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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-30843

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 July 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Humza Yousaf on 21 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome is of its latest review into border health measures, and whether there will be changes to the regulations.

We have continued to review the health measures closely over the last three weeks and have assessed that there remains a requirement for them to remain in place to reduce the risk of transmission and safeguard health.

Following this latest review, and having carefully considered the potential public health impact of changing the country exemptions for quarantine, we are able to lift that requirement for those travelling from Spain. We are continuously keeping other countries under review and where there is clear evidence that it is safe to do so, we will add further countries. Changes to these regulations will come into force on 23 July and guidance on these measures is available at the Scottish Government Coronavirus website here; https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-public-health-checks-at-borders/ .

Question reference: S5W-30299

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 June 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Humza Yousaf on 29 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome was of its review into the border health measures that were introduced on 8 June 2020, and whether there will be any changes to the regulations.

We have reviewed the border health measures closely over the last three weeks and have assessed that there remains a requirement for them to remain in place to reduce the risk of transmission and safeguard health.

Discussions around changes to the regulations, including any further exemptions, continue. We have welcomed a four nation public health approach since the outset of these regulations and were disappointed to learn of the UK Government’s proposed change to their exemptions list via the media on Friday evening. Decisions on the review of the health measures at the border for travellers to Scotland will be made by Scottish Ministers.

Question reference: S5O-04436

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 June 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when chronic pain patients will be able to resume receiving treatment that has been suspended because of the COVID-19 lockdown.

Question reference: S5W-29233

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 May 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by John Swinney on 21 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on implementing the conclusions of the Independent Care Review.

The Scottish Government is fully committed to deliver on its pledge to care experienced people in Scotland by accepting and responding to the Care Review conclusions and by putting in place the infrastructure to implement the outcomes reached and ‘#KeepThePromise’.

The COVID-19 emergency response has undoubtedly impacted upon the ability of the Scottish Government and key partners’ to make as much progress as we would have wished to in our response in the short term.

However, the Scottish Government has been working hard to ensure that the principles of the Care Review’s “Promise” are reflected in our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including in practice guidance and policies underpinning emergency legislation.

I am pleased to advise Parliament that Fiona Duncan has agreed to Chair the oversight of implementation which will ensure the ethos, approach and commitments of the Care Review can be at the heart of this process. We will work with Fiona Duncan to put in place the necessary arrangements to ensure that the Promise is implemented in the way that the Review, care experienced people and the wider sector envisaged.

Question reference: S5T-02172

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 May 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it had with the UK Government regarding the change of guidance being issued to the public in England.

Question reference: S5W-28060

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 March 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jeane Freeman on 25 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress made by the Short Life Working Group on Management of Mesh Complications.

The Short Life Working Group’s Report has today been published on the Scottish Government’s website, and can be viewed here .

The report contains key recommendations in relation to care pathways, the multi-disciplinary team process, patient information and decision aids, patient follow-up procedures, and clinician training. The Report has been presented to NHS Chief Executives and all Health Boards are expected to act on its recommendations.

In addition, the Group last year recommended the establishment of a National Complex Pelvic Mesh Removal Service. That recommendation is being progressed.

As stated in its report, the Group will continue to exist until the Scottish National Pelvic Mesh Removal Service has been established. Thereafter, it is important that a new group is established with appropriate representation, from both clinicians and those with lived experience, and with authority to both provide oversight of the delivery of improvements in services and to review implications for Scotland of external reports.

More generally, we continue to progress work including the establishment of a Case Note Review; we have invited Dr Veronikis to Scotland and await his response; and we are creating a £1 million fund for women affected by mesh complications. I hope to announce details of that fund in late spring.

Despite the foregoing, we must be mindful of the ongoing situation with COVID-19. This means, for example, that we may have to delay the commencement of the Case Note Review until official advice allows face-to-face meetings of the kind this would require, and delay referrals to the new Complex Pelvic Mesh Removal Service until appropriate. However we are continuing with our work to ensure that, where there is any delay to our plans, we will be ready as soon as it is safe and practicable to proceed.

Question reference: S5W-28005

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 March 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to recent concerns raised regarding the physical infrastructure of HMP Barlinnie.

We are committed to investing in a replacement for HMP Barlinnie, Scotland’s largest prison. In the meantime, we are also committed to ensuring appropriate standards of facilities to meet the needs of prisoners in the existing prison.

Over the past decade, the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has continued to invest in the maintenance of HMP Barlinnie. Following, agreement by Parliament of the Scottish Government budget, I can confirm that we have agreed to provide additional funding to SPS for essential remedial work at HMP Barlinnie. This will see the refurbishment of the prisoner reception areas, including removing existing holding cells that have been subject to criticism, and the partial refurbishment of the healthcare facility and additional work to the healthcare and addictions facilities in the accommodation halls. These improvements will help prison and NHS staff overcome daily operational challenges and provide appropriate services and support for those in the care of HMP Barlinnie.

£3 million is being provided towards the costs of this work in 2020-21 and further funding will be provided in 2021-22.

Funding in the coming year is part of our additional £50 million for prisons in the 2020-21 Budget, including a £30 million increase in revenue funding for staffing and other operational costs for prisons and a 43% rise in capital funding of £20 million.

This means a total of £68 million will be available for improving infrastructure across the estate.

Question reference: S5O-04228

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 February 2020
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 5 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when an evaluation will be undertaken of the impact of the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 on stalking offences.

The Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 came into effect on 1 April 2019 and created a new, specific offence of domestic abuse. The Scottish Ministers have a statutory duty to report on implementation of the Domestic Abuse Act 3 years after commencement and it is intended that a report will be published in late 2022.

Although the stalking offence and the domestic abuse offence are different, there is overlap between the types of conduct criminalised within the offences. That is why prior to the introduction of the new domestic abuse offence, some cases of domestic abuse that are now recorded and prosecuted under the domestic abuse offence would likely previously have been recorded and prosecuted using the stalking offence with a domestic abuse aggravation.

Official statistics for the year 2019-20 will be published in due course on the number of prosecutions and convictions for the new domestic abuse offence and for the stalking offence. This data will help show what impact, if any, there has been on use of the stalking offence since the introduction of the new domestic abuse offence.

Question reference: S5O-04255

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to further develop rail halts in areas where there is an identified need.

Question reference: S5O-04145

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 February 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the UK Government’s announcement that universal credit roll-out will be delayed until 2024.