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-06310

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 21 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to open mobile operating theatres across all of Scotland, in light of the introduction of such facilities in Orkney and Shetland.

The mobile theatre unit, which opened at Gilbert Bain Hospital in Shetland in January 2022, is supporting access to treatment for cataract and orthopaedic patients, who have faced delays in receiving care due to the pandemic and may have otherwise had to travel to the mainland for their procedure. The mobile theatre unit will also allow normal levels of theatre activity to continue through Phase 2 of the NHS Shetland Ambulatory Care capital project which starts in April 2022, preventing waiting lists from increasing significantly during these essential building works.

Throughout the pandemic, health boards across Scotland have been working hard to ensure that vital care remains in place. Any pausing of non-urgent activity has regrettably but inevitably led to a build-up of numbers waiting for Outpatient appointment and/or Inpatient/Day Case treatment. We will continue to work with Boards to recover our NHS through a range of targeted actions to maximise capacity and efficiency, including through the use of mobile theatre units where appropriate.

Question reference: S6W-06130

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 21 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what work is being done to reduce the waiting time for patients who require a colposcopy following a routine cervical cancer screening exam.

Colposcopy capacity has been impacted by Covid-19, regrettably resulting in longer than usual waiting times in some Health Boards.

In recognition of this, last year we provided over £660,000 additional funding to NHS Ayrshire & Arran, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, NHS Highland, NHS Lothian and NHS Tayside to support capacity in colposcopy provision. The funding was used to enhance capacity through additional workforce and extra clinics, including at weekends.

We will continue to work closely with Boards who are facing challenges in order to remobilise services as soon as possible.

Question reference: S6W-06248

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 04 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 17 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05156 by Maree Todd on 10 January 2022, whether patient representatives of the NACCP were given the opportunity to propose changes to the draft version of the Framework in November 2021 before its publication in December 2021.

The draft Framework was shaped throughout 2020 and 2021 by a range of stakeholders, including the patient representatives of the National Advisory Committee on Chronic Pain (NACCP). All members of the NACCP were informed of the proposed approach in advance, were provided with an advanced copy of the Framework and were encouraged to share their feedback on its content via the public consultation. The consultation closes on the 28 February and I would encourage everyone with an interest in improving care and support for people with chronic pain to participate and share their views.

Question reference: S6W-06247

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 04 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 17 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether any private marketing companies have been paid for work relating to the Draft Framework for Pain Management Service Delivery, and, if so, which companies, and how much have they each received.

Question reference: S6W-06199

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 17 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what the timescale is for the review of minimum unit pricing for alcohol.

When minimum unit pricing for alcohol was introduced on 1 May 2018, we said we would review the level two years after its introduction, so from May 2020. With the arrival of COVID-19, this work was paused as responding to the pandemic became the Scottish Government’s top priority.

The review work is now back underway. The impacts of the pandemic, and to some extent Brexit, however, make both the review and the evaluation more challenging. The pandemic, in particular, caused people’s drinking habits to change and, early signs are that this is having an impact on alcohol harms.

As regards the timescale for reviewing the level of MUP, it is currently too early in the process to set out when this might happen.

We remain convinced that MUP is one of the main drivers in reducing alcohol harm.

Question reference: S6W-06183

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 16 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has suspended the contract that was awarded to KPMG to construct the business case for the National Care Service, which is reportedly worth in excess of £500,000.

Question reference: S6W-06184

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 16 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when the contract was awarded to KPMG for it to construct the business case for the National Care Service.

Question reference: S6W-06185

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 16 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it became aware that KPMG had withdrawn from bidding for UK Government contracts.

Question reference: S6W-06186

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 16 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether the contract with KPMG to construct the business case for the National Care Service was awarded under the Crown Commercial Service Management Consultancy Framework Three.

Question reference: S6W-06187

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 16 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there is any conflict of interest in the Head of Social Care and NCS Finance reportedly being a former employee of KPMG, in light of the contract with KPMG to construct the business case for the National Care Service.

There is no conflict of interest between existing Scottish Government Civil Servants and the specialist consultancy services procured from KPMG in a fair and open procurement exercise. The Scottish Government has a clear contract award and management processes in place to prevent conflicts of interest and to support the delivery of fit for purpose outcomes. This includes clear requirements for separation of duties between finance and procurement decisions.