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: S6W-22392

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 6 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates that the reported shortage of the drug, Antabuse, will end, and what action it can take in the future to avoid shortages of drugs such as Antabuse from occurring.

The Scottish Government is aware that there was a UK-wide supply issue with the availability of Antabuse® (disulfiram) tablets earlier this year. The supply disruption has now been stabilised and supplies of Antabuse® (disulfiram) tablets are returning to normal levels.

The pricing and the supply of medicines is currently reserved matter for the UK Government. We continue to engage with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) and we will continue to monitor the situation.

In the event of a medicine shortage, the NHS in Scotland has robust processes in place to manage supply issues when they do arise. Normally there are alternative products which can be prescribed and dispensed.

Question reference: S6W-22270

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 6 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it plans to take to enhance people's understanding of menopause, including menopause symptoms and how to mitigate them, and what help is available to patients.

The Women’s Health Plan recognises that it is important all women know about the menopause and have access to consistent information and care when they seek help with menopause symptoms.

The Scottish Government continues to promote the comprehensive menopause resource on the NHS Inform Women’s Health Platform . This resource was launched in October 2021 to ensure women have access to information on menopause, including the signs and symptoms of perimenopause. The resource includes 11 videos including common myths around the menopause, and personal stories. The resource is accessible in five language translations, British Sign Language translation and an Easy Read version of the content.

To raise awareness of the symptoms of menopause – and how to mitigate them – work has recently begun on the development of a menopause public health campaign.

The Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE), in partnership with the Scottish Government, have hosted a series of webinars to raise awareness about the menopause, focussing on menopause myth busting, menopause and the workplace and menopause, sex and relationships. Recordings of the webinars can be accessed online here: Resources - Policy and research (alliance-scotland.org.uk)

Additionally, to mark World Menopause Day on 18 October 2023, the Scottish Government and the ALLIANCE, hosted a virtual ‘Talk Menopause’ panel discussion with experts in menopause to provide more information on menopause to those who need it.

Question reference: S6W-22272

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 6 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the medium-term goal to provide access in each primary care team to a healthcare professional who has a special interest in menopause, in line with its Women's Health Plan 2021-24.

One of the key aims in the Women’s Health Plan is to ensure that all women will have access to a healthcare professional with an interest in menopause through primary care, and that in the longer term, we build a basic understanding of menopause amongst all healthcare professionals.

In order for primary care professionals to be able to enhance their skills in menopause care, the Scottish Government has commissioned NHS Education for Scotland to create a bespoke training package and framework which is focussed on menopause and menstrual health for general practice and others working in Primary Care.

There is now a menopause specialist in every mainland NHS Board, with a buddy system in place for the Island Boards. Through the National Menopause Specialists Network these local specialists support primary care teams through the provision of access to a menopause specialist for consistent advice, support, onward referral, leadership and training.

Question reference: S6W-22389

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 6 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many people were admitted to hospital as a result of malnutrition in each of the last 10 years, broken down by (a) age and (b) NHS board.

The term ‘malnutrition’ can be used to mean a range of different conditions. The definition used here comprises a specific group of diagnoses which would be used to identify cases of protein/energy malnutrition (ICD-10 codes E40-E46 only).

The number of patients admitted to hospital as a result of malnutrition in each of the last 10 years, broken down by age, is as follows:

Age Range	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
0-39	9	10	12	10	13	11	14	9	8	10
40-49	9	6	8	7	8	12	5	11	8	6
50-59	13	10	10	14	15	20	17	10	11	17
60-69	13	19	12	14	22	16	10	22	12	14
70-79	9	13	10	17	12	*	10	18	8	10
80+	14	5	5	5	7	8	10	7	6	6

Source: Public Health Scotland (SMR01)
‎

The number of patients admitted to hospital as a result of malnutrition in each of the last 10 years, broken down by NHS board, is as follows:

