- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 March 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 5 April 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether the submissions to the Wolfson Economics Prize 2021, in response to the problem question, "How would you design and plan new hospitals to radically improve patient experiences, clinical outcomes, staff wellbeing, and integration with wider health and social care?", have influenced Scottish Government policy on the design of healthcare facilities.
Answer
Scottish Government policy for design quality in healthcare (DL(2010)19) looks to ensure that these elements are considered by designers and NHS Boards. This is assessed by the NHSScotland Design Assessment Process (NDAP) provided by NHSScotland Assure in conjunction with Architecture and Design Scotland (A&DS) is the vehicle for assessing design quality in NHSScotland Capital funded healthcare facilities developments and is an integral part of the Business Case process. The NDAP, along with the Sustainable Design and Construction (SDaC) requirements, ensures that a well rounded and measured assessment is made of the requirements of the objectives of each project they review.
This Wolfson Economics Prize competition of 2021 provided numerous innovative submissions in response to the problem question. Each of the runners up and the winner of the prize provided interesting responses to specific strands of healthcare design. The main themes featured in the Wolfson Economic Prize finalists are embeded in the NDAP and SDaC process to ensure sustainable, Person Centred Care.
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 March 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 5 April 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what work it has undertaken in the last 12 months to increase patient awareness of alternative pathways to primary care.
Answer
The Scottish Government has delivered the Right Care Right Place campaign during October to November 2023 which outlined the options for those seeking urgent medical care across A&E/999, General Practice and NHS 24 111. The campaign also promoted the self-help guides that are available on NHSInform.scot and messaging relating to multi-disciplinary teams within General Practices.
In addition, NHS 24 has delivered their healthy know-how campaign which promoted the option of contacting a local pharmacist, as well as our regular campaigns as to how best to use NHS services (including primary care) over the winter period.
- Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 22 March 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 5 April 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce the waiting time for a colonoscopy once a patient is notified that further investigation is required after returning a bowel screening test.
Answer
Our priority is to ensure those people referred for suspected cancer or via screening programmes receive the appropriate diagnosis and treatment safely, based on their clinical urgency. To specifically support scope-based diagnostics, we have published a £70m Endoscopy and Urology Diagnostic Recovery and Renewal Plan, including provision of additional endoscopy training places via the NHS Academy to future-proof the workforce and provide additional diagnostic capacity to reduce waiting times.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 March 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 5 April 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6O-03226 by Siobhian Brown on 20 March 2024, in relation to the offences under the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022, how many people have been (a) arrested, (b) charged, (c) prosecuted and (d) convicted, also broken down by the (i) offence and (ii) court disposal.
Answer
Figures on arrests or charges related to particular offences are not held centrally by the Scottish Government, the most recent figures shared by Police Scotland were provided in the answer to question S6W-21328 on 27 September 2023. 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 .
Up until the end of February 2024, 40 charges under the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022 were reported to the Procurator Fiscal. Of those 40 charges, 20 charges have thus far been prosecuted. There have been 4 convictions, 2 charges did not result in a conviction, and the other 14 charges are part of ongoing prosecutions. A breakdown of prosecutions by offence are set out below:
- Section 21 (Prohibition on providing fireworks or pyrotechnic articles to children): T here have been a total of 5 prosecutions. These are all ongoing at present.
- Section 35 (Prohibition of pyrotechnic articles in public places): There have been a total of 7 prosecutions. There has been 1 conviction while the other 6 are ongoing at present.
- Section 36 (Prohibition of pyrotechnic articles at designated venues or events): T here have been a total of 8 prosecutions. There has been 3 convictions and 2 acquittals, while a further 3 are ongoing at present. One of the cases which is still ongoing under this section is also aggravated as per Section 44 of the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022.
- Section 44 (Aggravation of offences against emergency workers): 77 aggravations have been recorded. Thus far, there have been 8 prosecutions, and 1 conviction.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 March 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 5 April 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made towards the creation of an offshore training and skills passport.
