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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-34506

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 3 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Human Rights Commission report, “Tick Tock…” A human rights assessment of progress from institutionalisation to independent living in Scotland, which was published on 30 January 2025.

The Scottish Government thanks the Scottish Human Rights Commission for their report on independent living in Scotland.

In addition, the Scottish Government asked the Mental Welfare Commission to review the care and treatment of people with learning disabilities and complex care needs who have remained in hospital for more than ten years. And I am grateful for their report, also published in January 2024.

We will now take the time to carefully consider the findings and recommendations of these reports in full. The Scottish Government remains committed to delivering the changes that are evidently required for people with Learning Disabilities.

Change in this area cannot be delivered by the Scottish Government alone. We will continue to work closely with COSLA, Health Boards and Health and Social Care Partnerships to deliver the change required to ensure peoples human rights are upheld.

Question reference: S6W-33311

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 29 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it plans to introduce a bill following its consultation, Adults with Incapacity Amendment Act.

Question reference: S6O-04268

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 January 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its stated commitment to end charges for non-residential care by the end of the current parliamentary session.

Question reference: S6O-04183

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 9 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to continue the Investing in Communities Fund into the 2025-26 financial year, in light of reported concerns that funding may not continue for supported community projects.

The draft Scottish Budget sets out our spending plans for 2025-26 to deliver progress for Scotland, and to improve the lives of the people of Scotland. It includes investment for regeneration of over £62 million to support communities most in need, which I can advise includes the Investing in Communities Fund supporting community-led projects across Scotland which are addressing poverty and disadvantage.

The draft Budget requires the support of Parliament before confirmation of funding for individual allocations can be provided. I would therefore urge all MSPs to support the budget to ensure that investment for community projects continues.

Question reference: S6W-32456

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 9 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to provide economic support to long COVID patients, in light of reports of the financial strain that it places on them and their families.

Adult Disability Payment provides financial support to recognise the additional costs of being disabled or living with a long-term health condition. Individuals who are impacted by Long COVID may be entitled to Adult Disability Payment depending on their individual circumstances.

Income replacement benefits such as Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit, which provide financial support to people of working age who are unable to work due to illness, are fully reserved to the UK Government. Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit is currently being delivered by the UK Government, prior to the delivery of Employment Injury Assistance in Scotland. The UK Government determines which conditions should be prescribed for the purposes of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.

Question reference: S6O-04201

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 January 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the development of the Changing Places Toilet Fund.

Question reference: S6W-32457

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 7 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what actions are being taken to raise awareness of the symptoms and risks of long COVID, and the support services that are available.

Scotland’s national health information service NHS inform aims to provide the people of Scotland with information to help them make informed decisions about their own health and the health of the people they care for.

NHS inform has a dedicated long COVID microsite containing information on common signs and symptoms associated with long COVID, testimony from people affected by long COVID about the impact it has had on their daily lives and information on when to seek further advice from a healthcare professional. This information is publicly accessible at www.nhsinform.scot/long-covid and is available in a variety of different languages and accessible formats.

Question reference: S6W-32455

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 7 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to address any gaps in services and medical treatment for patients with long COVID, in light of reports undertaken by Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland and The ALLIANCE on the condition.

Since the research undertaken by Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland and the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE), the National Strategic Network for long COVID managed by NHS National Services Scotland has produced information for NHS boards on the assessment of adults with suspected long COVID in general practice. It has also supported the delivery of online education sessions including on the assessment of patients with long COVID and the management of Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTs).

The Scottish Government has made available approximately £3 million to national and territorial NHS boards in 2024-25 to support the operation of the network, boards’ access to the C19-YRS digital platform and the provision of care and support locally by NHS boards.

The 2025-26 budget includes new investment of £4.5 million to deliver new specialist support across the country for long COVID, ME, Chronic Fatigue, and other similar conditions. This represents a 152.9% uplift to the 2024-25 long COVID budget line.

Responsibility for service delivery rests locally with NHS boards which configure services taking into account local circumstances and the reasonable needs of their patient populations.

Question reference: S6W-32270

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 6 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comments by the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport during the members' business debate on motion S6M-14427 (Reversal of £10 Million Funding for Changing Places Toilets) on 11 December 2024, how much funding has been allocated from within its draft mental health budget for 2025-26 for the planned Changing Places Toilet Fund.

Question reference: S6W-32272

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 6 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comments by the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport during the members' business debate on motion S6M-14427 (Reversal of £10 Million Funding for Changing Places Toilets) on 11 December 2024, whether it will provide the draft criteria for the planned Changing Places Toilet Fund to MSPs, and, if so, when.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-32271 on 6 January 2025. As I said during the Parliamentary debate on Changing Places Toilets, I am keen to work in partnership with members from all parties.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers