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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: S6O-00212

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 September 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether the recent funding announcement of £50 million for homeless services will be new money or funds previously allocated to existing budgets.

Question reference: S6W-02749

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 21 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what the scientific basis is for the continuing COVID-19 restrictions on parents and carers from watching their children participate in organised school sport.

Our priority remains keeping children, young people and school staff safe. The guidance on reducing COVID risks in schools, has been updated and was published on 15 September. It is in line with current advice from the COVID-19 Advisory Sub-Group on Education and Children’s issues. The sub-group keeps the mitigations in schools and Early Learning and Childcare settings under constant review, and will consider the issue of parental attendance at school sporting events at its next meeting on 21 September.

Question reference: S6O-00146

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 September 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the finance secretary has had with the education secretary regarding the allocation of additional funding to improve ventilation in schools to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Question reference: S6W-02362

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 3 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider fast-tracking applications for the new Adult Disability Payment from people who are undergoing cancer treatment.

Throughout the development of our new social security system our overriding commitment is to the safe and secure transfer of disability assistance from the Department for Work and Pensions to Social Security Scotland. It is essential that clients continue to receive the payments they rely on. However, our decision-making processes will be significantly improved in order to better meet the needs of clients. This includes an expedited application process for clients who are terminally ill. We are also significantly improving the definition of terminal illness by removing arbitrary time constraints and ensuring decisions are better informed by clinical judgement.

Question reference: S6O-00083

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 August 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any progress that has been made on the use of mobile abattoirs.

Question reference: S6W-01452

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 30 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider undertaking a campaign to raise public awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer.

A new Early Cancer Diagnosis Programme Board has been formed – this group will be responsible for shaping and supporting the delivery of Scotland’s early cancer diagnosis efforts over the coming years. The exploration of any future public awareness campaigns will be considered here and will be undertaken with close consultation from the Scottish Cancer Coalition, which includes third sector ovarian cancer representation.

The Scottish Government is committed to finding cancer early when the chance of survival and even cure is higher – this is reflected in our £44 million Detect Cancer Early (DCE) Programme.

September marks Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month - DCE’s social media channels will help raise awareness of common signs and symptoms, signposting to an online interactive ‘symptom checker’ tool.

Question reference: S6W-00740

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 13 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how the NHS Recovery Plan will build on any innovation and new partnerships developed during the COVID-19 pandemic between NHS boards and the third sector.

This partnership working is continuing to grow and develop and will form part of our NHS Recovery Plan due to be published shortly.

The Centre for Sustainable Delivery, hosted by the Golden Jubilee National Hospital, has been established and commissioned by the Scottish Government to support NHS Boards to deliver wide-ranging and complex national programmes, such as the Scottish Access Collaborative and the Modernising Patient Pathways Programme.

As part of this, several Third Sector organisations and societies are involved in the delivery of programme workstreams, as well as co-production of patient pathways and self-guidance materials to support patient wellbeing. This involves a wide-range of Third Sector bodies, including Crohn’s & Colitis UK, Coeliac UK, Bowel Cancer UK, Pain Association, Pain Concern, Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland Chronic Pain Reference Group, and Endometriosis UK plus many others.

Question reference: S6W-00742

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 13 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether the NHS Recovery Plan will incorporate the role of the third sector in supporting people’s health and alleviating pressure on the NHS.

As the NHS Recovery Plan develops, we will engage with key stakeholders to ensure all aspects of NHS Recovery are explored and incorporated.

We have recently established the Centre for Sustainable Delivery, hosted by the Golden Jubilee National Hospital, to support NHS Boards to deliver several complex national programmes, such as the Modernising Patient Pathways Programme.

Several Third Sector organisations and societies are involved in the delivery of programme workstreams, as well as co-production of patient pathways and self-guidance materials to support patient wellbeing. These include:

Crohn’s & Colitis UK
Coeliac UK
Bowel Cancer UK
Pain Association
Pain Concern
Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland Chronic Pain Reference Group
Endometriosis UK
FND Hope
Cerebral Palsy Connect
PSP Association
Versus Arthritis
Parkinson’s UK
Research UK
ENT UK

Question reference: S6W-00741

Asked by: Martin Whitfield, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 2 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how the NHS Recovery Plan will support delivery of the commitment to a Right to Rehab.

As part of the wider recovery from the pandemic, the Scottish Government launched the Framework for Rehabilitation & Recovery from COVID-19 in August 2020. The Framework puts in place clear principles, priorities and objectives to support increasing demand and to provide high quality person-centred rehabilitation in different settings.

The Framework will closely align to existing rehabilitation pathways and strategies and a Once for Scotland Approach will be developed and provide a practical, accessible strategy to deliver quality rehabilitation to everyone who needs it.

Our overall vision is for everyone with rehabilitation needs to be able to access the care and support to live well on their own terms.

Remobilising and supporting our NHS remains a priority and we will shortly publish our NHS Recovery Plan that will clearly set out how we will continue to support all patients to receive the highest quality of care.