NHS board	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
NHS Ayrshire & Arran	11	6	7	7	10	7	7	8	6	*
NHS Borders	5	*	0	*	*	5	*	0	5	*
NHS Dumfries & Galloway	*	*	*	5	*	*	*	*	0	5
NHS Fife	*	*	5	5	*	14	6	5	8	5
NHS Forth Valley	*	*	5	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
NHS Grampian	5	9	*	*	*	6	8	13	5	7
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde	15	19	18	17	17	8	14	8	6	14
NHS Highland	5	*	5	7	10	10	7	10	5	10
NHS Lanarkshire	6	6	7	7	10	6	*	8	6	*
NHS Lothian	7	8	*	9	10	8	12	15	6	9
NHS Orkney	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
NHS Tayside	5	*	*	*	5	*	*	5	*	*
NHS Shetland	0	0	*	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Not applicable	0	0	0	*	*	0	0	0	0	0
NHS Western Isles	0	0	0	0	0	0	*	0	*	0

Source: Public Health Scotland (SMR01)

‘*’ Indicates values lower than five that have been suppressed due to the potential risk of disclosure and to help maintain confidentiality.

Question reference: S6W-22384

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 6 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consult on proposals to establish a Future Generations Commissioner by the end of 2023.

In the 2022-23 Programme for Government, the Scottish Government reaffirmed our commitment to explore a Wellbeing and Sustainable Development Bill to support greater implementation of the National Performance Framework and ensure that the interests of future generations are considered in decisions made today.

Ministers and officials have been engaging with several stakeholders including meeting with Ms Boyack MSP earlier this month. This has assisted with developing policy proposals.

The proposed Bill may seek a statutory requirement that ensures public bodies and local authorities consider the long-term consequences of their decisions for the wellbeing of people in Scotland, including those not yet born. We are considering whether a Future Generations Commissioner is the most appropriate way to ensure the support and accountability which would need to accompany such duties. It will be important to consult widely on this broad policy area to ensure that any legislation is effective.

Question reference: S6W-22314

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 20 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 6 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether a copy of hearing test results will be offered to people with a hearing impairment as a matter of routine when accessing audiology services, as is the case in NHS England.

The Scottish Government published Quality Standards for Paediatric Audiology Services (2009) and Quality Standards for Adult Hearing Rehabilitation Services (2009) which both state that patients (and their families in the case of children) should be given a copy of their ‘Individual Management Plan’ following visits to services.

It is for Health Boards to ensure that this takes place in line with the quality standards set out.

Question reference: S6W-22315

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 20 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 6 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether people with severe or profound hearing loss, who rely on their hearing aids to communicate, will be prioritised for audiology services when required within NHS Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-22067

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 06 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work to take forward a review of the expressive arts curricular area, as set out in its response to the recommendations from the National Partnership for Culture.

A review of the expressive arts curriculum as outlined in the Scottish Government’s response to recommendations made by the National Partnership for Culture, is being coordinated by Education Scotland. The review is currently at the planning stage, the aim being that the review will move to examine the role of knowledge in the expressive arts curriculum framework in partnership with educators and stakeholders later this academic year.

Question reference: S6W-22316

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 20 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 6 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether a timeframe for the repair and return of hearing aids will be provided by audiology services in situations where these are a necessity for people with a hearing impairment.

Question reference: S6W-22340

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 23 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 6 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can detail what discussions the (a) Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care and (b) Minister for Public Health and Women's Health has had with the Scottish Ambulance Service, since their appointment, regarding neonatal transport, and whether they have explicitly discussed extra funding for neonatal transport, in light of the Scottish Government's proposed reforms to neonatal care in Scotland.

The Cabinet Secretary and myself have had no discussions with the Scottish Ambulance service since their appointment regarding neonatal transport. The Scottish Ambulance Service and ScotSTAR are members of the Perinatal Sub Group that conducted the Options Appraisal report and continue to be closely involved through that forum in discussions about implementation. The Best Start recommended that a review be undertaken to look at the staffing model for the neonatal transport service and funding was provided by the Scottish Government to the Scottish Ambulance Service to take this forward.