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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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S5W-35658

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 March 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 9 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with UK Government (a) ministers and (b) officials since 1 January 2017 to discuss freeports.

I met with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in September 2020, January 2021 and most recently on 16 February to discuss the development of implementation of the Scottish Government’s tailored green port model for Scotland.

Scottish Government officials have also undertaken regular meetings with UK Government counterparts on this subject throughout 2020 and 2021, including weekly meetings since autumn 2020.

Question reference: S5W-35321

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 February 2021
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 4 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government (a) how much spend in and (b) what proportion of its infrastructure investment plan budget is allocated to the delivery of natural infrastructure.

The Infrastructure Investment Plan for Scotland 2021-2022 to 2025-2026 includes major investment in natural infrastructure such as forestry and peatlands amounting to £283 million and £100 million respectively. It also includes a £50 million programme of investment in the reuse of vacant and derelict land in order to support nature-based solutions and to ensure that the land is utilised for maximum environmental and community benefit.

Many other programmes of infrastructure investment in areas such as transport, housing, regeneration, flood management and water and waste water all have nature-based solutions embedded within them. However, these are not identified separately within the major projects and programmes annex of the Infrastructure Investment Plan.

Question reference: S5W-35290

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 February 2021
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 1 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the 2021-22 draft Budget it has allocated to (a) the Bus Partnership Fund and (b) other bus priority infrastructure schemes.

£35 million of capital funding has been allocated to bus priority infrastructure on local and trunk roads in the 2021-22 financial year. This is part of the Future Transport Fund. The allocation will be split between the Bus Partnership Fund (BPF) and reallocation of road space on the strategic transport network, but the proportions will not be known until applications to the BPF close and the scope of the next stage of motorway and trunk road work is defined.

Question reference: S5W-35102

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 February 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 25 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking during the COVID-19 lockdown to mitigate the impacts of reduced mobility and the subsequent impact this can have on the incidence of conditions such as venous thromboembolism and pulmonary embolism.

We recognise that supporting people to remain physically active and keep mobile can reduce the incidence of both venous thromboembolism and pulmonary embolism.

Being physically active is particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic as this not only has significant benefits for our physical health but also our mental health.

In April 2020, the Scottish Government launched the ‘Clear your Head’ campaign to help people look after their own mental health and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. This included an emphasis on keeping active. Working with partner organisations, the campaign was shared via television, radio and digital mediums in order to provide practical advice and tips on coping with the restrictions and signpost people to further sources of information and support ( www.clearyourhead.scot ).

Question reference: S5W-35287

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 February 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 25 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether additional funding for the (a) diagnosis, (b) treatment and (c) recording of the prevalence of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis will be provided as part of the Respiratory Care Action Plan for Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-35101

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 February 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 25 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that patients presenting to healthcare settings with breathlessness are being assessed for (a) venous thromboembolism and (b) pulmonary embolism, in addition to COVID-19.

We expect clinicians to deliver care in line with all relevant clinical guidelines when assessing patients who present themselves at healthcare settings with breathlessness. SIGN Guideline 122 on the prevention and management of venous thromboembolism was introduced in 2010 and updated in 2014. Implementation of SIGN guidelines is the responsibility of each individual NHS Board and local ownership of the implementation process.

Question reference: S5W-35100

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 February 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 18 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether a timeline has been agreed for the resumption of reviews into SIGN guidelines that have been paused as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network (SIGN) is reliant on the capacity of front line health and social care professionals working in guideline development groups. Given the current demands these individuals are facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the normal SIGN programme remains on hold, while SIGN focuses on supporting the response to COVID-19. This situation is kept under regular review.

Question reference: S5O-05064

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 February 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of mental health services in rural areas.

Question reference: S5T-02673

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 15 February 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements are in place to ensure that passengers entering Scotland from non-red list countries via airports in England are quarantined in approved hotels.

Question reference: S5O-05036

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 February 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding long-term replacements for EU funding streams.