- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 October 2017
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 1 November 2017
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update of the progress being made by the Scottish Growth Scheme.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 1 November 2017
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 September 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 24 October 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what the recruitment process will be for the appointment of a new chief executive for NHS Orkney after the current postholder takes up a position with NHS Forth Valley; by what date the new chief executive will be in post, and whether it can confirm that the person appointed will carry out their role exclusively for NHS Orkney and not work jointly with another NHS board.
Answer
The recruitment of a new Chief Executive is a matter for NHS Orkney as the employer. NHS Orkney is putting in place interim arrangements while proposals for the appointment of a new Chief Executive are developed.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 September 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 24 October 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what its investment has been in dermatology services in each of the last 10 years, broken down by NHS board.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold this information. The allocation of spend is determined by territorial Health Boards. The Scottish Government’s role is to provide policies, frameworks and resources to NHS Boards to allow them to deliver services that meet the needs of their local populations.
The Scottish Government Modern Outpatient Programme recently invested £80,500 to update and improve nineteen national dermatological pathways in collaboration with Dermatology and Primary Care practitioners. Education events were held across Scotland to promote the pathways amongst clinicians. As a part of this funding, an app has been developed which allows clinicians to access the pathways easily and quickly from their smartphones or surgery computers.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 September 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Derek Mackay on 5 October 2017
To ask the Scottish Government how many vehicles (a) there are in the ministerial car pool and (b) are allocated to (i) its and (ii) Transport Scotland's officials, also broken down by how many are electric.
Answer
The Government Car Service (GCS) operates 24 vehicles of which 6 are hybrid vehicles (3 are plug-in).
The Government Car Service in Scotland (GCS) provides transport for: members of the Scottish Cabinet and Ministers; Ministers of other UK Administrations when in Scotland; the Lord Advocate and Solicitor General; the Permanent Secretary; dignitaries and advisers, with the approval of Ministers.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 September 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 26 September 2017
To ask the Scottish Government which NHS boards work in partnership to deliver dermatology care, and how this care is delivered.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to making sure that everyone living in Scotland is able to access the best possible care and support. The provision of healthcare services is the responsibility of local NHS Boards.
It is for NHS Boards and Integration Authorities to work together to ensure that the best possible dermatology care is provided to individuals in their local areas.
We expect health care professionals to follow agreed local and national guidelines. In relation to dermatology, clinicians should deliver care in line with the dermatological conditions management pathways. As part of The Modern Outpatient Programme, the 19 pathways have recently been refined and revised by dermatology consultants and GPs from across Scotland. The pathways are available via Web based smart technology and are aimed at supporting GPs in the on-going management of these conditions.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 September 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 26 September 2017
To ask the Scottish Government how many a) consultant and (b) professional dermatologists are employed by each NHS board, also broken down by (i) how many positions have been vacant and (ii) the longest time each board has taken to fill a vacancy in the last 12 months.
Answer
Information on how many (a) consultant dermatologists are employed in each NHSScotland Board is published by ISD Scotland and is available at the following web link:-
https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/2017-09-05/Consultant_Staff_In_Post_J2017.xls
“Professional dermatologists” is not a recognised specialty. However, information on specialist doctors, including dermatology medical staff, is published by ISD Scotland and is available at the following web link:-
https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/2017-09-05/HCHS_by_specialty_J2017.xls
Information on (i) vacant consultant dermatology posts, broken down by NHSScotland Board is published by ISD Scotland and is available at the following web link:-
https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/2017-09-05/Consultant_Vacancies_J2017.xls
Information on (ii) the longest time each NHSScotland Board has taken to fill a vacancy in the last 12 months is not centrally held. Specific local information may be available from individual NHSScotland Boards.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 31 August 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 September 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to Reform Scotland’s recent publication, Reforming Prison, and its recommendations to stop the use of short prison sentences of less than six months and to introduce a pilot scheme for putting landline phones in prisoners’ cells.
Answer
In the Programme for Government published on 5 September 2017 the Scottish Government committed to extend the legislative presumption against short periods of imprisonment from 3 months to 12 months. Extending the presumption sends a clear signal that short sentences should only be imposed where no other alternatives are suitable, and is part of our wider commitment to shift the emphasis from ineffective short-term imprisonment to greater use of robust community sentences.
Ultimately, sentencing decisions should and do remain a matter for the courts. The presumption is not a ban, and courts retain the discretion to pass the most appropriate sentence based on the facts and circumstances of the case they are dealing with.
There are no current plans to introduce telephones in prisoners' cells in Scotland. The Scottish Government and the Scottish Prison Service both recognise the importance of individuals maintaining family links during their time in custody, and continue to look at ways in which we can support and enhance this.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 September 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Derek Mackay on 21 September 2017
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its response to the Barclay Review on non-domestic rates, how the continuing consideration of the valuation methodology for licensed premises will be carried out, and when this will be concluded.
Answer
The methodology for rating valuation of licensed premises is for the Scottish Assessors, who are appointed by local government and operate independently.
In my statement responding to the Barclay review last week [Tuesday 12 September], I encouraged the sector and the Assessors to continue to work together to explore alternative methods of valuation.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 August 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 14 September 2017
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-10734 by Kevin Stewart on 28 August 2017, what action it has taken to embed the evidence referred to into the policy framework of national programmes, including Home Energy Efficiency Programmes (HEEPS).
Answer
Health is well embedded within our current fuel poverty programmes as they are focused on vulnerable and low income households which tend to contain higher levels of elderly residents or those with a long term sickness and disability.
As part of Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme (SEEP) we are also testing new ways of forging closer partnerships with local health and social care providers and organisations through our rural based HES Homecare pilot. These new and existing partnerships make reaching the most vulnerable people easier and more effective, particularly in remote and rural areas.
Later this year we will also consult on a new fuel poverty strategy which will seek views on how to strengthen relationships with local and national partners to deliver better health outcomes to those who are in, or at risk of being in fuel poverty.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 August 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 14 September 2017
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-10734 by Kevin Stewart on 28 August 2017, what discussions it has had with NHS Scotland to explore how the evidence and information referred to may impact NHS health strategies.
Answer
Fuel poverty is significant to the work of NHS Scotland as it is both a health and health inequalities issue.
The Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum includes two representatives from NHS Scotland. One representing the Scottish Directors of Public Health and, the other representing the Health and Work Directorate, with a focus on health and work, low income and welfare benefits.
Membership of the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum brings the opportunity for NHS Scotland to further develop the role and contribution of the NHS to tackling fuel poverty. Membership of the Forum also allows these members to provide a health-related perspective to future fuel poverty strategy development to ensure that we deliver better health outcomes to those who are in, or at risk of being in fuel poverty.
