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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-22427

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Elena Whitham on 3 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what options it has explored to improve alcohol and drug services to make them more flexible, convenient, accessible and easier to navigate.

One of the key aims of the National Mission is to improve and save lives by ensuring that every individual has access to, and choice in the type of recovery and treatment they need. In response to the Changing Lives report published by the Drug Deaths Taskforce, the Scottish Government published a Cross Government Plan which sets out examples of how we are improving alcohol and drug services to make them more flexible, convenient, accessible and easier to navigate.

For example, we are supporting local areas further develop their assertive outreach programmes both through the implementation of the MAT standards and in other ways such as the Primary Care Alcohol Nurse Outreach Service (PCANOS), which embeds specialist harm reduction services within Deep End GP practices and supports patients in engaging with and navigating treatment services.

We are also investing in residential rehabilitation to ensure people can access help when they need it and have established an Expert Group to recommend improvements for crisis management and stabilisation.

In addition, we sponsor a number of third sector organisations which offer convenient and accessible technology-based help, advice and treatment for people with problematic drinking, for example, Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs and We Are With You, who also provide a live web chat services which have improved engagement for many people.

We are also supporting the UK Government in developing the clinical guidelines for alcohol treatment, which were published for public consultation on 16 October 2023. The guidelines encourage more flexible and convenient interventions by using digital technologies when appropriate.

Question reference: S6W-22429

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Elena Whitham on 3 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the number of deaths from alcohol-specific causes in 2021 was 27.4% higher than in 2019.

Over the period 2019 to 2021, all UK nations saw an increase in the number of alcohol-specific deaths. The increase for the whole of the UK over this period was 27.4% with the increase for Scotland being 22.1%. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggests, on their website, that the impact of restrictions related to COVID-19 may be a factor in the increase in alcohol-specific deaths seen across the UK.

The Scottish Government has a range of alcohol harm prevention and treatment policies and interventions intended to reduce harm. Recent research estimated our world-leading Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) policy has saved hundreds of lives, and likely averted hundreds of alcohol-attributable hospital admissions each year and is having an effect in our most deprived areas. We are currently consulting on the Scottish Government’s preferred position on MUP which is a continuation of the policy and, in the event of continuation, at a price of 65 pence per unit of alcohol. On support and treatment, in 2022-23, we made £106.8 million available to Alcohol and Drugs Partnerships to support local and national treatment initiatives. We have been involved in a UK-wide group on reviewing and updating clinical guidance for alcohol treatment, which is now out for consultation . We are exploring the evidence around Managed Alcohol Programmes, and we are undertaking a review of the Alcohol Brief Intervention programme to ensure the programme is as impactful as possible in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-22425

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Elena Whitham on 3 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle the root causes of alcohol and drug addiction.

Scottish Government has outlined the importance of a person-centred approach to treatment in it’s alcohol and drug treatment strategy, Rights, Respect, Recovery . By developing recovery oriented systems of care and creating services that are trauma informed, the root causes of problematic alcohol and/or drug use can be identified and supported.

We recognise the many drivers behind problematic use of drugs and alcohol, and the importance of working together to address the underlying causes, providing support to those affected to live full and healthy lives.

We are tackling this by ensuring a holistic approach and strengthening links between work on poverty, structural inequality, education, children and young people and work on alcohol and drug policy.

Question reference: S6O-02701

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to tackle the reported record levels of homelessness in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-21999

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 31 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates its guidance on the provision of wheelchairs on free, short-term loans will be fully implemented.

Question reference: S6W-21998

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 31 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-16001 by Kevin Stewart on 24 March 2023, whether it will provide an update on how many health and social care partnerships have implemented its guidance on the provision of wheelchairs on free, short-term loan.

Question reference: S6W-21951

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 26 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps have been taken to address reported whistleblower concerns regarding risk of harm to staff and patients at NHS Forth Valley.

NHSScotland supports and encourages an environment where those working in our health service feel confident to raise any concerns they may have, in the knowledge that these will be treated seriously, and where appropriate, fully investigated. This includes concerns about staffing levels and any compromise to patient safety. Boards are expected to investigate concerns in line with the NHSScotland Whistleblowing Policy.

The Independent National Whistleblowing Officer (INWO) was set up to provide a mechanism for external review where there are concerns of how a Health Board, primary care or independent provider has handled a Whistleblowing case.

Additionally, the Scottish Government seek assurance of the whistleblowing support in place for staff, as well as the process in Boards through regular contact with Board Executives, the Board Whistleblowing Champions, and via the annual Staff Governance Monitoring exercise.

Question reference: S6W-21952

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 26 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported concerns raised by the Independent National Whistleblowing Officer (INWO) that “it was difficult to understand” how NHS Forth Valley’s response “addressed the specific concerns raised” by whistleblowers.

All NHSScotland Health Boards report directly to the Independent National Whistleblowing Officer (INWO) on the recommendations from investigation reports. The Scottish Government do not become involved in INWO investigations, instead we will seek assurance through regular contact with Board officials and through the annual Staff Governance Monitoring exercise that actions are taken in line with the report.

Question reference: S6W-21954

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 26 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to address any issues at NHS Forth Valley since the reports of “intolerable” working conditions within the NHS board.

The Scottish Government supports and encourages an environment where those working in our health service feel confident to raise any concerns they may have, in the knowledge that these will be treated seriously and, where appropriate, fully investigated. Boards are expected to investigate concerns fairly and appropriately in line with national policies.

The Scottish Government expect NHS Forth Valley to work closely with trade unions to address and resolve concerns.

An Assurance Board was established in December 2023 to monitor and scrutinise NHS Forth Valley against an agreed Improvement Plan. The Assurance Board has met 13 times and continues to meet monthly to review progress.

Question reference: S6W-21953

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 25 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the findings of the “transformation team” that was dispatched to NHS Forth Valley in November 2022 after the Scottish Government placed the NHS board on stage 4 of the special measures scale.

Updates from the external support team and other matters relating to the escalation of NHS Forth Valley are discussed at meetings of the NHS Forth Valley Assurance Board.

The Assurance Board was established by the Scottish Government to support NHS Forth Valley in determining what steps are necessary to ensure the delivery of high quality governance, leadership and culture, and in doing so support improvements in performance in out of hours, unscheduled care, mental health, and integration.

The minutes of the Assurance Board meetings and other information relevant to the escalation of NHS Forth Valley are published here: NHS Forth Valley Assurance Board - gov.scot (www.gov.scot).