Answer
Through its Just Transition Fund, t he Scottish Government has supported industry-led development of a practical Skills Passport that works for the different offshore energy industry sectors, recognising the cross-sector skills of workers, and the importance of supporting a fair and managed transition.
We understand that the key industry bodies leading on the Passport's delivery intend to make a statement in relation to next steps on the project shortly . We will have a clearer understanding of when we can look forward to an initial version of the Passport being available for workers to access after this announcement.
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 15 March 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 5 April 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what data it holds on how many patients have been diagnosed with a blood cancer through Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Services.
Answer
The recently published University of Strathclyde evaluation report https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/88280/7/Maguire-etal-2024-Final-report-of-the-evaluation-of-rapid-cancer-diagnostic-services.pdf showed that 13.5% of cancers diagnosed through the Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Services (RCDS) were blood cancers.
The Scottish Government does not hold data on exact numbers but work is underway with Public Health Scotland to create a national RCDS data-set.
- Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 15 March 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Emma Roddick on 5 April 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported concerns of the tourism industry regarding the potential impact on travellers to and from Scotland, what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the introduction of both the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), and whether it plans to work with the UK Government on a joint awareness campaign.
Answer
The tourism and hospitality industry plays a vital role in ensuring visitors enjoy their time in Scotland. Many rural areas of Scotland are particularly reliant on tourism to support the local economy.
Scotland must be able to continue to welcome people from all over the world each year to enjoy our vibrant culture, history, hospitality, and countryside.
Whilst immigration is fully reserved the Scottish Government are willing to work with the UK Government to ensure minimal disruption to travellers when the new EU systems are introduced.
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 15 March 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 5 April 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve equity of access to Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Services, particularly in Scotland's more remote and rural NHS boards.
Answer
Officials met with every Health Board’s Cancer Management Team in Scotland, including the Island Boards, in March 2024 to discuss their plans for establishing a Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Service (RCDS). The commitment remains, as reflected in Scotland’s Cancer Strategy, to achieve population coverage of an RCDS for eligible patients by Spring 2026.
The recent University of Strathclyde evaluation report https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/88280/7/Maguire-etal-2024-Final-report-of-the-evaluation-of-rapid-cancer-diagnostic-services.pdf showed that a virtual model is well accepted by patients and will be considered by Boards in the North of Scotland.
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Current Status:
Withdrawn
- Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 March 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 4 April 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of (a) how and (b) where the budget allocated for active travel was spent, in each financial year from 2020-21 to 2023-24.
Answer
The Active Travel Budget is an annually set allocation from the overall Scottish Transport Budget. The Active Travel Programme contains a blend of Grants awarded in accordance with the Scottish public Finance Manual, contracts drawn down from Scottish Government procurement frameworks, and budget transfers to support investments managed in other areas of the portfolio. A breakdown of years 2020-21 to 2023-24 is set out in the following table;
Financial Year 2020-21- £100,500,000.00 |
Investment | Amount | Mechanism | Delivery Partners |
Infrastructure and place making projects | £84,506,198.00 | Paid through Grant Awards | All Local Authorities, Sustrans |
Regional Transport Partnership Grants | £1,315,600.00 | Paid through Grant Awards | Regional Transport Partnerships |
