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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 43516 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6O-00528

Asked by: Neil Gray, MSP for Airdrie and Shotts, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 December 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out in NHS Lanarkshire.

Question reference: S6O-00532

Asked by: Siobhian Brown, MSP for Ayr, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 December 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the latest Trussell Trust foodbank statistics in relation to Scotland.

Question reference: S6O-00531

Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 December 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that healthcare services in rural areas are working for the people that they serve.

Question reference: S6O-00527

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 December 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what the latest Open with Care guidance is for care homes, in light of the emergence of the Omicron variant.

Question reference: S6O-00542

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 December 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to creative industries in rural areas, including in relation to young people wishing to pursue a career in this sector.

Question reference: S6O-00544

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 December 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to support the promotion of cultural assets connected to Robert Burns in Dumfries and Galloway.

Question reference: S6O-00497

Asked by: Karen Adam, MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 8 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how its policies across government will support the north east’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are actively supporting economic recovery in the North East and have provided close to £100 million to support businesses and additional funding of almost £150 million to councils to help achieve that. We are also investing £157 million in the Aberdeen City Region and Moray Growth Deals, and over £14 million to develop the skills needed to support regional economic recovery.

Alongside this, we have recently confirmed our intention to commit £500 million capital over the next ten years to support the Just Transition of the region and Moray to support energy transition, create jobs and maximise the region’s future economic potential.

Question reference: S6W-04721

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 29 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 8 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase support for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

We recognise that more must be done to reduce inequalities in health outcomes for women, to improve information and support for women to manage their health, and to reduce the stigma associated with menstrual health, and conditions such as PCOS.

In August 2021 we published our Women's Health Plan . As part of the Plan’s commitment to improve information and support for women we are working to build a comprehensive women’s health platform on the NHS Inform website. That work began recently with two information campaigns, the first of which included information about periods Women's Health | NHS inform . The next phase will focus on menstrual health and wellbeing and will launch by Spring 2022.

Our aim is for all women to have access to high quality and appropriate information and support throughout all stages of life. This includes raising awareness of women’s health conditions widely, including amongst healthcare practitioners to improve access to information on menstrual health, management options and improve access to appropriate support, speedy diagnosis and the best treatment options.

The Woman’s Health Plan further commits to establish a Women’s Health Research Fund with the aim of closing gaps in scientific and medical knowledge in women’s health. The exact cause of PCOS is unknown and applications for research funding for PCOS (including research into the underlying causes, diagnosis, prevention, disease-modifying treatments, care pathways etc.) are welcomed by the Chief Scientist Office.

The Centre for Sustainable Delivery, based at the NHS Golden Jubilee, plans to develop a pelvic pain pathway in 2022 that will improve how women access care and support for conditions such as PCOS in Scotland. This will place importance on equipping GPs with materials and access to specialist advice to inform early diagnosis and intervention, and onward referral to specialist support for physical and psychological symptoms.

In 2021-22, we increased our Primary Care Fund from £195 million to £250 million, which includes support for the new GP contract and for wider Primary Care reform. Our Programme for Government also announced primary care spend will be increased by 25% over the course of this Parliament. Over half of all frontline health spend will be invested in community health services that will ensure more care for people with conditions such as PCOS in a place and way that meets their needs.

Question reference: S6W-04712

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 29 November 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 8 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what care support (a) it provides and (b) local authorities are expected to provide, that is specifically aimed at helping people with Down syndrome, and what new measures it will introduce to enhance the support that is presently available.

(a) In terms of Scottish Government support, we have set out our commitment to people with a learning disability, including those with Down’s Syndrome, and their families through the Keys to Life Learning Disability strategy and the Towards Transformation Learning Disability and Autism Plan . Both plans focus on outcomes intended to ensure people with a learning disability live healthier lives, enjoy choice and control over the services they use, and are supported to be independent and active citizens.

To this end, we have committed to introducing a Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity Bill as part of the Programme for Government. This Bill will ensure that the rights of people with Down’s Syndrome, among others, are respected and protected. Additionally, we will create a Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodiversity Commissioner to champion the new law.

The Scottish Government works closely with a range of third sector partners and funds Down’s Syndrome Scotland as delivery partners in achieving the Keys to Life Learning Disability strategy and the Towards Transformation Learning Disability and Autism Plan as well as to allow them to provide direct support to people with Down’s Syndrome and their families.

Additional funding was also awarded to develop changes in Down’s Syndrome Scotland’s programme of work during COVID-19 and supporting families through the pandemic and the recovery phase, including their vital helpline.

(b) Whilst the Scottish Government has overall responsibility for health and social care policy in Scotland, it is for the regional health & social care partnerships to determine the level of services that are required to meet local needs and to arrange an appropriate and suitable range of services to meet these local needs, as mandated under statute in the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act. The Scottish Government expects that the needs of people with Down’s Syndrome are identified, acknowledged and met, ensuring positive outcomes are achieved.

Question reference: S6W-04731

Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 8 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has about the efficacy of lateral flow tests in detecting the new Omicron variant of COVID-19.

Lateral Flow Devices (LFDs) used in the National Testing Programme are routinely evaluated and reviewed to detect early signals of changes in performance with emerging variants to ensure they can detect new variants of concern as soon as possible after they are identified.

LFDs that have passed validation at UKHSA Porton Down are currently being assessed against the Omicron variant, with priority being given to the LFDs currently deployed in the UK National Testing Programme.

LFDs used in the National Testing Programme have been evaluated against, and successfully detect the Delta variant, which is currently the dominant variant in Scotland.