- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 11 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 28 November 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what its current estimate is of the rate of emissions and/or sequestration to Scotland’s marine carbon store, in tonnes of CO2-equivilant.
Answer
Estimates of marine carbon sequestration rates have large uncertainties and are difficult to calculate. There are few direct in-situ measurements of carbon sequestration by any marine habitat. Estimates of sequestration rate primarily depend on modelling which uses parameters derived from laboratory experiments and theoretical relationships, many of which are not fully tested.
The current estimate of carbon sequestered by Scotland’s marine environment is 6,485,000 tonnes CO 2 -eq/year. (Details are set out in the table in response to S6W-12149).
There are currently no estimates of emissions from Scotland’s marine carbon stores, research suggests blue-carbon habitat degradation can result in emissions.
- Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 28 November 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what the annual budget was for each of the NHS Research Scotland research networks and speciality groups, in each year since 2016.
Answer
Since 2016, Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office has provided a total of approximately £3.8 million to £4.3 million each year for all NRS Networks and Specialty Groups. Figures for individual Networks and Specialty Groups are indexed by financial year in the table provided.
Table 1. CSO allocations to NRS Networks and Specialty Groups since 2016-17.
Network / Specialty | FY 2016-17 | FY 2017-18 | FY 2018-19 | FY 2019-20 | FY 2020-21 | FY 2021-22 | FY 2022-23 | Total per area |
Cancer * | £442,000 | £447,000 | £456,000 | £456,000 | £456,000 | £475,000 | £475,000 | £3,207,000 |
Stroke | £598,000 | £604,000 | £616,000 | £616,000 | £616,000 | £641,000 | £641,000 | £4,332,000 |
Children | £411,000 | £415,000 | £423,000 | £423,000 | £423,000 | £441,000 | £441,000 | £2,977,000 |
Dementia | £491,000 | £496,000 | £506,000 | £506,000 | £506,000 | £677,000 | £677,000 | £3,859,000 |
Diabetes | £579,000 | £585,000 | £597,000 | £606,000 | £615,000 | £640,000 | £640,000 | £4,262,000 |
Primary Care | £385,000 | £409,000 | £440,000 | £450,000 | £484,000 | £482,000 | £482,000 | £3,132,000 |
Mental Health | £498,000 | £503,000 | £508,000 | £540,000 | £548,000 | £570,000 | £570,000 | £3,737,000 |
Cardiovascular | £64,000 | £65,200 | £66,424 | £66,424 | £66,424 | £68,923 | £68,923 | £466,318 |
Musculoskeletal | £64,000 | £65,200 | £66,424 | £66,424 | £66,424 | £81,744 | £81,744 | £491,960 |
Reproductive Health & Childbirth | £64,000 | £65,200 | £66,424 | £66,424 | £66,424 | £68,923 | £68,923 | £466,318 |
Oral and Dental | £14,000 | £14,200 | £14,404 | £14,404 | £14,404 | £14,822 | £14,822 | £101,056 |
Age and Ageing | £14,000 | £14,200 | £14,404 | £14,404 | £14,404 | £14,821 | £14,821 | £101,054 |
Trauma and Emergencies | £14,000 | £14,200 | £14,404 | £14,404 | £14,404 | £14,821 | £14,821 | £101,054 |
Critical Care and Anaesthesia | £14,000 | £14,200 | £14,404 | £14,404 | £14,404 | £14,821 | £14,821 | £101,054 |
Peri-operative Pain | £14,000 | £14,200 | £14,404 | £14,404 | £14,404 | £14,821 | £14,821 | £101,054 |
Dermatology | £14,000 | £14,200 | £14,404 | £14,404 | £14,404 | £14,821 | £14,821 | £101,054 |
Gastrointestinal | £14,000 | £14,200 | £14,404 | £14,404 | £14,404 | £14,821 | £14,821 | £101,054 |
Hepatology | £14,000 | £14,200 | £14,404 | £14,404 | £14,404 | £14,821 | £14,821 | £101,054 |
Respiratory Disorders | £14,000 | £14,200 | £14,404 | £14,404 | £14,404 | £14,821 | £14,821 | £101,054 |
Clinical Genetics | £14,000 | £14,200 | £14,404 | £14,404 | £14,404 | £14,821 | £14,821 | £101,054 |
Metabolic & Endocrine Disorders | £14,000 | £14,200 | £14,404 | £14,404 | £14,404 | £14,821 | £14,821 | £101,054 |
Opthalmology | £14,000 | £14,200 | £14,404 | £14,404 | £14,404 | £14,821 | £14,821 | £101,054 |
Non-Malignant Haematology | £14,000 | £14,200 | £14,404 | £14,404 | £14,404 | £14,821 | £4,000 | £90,233 |
Infectious Diseases & Microbiology | £14,000 | £14,200 | £14,404 | £14,404 | £24,808 | £14,821 | £14,821 | £111,458 |
Renal Disorders | £14,000 | £14,200 | £14,404 | £14,404 | £14,404 | £14,821 | £14,821 | £101,054 |
Total per Financial Year | £3,806,000 | £3,867,600 | £3,961,332 | £4,012,332 | £4,073,736 | £4,367,906 | £4,357,085 | £28,445,991 |
* From 1 April 2006 a recurring investment of £500,000 was incorporated into the NHS Boards unified budgets which would be subject to the annual uplift applied to Boards baseline budget
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 28 November 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what the total number of whole time equivalent GPs working in Scotland is.
