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-30106

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 8 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS boards in relation to alerting patients who have had a mesh procedure to its concerns.

The Scottish Government has taken advice from a number of professionals, including the Chief Medical Officer’s medical staff, on the most effective way to communicate and support women who are experiencing complications following a mesh implant procedure.

Taking account of advice, the Scottish Government considers the most effective way to help any woman experiencing complications as a consequence of mesh surgery is to develop a pathway of care designed specifically for this purpose. This is a priority for the expert group, established to take forward the recommendations contained in the independent review’s interim report.

The expert group is considering improved sources of information. These are likely to include an e-learning package for healthcare professions, which may particularly benefit GPs, the first point of contact for most women.

A poster and letter advertising the mesh helpline and outlining reportable adverse events has been circulated to all health boards as well as primary care leads. The expert group is also exploring ways of improving the helpline and other support for women experiencing complications.

Question reference: S4W-30021

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 22 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 7 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it awarded a contract to Ramboll Environ to investigate the environmental impact of fracking.

Question reference: S4W-30024

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 22 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 7 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how many contracts it has awarded to assess the impacts of fracking.

Question reference: S4W-30022

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 22 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 7 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what companies submitted bids for a contract to investigate and report on the environmental impact of fracking.

The procurement process for Unconventional Oil and Gas Development: Understanding and Mitigating Community Level Impacts from Transportation followed Scottish Government procurement guidelines.

AECOM, DNV GL, Ramboll Environ, Ricardo AEA, and WSS Energy Consulting submitted tenders for this contract.

Further information on Scottish Government procurement can be found via the following website: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Government/Procurement

Question reference: S4W-30023

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 22 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 7 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what due diligence it carried out to assess the suitability of Ramboll Environ to provide independent research into the environmental impact of fracking.

Question reference: S4W-29953

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 15 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 7 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has issued any contracts to companies to carry out social, economic or environmental impact assessments into fracking and, if so, which companies.

The Scottish Government is taking a precautionary, robust and evidence-based approach to unconventional oil and gas. On 8 October 2015 the Scottish Government announced a comprehensive programme of research that will give the public and stakeholders access to impartial information and evidence on the potential impacts of unconventional oil and gas. The research is examining a wide range of potential environmental, economic and social impacts. The specific projects are:

Decommissioning, site restoration and aftercare – obligations and treatment of financial liabilities, which will be undertaken by AECOM.

Understanding and monitoring induced seismic activity, which will be undertaken by the British Geological Survey.

Climate change impacts, which will be undertaken by the Committee on Climate Change.

Economic impacts and scenario development, which will be undertaken by KPMG.

Understanding and mitigating community level impacts from transportation. A contractor will be appointed shortly to complete this work.

A public health impact assessment is also being undertaken by Health Protection Scotland. The assessment will review the scientific evidence on potential impacts from unconventional oil and gas developments, and the risks of any associated adverse health impacts. It will include a review of the wider health related issues associated with the unconventional oil and gas developments, including issues of particular relevance to local communities.

Question reference: S4W-30025

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 22 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 7 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it carries out due diligence in relation to all contracts to assess the suitability and independence of the researchers involved.

Question reference: S4W-30020

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 22 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 7 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government on what date it was made aware of NHS Lothian's intention to carry out a review of paediatric services.

Question reference: S4O-05649

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 March 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to no downgrading or closure of the children's ward at St John’s Hospital in Livingston.

Question reference: S4W-29752

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 05 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 1 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has introduced to ensure that pay and conditions in the agricultural sector do not disproportionately disadvantage Polish and other Eastern European employees.