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-08330

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 17 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many staff will be recruited for the Scottish Council on Global Affairs; where it will be located, and what its remit will be.

The Scottish Council on Global Affairs (SCGA) is a fully independent international relations institute which was founded by the University of Edinburgh, the University of St Andrews and the University of Glasgow.

Staffing plans, location and its remit, including its overall management are the responsibility of the SCGA. Further information can be found on their website: The Scottish Council on Global Affairs (scga.scot) .

Question reference: S6W-08292

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 17 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to fund immunology, virology, haematology, and neurology research in relation to long COVID.

Within the Scottish Government funding of health research falls under the remit of the Chief Scientist Office.

Following an independent expert review process, 9 projects were funded through the CSO's Long-term effects of COVID-19 call Long Covid Call – Chief Scientist Office (scot.nhs.uk)

One of these projects (COV/LTE/20/26) is specifically addressing neurological aspects of long-COVID

A second project (COV/LTE/20/28) is studying inflammatory, vascular and cardiac biomarkers in the context of long-COVID in people with Diabetes

The CSO's Translational Clinical Studies Committee and the Health Improvement, Protection and Services Research Committees each meet twice per year to consider funding applications. Details of the application process are published on the CSO website.

Grant Funding – Chief Scientist Office (scot.nhs.uk)

Applications on immunology, virology, haematology, and neurology research in the context of long-COVID may be submitted to the CSO funding committees. In common with all other applications, these would go through the CSO's standard independent peer review process.

Question reference: S6W-08287

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 29 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 17 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its employment policy is for determining the length of notice period for civil servants.

The resignation notice periods for civil servants in Scottish Government Core Directorates is as follows:

Senior Civil Servants - 3 months, as set by the Civil Service Management Code
Special Advisers - 5 weeks, as set by contract and stipulated by Cabinet Office
Scottish Government delegated grades:
Band C - 3 months
All other staff - 1 month

The notice periods for delegated grades have been in place for many years, and pre-date the delegation of terms and conditions of employment to civil service employers.

Question reference: S6W-07965

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 08 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 17 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to monitor and manage any risks to staff wellbeing related to the impact of any additional work outlined in the NHS recovery plan.

The NHS Recovery Plan highlights our ambitious plans to expand and grow the workforce, in particular to assist with the additional procedures we intend on undertaking through our NTC's.

Significantly, we are recruiting more staff throughout the NHS so our ambitious recovery can be fully realised, with this plan outlining our commitment to:

Recruit 1,500 new clinical and non-clinical staff for National Treatment Centres by 2026 .

We use a range of measures to monitor the wellbeing of the workforce taking into account the diverse nature of the workforce operating in a range of roles and geographies, the broad spectrum of wellbeing needs at both a professional and personal level and different reporting arrangements across sectors.

We continue to actively listen to colleagues across Health and Social care to understand where the current pressures are, and what actions can be taken to mitigate their impact on staff.

Question reference: S6W-07966

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 08 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 17 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has regarding NHS staff rest and leave, and whether it plans to develop a strategy to prevent staff burnout.

It is critical staff wellbeing is looked after and they are able to take the rest breaks and leave to which they are entitled, as well as being given time to access national and local wellbeing resources at work. That is why we made £12 million available in 2021-22 to support the mental health and wellbeing of the workforce.

Our National Workforce Strategy, published on 11 March 2022, highlights that the wellbeing of our health and social care workforce, wherever they work, remains an essential priority.

Throughout the pandemic, the Scottish Government have emphasised to Boards, Health and Social Care Partners and Local Authorities the on-going need to promote both the physical and the psychological wellbeing of everyone working in health and social care.

Question reference: S6W-08032

Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 17 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that NHS Grampian could take nine months to set out the timescales and milestones to deliver model 6 (consultant-led maternity unit) at Dr Gray's in Elgin.

Since announcing my response to the Moray Maternity Services Review I have written to both NHS Highland and NHS Grampian outlining my expectation of planning towards the networked Raigmore option (Model 4 in the report) and the full Consultant-led Maternity Unit at Dr Gray’s to begin immediately. I indicated in my statement my expectation that planning for Model 4 will conclude by the Summer and Model 6 soon after and I expect this to be no later than the end of this year. I will meet with NHS Grampian soon to discuss their implementation plans including timescales. I indicated on 30 March that I would be happy to keep the Scottish Parliament updated when I have more detail on milestones and timescales.

Question reference: S6W-08470

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 17 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, how many (a) emergency calls and (b) ambulance call-outs recorded in the Scottish Ambulance Service call log have included the field search "abortion", in each of the last five years.

Question reference: S6T-00722

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 16 May 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its reaction is to the reported awarding of almost £1 million compensation from Police Scotland to an ex-officer following an employment tribunal ruling of victimisation.

Question reference: S6T-00713

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 16 May 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the anticipated delivery date of the ferries under construction at Ferguson Marine, in light of recent reports that the number of faults in the two vessels has risen.

Question reference: S6T-00711

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 16 May 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the investigation into the recent spike in deaths of newborn babies.