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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-11293

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 31 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support the private nursery sector to (a) deliver 1140 hours and (b) pay staff a rate comparable to those working in local authority early years settings.

Private, third sector and childminding providers are a valued part of the successful delivery of our transformational expansion of funded early learning and childcare.

The Scottish Government recognises that the payment of sustainable rates by local authorities to services in the private, third and childminding sectors is vital to supporting financial sustainability and to enabling the delivery of high quality ELC. Our funding agreement with CoSLA enables local authorities to pay sustainable rates to ELC providers. We have worked with local government and providers to strengthen rate-setting in 2022-23, and we recently committed to a thorough review of the overall process ahead of 2023-24.

The Scottish Government has made more than £35 million of dedicated support available to day care of children services since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have also committed to continuing the Nursery Rates Relief Scheme beyond the current end date of 30 June 2023.

With regard to pay, we have seen real progress since the ELC expansion began, with our 2021 Health Check indicating that 88% of private providers intended to pay the Real Living Wage to all their staff from August 2021, compared to a position in 2016 when around 80% practitioners were paid less than the Real Living Wage at the time. We want the ELC sector to be a Fair Work sector and we are working with partners to encourage further improvements in terms and conditions, including through the development of a new Childcare Workforce Strategy.

Question reference: S6W-11292

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 31 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide an update on what support is in place for people with long COVID and whether there are specific provisions for young people affected by the condition.

All NHS Scotland Boards are providing support for people with long COVID, delivered across the full range of services provided by our NHS. This includes assessment from local primary care teams, support from community based rehabilitation services and referrals for secondary care investigation where needed.

For children and young people with symptoms consistent with long COVID, assessment and initial investigation is being provided by local primary care teams, who can give advice and guidance about the management of symptoms and any potential treatment options for these in the first instance.

Primary care clinicians can refer to occupational therapy and/or physiotherapy for further support where appropriate. In cases where referral to secondary care is required, children and young people may be referred to general paediatric services for investigation and management. Where required, local authorities have duties to provide additional support for learning tailored to the individual needs of the child or young person.

We have allocated an initial £3 million for the financial year 2022-23 to support NHS boards and key partners to improve the care available for people, including children and young people, with long COVID across Scotland. This includes funding board recruitment of additional paediatric occupational therapist support for children, young people and their families.

Question reference: S6O-01489

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 October 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to businesses in the hospitality sector, in light of the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and the cost of living crisis.

Question reference: S6W-11175

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 23 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 6 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its latest Scottish Health Survey annual report.

Question reference: S6O-01430

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 September 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is regarding the impact on Scotland of the UK Government’s reported plans to withdraw the Bill of Rights Bill.

Question reference: S6W-10624

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 26 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider conducting an analysis of the effectiveness of the Chill cold water swimming courses currently being run in England and, to a more limited extent, Scotland, and their potential as a public health measure provided through NHS boards.

The provision of advice to health professionals on the efficacy of particular treatments, whether clinical or non-clinical, is the responsibility of Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) who base their recommendations on Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guidelines, produced from the views of experts and the latest research. It would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to undertake this type of analysis but we are supportive of the concept of a person-centred approach to care which includes non-clinical options. This aligns with the principles of Realistic Medicine .

Question reference: S6W-10207

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 5 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will confirm that funded early learning and childcare will be available automatically from August 2023 for all four-year-olds deferred from starting school.

I can confirm that this legislative commitment will be delivered. From 1 August 2023, if a parent of a child that is still 4 years old on the date they are eligible to start school (i.e. children with birth dates on or between the day after the school commencement date in August – last day in February) defers their entry to school for a year, they can automatically access an additional year of funded early learning and childcare.

Question reference: S6O-01338

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 August 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government in what ways it will continue to ensure refugees arriving from Ukraine will be provided with adequate shelter and support on arrival in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-10176

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 23 August 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of the Resource Spending Review on 31 May 2022, whether any support will be made available for (a) new health services and (b) activities beyond those already committed to for the remainder of the current parliamentary session.

The Resource Spending Review set out broad parameters for resource spend to 2026-27, provided an overarching financial framework to support the focus on delivery of key Scottish Government priorities and put in place a foundation for ongoing efficiency and reform. It was not a budget, with the normal processes of the Programme for Government and annual budget being where policy and funding decisions are made.

Question reference: S6W-09582

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 04 July 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 20 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what can be done to reduce the need for those with Alzheimer's disease to wait in accident and emergency waiting rooms for extended periods of time.

Under the Redesign of Urgent Care (RUC) programme, NHS 24 is now available 24/7 and individuals or their carers who think they need to go to A&E but it is not an emergency can first call 111. Their symptoms will be assessed by trained professionals who will direct them to the most appropriate setting for their healthcare need.

Individuals may be directed to their local pharmacy, and they may also be offered a phone or video appointment with their GP or an A&E triage nurse, thereby avoiding a trip to hospital altogether. If A&E attendance is necessary an appointment time can be scheduled to reduce the time they need to spend in the department.

The RUC program aims to improve urgent care pathways for all, however it is potentially particularly beneficial for people with conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, who can find long waits in A&E particularly distressing.

The Scottish Government continues to co-fund Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Consultants in NHS Boards to provide expert advice on dementia care issues within acute, community and mental health hospital settings - as well as wider community locations including care homes.

They will support established principles and standards such as that systems are in place so that staff can easily identify someone with dementia and that hospitals have access to advice or assessment by a liaison service specialising in the diagnosis and management of dementia.