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-22442

Asked by: Adam Tomkins, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 01 April 2019
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 23 April 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how minimum unit pricing for alcohol has affected demand for street Valium among homeless people.

The five year evaluation programme for minimum unit pricing is being led by NHS Health Scotland and involves a portfolio of studies. One of the studies assesses the impact of minimum unit pricing on those drinking at harmful levels and includes considering substitution with other substances. The anticipated publication dates for this harmful drinking study are mid-2020 (short term impacts) and mid-2021. Further information on this study is available on the evaluation website at http://www.healthscotland.scot/media/2295/evaluation-of-the-impact-of-mup-in-scotland-on-those-drinking-at-a-harmful-level.pdf .

In addition, a separately funded study is exploring the impact of minimum unit pricing on homeless people and service providers. The anticipated publication date for this study is late 2020. Details of this study will be added to the evaluation website shortly: http://www.healthscotland.scot/health-topics/alcohol/evaluation-of-minimum-unit-pricing-mup .

Question reference: S5W-21715

Asked by: Adam Tomkins, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 February 2019
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 1 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in implementing the UN Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders (the Bangkok rules).

Scotland has established standards for the treatment of women in a custodial and non-custodial setting, which comply with the broad principles set out in the Bangkok Rules.

In December 2017, the Scottish Government published its response to the UN Human Rights Council recommendations following the third Universal Periodic Review of the UK. This response can be found at https://www.gov.scot/publications/universal-periodic-review-human-rights-united-kingdom-december-2017-scottish/ and includes information specifically on women prisoners.

In addition, the Scottish Government will shortly publish a position statement on activity in Scotland to implement the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. This will also include a specific section on women prisoners and increasing use of alternatives to custody for women, including through the extension of the presumption against short sentences.

Question reference: S5O-02969

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S5O-02831

Asked by: Adam Tomkins, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 January 2019
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason its external affairs budget increased by 52% from 2017-18 to 2019-20.

Question reference: S5O-02772

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S5O-02724

Asked by: Adam Tomkins, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 December 2018
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its policy regarding the Planning (Scotland) Bill and land value capture.

Question reference: S5W-19234

Asked by: Adam Tomkins, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 October 2018
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 6 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether any assessment has been made of the Recovery Outcomes web tool for addictions, and whether it will provide data on the recovery journey that has been collected using the tool.

The Recovery Outcomes web tool for addictions was developed in consultation with stakeholders to provide a holistic measure of recovery for substance misuse treatment services. A pilot and evaluation exercise has raised concerns over the validation of the tool and as a result a national roll out of the tool has been postponed until improvement work has taken place. We will be engaging with stakeholders as we consider the options for taking this work forward.

Data is not currently reported on a regional or national level although some areas, including Highland and Moray, currently use the tool to support care planning and have collected local data on outcomes.

Question reference: S5O-02433

Asked by: Adam Tomkins, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 September 2018
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its approach to preventing and managing school exclusions.

Question reference: S5W-18498

Asked by: Adam Tomkins, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 26 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to comments from the Royal College of Radiologists in Scotland that the NHS needs at least 25 extra trainee radiologists per year to protect the delivery of radiology services, rather than the 10 extra trainees pledged by the Scottish Government for each of the next five years.

We review annually the number of radiology training places looking at factors including supply and demand. That led us to increase the number of radiology trainees by 50; giving a total training establishment of 191 radiologists in training by 2022.

The annual process considering medical specialty trainee supply and demand is still ongoing and will take account of a range of factors and developments, as well as responses from Health Boards, Specialty Training Boards, and others with an interest. There has been active engagement with the Royal College of Radiologists in Scotland regarding its proposals and their views will inform decisions on the most appropriate training numbers for 2019.

In March of this year, nine health boards aligned to develop a pan-NHS Scotland International Radiology Recruitment Campaign, in order to advertise a number of existing vacancies. The Scottish Government and the Scottish Radiology Transformation Programme are supporting this campaign.

Question reference: S5O-02397

Asked by: Adam Tomkins, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 26 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to be able to share draft UK common frameworks with the Parliament.

We continue to engage with the UK Government on common frameworks, and will co-operate to establish these where they are in Scotland's interests. Officials continue to make progress in determining what may be needed in any given policy area. However, all co-operation will cease where there is an attempt to impose, rather than agree a framework.

In some frameworks areas, such as agriculture and fisheries, UK Government legislation has been published, or will be in the coming months. Where this touches on devolved matters, the Sewel Convention must be respected and the consent of this Parliament secured.

We will continue to provide the Parliament with regular updates on progress.