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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-03270

Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 September 2021
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide an update on the COVID-19 vaccination certification scheme.

Question reference: S6W-03191

Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 September 2021
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Maree Todd on 20 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when the results of the joint four nation consultation on mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid will be published.

I am pleased to confirm today that the Scottish Government will proceed with a four nation approach to introduce mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid. I have agreed with the administrations of the UK (in relation to England), Wales, and Northern Ireland that we will take forward the fortification of non-wholemeal wheat flour on a UK-wide basis, which was the ‘baseline’ option in the consultation.

Scottish Ministers have long advocated for the mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid to reduce the risk of neural tube defects in foetuses. There is strong evidence that many neural tube defects can be prevented by increasing women’s intake of folic acid. Mandatory fortification is an effective way of reaching people with the lowest folate intakes, often younger women from the most socioeconomically deprived areas.

The Scottish Government will now work together with the other administrations of the UK to engage with stakeholders on the details of the fortification and labelling requirements, including on appropriate lead-in times. In order to minimise impacts on industry, this will be co-ordinated as part of a wider review of The Bread and Flour Regulations 1998 and The Bread and Flour (Northern Ireland) Regulations 1998 being undertaken by Defra – alongside the Food Standards Agency in Northern Ireland and Wales, Food Standards Scotland, the UK Government, the Northern Ireland Executive and the Scottish and Welsh Governments.

The full results of the four nation consultation on mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid and our joint policy response will be published as soon as possible.

Question reference: S6O-00197

Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 September 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how it will assist schools to support the mental wellbeing of pupils.

Question reference: S6W-02922

Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 September 2021
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Maree Todd on 10 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its plans to help consumers make healthy food choices when eating out of the home or ordering in.

Question reference: S6O-00069

Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 August 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how its policies and actions across government will support the north east to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Question reference: S6W-02417

Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 August 2021
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Maree Todd on 23 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress reviewing the cases of individuals whose records indicate they may have had a subtotal hysterectomy before 1997 but who have been excluded from the Scottish Cervical Screening Programme.

By the end of July, all Health Boards had completed the audit of cases where individuals have been excluded from the cervical screening programme despite their records indicating they may have had subtotal hysterectomies before 1997. Further work was then carried out to collate and analyse the findings. By Wednesday 18 August, around 174 letters were issued by Boards to all those who have been identified as requiring to be re-instated in the programme, or to be offered a gynaecological appointment either because it is not clear from their records if the exclusion is appropriate, or because their age means they are no longer eligible for cervical screening.

In total, 484 records were reviewed. Of these:

204 individuals were found to have been correctly excluded and no further action is necessary.
39 individuals have been wrongly excluded and are still in the eligible age range for screening. These patients will be re-instated to the programme and asked to contact their GP practice to make an appointment for screening.
46 individuals have been wrongly excluded but are now no longer eligible for screening due to their age. These patients will be offered an appointment at a gynaecology clinic.
89 individuals’ records did not allow a determination to be made on the appropriateness of their exclusion. These patients will also be offered an appointment at a gynaecology clinic.
A small number of individuals are no longer resident in Scotland. Efforts will be made to trace them, and they will be re-instated in the screening programme so that they will be invited again for screening should they return to Scotland.
100 individuals are now deceased. As noted in the statement given to Parliament on 24 June, a review is being carried out into the deaths of anyone who may have been excluded in error from the programme to verify whether cervical cancer was a main or contributory cause of death.

The care pathways in place for anyone written to in August are the same as for all those written to at the end of June. Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust also continue to offer support through their helpline services. The helpline can be reached by calling 0808 802 8000 or emailing helpline@jostrust.org. If anyone believes they have had a subtotal hysterectomy and therefore thinks they should have received a letter, Jo’s Trust will also be able to redirect them to a Health Board contact.

We recognise the anxiety anyone receiving a letter will almost certainly feel, and we are sorry for that. It is important to stress that the risk of developing cervical cancer is extremely low – less than 1 in 100 women will develop it in their lifetimes.

As we have stressed throughout this incident, anyone who is experiencing symptoms of cervical cancer – that is anyone experiencing unusual discharge, or bleeding after sex, between periods or after the menopause – should make an appointment with their GP practice. More information on symptoms is available on NHS Inform.

I will provide a more detailed update to Parliament on this issue after recess.

Question reference: S6W-02050

Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the reopening or replacement of the Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive scheme.

In April 2020 the Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) consulted on future support for low carbon heat, proposing the Green Gas Support and Clean Heat Grant schemes as successors. The Scottish Government responded to the consultation and has separately engaged with BEIS to press the need for replacement schemes to account for particular circumstances in Scotland.

BEIS published its response on the Green Gas Support scheme and associated levy in March 2021. BEIS is yet to issue a response on the Clean Heat Grant. These schemes will provide a reduced level of support to a narrower range of non-domestic heat decarbonisation projects.

The Scottish Government has allocated almost £1.6 billion over this parliament to heat and energy efficiency, including support for non-domestic projects. We already offer a loan and cashback grant offer for SME businesses via the Energy Efficiency Business Support Service and will invest up to £400 million over the next five years in large-scale heat decarbonisation infrastructure, as well as continuing to offer low interest unsecured loans for both district heating low carbon and renewable technology projects in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-00359

Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Claire Baker (on behalf of the SPCB) on 15 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it has considered making COVID-19 lateral flow tests mandatory for all parliament staff and Members.

The SPCB has agreed to write to all passholders encouraging them to use lateral flow testing as part of a range of measures that will help keep those attending Holyrood and local offices to undertake parliamentary work as safely as possible and help prevent community transmission.

This will be voluntary. Anyone who attends Holyrood who has a positive lateral flow test should follow public health advice and also contact the Parliament for any specific advice in relation to their recent visits to the building. Lateral flow test packs can be obtained at testing centres and by requesting a pack via NHS Inform. More information can be found here.

Question reference: S6O-00027

Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 June 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is putting in place to assist local authorities with recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Question reference: S6W-00301

Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 9 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what talks it has had with the UK Government regarding what can be done to mitigate the impact of Brexit on the cost and supply of materials for Scotland-based SMEs in the construction sector.

The Scottish Government is deeply concerned by emerging evidence that EU Exit is having a severe impact on the ability of Scottish companies to trade effectively and competitively with the European Union, with lasting consequences for our economy. We are aware of reports of material shortages and price increases within the construction sector and are working with industry and the UK Government to fully understand the current supply chain issues. These will be discussed in detail on 16 June at the next meeting of the Construction Leadership Forum which I will chair.

The Scottish Government will continue to work hard to address the problems and blockages faced by companies, where it is in our power to do so.