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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: S5W-25541

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 27 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 10 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what its student maintenance proposals are for people studying part-time.

Following a recommendation made by the Independent Review of Student Support, the Scottish Government committed to undertaking a review of non-core and discretionary support, including support for part-time students. The Scottish Government has been engaging extensively with stakeholders to inform work on this highly complex area with a view to supporting future policy considerations. However, due to the current requirements to focus resource on critical student support issues related to Brexit, we are unable to confirm when further considerations on these issues will take place.

Currently, students undertaking Higher Education (HE) part-time study are eligible for support towards the cost of tuition. The Part-Time Fee Grant (PTFG) offers support for eligible students whose individual annual income is £25,000 or less, by providing a non-repayable grant.

Other forms of financial support available to part-time students in HE include:

Loan Parents’ Grant

Adult Dependant’s Grant

Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)

Further information on these grants is available on the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) website - http://www.saas.gov.uk/ .

Question reference: S5W-25378

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 16 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 30 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on establishing a national framework for thrombectomy.

Over the past 10 years, the number of people in Scotland dying from stroke has decreased by 42%. This is significant progress but we want to strive for even better outcomes, which is why the Programme for Government 2019-20 sets out ambitious aims to improve outcomes for patients. In the coming year, we will develop a programme to improve stroke pathways and services, including prevention, treatment and care. Commitment to stroke also includes:

Appoint a Chief Medical Officer speciality advisor for stroke care;
Review and improve the current stroke care bundle to improve outcomes for patients;
Collaborate across government on stroke prevention and raising awareness of the signs of stroke;
Begin work to scope out and define what a progressive stroke unit looks like

In relation to thrombectomy, the Scottish Government is committed to introducing a thrombectomy service and recognises that thrombectomy procedures can significantly improve outcomes and quality of life for some people who have suffered an ischaemic stroke by avoiding or reducing the level of disability.

That is why the Programme for Government 2019/20 also commits to ensuring that a national planning framework is in place for a high quality and clinically safe thrombectomy service.

Directors of Planning are currently developing a national framework for thrombectomy through their Thrombectomy Advisory Group, which the Scottish Government supports.

Question reference: S5W-25250

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 19 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what funding model it will use to deliver its Learning Estates Strategy Investment Programme.

The funding approach for the new Learning Estate Investment Programme has been developed with local authorities, and agreed with COSLA, to deliver the best possible long term value.

It uses Council’s existing capital resources or borrowing through the Public Works Loans Board which is cheaper than private finance.

It will also see the Scottish Government funding ongoing maintenance to ensure that the learning estate is properly maintained to serve learners and the community over the long term.

Question reference: S5W-25085

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 12 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how many appointments, operations or procedures have been carried out at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in each month in 2018 and 2019.

The total number of new and return consultant-led Outpatient appointments at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children (Edinburgh) in each month between January 2018 and March 2019

Month	New Outpatient Appointments	Return Outpatient Appointments	Total Outpatient Appointments
Jan-18	985	1,901	2,886
Feb-18	998	1,694	2,692
Mar-18	977	1,994	2,971
Apr-18	956	1,854	2,810
May-18	1,113	2,227	3,340
Jun-18	1,061	2,182	3,243
Jul-18	897	1,748	2,645
Aug-18	849	1,869	2,718
Sep-18	939	1,916	2,855
Oct-18	1,099	2,218	3,317
Nov-18	998	2,135	3,133
Dec-18	840	1,624	2,464
Jan-19	840	1,992	2,832
Feb-19	795	1,853	2,648
Mar-19	1,074	2,106	3,180
Source: ISD Scotland (SMR00)

The total number of Inpatient and Outpatient procedures

carried out at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children (Edinburgh) in each month between January 2018 and March 2019

Month	Total Procedures
Jan-18	1,406
Feb-18	1,168
Mar-18	1,336
Apr-18	1,233
May-18	1,413
Jun-18	1,401
Jul-18	1,312
Aug-18	1,286
Sep-18	1,234
Oct-18	1,512
Nov-18	1,444
Dec-18	1,201
Jan-19	1,481
Feb-19	1,123
Mar-19	1,114
Source: ISD Scotland (SMR00 and SMR01)

Question reference: S5O-03530

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to regulate the use of private residential property for short-term lets.

Question reference: S5W-25084

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 September 2019
Current Status: Answer expected on 18 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how many cancelled appointments, operations or procedures there have been at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in each month in 2018 and 2019.

Question reference: S5O-03481

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 August 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its progress implementing the Cycling Action Plan for Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-24253

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 05 July 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 20 August 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions or correspondence the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport has had since 26 June 2018 with (a) Integrated Health Solutions Lothian and (b) NHS Lothian regarding the ventilation system at the new Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh.

Question reference: S5W-24250

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 05 July 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 20 August 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions or correspondence the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport has had since 26 June 2018 with (a) Integrated Health Solutions Lothian and (b) NHS Lothian regarding the opening date of the new Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh.

NHS Lothian entered into a project agreement with Integrated Health Solutions Lothian (IHSL), for the design, build, finance and maintenance of the new hospital. As the contractual agreement is between IHSL and NHS Lothian, communication with IHSL is managed by the Board.

Officials, on my behalf, have and will continue to have regular engagement with NHS Lothian on progress of the project, timelines and issues arising and I will be kept fully informed.

At my request, NHS National Services Scotland are undertaking a detailed assessment of compliance of all building systems which could impact on the safety of patients and staff at the new site, and KPMG have been engaged to conduct an independent audit of the governance arrangements for the new hospital, and to provide an external and impartial assessment of the factors leading to the delay. I will be kept fully apprised of the output of these reviews as they progress.

An Oversight Board will provide advice on the readiness of the facility to open and on the migration of services to the new facility. The Oversight Board will seek assurance from NHS Lothian that according to its due diligence and governance, the facility is ready to open; and from NHS National Services Scotland that its agreed diligence has been successfully completed.

Further information is contained within S5W-24397 on 18 July 2019, which sets out the events that led to my decision to postpone the move to the new hospital, the work that I have instructed to identify the factors that led to that decision and to determine the actions required to allow the move to go ahead, and the support being provided to the Board, patients and staff.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Question reference: S5W-24492

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 26 July 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 16 August 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what the annual budget is for Autism Network Scotland.