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-14410

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 9 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what it has done to improve the rates of pre-pregnancy counselling, particularly in women with type 2 diabetes, and what data it is using to measure whether those rates are improving.

Most women with pre-existing diabetes, be it Type 1 or Type 2, can anticipate a successful pregnancy and birth of their baby. However, having diabetes does require careful planning before conception and extra appointments throughout pregnancy due to higher risks involved for both mother and baby. Some NHS Boards already offer counselling within Combined Diabetic Antenatal Clinics (CDANC), and we have established networks for diabetes specialist teams and health psychologists to share good practice in this area.

Data to determine rates of improvement is held on SCI Diabetes. Discussions are ongoing to determine whether this should become part of future annual Diabetes Surveys.

Question reference: S6W-14407

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 9 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what it has done to develop pregnancy-specific quality improvement measures within the diabetes dashboard.

Question reference: S6W-14412

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 9 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that all episodes of foot ulcers are recorded on the electronic diabetes clinical systems.

As part of the Scottish Diabetes Group, we have a Scottish Diabetes Foot Action Group (SDFAG) which is comprised of clinicians from across the country with an interest in diabetic foot complications. We have also funded a part time role of National Diabetes Foot Co-ordinator.

SDFAG has worked closely with the SCI-Diabetes team to develop an Ulcer Management System to record and manage all episodes of Foot Ulceration occurring in individuals with Diabetes. The SDFAG supports teams to record all episodes of new foot ulceration , by completing a series of mandatory fields.

These mandatory fields must be completed, as a minimum requirement, for every new diabetic foot ulcer at first presentation. Standards across Scotland ensure that every individual with diabetes who develops a new foot ulcer should be seen within a multidisciplinary foot clinic or by a Podiatrist within 2 working days and must be recorded on the SCI-Diabetes system. This pathway is known to reduce the risk of major amputation.

Question reference: S6W-14382

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 9 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of people with type 1 diabetes started on insulin pump therapy within six months of referral in each year since 2007.

Question reference: S6W-14530

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 27 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 9 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to assess whether disposable vapes can be incorporated into recycling policies.

I have commissioned an urgent review of the environmental impacts and management of single-use vapes.

The review of the environmental impacts and management of single-use vapes will examine available evidence and consider potential options to improve the management of single use vapes and enhance the safe recycling of disposed products.

We will consider the evidence and expert advice and bring forward policy options in due course.

Question reference: S6W-14465

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 27 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 9 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made to meet the 2030 target to widen fair access to Scotland’s universities.

This Government firmly believes that every child growing up in Scotland, regardless of their background, should have an equal chance of attending university and participating in higher education.

To date we have made progress on work to support fair access to higher education. The number of full-time first degree students entering university from the most deprived areas in Scotland is at a record high; latest Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) statistics show that 5,595 Scots entered university in the academic year 2021-22 (an increase of 80 students on the previous year). This is a 41% increase since the establishment of the Commission on Widening Access by this Government.

We have exceeded the Commission on Widening Access target to have 16% of full-time first degree entrants from the most deprived areas at university by 2021, with 16.5% of the 2021-22 cohort coming from the most deprived areas in Scotland. In his final report published on 31 May 2022, the previous Commissioner for Fair Access stated that Scotland continues to “set the pace in terms of fair access to higher education among the UK nations” and that it has been “an unambiguous success.”

We know we have more to do, however, and that is why we have recently appointed a new Commissioner for Fair Access, Professor John McKendrick. Professor McKendrick brings to the role a wealth of experience related to tackling poverty and inequality in Scotland, including work supporting children and young people in education. This appointment will help drive forward progress towards the 2030 target, and towards ensuring students from deprived areas receive opportunities to achieve their potential by having fair access to higher education.

Question reference: S6W-14451

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 27 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 9 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to any artwork that it owns, how many pieces are (a) on public display, (b) on private display and (c) in storage.

Most SG owned artwork is on display in Government buildings, with access limited to SG staff and contractors and accompanied visitors. I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-14450 on 9 February 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

Question reference: S6W-14416

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 9 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what training and education on diabetes is available to all healthcare professionals, and what percentage of healthcare professionals have received that training, broken down by body.

This information is not held centrally. However, the Scottish Diabetes Education Advisory Group (SDEAG) has been working with undergraduate medical education partners in order to ensure that appropriate education on diabetes is included in the curriculum. The Inpatient Sub-Group of the Scottish Diabetes Group has also been working to improve the ‘Think, Check, Act’ training module hosted by Healthcare Improvement Scotland.

The Type 2 Prevention Framework has also provided opportunities for several professional groups to participate in continued professional development, including training on trauma informed care and the psychological impact of overweight and obesity on diabetes management.

Question reference: S6W-14396

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 9 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of people with diabetes have been recorded as having attended structured education in each year since 2007.

Question reference: S6W-14386

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 9 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to improve outcomes for children with diabetes in relation to their needs when attending early years services, school and out-of-school services.

The Scottish Government has published guidance on supporting children and young people with healthcare needs in schools, and this guidance is available on our website. It was developed in partnership with a range of key stakeholders to guide those working in and with NHS boards, education authorities and schools to support children and young people affected by health issues which require specialised support in school.

The Scottish Diabetes Group and its sub-groups continue to consider these issues as we progress through the implementation of our Diabetes Improvement Plan.