Question ref. S6W-05443
Asked by: Rowley, Alex, Mid Scotland and Fife, Date lodged: 5 January 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported comments from the Mayor of Tees Valley that investors are choosing regions of England over Scotland for industrial investments due to Scotland not having a freeport policy or freeport status.
Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 1 February 2022
The Scottish Government has always been consistent in wanting to deliver a green port model which has a strong focus on a just transition to net zero and fair work. We have been in active discussion with UK Ministers on a joint approach that will deliver these, as well as a full package of reserved and devolved incentives to Scottish ports.
It is often the case that investors consider a number of locations before making a final decision on where to invest. Scotland continues to have a great track record in attracting inward investment. The EY Annual Attractiveness Survey for 2021 identified that Scotland has been the top performing region or nation of the UK, outside of London, for 8 out of the last 10 years and for the sixth year running.
Question ref. S6W-05874
Asked by: Rowley, Alex, Mid Scotland and Fife, Date lodged: 21 January 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on legislation to provide a statutory right to food.
Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 1 February 2022
In the 2021-22 Programme for Government, the Scottish Government committed to the introduction of a Human Rights Bill within this Parliamentary session.
The Human Rights Bill will incorporate into Scots law, as far as possible within devolved competence, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. This includes a right to adequate food, as an essential part of the overall right to an adequate standard of living.
Question ref. S6W-05875
Asked by: Rowley, Alex, Mid Scotland and Fife, Date lodged: 21 January 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many people in Scotland have been food insecure in each of the last 14 years.
Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 1 February 2022
In Scotland, food insecurity questions were introduced into the Scottish Health Survey (SHeS) from 2016. As of 2019, food security levels are measured for the whole of the UK, including Scotland, as part of the Family Resources Survey (FRS).
Despite differences in approach between the surveys, food insecurity levels in Scotland have been consistent since data collection started in 2016; around 8% or 9% of individuals, and 8% of households.
Food Insecurity Rates in Scotland:
| 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
Scottish Health Survey (% individual respondents) | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 |
Family Resources Survey (% households) | n/a | n/a | 8 |
1. Data for FRS collected April 2019-March 2020
2. SHeS data from 2020 not directly comparable to previous years due to COVID-19 restrictions
Question ref. S6W-05444
Asked by: Rowley, Alex, Mid Scotland and Fife, Date lodged: 5 January 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what economic impact assessment it has undertaken on the effect of Brexit on Scottish businesses and jobs.
Current Status:
Answered by Angus Robertson on 25 January 2022
The Scottish Government continues to closely monitor the impact of Brexit on businesses, jobs and the wider economy.
The latest Business Impact and Conditions (BICS) survey for December shows that Brexit is having a visible impact on Scottish businesses, with 49% of all manufacturing businesses reporting higher costs due to increased paperwork and 57% facing higher transportation costs.
Early trade statistics indicate that Scottish trade with the EU in 2021 was 24% lower compared to 2019 levels. New customs regulations from the 1st January 2021 are likely to further increase barriers for Scottish businesses importing from the EU.
The latest BICS survey also indicates that Brexit has exacerbated the current labour market shortages as Scottish businesses struggle to hire workers from the EU. In manufacturing and the accommodation and food sectors around 25% of businesses with unfilled vacancies cite a reduced number of EU applicants as a cause of difficulties in hiring.
In the long run, forecasts by the Office of Budgetary Responsibility indicate that Brexit will be more detrimental to the UK’s productivity than the pandemic, causing an estimated 4% fall in productivity compared to 2% for the pandemic.
Question ref. S6W-04141
Asked by: Rowley, Alex, Mid Scotland and Fife, Date lodged: 5 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that there has been a 44% increase in the number of people paying for private procedures since 2019 and that waiting lists for NHS outpatient appointments have reportedly risen to 400,000 over the first half of 2021, what its position is on whether this represents a move towards a two-tier public/private health service in Scotland based on the ability to pay.
Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 17 November 2021
During 2020-21 the percentage of total NHS procedures carried out by non NHS-providers was 0.6%. Non-NHS provider figures relate to NHS patients treated in non-NHS locations such as private hospitals, hospices, nursing homes, care homes, etc.
The impact of addressing the COVID-19 pandemic has meant that many health and social care services had to be suspended or reduced in scope and scale. This has affected almost all aspects of NHS Care. As a result, this regrettably means there are many people who are waiting longer for the care they need. Addressing the backlog of care, while continuing to meet the ongoing urgent health and care needs of the country, is a priority for this Government.
The Scottish Government remains fully committed to a publicly funded National health service that is accessible to all of the people of Scotland. That is why the First Minster launched the NHS Recovery Plan on the 25 August which sets out our objectives for tackling the Covid-19 related backlogs of care and putting the NHS on a sustainable path for the future. The plan is backed by more than £1 billion of investment over the next five years of which over £400 million will support nine National Treatment Centres (NTC) – the first of which opened at the Golden Jubilee November 2020.
