Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-33323

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 24 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of IBD UK’s report, Crohn’s and Colitis Care in Scotland: A Vision for Change, which highlighted that three in 10 people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) waited over a year after developing symptoms to visit their GP, what assessment it has made of the need for a new high-profile public awareness campaign on the seriousness of IBD and its symptoms, and whether it will commit to introducing such a campaign to encourage earlier GP visits and improve early diagnosis.

The Scottish Government welcomes IBD UK’s latest report, Crohn’s and Colitis Care in Scotland: A Vision for Change, and notes the recommendation for government to undertake a high-profile public health awareness campaign on the seriousness of IBD and its symptoms. In consideration of the recommendation, our assessment is that information and guidance on Inflammatory Bowel Disease including crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis is already widely available to the public via the NHS Inform website: Scottish health information you can trust | NHS inform and we have no plans to commit to a campaign at this time.

Question reference: S6W-33945

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 January 2025
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 22 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its calls for tailored migration routes to be introduced within the current UK immigration system, to support Scotland’s economy, communities and public services.

The Scottish Government continues to call on the UK Government to deliver an immigration system which works for Scotland. As part of this, we have developed evidence-based immigration policy proposals, such as the Scottish Visa and Rural Visa Pilot proposals, which continue to command strong stakeholder support and would respond to specific challenges faced by Scotland’s economy, communities and public services.

If we are to meet our ambitions and deliver sustainable economic growth we need to attract and retain international students who can help to grow our economy. The Scottish Government has developed a proposal for a tailored visa route for international graduates from Scottish Universities or Colleges who want to stay in Scotland. This Scottish Graduate Visa would be linked to a Scottish tax code and be based on a requirement to live and work in Scotland. It would give international students in Scotland an additional two years to develop their career to meet the salary threshold for a Skilled Worker Visa.

I encourage the UK Government to engage with what is being proposed, and to discuss with Scottish Ministers how it could be delivered within the current UK immigration system to help meet Scotland’s distinct demographic needs.

The publication link is live at: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781836912729

Question reference: S6O-04247

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 January 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting people in Motherwell and Wishaw in accessing social security entitlements.

Question reference: S6W-32195

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 14 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address colonoscopy waiting times to improve early diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), in light of Public Health Scotland data from September 2024 showing the highest proportion of patients waiting a year or more for a colonoscopy since January 2023.

Significant additional activity is already underway following the allocation of £30 million funding to target reductions to the national backlogs that built up throughout the pandemic. This includes over 40,000 extra diagnostic procedures.

To specifically support scope based diagnostics we have published an Endoscopy and Urology Diagnostic Recovery and Renewal Plan backed by £70 million. The plan focuses on key areas such as: Balancing Demand and Capacity; Workforce Training and Development; Infrastructure; and Innovation and Redesign.

To provide further support for timeous diagnosis, the Scottish Government commissioned Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD) will shortly publish a newly developed Inflammatory Bowel Disease pathway to support earlier identification and management of the disease.

The Budget we set out on 4 December 2024 will throw the weight of the government behind performance improvements with almost £200 million to reduce waiting lists and help support reduction of delayed discharge. By March 2026, we expect no one to be waiting longer than 12 months for a new outpatient, inpatient treatment or day case treatment.

Question reference: S6O-04163

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 December 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available from the Office of the Public Guardian for people accessing the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service.

Question reference: S6W-32199

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 December 2024
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by John Swinney on 12 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will report on the outcome of the recent Summit of the British-Irish Council, held in Edinburgh.

On 6 December I hosted the 42nd meeting of the British-Irish Council Summit on behalf of the Scottish Government. The Summit marked the 25th anniversary of the first Council meeting which was held in London in December 1999 following the historic Good Friday Agreement. The meeting was attended by the Heads of Government from all eight of the BIC Member Administrations, including the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer.

The theme of the Summit was ‘Financing a Just Transition’.

With global emissions continuing to rise, Council members discussed the importance of working in collaboration and shared the experience of their respective governments in supporting communities in the journey towards net zero – and about how best to attract global finance to maximise the social, economic and environmental benefits of the transition to net zero.

I highlighted Scotland’s leadership in this area by acting to underpin our net zero targets in a legislative commitment to achieving a just transition. I also highlighted the proactive, ‘investor-friendly’ approach that the Scottish Government is taking to attract investment in priority areas of net zero, housing and infrastructure.

The Council also reflected on the latest political developments such as international issues including the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Israel/Gaza as well as domestic issues such as the measures included in the Scottish budget to mitigate the two child benefit cap as an important step towards eradicating child poverty.

In addition to the formal Summit meeting, I had the opportunity to further build the Scottish Government’s relationship with the UK, Irish, Welsh Governments, the Northern Ireland Executive and the Crown Dependencies through bilateral meetings.

Question reference: S6O-04139

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 December 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking, including in discussion with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, to promote electrical safety over the Christmas period.

Question reference: S6O-04059

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 November 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what impact it anticipates that the UK Government's decision to raise employer national insurance contributions will have on organisations in the culture sector that are in receipt of Scottish Government funding.

Question reference: S6O-04012

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 November 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work of its Food Security Unit.

Question reference: S6W-30963

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 5 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve waiting times for endoscopy appointments.

Significant additional activity is already underway following the allocation of £30 million funding to target reductions to the national backlogs that built up throughout the pandemic. This includes over 40,000 extra diagnostic procedures.

The Scottish Government has also helped develop the Endoscopy and Urology Diagnostic Recovery and Renewal Plan. This plan focuses on key areas such as: Balancing Demand and Capacity; Workforce Training and Development; Infrastructure; and Innovation and Redesign.

This plan has so far delivered four mobile endoscopy units across Scotland, providing 5-6 additional endoscopy rooms, and a Dyce facility to provide additional endoscopy procedures for NHS Grampian. Additionally, the national endoscopy surveillance framework, introduced in February 2022, has been implemented in all Health Boards.

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