- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 25 October 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 2 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether there are any plans to introduce a digital prescription scheme for patients who have repeat prescriptions.
Answer
NHS Scotland already utilises an electronic prescription message between GP practices and community pharmacies which runs in parallel with paper prescriptions. However, the use of paper prescriptions is still a necessity at this stage as a legal requirement.
The Scottish Government has commissioned NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) to take forward a number of digital priorities in response to COVID. This national programme includes investing in development of a new ePrescribing and eDispensing pathway by enabling the use of advanced electronic signatures in primary care and addressing the need for an end-to-end digital solution that will support replacement of the paper prescription from all community settings with a digital solution. The programme recognises that electronic prescribing will help some vulnerable sections of society, but we must also ensure others are not disadvantaged and the solution adopted should address patient needs including digital exclusion. It is difficult to be precise on timescales at present but significant progress on the technical and process models continues at pace and the Scottish Government is committed to deliver a solution through this programme.
Our refreshed Digital Health and Care Strategy includes a clear approach on how we will empower the public to manage their health and wellbeing through digital means. This work will look to give greater access to things like health records and being able to manage prescriptions online.
In addition, patients who have a long-term condition can access the ‘Medicines: Care and Review Service’ at their local community pharmacy. It promotes a partnership approach between the pharmacist, the patient and their GP practice. Patients with stable long-term conditions can receive serial prescriptions for a duration of 24, 48 or 56 weeks which are dispensed in regular intervals by the pharmacy and remove the need to request regular repeat prescriptions.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 04 October 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comment by the Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands during his ministerial statement on 11 February 2021 that a "hydrogen action plan...is due for publication in 2021", by what date in 2021 it plans to publish this.
Answer
Hydrogen policy officials are currently working on the development of the Hydrogen Action Plan. The five year Hydrogen Action Plan will be published shortly and will set out the actions that the Scottish Government will take to support Scottish supply chain activity and drive the development of a low-cost hydrogen capability to meet that 5GW ambition by 2030.
The Scottish Government’s upcoming Hydrogen Action Plan will be supported by a five year £100m programme of investment to help develop the hydrogen economy in Scotland.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 October 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 2 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the debate on motion S6M-01293 (A Net Zero Nation) on 21 September 2021, whether it will provide a substantive response to the comments raised regarding for what reason no new railway lines have been constructed in Glasgow in the last 15 years.
Answer
Glasgow already benefits from an extensive rail network. With a total of 155 stations in the Glasgow City Region it is the busiest suburban rail network in Britain outside London. Therefore the focus of investment has very properly been on the development of that network, which has benefited from substantial improvements as part of the more than £9bn invested in rail infrastructure in Scotland since 2007.
These investments have included extensive electrification of routes into Glasgow and substantial new, emission free train fleets serving those routes. Glasgow Queen Street has been rebuilt and transformed, Glasgow Central capacity has benefited from an additional platform, and in 2019, a new station opened at Robroyston to provide local residents with a sustainable travel option.
Further rail enhancements, in Glasgow and more widely across the country, are planned as part of the Decarbonisation Action Plan ( Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan (transport.gov.scot) ) with our future transport investment decisions directed by the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2). That review will conclude this winter, with publication of recommendations for investment and will be followed by the appropriate statutory consultation period.
- Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 01 November 2021
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 2 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that six prisoners overdosed on drugs in two days at HMP Shotts.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 2 November 2021
- Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 01 November 2021
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 2 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to businesses and residents affected by recent flooding.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 2 November 2021
- Asked by: Jackie Dunbar, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 01 November 2021
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 4 November 2021
To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government is working to ensure that, during COP26, it provides a platform for unheard voices, including citizens, young people and those from the Global South.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 4 November 2021
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 01 November 2021
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 4 November 2021
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to Glasgow City Council cleansing workers taking strike action from 1 November and throughout COP26 due to low pay.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 4 November 2021
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 01 November 2021
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 4 November 2021
To ask the First Minister what public advice the Scottish Government has issued regarding the discharge of fireworks, given that new regulations came into force on 30 June 2021.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 4 November 2021
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 01 November 2021
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 4 November 2021
To ask the First Minister what immediate steps the Scottish Government is taking to address the reported continuing inequalities in cancer mortality rates across Scotland.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 4 November 2021
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 01 November 2021
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 4 November 2021
To ask the First Minister whether Scotland is on track to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2045.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 4 November 2021