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: S6O-00972

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 April 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the support it is providing to high streets and businesses.

Question reference: S6W-07215

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 24 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of reports of people facing long waiting times when contacting the Scotland's Census 2022 helpline, and, if so, what action it is taking to address this.

The Scotland’s Census 2022 contact centre experienced high volumes of calls in its first few days of operation and we are aware that some callers have experienced longer than average wait times at peak points during the day. National Records of Scotland apologise for any frustration this may have caused.

Callers to the Freephone helpline (0800 030 8308) are advised at the start of the call of current wait times and therefore have the opportunity to phone back at a less busy time. An automated option (option 1) is also provided for those wishing to order a paper form. This involves no wait time.

Additional resources have been placed into the contact centre to deal with periods of peak activity. Contact can also be made with the census team via web chat, e-mail or physical correspondence. Contact details can be found here: Contact us | Scotland's Census 2022 . Help and advice on a range of topics is also provided at www.census.gov.scot .

These changes continue to have had a positive impact, with general reductions in the average wait times in week 2 and beyond. There is ongoing active monitoring and management of the position to ensure that those that need help are able to speak to an agent.

Question reference: S6O-00902

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 March 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it is scheduled to meet with UK Government ministers to discuss the implementation of the Energy Company Obligation 4 scheme in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-03700

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 26 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what plans it has to review its COVID-19 guidance to end the mandatory use of face coverings for people attending places of worship.

The Scottish Government is required by law to regularly review all protective measures that are currently in place, such as the mandatory requirement for the wearing of face coverings in most indoor settings, including places of worship. This measure will continue to be monitored and reviewed in relation to evidence on the four harms : the direct impact of COVID-19, other health impacts, societal impacts, and economic impacts.

After a recent review, during which there was careful consideration of all of the current evidence as well as the options available, Ministers determined that the regulations on face coverings remain proportionate and should not change for the present.

At this stage of the pandemic many of the more intrusive restrictions have been lifted, but the virus and the harms that it causes have not gone away. We still continue to see hospital admissions and deaths as a result of COVID and the impacts of long COVID can be significant. That is why it remains important to maximise the use of the remaining measures such as face coverings.

While the vaccination has significantly weakened the link between new cases and serious health harms, it has not been completely broken. It is therefore important that places of worship, along with many other indoor settings, continue their good practice to reduce the spread of the virus.

We are grateful to faith and belief communities for their important role in protecting their congregations and enabling everyone, particularly those at higher risk, to access worship safely.

Question reference: S6W-03422

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 19 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to run public awareness campaigns regarding the change to routine cervical screening intervals from three to five years.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-01510 on 4 August 2021. I can now update that the cervical screening marketing campaign was launched on 11 October 2021. Although the primary focus of this campaign will be on encouraging those eligible to attend their cervical screening appointment when invited, the campaign will also provide information on screening intervals and the benefits of testing for human papilloma virus. Beyond this campaign, we will continue to work with our partners to identify further opportunities to communicate these important messages.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Question reference: S6W-02926

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 12 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reduce waiting times for dermatology services, and whether it will extend the collection of waiting times data in dermatology.

The NHS Recovery Plan sets out how we will take forward our aim of increasing NHS capacity by at least 10% in order to address the backlog of care and meet the ongoing healthcare needs of the country. The plan, backed by more than £1 billion of investment, focuses on providing alternative pathways of care that allow people to be treated more quickly and closer to home.

As part of this the Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD) is working with all Health Boards to support better use of the Active Clinical Referral Triage and Discharge Patient Initiated Review to ensure patients who need to be seen get access to the care they require in a timely manner. There is work ongoing with a number of Health Boards to implement the Digital Dermatology app, which allows patients to interact with a clinician at a time convenient to the patient and without needing to attend a hospital site.

There is also considerable work underway to educate the nursing workforce with regards to skin conditions, in order to maximise the capability of this group of staff to support patients. This will, in turn, help to maximise capacity for dermatology services.

Finally, the Dermatology Pathways app provides clinically validated pathway information to GPs and other health professionals for many of the most common skin conditions, with the aim of supporting access for patients who most need treatment in the most appropriate care setting. As part of this CfSD, is working with the British Association of Dermatologists to increase the number of pathways covered by this approach.

Public Health Scotland (PHS) do not hold sub specialty data for Dermatology, this information would be held by Health Boards.

Question reference: S6W-02927

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 28 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many adults have been diagnosed with (a) psoriasis and (b) psoriatic arthritis in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.

Question reference: S6W-02924

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 28 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what steps each NHS board is taking to improve the health outcomes of people with (a) psoriasis and (b) psoriatic arthritis.

We expect NHS Boards to adhere to current guidelines on the treatment options from authorative sources such as The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network guidelines - Diagnosis and management of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in adults. (SIGN Guideline No 121) . Further information is also available on NHS Inform website . We also work closely with third sector organisation such as Versus Arthritis.

Question reference: S6W-02923

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 28 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support people with (a) psoriasis and (b) psoriatic arthritis who experience mental health conditions associated with the condition, including depression and anxiety.

The Government understands that those with long term health conditions such as psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis may also need support to deal with the impact this may have on their mental wellbeing.

GPs or local healthcare teams are best placed to offer further advice or treatment if needed and we’d advise people to contact their GP if they have concerns. Further information outlining this is available on our NHS Inform website at NHS Inform.

Improving timely access to local care and support for mental health is an existing priority. As of 1 January 2021, through action 15 of the Mental Health Strategy 2017-27 and the Primary Care Improvement Fund, 193 additional Mental Health Worker posts have been created in GP settings.

We’ve also made a longer term commitment that by 2026, every GP Practice will have access to a mental health and wellbeing service, funding 1,000 additional dedicated staff who can help grow community mental health resilience and offer social prescribing opportunities on a wide range of different community based services such as arts and cultural activities, green space and physical activity and leisure etc.

Later this year, and on the basis of local plans submitted by Integration Authorities, we will start providing funding to begin national implementation of a new model for Mental Health in Primary Care.

Question reference: S6W-02925

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 28 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve awareness of the links between psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.