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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-11011

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 4 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there is (a) sufficient flexibility in the interpretation of and (b) a need to clarify or revise the policy and objectives for the delivery of water services for the current regulatory period to ensure they are consistent with delivering levels of water charges for 2022-23 and beyond that are considered by Scottish Ministers to be affordable, in light of the current high levels of inflation.

Ministers’ charging policies and Objectives for the water industry are clearly set out in the key framework documents that can be found on the Scottish Government’s website. Current circumstances facing the industry, indeed the country at large, are undoubtedly challenging and the Scottish Government will maintain regular dialogue with Scottish Water to support the continued delivery of all of Ministers’ Objectives over the current regulatory period. The affordability of charges is a matter for Scottish Water’s Board to consider alongside the requirement to meet its other statutory obligations. WICS has no powers to require a particular outcome in the charge setting process beyond setting the charge caps which are established to protect customers.

Question reference: S6W-10866

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 4 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers there to be a parity of treatment between blood cancers and solid tumour cancers, and how it will improve treatment for blood cancers.

NHS Scotland and the Scottish Government remains focused on delivering high-quality care in the safest possible way for patients of all cancer types, including blood cancers.

The National Cancer Plan, published on 9 December 2020, includes actions to improve access to treatments for all cancers.

The Covid-19 National Cancer Medicines Advisory Group (NCMAG) was established to oversee interim governance arrangements for cancer medicines in response to the impact of Covid-19 on the health service. These arrangements include two new medicines approved for use with patients with leukaemia, a type of blood cancer.

We have established the Scottish Cancer Network, which is a dedicated national resource to support and facilitate a ‘Once for Scotland’ approach to cancer services. Its aim is to enable equitable access to care and treatment across Scotland.

Lastly, an updated Framework for Effective Cancer Management was published on 3 December 2021. It supports clinicians and NHS managers to drive improvements in cancer pathways, including blood cancers, providing Health Boards with the tools to effectively manage cancer patients and ultimately recover waiting times.

Question reference: S6W-10989

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 3 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) recommendations on lung cancer screening and what action it is taking to implement these recommendations.

The Scottish Government is aware that the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) now recommend that the four UK countries should move toward the implementation of a targeted screening programme for lung cancer in adults aged 55-74 with a history of smoking.

The Scottish Government welcomes this recommendation, though notes that the UK NSC also acknowledges the significant complexities that must be worked through ahead of implementation. Scotland will play an active part in that work. The Scottish Government will also follow the advice of the National Screening Oversight (NSO) and Scottish Screening Committee (SSC) who will consider how the recommendation can best be taken forward in Scotland.

In the meantime, we have agreed to fund a one year extension of the University of Edinburgh’s feasibility study, LungScot, into targeted lung health checks for high risk individuals. This will help to inform future approaches.

Question reference: S6W-10991

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 3 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what work is being undertaken on a national lung cancer screening programme in line with pilots that are progressing in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Question reference: S6W-10990

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 3 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when a national lung cancer screening programme will be rolled out.

Question reference: S6W-11064

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 3 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, following the reported cancellation of a planned trip by the First Minister to the UN General Assembly taking place from 20 to 26 September 2022 in New York, whether another minister is attending in the First Minister’s place, and, if so, which minister.

Question reference: S6W-11063

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 3 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what overseas visits are planned by the First Minister for the remainder of 2022-23.

Question reference: S6W-11009

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 30 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will take action to require the Water Industry Commission for Scotland to (a) have regard to the affordability by householders and businesses of any water charges scheme that Scottish Water proposes, (b) consult on and publish the factors that will be considered relevant to judging affordability and (c) seek the agreement of Consumer Scotland on any affordability considerations to be applied.

The regulatory framework for the Water Industry requires the Scottish Ministers to issue to Scottish Water and the Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS) a statement of policy regarding Scottish Water’s charges under a charges scheme in respect of each regulatory period, and a parallel statement setting out Ministers’ Objectives. Following that, the WICS deliver a Final Determination setting out the level of finance required to allow Scottish Water to meet those Objectives. In line with Ministerial Directions, Scottish Water’s board are bound to consider matters of affordability and will take those into account in setting charge levels. WICS has no power to require Scottish Water to raise a minimum amount of revenue or to set minimum levels of charges

Question reference: S6W-11014

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 30 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider giving Scottish Water additional functions to (a) consult Consumer Scotland and have specific regard to its views on the affordability of water charges in advance of proposing a scheme of charges in any given year prior to submitting its annual scheme of charges to the Water Industry Commission and (b) advise Scottish Ministers of its considerations in this regard and publish them.

Consumer Scotland already has a statutory role and actively engages in the scrutiny arrangements underpinning the delivery of Scottish Water’s investment programme to ensure that Ministers’ objectives are being delivered. As a member of key strategic stakeholder groups Consumer Scotland advocates on behalf of customers on key industry policy issues, including on questions of affordability. Scottish Water’s Board must consider questions of affordability in finalising its Scheme of Charges; there are currently no plans to give Scottish Water additional functions in relation to charge setting.

Question reference: S6W-11015

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 30 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will direct the Water Industry Commission for Scotland to only take regulatory actions that are compatible with Scottish Water being able to deliver levels of water charges that are acceptable to Scottish Ministers at a time of high inflation.