Independent Review of Grants | £5,014.66 | Framework Call of Contract | MacRoberts LLP |
Research Programme on Presumed Liability | £7,470.00 | Through budget transfer as part of the Spring and Autumn budget reviews | UK Government DfT, Transport Scotland |
Behaviour Change Interventions | £14,665,717.00 | Paid through Grant Awards | Cycling Scotland, CyclingUK, Forth Environment Link, Cycling Without Age, Scottish National Heritage, The Bike Station, Sustrans |
Active Nation Commissioner | £50,648.00 | Public Appointment | Active Nation Commissioner |
Financial Year 2021-22 - £116,171,826.69 |
Investment | Amount | Mechanism | Delivery Partners |
Free Bikes for school age children Commitment | £ 2,133,459.29 | Paid through Grant Awards | Scottish Cycling, FreeWheel North, Sustrans, Cycling Scotland, Shetland Council, Forth Environment Link, St Paul’s Youth Forum, Angus Bike Hub, Bike for Good, Research Scotland |
The development of a replacement strategy for the Cycling Action Plan - the Cycle Framework | £50,000.40 | Framework Call of Contract | AECOM |
Active Travel Infrastructure Investments | £90,638,802.70 (£51,256,912 of which was managed to projects through Sustrans) | Paid through Grant Awards | All Scottish Local Authorities, Regional Transport Partnerships, Sustrans |
Interventions to support people and communities to make Active Travel Choices | £20,984,564.00 | Paid through Grant Awards | Paths for All, Cycling Scotland, CyclingUK, Living Streets, Sestrans, Sustrans |
Active Travel Contributions to wider Transport and Government Investments includes capital and resource reviews | £2,290,000.00 | Through budget transfer as part of the Spring and Autumn budget reviews | Transport Scotland |
Active Nation Commissioner | £75,000.00 | Public Appointment | Active Nation Commissioner |
Financial Year 2022-23 - £149,683,003.69 |
Investment | Amount | Mechanism | Delivery Partners |
Active Travel Infrastructure Investments | £108,472,925.00 (£65,901,425 of which was managed to project through Sustrans) | Paid through Grant Awards | All Scottish Local Authorities, All Scottish Regional Transport Partnerships, Sustrans, Paths for All, |
Active Travel Contributions to wider Transport and Government Investments includes capital and resource reviews | £13,374,000.00 (£3,300,000 of which supported road safety projects) | Through budget transfer as part of the Spring and Autumn budget reviews | Transport Scotland |
Free Bikes for school age children Commitment | £2,328,868.90 | Paid through Grant Awards | Sustrans, Shetland Council, Scottish Cycling, St Paul’s Youth Forum, Forth Environment Link, Cycling Scotland, Bike for Good, Angus Cycle Hub. YoungScot |
Access to Bikes and cycling priority interventions | £13,150,907.75 | Paid through Grant Awards | Cycling Scotland, CyclingUK, Energy Savings Trust, Bike for Good, UCI Major Events Team |
Behaviour Change Interventions | £11,782,502.54 | Paid through Grant Awards | Paths for All, COMOUK, Sustrans, Living Streets |
Active Nation Commissions | £75,000.00 | Public Appointment | Active Nation Commissioner |
The Active Travel Transformation Programme | £496,898.75 | Framework Call off Contact and administration/facilitation costs | SWECO, Systra, |
The development of a replacement strategy for the Cycling Action Plan - the Cycle Framework | £1,900.75 | Framework Contract | APS |
Financial Year 2023-24 – £183,640,579 allocated for Spend |
Investment | Amount | Mechanism | Delivery Partners |
Active Travel Infrastructure Investments | £76,899,949.00 | Paid through Grant Awards | All Scottish Local Authorities, All Scottish Regional Transport Partnerships, Sustrans, Paths for All, |
Active Travel Contributions to wider Transport and Government Investments includes capital and resource reviews | £53,700,000.00 | Through budget transfer as part of the Spring and Autumn budget reviews | Transport Scotland |
Access to Bikes and cycling priority interventions | £17,403,189.00 | Paid through Grant Awards | Cycling Scotland, Energy Savings Trust, Bike for Good, Bike Station, CyclingUK, Scotrail |
Contribution to the UCI Cycling World Championships | £1,010,000.00 | Through budget transfer as part of the Spring and Autumn budget reviews | UCI Major Events Team |
Behaviour Change Interventions | £14,681,896.00 | Paid through Grant Awards | Paths for All, Sustrans, Living Streets, Active Travel Ambassador |
The Active Travel Transformation Programme, including the Active Travel Transformation Fund | £19,949,045.00 | Paid through Grant Awards and a framework call of contract | Scottish Local Authorities, Systra, MacRoberts LLP, |
