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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 2295 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S5W-28382

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 April 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 20 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it did not initiate a national communications strategy to inform the public that they may be contacted by their GP practice regarding matters including (a) Do Not Resuscitate Orders and (b) Power of Attorney.

The Chief Medical Officer wrote to those people considered most at risk from COVID-19 on 26 March. The letter provided information and support on shielding themselves from Covid-19 and how they could access the care and treatment they might need. The letter also explained that their GP practice would contact them to discuss how best to ensure they still receive the medical care appropriate to them during this period.

As part of these discussions, the GP may ask about their health and care wishes to ensure that they are recorded should they become unwell with COVID-19. These conversations are known as Anticipatory Care Planning (ACP) and GPs and other health professionals are supported to have them in a sensitive manner. This discussion might also include conversation about Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) decisions if raised by the person or their GP deems it necessary.

To support GPs in having these discussions in a way that is compassionate and respectful, on 10 April we issued a letter to GP practices to provide advice and support on having anticipatory care planning conversations. The letter makes clear that there is no requirement for health professionals to have a DNACPR discussion as part of this conversation, unless the patient wishes to discuss it or clinician feels strongly it is necessary to raise in conversation for the patient’s wellbeing.

Additionally, on 17 April, a further joint letter from the Scottish Government’s Chief Medical Office, BMA and RCGPs was sent to GPs to reinforce this message and set out how they could effectively support care homes during this difficult time.

To raise public awareness and support people to have these conversations we have added information about anticipatory care planning in the context of COVID-19 to the NHS Inform website. This includes a link to a video providing information and support about what to consider with those closest to you before having an ACP conversation with your GP or other health professional.

The Scottish Government continues to consider public feedback and work with stakeholders to consider how we can best promote awareness of anticipatory care planning and support people and those closest to them to have those conversations.

Question reference: S5W-28842

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 19 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether non face-to-face communications should be excluded from the Lobbying Register (a) during the COVID-19 outbreak and (b) at any other time, and what action it will take to amend the Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016 in light of COVID-19.

Question reference: S5W-28924

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 19 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many times ministers have met representatives of Murray Capital and/or Charlotte Street Partners to discuss the Garden District project, and which ministers attended.

Question reference: S5W-28422

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 April 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 19 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what targets it has set for testing for COVID-19 each week since 1 February 2020, and how it has performed against each target.

Question reference: S5W-28385

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 April 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 19 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the advice it received from the Chief Medical Officer, Chief Scientific Officer and National Clinical Director that supports its policy not to carry out widespread community testing for COVID-19.

The Scottish Government does not routinely publish advice to Ministers of this kind. The remit, membership and minutes of the Scottish Government COVID-19 Advisory Group, which considers the scientific and technical concepts and processes that are key to understanding the evolving COVID-19 situation and potential impacts in Scotland, can be found at the following link.

https://www.gov.scot/groups/scottish-government-covid-19-advisory-group/

Question reference: S5W-28173

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 18 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide further details of for what reasons the new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in Edinburgh is not safe for patients.

The hospital is currently undergoing construction work to address the issues identified in both NSS reports I published in 2019.

Please find attached links to both National Service Scotland Reports:

Phase 1 – https://www.gov.scot/publications/nhs-national-services-scotland-review-water-ventilation-drainage-plumbing-systems-nhs-lothian-royal-hospital-children-young-people-department-clinical-neurosciences/

Phase 2 – https://www.gov.scot/publications/nhs-lothian-royal-hospital-children-young-people-department-clinical-neurosciences-review-fire-systems-electrical-systems-medical-gas-installations/

Question reference: S5W-28168

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 18 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish all documents relating to discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding testing for COVID-19.

Question reference: S5W-28167

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 18 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many tests for COVID-19 have been carried out on each day since 1 February 2020.

Question reference: S5W-28165

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 18 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish all advice it has received from (a) the Chief Medical Officer, (b) the National Clinical Director and (c) any other government advisers regarding testing for COVID-19.

Question reference: S5W-28187

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 18 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether people should have the right to know whether or not they have COVID-19.

Parliament dissolved ahead of election

Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Filter your results Hide all filters

Answer

Answer

Answer

Answer

Answer

Answer

Answer

Answer

Answer

Answer