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-03533

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 26 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance there is on providing best care for people with dementia in residential care.

The Standards of Care for Dementia in Scotland provide guidance on standards expected when provding care in all dementia care settings, including residential care.

The Care Inspectorate will carry out 150 dementia-focused inspections in care home for older people in 2016-17. The inspections will focus on how the dementia standards have been applied in practice. An overall inspection report will be published and available on the Care Inspectorate’s website in 2017.

Question reference: S5W-03707

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 26 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to amend the Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011.

There are no current plans to review the Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011, but a review of the code of conduct for registered property factors established under the Act is currently underway. The current code sets out minimum standards of practice which all registered property factors are obliged to comply with.

Any revised code prepared as part of that review would be subject to public consultation and approval by the Scottish Parliament.

Question reference: S5W-03229

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 18 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how many post-diagnostic dementia link workers there are in each NHS board.

Question reference: S5W-03230

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 18 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, on average, how many people does a post-diagnostic dementia link worker support.

Question reference: S5W-03276

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 13 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what advice it provides for parents who are concerned about health and safety in a school.

Health and safety legislation is not devolved to Scottish Government. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has UK wide responsibility for this matter.

The HSE’s current schools guidance can be found online at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/services/education/index.htm. Moreover, information about managing health and safety in school grounds can be found on Education Scotland's website at: http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/learningandteaching/approaches/outdoorlearning/placestolearnoutdoors/schoolgrounds/managingsafety.asp

Question reference: S5W-03277

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 13 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its role is in ensuring appropriate health and safety in schools.

Question reference: S5W-03219

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 11 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with integration authorities about the inclusion of services and support for people with musculoskeletal conditions in their strategic plans.

Health boards can with agreement from local partners delegate all services and support for people with musculoskeletal conditions to their local Health and Social Care Partnership for inclusion in strategic plans. Where the decision is taken by the Health board not to delegate a specific musculoskeletal service or specialty we expect both parties to work together to ensure that any interactions between delegated and non-delegated services are as seamless as possible.

The Scottish Government has regular contact with local Health and Social Care Partnerships regarding the implementation of their locally agreed strategic plans and their effectiveness in the delivery of better outcomes.

Question reference: S5W-03287

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 7 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the UK Chief Medical Officers' Alcohol Guidelines Review and what action it will take to (a) tackle excessive alcohol consumption and (b) help people to make informed choices about their alcohol consumption.

The Scottish Government is supportive of the review, and we have taken considerable action to reduce alcohol harm through our Alcohol Framework to help prevent problems arising in the first place, and ensuring support and treatment for those who are already experiencing problems. As part of the Alcohol Framework we have taken forward education programmes and social marketing campaigns to raise awareness of the risks associated with alcohol and will continue to do so through the next phase of the Alcohol Framework.

Question reference: S5W-03025

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 30 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether the conclusions of morbidity and mortality conferences are considered when deciding whether to carry out fatal accident inquiries.

Morbidity and mortality conferences, forums or meetings provide a systematic approach to reviewing patient deaths and complications in care, as part of professional learning.

Where the Procurator Fiscal is carrying out a full investigation in relation to a death, in which there are concerns about the medical care provided to the deceased, it is normal practice for the Procurator Fiscal to request copies of any internal reviews undertaken by the relevant Health board. This may include the outcome of a morbidity and mortality conference.

The results together with any implementation of learning will be considered by Crown Counsel, when deciding whether or not a discretionary fatal accident inquiry will be instructed. The other relevant material will include the opinions of any independent expert(s) instructed by the Crown as well as the views of nearest relatives.

Question reference: S5W-03026

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 30 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has issued regarding holding a morbidity and mortality conference when a person dies while being treated in an NHS hospital, and whether this contains a timeframe that indicates when these conferences should (a) begin and (b) conclude.

A Morbidity and Mortality Practice Guide for clinicians and health professionals is being developed jointly with NHS Education for Scotland and Health Improvement Scotland which will address governance processes across all specialties and will be consulted on during autumn 2016. This includes a proposed time frame for cases to be reviewed, from event to discussion and sharing of learning, of six weeks; however these timeframes are indicative. The draft guide also includes timelines for resultant improvement actions based on best practice.