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-29441

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 2 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the COVID-19 outbreak, what financial support is available to people who are long-term self-employed, and whether it plans to expand this.

The Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) is the current system being used to support long-term self-employed people. This is a UK Government Scheme which is available to eligible self-employed individuals or members of trading partnerships who have submitted an Income Tax Self-Assessment tax return for the tax year 2018-19 and are still trading, or would be trading if it weren’t for Covid-19. Eligible applicants will receive a taxable grant which will be 80% of the average profits from the last three years, up to a maximum of £2,500 per month for 3 months and is paid directly into bank accounts, in a single instalment.

I wrote to the Chancellor on 26 May urging him to ensure that just like the Job Retention Scheme, the SEISS was extended also. The Chancellor announced on 29 May that the SEISS would be extended to allow a second grant. Eligible self-employed individuals, or members of trading partnerships, will be able to claim a second taxable grant worth 70% of their average monthly trading profits. This will also be paid out in a single instalment covering three months' worth of profits, capped at £6,750 for the second period. The UK Government have advised that they will be publishing guidance on this second grant on 12 June.

The Scottish Government does not have the powers to create a system of this kind which is why it has been essential that we ensure the UK Government scheme works appropriately to meet the needs of self-employed people in Scotland. We were aware, from correspondence and stakeholders, that the imminent closure of the UK Scheme was the biggest issue facing self-employed people and is why we have encouraged the UK Government to extend the SEISS also.

Question reference: S5W-28893

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 26 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the process is for families to receive payment from its recently-announced COVID-19-related death in service benefit for NHS staff, including for families of staff who were not covered by the existing schemes; when this benefit will be operational, and how quickly the money will be distributed.

The NHS Scotland Coronavirus Life Insurance Scheme 2020 is now operational. The application and timescales mirror the existing Scottish Public Pension Agency (SPPA) process for claiming a death in service benefit, and can be found on the SPPA website. Employers are familiar with this process and will be able to fully assist any applicants.

SPPA expects to deliver any payments in line with existing arrangements for the pension scheme. Short term survivor pensions will in most cases be administered by the employer immediately following the date of death, and lump sum payments will usually be made within 21 days of a completed application being received by SPPA.

This is a process which is tried and tested, is familiar to employers and will ensure equality across the NHS workforce.

Question reference: S5W-28894

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 26 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the timeline will be for the full resumption of (a) bone infusions, (b) radiotherapy and (c) other cancer treatments following the end of the COVID-19 lockdown.

Cancer treatment has not stopped in Scotland. Vital cancer treatments and emergency, maternity and urgent care will continue where clinically agreed. The majority of cancer treatments have continued throughout this pandemic. However, some patient’s treatment plans have changed to minimise their individual risk of COVID-19. Those that require changes will always be made on a clinical basis and should be made in discussion with the patient and clinical team. We very much understand the concerns of patients whose treatments have been postponed. Clinical guidance is being developed to ensure patients in most urgent need of treatment are seen as priority, and that all patients throughout Scotland have equity of access to treatment.

Alongside this is our current work to restart paused NHS services across primary, secondary and acute care, of which on broad indication is given in the "COVID-19 Framework for Decision Making – Scotland’s Route map through and out of the crisis document" published on 21 May. As we work with Boards, Royal Colleges, Unions and other partners we will be focussed on clinical advice and will set out our decisions for Phase 1 activity and the evidence and rationale on which these decisions are made.

Question reference: S5W-28111

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 13 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how much it invests in protecting people with pre-existing respiratory illnesses, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and what plans it has to invest more, in light of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Question reference: S5W-28109

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 9 April 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the COVID-19 outbreak, what consideration it has given to increasing the number of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) being admitted to virtual wards, so that clinicians can better monitor this at-risk group while they are at home, in light of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Scottish Government is aware that this is a worrying time for people but, it is absolutely vital that people stay at home during this time in order to protect those most at risk and the NHS.

The Scottish Government is proactively providing guidance to groups who require to increase social distancing, such as those adults with underlying respiratory conditions. This guidance can be found at https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-tailored-advice-for-those-who-live-with-specific-medical-conditions/ .

Treatment plans are specific to individuals and should not be changed without advice from a medical professional. If an individual is receiving treatment for a respiratory condition, it is important that they take extra care of their overall wellbeing, and attending hospital appointments is part of this. Clinical teams will try to minimise the time people spend in hospital departments, for example arranging telephone or Near Me video consultations.

Question reference: S5W-28107

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 9 April 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the COVID-19 outbreak, what steps it is taking to ensure that all patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can receive their prescriptions safely, in light of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Those who are at the highest risk are being told that the safest course of action is to stay at home at all times and avoid all face-to-face contact for at least twelve weeks from 26 March, except from carers and healthcare workers who you must see as part of your medical care. Guidance on shielding can be found at: https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-covid-19-shielding .

This group includes those who have severe COPD, the definition of which can be found on the Scottish Government website - https://www.gov.scot/publications/covid-shielding-contacts/pages/highest-risk-classification/.

This group will be provided with specific support, including collection and delivery of prescriptions where no other help such as family and friends is available. Individuals will receive a personal letter telling them how to access this support.

For people with COPD and other respiratory conditions who do not fall into the category above, the Scottish Government has published guidance and this will be reviewed and updated regularly: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-tailored-advice-for-those-who-live-with-specific-medical-conditions/ .

Public health advice is also regularly updated and can be found at: Coronavirus (COVID-19) on NHS Inform and at Public Health Scotland: https://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/a-to-z-of-topics/covid-19/ .

If patients do not currently have prescriptions collected or delivered, this can arranged by:

Asking someone who can pick up their prescription from the local pharmacy, and leave them at their door for them.
contacting your local authority who will be able to arrange for your medicines to be delivered to your home.
If patients get medicines or equipment from their hospital care team, they will make arrangements to have them delivered.

Question reference: S5W-28110

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 9 April 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it holds centrally a list of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Question reference: S5W-28007

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 31 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether, in light of the Montgomery v Lanarkshire Health Board Judgment of 11 Mar 2015, it considers that clinicians and alcohol drug partnerships are obtaining informed consent from patients at regular intervals, and informing those patients about the adverse consequences of prescribing methadone over long periods.

It would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to comment on clinical decisions. All medicines should be prescribed based on clinical need and discussed with patients within the context of their long-term recovery. Prescribers should follow national and local prescribing guidance in prescribing methadone, benzodiazepines and other medicines that might be used to manage people with problematic drug use.

Question reference: S5O-04289

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S5O-04245

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it supports the position of the UK or the EU on fishing rights in relation to the trade negotiations between the two administrations.