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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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S6F-00792

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 07 February 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 February 2022

To ask the First Minister whether she will provide an update on what steps the Scottish Government is taking to improve CAMHS waiting times.

Question reference: S6W-06054

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6O-00704

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 January 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives from the nuclear energy sector, and what was discussed.

Question reference: S6W-05217

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 17 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the timeline for plans to pilot free school breakfast provision in primary and special schools.

The 2021-22 Programme for Government committed to developing plans to deliver free breakfasts to all primary and special school children, and start to pilot this provision. In order to effectively deliver this universal breakfast offer we need to better understand the extent of current breakfast provision across local authorities, including a mixed model of in-school, private and voluntary provision of breakfast, often delivered alongside early morning childcare. The priority this year will be to map existing breakfast provision and plan what delivery of a future breakfast offer should look like to best meet the needs of children and families in Scotland. It will be important to combine the provision of breakfast with the provision of childcare – where it is appropriate to do so – recognising the importance of accessible childcare at the beginning of the day to enable parents and carers to enter and sustain employment. To understand this need, we will ask our People Panel for school age childcare what children and families want and need from a breakfast offer combined with childcare and consider how this can best be delivered.

Question reference: S6T-00296

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 22 November 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many schools are currently shut due to staff shortages resulting from COVID-19 cases.

Question reference: S6W-03703

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 20 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to (a) attract more and (b) retain (i) neurology specialists and (ii) MS nurses.

In December 2019 we published a Neurological Care and Support – a National Framework for Action . Over five years we will invest £4.5 million to implement the Framework’s commitments, including the development of sustainable workforce models.

The Scottish Shape of Training Transition Group makes recommendations to Ministers annually on training numbers across all medical specialties. The group undertakes an annual assessment of the medical trainee establishment and the factors influencing recruitment fill rates. This process aligns with medical workforce modelling and is intended to achieve a planned and sustainable medical workforce. In each year since 2016,100% of advertised Neurology posts have been filled, indicating that new trainee doctors already consider a career in neurology to be an attractive one.

Work is being taken forward on education and training opportunities for Clinical Nurse Specialists in Neurology (and MS specifically) by a group including Scottish Government, NHS Education Scotland, MS Clinical Nurse Specialists representatives and the NHS Centre for Sustainability Delivery. It will support Health Boards in recruiting and succession planning regarding these roles. The Scottish Government provides £2.4 million to enhance clinical nurse specialist provision and care.

Question reference: S6O-00423

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 November 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the closure of Edington Cottage Hospital.

Question reference: S6O-00391

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 November 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what actions are being taken to ensure that the agriculture sector plays a leading role in delivering a net zero Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-04040

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 10 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has given to local authorities regarding parent-teacher consultations, and whether any such guidance specifies (a) whether they should be virtual or in-person meetings, (b) the time of day that meetings should take place and (c) any position on the importance of meeting any requirements for engagement between parents and teachers.

Specific guidance on Reporting to Parents and Involving / Engaging Parent Councils during COVID–19 was published in November 2020. It states that “alternative methods and approaches to reporting will need to be used” in the current circumstances. Digital and online approaches are suggested as alternatives to in person meetings, and schools will be seeking to ensure engagement takes place such that all parents and carers can participate.

There is no specific guidance on meeting timings. Guidance emphasises that strong communications and collaboration between home and school remain key to ensure parents and carers can support their children and young people. Headteachers and managers will be working to ensure their setting or school continues to involve and engage parents and families .

Guidance states parents or carers may accompany children onto school premises where this is agreed and is considered necessary to support children and young people, including in relation to wellbeing, progress and behaviour.

Question reference: S6W-03701

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 8 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve access to new medicines for people living with progressive forms of MS.

In December 2019 we published "Neurological Care and Support - a National Framework for Action". Over 5 years we will invest £4.5 million to implement the Framework’s 17 commitments.

Some of these commitments aim to improve access to new medicines for people living with progressive forms of MS, such as our commitment to support the neurological research agenda by promoting the work of the Chief Scientist Office, third sector organisations’ research and Scottish neurological research networks; and encouraging opportunities for people with neurological conditions to become involved in research trials.

In September 2020, the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) accepted siponimod (Mayzent®) for routine use in NHS Scotland. Mayzent® is the first oral Disease Modifying Therapy (DMT) for active secondary progressive MS. The SMC Horizon Scanning Team have also identified several DMT’s in development for the treatment of progressive forms of MS which are predicted to enter the UK market within the next 5 years.