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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-23854

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 29 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what support it has made available to help cover the costs of running vital medical equipment for patients at home.

The Scottish Government is acutely aware that energy consumers, and especially consumers that receive treatment at home, are feeling the impact of price hikes in the cost of energy. Increased energy costs are just one of a range of cost pressures NHS Boards need to manage in order to deliver services that best meet the needs of their local populations.

The Scottish Government has pledged almost £3 billion in this financial year that will contribute towards helping families and households face the increased cost of living. This includes the provision of services and financial support not available elsewhere in the UK, that is helping to reduce everyday costs and increase incomes.

The energy costs in running home oxygen concentrators is reimbursed to patients by the holder of the national contract, Dolby Vivisol.

The answer to question S6W-23137 on 4 December 2023 details our work with Health Boards to achieve national consistency in the approach to reimbursement of electricity costs in relation to home dialysis.

Any reimbursement of energy costs relating to other vital medical equipment for patients at home remains the responsibility of the NHS Board.

The Scottish Government continues to work with Boards to address financial pressures across the system to support recovery and reform and delivery if financially, environmentally and socially sustainable health and care services. This is backed by investment of £73 billion in health and social care across the Resource Pending Review period, and a further £1.3 billion capital funding to 2025-26.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

Question reference: S6W-23855

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 29 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many deaths have been attributed to thrombosis in Scotland in each year since 1999.

Table 1 - deaths from thrombosis-related conditions, 2000-2022.

Figures provided go back to 2000 and not 1999 as requested, as this is the period for which the National Records of Scotland have consistent data.

Year	Coronary thrombosis - all due to (1)	Coronary thrombosis - many due to (2)	Cerebral thrombosis (venous and arterial) - all due to (3)	Cerebral thrombosis (venous and arterial) - many due to (4)	Peripheral arterial thrombosis - many due to (5)	Venous thrombosis at various sites - all due to (6)	Venous thrombosis at various sites - many due to (7)	Other conditions caused by thrombosis - all due to (8)	Other conditions caused by thrombosis - many due to (9)
2000	7,508	4,793	78	3,888	229	2	193	0	18
2001	7,326	4,469	70	3,647	261	2	197	0	14
2002	7,269	4,295	51	3,702	264	2	202	0	9
2003	6,962	4,346	44	3,365	248	2	170	0	17
2004	6,311	4,340	33	3,258	245	6	161	0	21
2005	6,046	4,123	31	2,922	265	4	142	0	15
2006	5,494	3,782	20	2,834	302	1	137	0	10
2007	5,340	3,767	21	2,732	278	3	128	0	20
2008	4,997	3,625	20	2,799	315	2	133	0	9
2009	4,682	3,334	23	2,490	335	5	132	0	8
2010	4,577	3,266	26	2,382	291	1	137	0	12
2011	4,266	3,293	19	2,294	335	3	147	0	13
2012	4,073	3,366	5	2,248	334	1	126	1	7
2013	3,827	3,325	18	2,247	345	3	139	0	9
2014	3,497	3,254	14	2,073	362	2	151	0	12
2015	3,538	3,499	21	2,097	350	11	142	0	10
2016	3,629	2,943	24	1,965	296	6	136	0	13
2017	3,887	2,751	15	2,018	325	6	152	1	17
2018	4,023	2,527	23	1,978	340	5	111	8	16
2019	4,034	2,455	24	1,932	331	4	133	7	9
2020	4,173	2,494	23	2,039	320	5	148	4	6
2021	4,140	2,835	22	1,965	340	2	149	7	13
2022	4,125	2,927	28	1,985	366	5	140	3	10

ICD-10 codes used in each of the above categories

(1) - ICD-10 codes I21, I22, I23.6, I24.0. Includes, for example, ICD-10 code I21.9, which covers "acute myocardial infarction, unspecified".

(2) - ICD-10 code I25, which covers "chronic ischaemic heart disease".

