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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: S6W-21950

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

To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates that the Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry will (a) complete its evidence taking and (b) publish its final report.

We have always been clear that we want the work of the Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry to be delivered at speed, addressing the range of questions that people have, so that we can learn and benefit from lessons as early as possible.

It is for the Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry itself to comment on its work.

Section 17 of the Inquiries Act 2005 gives an inquiry Chair alone, rather than Ministers, responsibility for deciding how an inquiry should operate. Operational matters such as the timetabling, procedure and conduct of hearings are for the Chair to decide, entirely independent of government.

It is for the Chair to determine how to strike the right balance between addressing the wide range of questions people have and making sure that the inquiry can be delivered at speed, so that we can learn and benefit from lessons as early as possible.

The Scottish Government remains committed, in its role as sponsor, to providing operational support as the Chair considers necessary and appropriate, in order to enable the Inquiry to carry out its independent work and help ensure the progress made so far is continued.

Question reference: S6W-21955

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 what actions have been taken to address the situation at NHS Forth Valley since the NHS board was placed on stage 4 of the special measures scale in November 2022.

Question reference: S6F-02459

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 23 October 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 October 2023

To ask the First Minister what steps are being taken to eradicate long waiting times for NHS treatment, in light of Public Health Scotland data showing that over 1,500 patients have waited more than three years.

Question reference: S6O-02624

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 October 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide an update on the timelines for, and locations of, the planned closures of up to 30 police buildings.

Question reference: S6W-22286

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6W-22285

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6W-21468

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 13 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what contingencies it has put in place for the potential relocation of patients and staff in hospitals or health care facilities found to contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

Health Boards are responsible for managing the NHS estate and should have business continuity plans in place. The Scottish Government is working closely with Health Boards and will provide support for contingency arrangements where a need is identified. Guidance on what needs to be included in a business continuity plan is provided by the Scottish Government.

NHS Boards are providing up to date information on RAAC on their websites - links to all NHSScotland Boards RAAC webpages are available on the NHS Scotland Assure RAAC Survey Programme webpage:

Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) Discovery Survey Programme - List of Properties | National Services Scotland (nhs.scot) .

Question reference: S6W-21501

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 22 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 11 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many care homes have been wholly or partially closed to new admissions since 1 January 2023 due to COVID-19 infections.

Question reference: S6W-21467

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 10 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Institution of Structural Engineers regarding reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

Question reference: S6W-21466

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 9 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

Officials are involved in the UK Government’s Cross-Government Working Group on RAAC. Recent meetings have confirmed that the Institution of Structural Engineers' guidance on RAAC remains a valid approach to the assessment of RAAC. This has also been confirmed in discussions with the Health & Safety Executive, the UK-wide regulator for health and safety.

Officials also regularly attend meetings of UK education departments convened by the UK Department for Education to consider RAAC.

The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills spoke to Baroness Barran, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Education on 31 August regarding RAAC in schools and there has been subsequent correspondence between the Cabinet Secretary and Gillian Keegan, Secretary of State for Education.

On 16 August, the Deputy First Minister wrote to UK Treasury seeking clarity on new capital funding to deal with RAAC. On the same day, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice wrote to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities recommending a collaborative approach between administrations. Dialogue continues on both these issues.