Question ref. S6W-03571
Asked by: Rowley, Alex, Mid Scotland and Fife, Date lodged: 8 October 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what the estimated cost has been of establishing Social Security Scotland, and what the estimated (a) staff and running cost and (b) budget for the provision of social security payments is for (i) the current financial year and (ii) each of the next four years.
Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 5 November 2021
The Programme Business Case, published in February 2020, provides future forecasted operating costs for Social Security Scotland. The link to the Business Case can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.scot/publications/social-security-programme-business-case-executive-summary/documents/
The 2021-22 Autumn Budget Revision, published on 27 September 2021, set out the financial position for Social Security in the current year. The Social Security budget line captures staff and running costs, and Social Security Assistance covers benefits expenditure. The document can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.scot/publications/2021-22-autumn-budget-revision-budget-scotland-act/
The 2022-23 Scottish Budget, which is set to be announced on 9 December 2021, will set out what the Scottish Government will invest in Social Security over the next financial year. The 2021 Medium Term Financial Strategy will be published alongside the new Budget and will focus on the fiscal position within the Parliamentary term.
Question ref. S6W-03785
Asked by: Rowley, Alex, Mid Scotland and Fife, Date lodged: 15 October 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made to date on each of the key actions in the Women's Health Plan.
Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 29 October 2021
Since the publication of the Women’s Health Plan on 20 th August 2021, there has been progress towards the implementation of some of the short term actions within the Plan. For example, a menopause platform on NHS Inform was launched in October 2021. This is the first phase of work to establish a women’s health platform on the NHS Inform website. A network for menopause specialists in Scotland has also been established and meets regularly.
As noted in the Women’s Health Plan, an update will be published annually to detail progress made towards the implementation of the actions included within the Plan. It is also planned to produce an implementation report in 2024 - 25 to describe progress made in the time since August 2021, analyse the impact of the Plan and consider lessons learned.
Question ref. S6W-02560
Asked by: Rowley, Alex, Mid Scotland and Fife, Date lodged: 30 August 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering a vaccine booster programme for the whole population, in light of findings in a recent study of people who are double-vaccinated, showing a decrease in protection from COVID-19 after six months.
Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 27 October 2021
People who received their vaccination during the early stages of the national COVID-19 vaccination programme started to receive booster injections from 20 September. This follows advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) which advised that the booster dose can be given alongside the flu jab and should be offered no earlier than six months after completion of the primary vaccine course.
Frontline health and social care workers were able to book their appointment online at NHS Inform from 20 September. Residents in care homes for older people were also being offered both flu and COVID-19 boosters from this date. Adults aged 70 years and over and adults aged 16 and over who are on the highest risk list (previously known as the shielding list) are being contacted, either by letter or by their GP.
All those aged 16 to 49 years with underlying health conditions, adult carers, unpaid and young carers, adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals and all adults over 50 will be able to book online soon.
As most younger adults will only receive their second COVID-19 vaccine dose in late summer, the benefits of booster vaccination in this group will be considered by the JCVI at a later time when more information is available.
Question ref. S6W-02662
Asked by: Rowley, Alex, Mid Scotland and Fife, Date lodged: 3 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that NHS Forth Valley has the lowest figure in Scotland, at below 60%, for the proportion of people attending A&E who are seen within four hours, and what action it will take to investigate the reasons for this.
Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 21 September 2021
The COVID pandemic has inevitably affected A&E attendance and the pressure is being felt across the UK. Our NHS staff have faced unprecedented pressures over recent weeks as they work tirelessly and consistently to respond to the pandemic whilst continuing to provide vital treatment and optimal patient care. We are in daily contact with every Board, including NHS Forth Valley, and are monitoring the situation closely.
The significant pressures currently presenting in Health Boards, including NHS Forth Valley, are primarily as a result of reduced capacity due to infection control, staffing pressures as a result of self-isolation and annual leave, and an increase in attendances to A&E by those who are much sicker and require higher levels of care.
In July, NHS Forth Valley received their share of the additional £12 million in funding for Boards to support non-COVID emergency care by increasing staffing resource, recruitment is underway.
We are in daily contact with NHS Forth Valley and continue to support improvement work with the Board and the Health & Social Care Partnerships to minimise delays for patients no matter where they are in the system.
Question ref. S6W-02672
Asked by: Rowley, Alex, Mid Scotland and Fife, Date lodged: 8 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it collects statistics on the destinations of school leavers from private or fee-paying schools; what the reasons are for its position on this matter, and, if it does not collect such statistics, what its position is on the validity of its data on the inequality gap in education.
Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 21 September 2021
The Scottish Government does not collect statistics on private or fee-paying schools, including on the destinations of their leavers. Scottish Government statistical collections focus on publicly funded and Grant Aided schools for which it provides funding.
In the National Improvement Framework and Improvement Plan, we set out our approach to measuring the poverty related attainment gap with 11 key measures identified to assess progress. We have plans to formally review the 11 NIF measures with partners to ensure they are comprehensive, as we recognise that national data needs to provide an accurate understanding of the wide range of learners’ achievement. Local authorities and school leaders are also able to use local knowledge and data to ensure support is targeted towards the children and young people who require it most.