(3) - ICD-10 codes I63.0, I63.3, I63.6, I67.6, O22.5, O87.3. Includes, for example, ICD-10 code I63.3, which covers "cerebral infarction due to thrombosis of cerebral arteries".

(4) - ICD-10 codes G08, I63.2, I63.5, I63.8, I63.9, I64, I65, I66, I67.2, I67.8, I69.3, I69.4. Includes, for example, ICD-10 code I64, which covers "stroke, not specified as haemorrhage or infarction".

(5) - ICD-10 codes I74, K55.0, K55.1, K55.9. Includes, for example, ICD-10 code I74.9, which covers "embolism and thrombosis of unspecified artery".

(6) - ICD-10 codes H34.8, I81, O22.2, O22.3, O87.1.

(7) - ICD-10 codes I80, O22.9, O87.0, O87.9. Includes, for example, ICD-10 code I80.2, which covers "phlebitis and thrombophlebitis of other deep vessels of lower extremities".

(8) - ICD-10 code I51.3.

(9) - ICD-10 codes O69.5, D73.5, G95.1, H34.2, I82, N28.0, N48.8, N50.1

Source: National Records of Scotland

Question reference: S6O-02948

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 December 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to address any challenges in relation to the accessibility of traditional skills programmes to ensure that young people have access to the same career opportunities.

Question reference: S6W-23436

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 20 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it is supporting the progress of the European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill.

The Scottish Government remains fully committed to supporting Mark Ruskell MSP in progressing his Members’ Bill to reconsideration stage as soon as possible. The Verity House Agreement includes an explicit commitment for Ministers to do this.

Now that the amended United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill has been passed by Parliament, we are preparing suggested amendments to the Members’ Bill to assist.

Question reference: S6W-23437

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 20 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with stakeholders regarding the incorporation of the European Charter of Local Self-Government into Scots law, in light of its support for the European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill.

Question reference: S6W-23688

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 19 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22410 by Jenni Minto on 7 November 2023, within what timescale it will publish the outcome of the work that it is undertaking with NHS boards on national consistency regarding reimbursement policies for electricity costs relating to home dialysis.

Question reference: S6W-23690

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 19 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22410 by Jenni Minto on 7 November 2023, what the nature is of the activity that it has undertaken with NHS boards to work towards achieving national consistency regarding reimbursement policies for electricity costs relating to home dialysis, in order to ensure that NHS costs are not being passed on to patients.

As outlined in the answer to question S6W-23689 on 19 December 2023, we have surveyed NHS Boards to understand their local policies regarding reimbursement of electricity costs for home dialysis. In addition, input has been given by those responsible for service delivery and stakeholders. We are currently working with health boards to understand how best to achieve national consistency so that patients undergoing home dialysis are protected from the impact of high electricity prices, wherever they live. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

Question reference: S6W-23689

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 19 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22410 by Jenni Minto on 7 November 2023, what data it has on any variation in practice regarding reimbursement policies for electricity costs relating to home dialysis in the financial year (a) 2020-21, (b) 2021-22 and (c) 2022-23.

Question reference: S6W-23615

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 19 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) chronic pain patients and (b) MSPs are involved in discussions regarding any changes to the Scottish National Pain Management Programme, in light of the service having been established following years of campaigning by patients and a unanimous vote of the Scottish Parliament on 29 May 2013.

Question reference: S6W-23619

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 19 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to tackle economic crime committed against vulnerable older people.

Older people can be particularly vulnerable to being targeted by criminals intent on carrying out fraudulent activity. The Scottish Government is committed to working with partners on the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce (SOCT) to disrupt fraudsters and protect our elderly from being exploited.

The SOCT recently published its Progress Report which highlighted the success of the Banking Protocol. This has prevented the loss of £29 million since its introduction in 2018. The Scottish Government also funds and supports a range of campaigns, and online and in-person workshops, such as ‘ DigiKen ’ which aims to raise awareness of how to stay secure online, and Digital Skills Education , which supports older people on how to spot and avoid scams, and how to protect personal information.