

Scottish Government welcomes robust and reliable research, considering how it relates to ongoing policy or can inform new policy. We await the outcome of the current research into the demand for residential rehabilitation amongst those who use drugs being led by Public Health Scotland to assess whether any of its results and/or recommendations are applicable for people who are alcohol dependent.

Question reference: S6W-19368

Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Elena Whitham on 10 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the research study, being carried out for Public Health Scotland by Figure 8 Consultancy, Glyndwr University and King's College London, into the demand for residential rehabilitation amongst those who use drugs in Scotland, does not also include in its scope those who are alcohol dependent, in light of it being "part of a wider national programme aiming to improve drug and alcohol support, involving a range of organisations, people with lived and living experience, and their family members/carers."

Public Health Scotland have been commissioned to conduct a monitoring and evaluation programme for residential rehabilitation policy, as a part of the wider National Mission evaluation, on behalf of the Scottish Government. We recognise that residential rehabilitation provides support to people with drug and alcohol problems, and as part of this evaluation programme, Public Health Scotland will ensure that people with lived experience of both drug and alcohol use are consulted.

As part of the evaluation, Public Health Scotland have begun research into the demand for residential rehabilitation for people who use drugs, carried out by Figure 9 consultancy. In this research study, individuals will be asked whether they experience problems with alcohol, alongside their drug use. Therefore, whilst the focus of the research is on drug use, alcohol is not completely out with the scope of the study. The wider portfolio of support available to individuals is different for individuals who use drugs and those who do not. This difference in the support offer is why this research study is taking a targeted approach, focusing on individuals who use drugs, and the support available specifically to them.

Question reference: S6W-19369

Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Elena Whitham on 10 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what funding has been put in place for the Public Health Scotland research study, being carried out by Figure 8 Consultancy, Glyndwr University and King's College London, into the demand for residential rehabilitation amongst people who use drugs in Scotland.

The Scottish Government has commissioned Public Health Scotland to undertake the evaluation of the overall National Mission, within this wider evaluation there is a specific programme of work to design and deliver a monitoring and evaluation programme for the residential rehab element of the mission. This includes a wide programme of monitoring and evaluation and is overseen by an independent Monitoring and evaluation Advisory Group.

For the research study into the demand for residential rehabilitation amongst people who use drugs, which forms a part of the wider residential rehabilitation evaluation programme, Public Health Scotland have allocated a maximum budget of £100,000.

Question reference: S6W-18897

Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 28 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been allocated to the Digital Prescribing and Dispensing Pathways programme to date.

Question reference: S6F-02283

Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 June 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 June 2023

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6W-18890

Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Elena Whitham on 26 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the £800,000 media campaign spend on the use of naloxone between 2021 and 2022, whether it will provide a breakdown of how much funding has been allocated to (a) social media, (b) bus stops, (c) billboards, (d) print media and (e) radio.

Question reference: S6W-18902

Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Elena Whitham on 22 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) the evaluation process is and (b) tools are used to assess the value for money of funding allocated to the Scottish Drug Deaths Task Force, which is a centrally funded organisation.

The majority of funding allocated to the Drug Deaths Taskforce was dispersed via Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) and The Corra Foundation. The Taskforce also funded the Digital Inclusion Project.

Alcohol and Drug Partnerships received additional funding in 2020-2021 and
‎ 2021-2022 from the Drug Deaths Taskforce.In order to receive funding ADPs were required to submit a proposal, clearly setting out how they would use this funding to address gaps in delivering the Taskforce’s six evidence-based strategies to help reduce drug-related deaths. Funding allocated to Alcohol and Drug Partnerships is subject to Scottish Government’s robust grant management process, outlined in the Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM). The SPFM provides guidance on the proper handling and reporting of public funds.

Through The Corra Foundation, a Research Programme Fund and an Innovation Fund was developed by the Drug Deaths Taskforce. The Corra Foundation facilitated review panels with members from a wide range of backgrounds, including those with lived experience, to review and consider applications made to both the Research Programme Fund and the Innovation Fund. The funds were created to contribute to the evidence base to inform future actions.

Monitoring of the projects was managed by The Corra Foundation. Monitoring and evaluation were a critical element in obtaining funding. When funding was awarded, each grantee signed grant offer paperwork which contained several conditions. These included conditions around payment and reporting. The content of the grant offer letters (including the conditions) were agreed with Scottish Government for each round and new conditions added as required. Additionally, a thematic evaluation was funded by the Taskforce through the Corra Foundation.

The independent Drug Deaths Taskforce concluded in July 2022 after publishing its final report, Changing Lives . The Scottish Government then responded to the recommendations and actions put forward by the Taskforce within the Drug Deaths Taskforce response: cross government approach .

Question reference: S6W-18903

Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Elena Whitham on 22 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) the evaluation process is and (b) tools are used to assess the efficacy of the Scottish Drug Deaths Task Force, which is a centrally funded organisation.