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-13480

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 10 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the aim set out in the National Workforce Strategy for Health and Social Care in Scotland, whether it has developed a trauma-informed workforce via the National Trauma Training Programme.

The Scottish Government’s ambition, shared with COSLA, is for a trauma-informed and trauma-responsive workforce and services across Scotland. We want anyone who has been affected by trauma in Scotland to be supported by trauma-informed services that are built on safe and trusted relationships, which support recovery and do not cause any further harm or re-traumatisation.

We continue to support the development of a trauma-informed health and social care workforce in Scotland. Since 2018, we have invested over £6 million in a National Trauma Training Programme, including £3.2 million which has been distributed to all local areas to further develop and embed trauma informed approaches. Support for training and implementation, across all sectors of the workforce, is provided by a team of Transforming Psychological Trauma Implementation Co-Ordinators (TPTICs). In 2021, a network of ‘Trauma Champions’ was also established, this includes senior leaders from across local authorities, health boards and key community planning partners who work collaboratively to influence change across local areas. The Trauma Champions network is supported by the Improvement Service.

A Quality-Improvement Framework for Trauma Informed Organisations, Systems and Workforces in Scotland is currently under development and due for publication in Spring 2023. This will support organisations to implement trauma-informed change and to identify their own progress, successes and areas for improvement.

Question reference: S6W-11591

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 10 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in delivering equity of access to mental health support services for college and university students.

We have met the manifesto commitment to provide more than 80 additional counsellors in Further and Higher Education over four years as set out in our 2018-19 Programme for Government and reiterated in our 2021-22 Programme for Government. The commitment was achieved ahead of time, with an investment of £11.5 million to date and a further £2 million committed in this Academic Year to March 2023. We are also committed to provide further funding for the remainder of the Academic Year (April to July 2023), which falls into the Government’s next financial year.

We have also invested in the NUS Think Positive Initiative which has led to the creation of institution led Student Mental Health Agreements to improve student mental health support in colleges and universities. In addition, the launch of the Think Positive hub, in spring 2022, provides students with extra clarity on how to access student mental health services in colleges and universities.

At the same time we have invested in a comprehensive package of support for mental wellbeing through NHS Scotland and in communities, including an investment of £21 million for adult community based initiatives.

Question reference: S6W-13289

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 10 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have died of sudden cardiac death in each year since 2007.

Question reference: S6W-13152

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 10 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many people with "no fixed abode" have been discharged from hospital in each year since 1999.

Published figures on the most recent and historical numbers of patients that have been admitted to hospital can be found within the within the Annual Acute Activity publication, which was released on 27 September 2022. The publication can be found at the following link:

https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/acute-hospital-activity-and-nhs-beds-information-annual/acute-hospital-activity-and-nhs-beds-information-annual-annual-year-ending-31-march-2022/

Published data is only available for a ten year period, from financial year 2012-13 to financial year 2021-22. Data on patient activity is presented in Table 2 – inpatient and day case activity, and the measure of interest can be found by selecting the NHS board of residence in the indicator drop down and either stays, episodes or patients within the measure drop down. Figures where ‘no fixed abode’ will then be listed in the table.

Below is an excerpt from the dataset, with the measure of interest highlighted in bold.

	Number of Patients

Indicator	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16	2016-17	2017-18	2018-19	2019-20	2020-21	2021-22p
All Scottish and Non-Scottish Residents	708048	715744	722072	726088	713220	700659	708044	713681	499088	605340
Scottish Residents	701698	709080	715576	719579	706764	694040	701307	706814	496478	600795

No Fixed Abode	142	129	113	145	162	165	98	91	77	48
Resident from Outside the United Kingdom	949	1016	1100	1287	1146	1290	1551	1592	166	262
Resident of the Rest of United Kingdom (Outside Scotland)	4487	4658	4551	4307	4252	4128	4014	4053	1568	3300
Unknown Residency	772	861	732	770	896	1036	1074	1131	799	935

Question reference: S6W-13178

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 10 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider making the £50 Winter Heating Payment available ahead of February 2023 to help people cope over the winter, and in light of record cold temperatures being recorded.

Subject to parliamentary approval, we will begin making payments of Winter Heating Payment in February 2023. We are reliant on DWP meeting their commitment to provide us with the right data by 31 January so that we can complete the necessary assurance and processing of payments to around 400,000 eligible people across Scotland. While it will therefore not be possible to make payments sooner this winter, we have committed to exploring the feasibility of bringing forward the payment date in future years.

Separately, in response to the energy crisis we have doubled the Fuel Insecurity Fund to £20 million to ensure support continues to be available to people affected by the rising energy costs and struggling with their bills this winter.

Question reference: S6W-13041

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 09 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 10 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether there will be an opportunity for UK suppliers to supply into the contract for two ferries awarded to Cemre Marin Endustri in Turkey by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL), or whether the shipbuilder will determine the supply chain.

Question reference: S6W-13043

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 09 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 10 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) assesses social value during tendering for shipbuilding contracts.

Question reference: S6W-12852

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 10 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) local authorities and (b) housing associations about ensuring their homes are mould-free, and that any concerns or complaints regarding mould outbreaks are taken seriously.

Social Landlords are required to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS), which is monitored by The Scottish Housing Regulator(SHR). SHR wrote to all Social Landlords on 1 December 2022 on the importance of having appropriate, proactive systems to identify and deal with any reported cases of mould and damp timeously and effectively. The Regulator will also be working with the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) and the Association of Local Authority Chief Housing Officers (ALACHO) to identify and promote good practice in the management of mould and dampness. Scottish Government officials will keep in close touch with the progress of this work.

Question reference: S6W-12769

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 10 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the scoping work to assess future housing skills needs and associated provision, that was due to commence in July 2022, has been completed.

Question reference: S6F-01697

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 09 January 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 January 2023

To ask the First Minister, in light of the extension of bus fare caps in England, whether the Scottish Government supports capping bus fares in Scotland for those aged between 22 and 60.