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-31298

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 15 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Dorothy Bain on 3 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether families of deceased individuals from Aberdeen are routinely notified that post-mortem examinations are carried out in Edinburgh or Glasgow.

Question reference: S6W-31303

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 15 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Dorothy Bain on 3 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what the current average time is for families to receive death certificates in Aberdeen following a post-mortem examination.

In all areas of Scotland, death certificates are routinely issued on the day of the post mortem examination to allow bereaved families to make the necessary funeral arrangements. On rare occasions, a death certificate cannot be issued on the day of the post mortem, usually due to the need to confirm identification of the deceased. The pathology provider will notify COPFS immediately so any identified family can be updated.

In Aberdeen, the mortuary team email the medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD) to the Registrar on the day of the post mortem examination and provide a copy to COPFS. There are no delays to death certificates being issued in Aberdeen.

Question reference: S6W-31297

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 15 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Dorothy Bain on 3 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what support is provided to the families of deceased individuals in Aberdeen during the post-mortem examination process.

The Family Liaison Charter sets out the Crown’s obligations in relation to liaising with and providing information to bereaved relatives. These obligations apply equally to deaths arising in any area of Scotland.

If a post mortem examination in relation to a suspicious death requires to be transferred to another area, Police Scotland Family Liaison Officers will engage with the family at an early stage to explain the processes and timescales and keep them updated with the progress of the investigation.

Question reference: S6W-31302

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 15 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Dorothy Bain on 3 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what the process is for auditing the quality of post-mortem examinations conducted in Aberdeen.

All doctors are expected to work within the standards set out by the General Medical Council for good medical practice.

The Royal College of Pathologists and NHS Education for Scotland oversee training standards in pathology and their uniformity across Scotland.

COPFS regularly meets and engages with pathology providers on a range of issues. These also allow discussion on any feedback received. Every post mortem examination report is considered by a COPFS legal member of staff and our investigation is only concluded when we are satisfied that all issues have been addressed.

Question reference: S6W-31318

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 15 November 2024
Current Status: Answered by Dorothy Bain on 3 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact of the current forensic pathology service levels has been on the investigation of drug-related deaths in Aberdeen.

Question reference: S6T-02222

Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 December 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of capacity in the NHS, in light of the critical incident declared by NHS Grampian on 28 November 2024.

Question reference: S6F-03607

Asked by: Audrey Nicoll, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 December 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 December 2024

To ask the First Minister what progress is being made with the Scottish Government’s efforts to establish the country as a world leader in the green hydrogen sector.

Question reference: S6F-03603

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 December 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 December 2024

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is regarding any potential risk to the environment of excessive removal of peat during excavation projects.

Question reference: S6F-03615

Asked by: Marie McNair, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 December 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 December 2024

To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the reported concerns of not-for-profit social care providers regarding the impact of increased employer national insurance contributions on the sector in Scotland.

Question reference: S6F-03594

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 December 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 December 2024

Question to be taken in Chamber.