Answer
The most recent estimate for whole time equivalent of GPs can be found in the General Practice Workforce Survey 2019 , published by Public Health Scotland in October 2021. This estimated that there were 3,613 GP whole time equivalents (WTE) in Scotland in 2019. This is an increase from an estimated 3,520 WTE in 2017, with 8 sessions per week equating to one WTE.
The latest data on GP WTE is scheduled to be published by Public Health Scotland, they have pre-announced publication of this analysis report for 29 November.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 28 November 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05371 by Humza Yousaf on 10 January 2022, which refers to a "regular tripartite forum" that has a focus on junior doctors, what progress has been made in implementing the recommendations from the publication, Junior Doctors - 48-hour Maximum Working Week (Without Averaging): Expert Working Group Report.
Answer
Junior Doctors are a valuable part of the NHS Scotland workforce. The Scottish Government has implemented a 4.5% pay uplift this year which is in line with the independent DDRB recommendations.
The Scottish Government has been working with BMA and NHS Employers to take forward the Expert Working Group recommendation and key priorities within the BMA Wellbeing report. A Joint Statement on Junior Doctor Health and Wellbeing was agreed between all parties on 1 June 2022 and work is now underway to implement this important work.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 28 November 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to convey to the UK Government the reported concerns of people seeking asylum regarding their experiences of the standard of living and welfare at the Alexander Thomson Hotel, in Glasgow.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-11992 on 28 November 2022. 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
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 28 November 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what the £6 million of reduced Buildings Standards expenditure identified on page 23 of the Emergency Budget Review was originally assigned to.
Answer
The budget allocated to the Cladding Remediation programme is £400 million in total, this includes the £6 million identified in the Emergency Budget Review. The focus of funding in this financial year has been on expanding our pilot towards 100 surveys, surveys cost less than remediation but are a key commitment and an essential step before remediation work can start. There has been no impact on projects or on the overall budget.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 28 November 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what financial support it has provided to housing developers in order to identify and remediate unsafe cladding.
Answer
The Scottish Government is working closely with developers in the assessment of buildings in the Single Building Assessment pilot to identify and remediate unsafe cladding. The Scottish Government is not providing direct financial support to housing developers. We will work with developers to implement the Scottish Safer Buildings Accord which will set out the expectation that developers will make financial contributions to remediate their buildings.
- Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 14 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 28 November 2022
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish a breakdown of where the reallocated funds announced by the Deputy First Minister in the Emergency Budget Review have been, or will be, spent.
Answer
A full breakdown of the implications of the Emergency Budget Review (EBR) measures on the Scottish Budget was included within the guide to the Autumn Budget Revision (ABR) provided to the Finance and Public Administration Committee.
Of the initial £560 million line items included within the Deputy First Minister’s letter to the Committee in September, £369 million is included within the ABR as either a return of budget or a funding change. The balancing figure of £191 million are reductions to previously unfunded pressures which have emerged since the Scottish Budget was published and savings which will come through the SBR exercise.
The new commitments detailed in the EBR document published earlier this month are also reflected in the ABR position. The additional savings outlined will be processed, where necessary as part of the Spring Budget Revision.
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 11 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 28 November 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-11429 by Humza Yousaf on 7 November 2022, what action is open to it where NHS boards are reportedly not ensuring in-person patient access to GPs, where clinically appropriate, is maintained.
Answer
Should the Scottish Government become aware that a Health Board was reportedly not ensuring in-person patient access to GPs, where clinically appropriate, was maintained, my officials would engage with the Health Board in question and establish the situation. I recently wrote to all GP practices setting out my expectations on patient access and announcing the General Practice Access Group to establish key principles for access to general practice
Health Boards have a statutory duty to deliver primary medical services.
- Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 14 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 28 November 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the budget reallocations announced in the Emergency Budget Review, including the £714 million allocated to fund public sector pay settlements, on the Budget for 2023-24.
Answer
The impact of the reallocations in the Emergency Budget Review, including public sector pay, will have a significant bearing on the 2023-24 Scottish Budget. Further details of the effect of these considerations on proposed portfolio allocations will be published within the Scottish Budget document in December.
