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-05375

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 19 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to support outdoor education centres during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since the start of the pandemic, the Scottish Government has provided £2.5million support to outdoor education. We continue to work with the sector on an ongoing basis to support schools to access and use outdoor centres, and to ensure that our Covid-19 guidance provides clear advice on safe, supported outdoor learning experiences and visits to centres.

The Scottish Government recognises and values the importance of outdoor education centres especially in this challenging time, and is committed to ensuring learners have access to valuable outdoor learning experiences.

Question reference: S6W-05301

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 19 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that upgrades to harbour infrastructure do not delay the scheduled introduction of the (a) Glen Sannox and (b) Hull 802 onto routes operated by CalMac Ferries.

Works are underway at Troon harbour which will be used as an alternative mainland port to support CalMac services. Troon will also support the operation of the Ardrossan-Brodick/Campbeltown ferry services when they are temporarily diverted during the construction phase of the Ardrossan Harbour redevelopment project.

These works are closely monitored and are set to be completed before the scheduled introduction of the MV Glen Sannox.

In addition, upgrade works as part of the Skye Triangle Infrastructure Programme at Tarbert (Harris) and Uig (Skye) ports are currently in the construction phase, and are expected to be completed by early 2022 and Summer 2023 respectively.

Lochmaddy (North Uist) is currently in procurement phase with a contract award expected early 2022 and completion of works by Spring 2023; programme dates are subject to funding approval and contractor mobilisation.

Question reference: S6W-05300

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 19 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of cabin space on the (a) Glen Sannox and (b) Hull 802 will be allocated to (i) passenger accommodation, (ii) crew accommodation and (iii) seafarer training and induction.

Question reference: S6W-05297

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 19 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with CalMac Ferries regarding sea trials of the Glen Sannox on routes to Arran from (a) Ardrossan and (b) Troon.

Question reference: S6W-05298

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 19 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects CalMac Ferries’ services to Arran to temporarily transfer from Ardrossan to Troon.

Question reference: S6W-05299

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 19 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-01657 by Graeme Dey on 16 August 2021, what Transport Scotland’s latest assessment is of progress in planning multi-modal transport continuity, in preparation for the temporary transfer of CalMac Ferries services from Ardrossan to Troon.

As part of service continuity planning CalMac Ferries Ltd (CFL) are undertaking public consultation sessions with communities in early 2022 to gather feedback on Troon timetables. This also includes plans for transport integration and connectivity with other modes whereby CalMac continues to engage with ScotRail and bus operators.

In addition to support the service, two shuttle-bus services will also be available from Ardrossan to Troon and between Troon railway station and port.

Question reference: S6W-05578

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 07 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 19 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of how the Chronic Pain Winter Support Fund will be distributed.

The Chronic Pain Winter Support Fund has been distributed as follows:

Organisation	Project	Availability	Value of award
Pain Association Scotland	Increased access to self-management service	National	£38,518
Purple Orchid Health Limited with Bladder Health UK	Bladder and pelvic pain management programme	National	£37,450
Pain Concern	Telephone support for pain management waiting list	National	£32,700
Health All Round	Online and in-home mental health, physical activity and isolation support	NHS Lothian	£21,875
NHS Grampian	Enhanced pain waiting list support	NHS Grampian*	£20,885
NHS GGC	Pain review for housebound patients	NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde	£17,000
NHS Ayrshire and Arran/ Flippin’ Pain	Information on pain management and education	National	£16,180
Fife Sports and Leisure Trust	Pain management and physical activity support	NHS Fife	£15,100
NHS Highland	Support for chronic hip, knee and back pain	NHS Highland	£13,000
East Lothian Rehabilitation Service	Expansion of pain and rehab service to full-time provision	NHS Lothian	£11,702
Fife Pain Management Service	Community chronic pain drop-in service	NHS Fife	£8,802
Borders General Hospital	Community-based pain management support Hub	NHS Borders	£4,393
NHS Shetland	Audit of chronic pain patient population	NHS Shetland	£1,500
		Total allocation	£239,105

*NHS Grampian has arrangements in place to accept referrals in specific circumstances with NHS Western Isles, NHS Orkney and NHS Shetland.

Question reference: S6W-05645

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 19 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason bingo has been classified as a live event, when it was reportedly not classified as such before the end of 2021.

The indoor events capacity limits were introduced in regulations from 26 December 2021 in order to mitigate the greatly increased transmission rates of the omicron COVID-19 variant, recognising that large capacity events indoors pose a high risk of transmission of the virus. The regulations apply the limits to an event which brings individuals together for the purpose of community, culture, sport, recreation, entertainment, art or business. The Scottish Government continues to engage with the bingo sector about these regulations and their impact.

Question reference: S6W-05603

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 19 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what it has learned from the Edinburgh lung cancer screening pilot for patients from disadvantaged communities.

Question reference: S6W-05600

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 19 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce a national lung cancer screening programme.

Any decision on whether or not to introduce a new national screening programme in Scotland is guided by the recommendations of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), an independent expert advisory group which advises all four nations of the United Kingdom on screening policy.

In 2007, the UK NSC recommended against the introduction of a lung cancer screening programme; however, it is currently reviewing this and will take into account new evidence that has emerged since the previous recommendation.

We do not have a definite timescale for when the NSC will publish its findings, but we are expecting an update in the coming months.

Following completion of this review, the UK NSC will make a new recommendation. If the recommendation is to introduce lung cancer screening then the Scottish Screening Committee, in consultation with medical experts in this field, will advise Scottish Ministers on the most appropriate course of action for Scotland.