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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-20805

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 21 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the proposed timeline and target date are for the national roll-out of the General Practice Armed Forces and Veterans’ Recognition Scheme.

The General Practice Armed Forces and Veterans’ Recognition Scheme has been developed in conjunction with practices who agreed to be part of an initial pilot. The pilot finished in December 2022 and since then work has been on-going to update the training according to feedback from the pilot, ensuring that relevant training content, processes and data gathering are ready prior to a wider rollout to other practices. It is anticipated that the full roll out will take place later this year.

We do recognise the potential value of such as scheme and want to ensure that the benefits of the scheme are optimised for both the patient and the practice.

If General Practises are keen to be involved ahead of the full launch they can contact gp-afv@gov.scot for more information.

Question reference: S6W-20807

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 21 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it next plans to meet with the Scottish Veterans Commissioner.

Question reference: S6W-20765

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 20 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve housing research, in order to understand more about any implications of the reported increase in older people living in private rental sector homes, including their awareness of tenant rights and their ability to request adaptations to their homes with consent from their landlords.

The Scottish Government has provided funding to Age Scotland, as a strategic partner, to support a range of housing related work in 2023-24. As part of that work Age Scotland is planning a piece of qualitative research with older people to improve the evidence on older people living in private rented sector.

Last year the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) and the Scottish Government commissioned research on the priorities for change of low-income renters in the private rented sector. This included older renters and explored tenants’ rights and adaptations in the private rented sector. Last year, the Scottish Government's Housing and Dementia Forum published a report on housing needs of people with dementia in Scotland including private renters.

Nationwide Foundation’s RentBetter Project, of which a Scottish Government Analyst is an advisory group member, are doing research which is examining the impacts of private rented sector reform on landlords and tenants, including changes to and knowledge of tenants’ rights, including older tenants.

The Scottish Government has also consulted recently on adaptation in the private rented sector as part of their New Deal for Tenants Consultation, and on the principles for a tenure-neutral accessible housing standard as part of this summer’s consultation on Enhancing the accessibility, adaptability and usability of Scotland’s homes.

Question reference: S6W-20965

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 19 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact of short-term let licensing on the workload of local authorities.

An assessment was made of any potential impact of short term let licensing on the workload of local authorities and this information can be found in the Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) for Short-term lets: licensing scheme and planning control area legislation published in November 2021 - Link . We are working with stakeholders including local authorities and the industry to monitor implementation and will provide an update on this in 2024.

Question reference: S6W-20842

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 19 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce NHS waiting times for services for females with polycystic ovary syndrome.

We published the NHS Recovery Plan in August 2021, which sets out our plans for health and social care over the next 5 years. Backed by over £1 billion of funding, the plan will support an increase in inpatient, day case, and outpatient activity to address the backlogs of care, which will be supported by the implementation of sustainable improvements and new models of care.

The first annual progress update was published on 4 October NHS Recovery Plan: annual progress update - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) . This update detailed the progress being made against the actions to address the backlog in care and meet ongoing healthcare needs for people across Scotland.

The plan will be reviewed regularly and reported on annually to ensure its actions and outcomes are delivered. We will also remain open to new ideas and initiatives that can help accelerate recovery and shape sustainable ways of working.

Question reference: S6W-20843

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 19 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to improve signposting and the referral of females with polycystic ovary syndrome to the appropriate organisations and NHS boards that can provide aftercare, treatment, ultrasounds or advice.

We identified that women need more information about menstrual health symptoms and associated conditions which is why our Women’s Health Platform on NHS Inform helps women to access the information they need on a range of issues relating to their health, including conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome.

There is comprehensive information on the condition itself as well as help and advice on diagnosis, treatment and self-management options. In addition, there is signposting to organisations such as Verity and PCOS Relief for additional help and support.

As part of their work supporting the delivery of the Women’s Health Plan, the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE) has continued to support the provision of comprehensive information and resources to dispel myths and stigma around menstrual health. This has included several webinars exploring periods and menstrual health related conditions. On 27 July 2023 The ALLIANCE hosted a webinar specifically focussing on polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) . These webinars are available to view on line and are supported by additional written resources which include signposting to other sources of information and advice.

The ALLIANCE has also produced a toolkit for delivering Conversation Cafes on women’s health . The toolkit brings together resources and guidance to set up supportive conversation spaces, facilitate informed discussion with women and build peer support networks. Alongside the toolkit is a resource hub , which provides additional resources to support discussion: ensuring that Café participants are provided with accurate information and can be signposted appropriately.

Scotland’s first Women’s Health Champion, Professor Anna Glasier, has identified PCOS as one of her priorities and publishes a quarterly blog highlighting her progress.

Question reference: S6O-02549

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 September 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what steps it is taking to eliminate long waiting times for NHS procedures.

Question reference: S6W-20806

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 12 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to ensure the availability of more accessible information regarding housing allocation policies aimed at military service leavers and veterans, to ensure that the key details can be understood and explained easily.

We have published a housing guide which provides information about applying for social housing in Scotland. This sets out how Service leavers and veterans can obtain clear information about the housing allocation policy for the area where they want to live and their level of priority for social housing.

We have also revised the social housing allocations practice guidance Social housing allocations in Scotland: practice guide - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) to include a specific section on Armed Forces and veterans to help landlords consider the needs of this group in their allocation policies and respond appropriately.

Question reference: S6W-20753

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 6 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the proposed timeline and target date are for the establishment of a leavers fund to support victims of domestic abuse to leave abusive relationships.

As indicated in the answer to question S6W-20389 on 15 August 2023 – we remain committed to exploring the options for a fund which aims to provide immediate financial support to women leaving an abusive relationship. The detail of any fund which may result from these considerations, including potential timescales, are subject to robust consideration and planning as part of the development of options, which is currently ongoing.

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

Question reference: S6W-20766

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 4 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with COSLA regarding the needs of older people in developing future local housing strategies, in order to ensure that housing needs are met for everyone in the local community.

Local authorities have statutory responsibility for housing, including assessing and meeting housing needs of their areas, and setting out how requirements for housing will be met in their local housing strategies (LHSs).

Guidance published in 2019 to support local authorities with preparing LHSs includes a strong focus on consultation and engagement and Association for Local Authority Chief Housing Officers (ALACHO) were involved in its development.

All LHSs are subject to a robust review process by the Scottish Government and an independent peer reviewer and feedback provided to local authorities.