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: S6O-00521

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 9 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the number of childminders in Scotland.

The Care Inspectorate’s most recent data showed that as of December 2019, 4,752 childminding services were operating. This is a decrease of 356 from 2018, reflecting a downward trend in recent years.

We are funding research by Ipsos MORI to explore the factors contributing to the decline in childminding numbers, and to identify actions to ensure there are sufficient childminders to meet demand for this unique form of childcare. The study will publish in early 2022.

Additionally, we continue to progress Our Commitment to Childminding Report, working alongside the Scottish Childminding Association and other partners to highlight childminding, not only as a choice to parents, but as a positive career opportunity.

Question reference: S6O-00522

Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 9 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives from NHS Lothian to discuss their approach to the treatment of drug addiction.

The Scottish Government meets with representatives from NHS Boards, including NHS Lothian, on a regular basis to discuss a range of matters relating to drug and alcohol treatment. Most recently this has included a number of discussions about the additional funding being made available to support the widening of access to residential rehabilitation and the embedding of the Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Standards.

As part of these discussions Scottish Government officials met with the General Manager of the Royal Edinburgh Hospital & Associated Services on the 24 November 2021.

Question reference: S6O-00523

Asked by: David Torrance, MSP for Kirkcaldy, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 9 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its discussions with Optometry Scotland regarding the request for a fee uplift and regular yearly review of fees, and the anticipated timeframe for a mutually agreeable settlement to be reached.

Question reference: S6W-04664

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 9 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what the average size of a land holding in Scotland is, and what percentage of land holdings are estimated to be above a threshold of (a) 5,000 and (b) 10,000 acres, broken down by (i) tenanted crofts, (ii) owner occupied crofts, (iii) tenanted farms and (iv) owner occupied farms.

Table 1: Number and area of land holdings in Scotland, June 2021
	All				Percentage of holdings above 5,000 acres		Percentage of holdings above 10,000 acres
	Number of Holdings	Total Area (acres)	Mean Average area (acres)	Median Average area (acres)	Holdings	Area (acres)	Holdings	Area (acres)
All Holdings	49,325	14,119,367	286	22	0.9%	42%	0.4%	30%
Holdings with a croft : mainly owner-occupied	4,074	504,145	124	17	0.2%	25%	0.1%	21%
Holdings with a croft : mainly tenanted	8,647	363,984	42	9	0.0%	6%	0.0%	0%
Holdings without a croft : Mainly owner-occupied	4,537	2,683,014	591	149	1.8%	34%	0.6%	20%
Holdings without a croft : Mainly tenanted	32,067	10,568,224	330	28	1.1%	45%	0.5%	34%
Source: June Agricultural Census 2021, Crofting Commission
Table contains holdings with a registered croft. Not all crofts have an associated holding and therefore are not included.
A small number of large holdings include a registered croft on the holding. As these figures relate to the land area of the holding and not the croft these areas will have a large impact on reported area of crofts.
Due to the nature of the distribution of farm holdings, both mean and median averages are provided.
A single holding may comprise both rented and owned land. These categories are based on majority area for the holding.
Further details specifically on crofts can be found reported in the Crofting Commission’s Annual Report & Accounts 2020-21

Question reference: S6W-04778

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 9 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many drop-in clinics have been established to administer COVID-19 booster vaccinations.

NHS health boards lead on the local delivery of the COVID-19 vaccination programme. Vaccination centres have frequently changed throughout the programme, with some facilities being repurposed, and drop-in clinics being made available as we have had to exercise flexibility.

As such, the Scottish Government do not hold the requested level of information as the number changes frequently.

Further Information regarding the number of vaccination centres operating in each health board area, and their opening hours can be found on NHS inform.

Question reference: S6W-04822

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 9 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications were (a) approved and (b) not approved for an award from the 2021 round of the Regional Food Fund.

Question reference: S6W-04829

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 9 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when the Inner Sound Local Fisheries Management Advisory Group last met, and how often it meets.

In February 2020, the Scottish Government published the Inshore Fisheries Pilot: Inner Sound of Skye Consultation Outcome Report. One of the recommendations contained in the report, was to establish an Inner Sound Local Fisheries Management Advisory Group. There are currently live legal proceedings relating to the Outcome Report and therefore it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage.

Question reference: S6W-05048

Asked by: David Torrance, MSP for Kirkcaldy, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 December 2021
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Humza Yousaf on 9 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action has been taken on the use of mesh in hernia repair.

In February 2018, the then-Chief Medical Officer wrote to NHS Scotland Medical Directors about public interest in the use of mesh implants, including in hernia repair. Medical Directors were asked to ensure that clinicians offer patients all appropriate options for surgery, as well as the option of no surgery. In addition, the importance of shared decision making, informed consent and listening and acting upon patients concerns was noted.

The Scottish Government commissioned a review by the Scottish Health Technologies Group (SHTG) of primary inguinal hernia repair in men. SHTG published their report in early 2020 and this concluded that, compared to non-mesh procedures, using mesh resulted in lower rates of recurrence, lower rates of serious adverse events and similar or lower risk of chronic pain. The advice for NHS Scotland was that surgical mesh should be used in elective repair of inguinal hernia in adult males.

Further to this, the Scottish Government asked SHTG to examine hernia repair more broadly, to include women, and to review the outcome of mesh versus non-mesh surgery in a variety of groin or abdominal wall hernias. SHTG have published their report today which is available online at: Elective surgery using mesh to repair primary or incisional hernias in adults (shtg.scot) . This states that the current evidence supports the continued availability of surgical mesh for elective repair of primary ventral hernias, incisional hernias, and primary inguinal hernias in adults in Scotland. This notwithstanding, SHTG also recommends that consideration should be given to patient preference and that patients should have access to alternative hernia treatment options such as non-mesh (suture and natural tissue) repair. Once again, the importance of shared decision making and informed consent has been emphasised.

The Chief Medical Officer has written to Board Chief Executives and Medical Directors to draw their attention to the report’s findings. The Scottish Government will continue to work with Health Boards, Specialist Associations and the relevant Royal Colleges on the issues raised within the report.

Question reference: S6W-05056

Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 December 2021
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Humza Yousaf on 9 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of the British Academy of Audiology report on NHS Lothian's Paediatric Audiology Services, requested by NHS Lothian following a review by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.

The independent review of NHS Lothian Paediatric Audiology Services has today been published on NHS Lothian’s website.

The report outlines an unacceptable level of failure in paediatric audiology treatment in NHS Lothian, which will have a lasting impact on the lives of some of our most vulnerable children.

Given the catalogue of failures and ongoing risks in Audiology health provision at NHS Lothian and in consultation with officials, I have decided to place the Board into Stage 3 of the ‘Board Performance Escalation Framework’ for Audiology performance and service delivery. This will ensure that a Formal Recovery Plan with tailored support, clear milestones and responsibilities is developed by NHS Lothian in partnership with the Scottish Government to bring about the necessary improvements.

I have already expressed my deep displeasure to NHS Lothian and my expectation that they must continue to enact the recommendations in this report as a matter of urgency.

I applaud the involvement of the National Deaf Children’s Society in providing support for those affected. I have accepted an invitation to meet and discuss how any key lessons can be applied Scotland wide.

I intend to keep Parliament fully informed on this matter.

Question reference: S6W-04823

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 9 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been awarded to businesses in (a) Argyll and Bute, (b) the Western Isles, (c) the Highlands, (d) Orkney, (e) Shetland and (f) Moray from the Regional Food Fund in each year since it was established.