- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 January 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 16 January 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been diagnosed with kidney failure and in need of a transplant in (a) the NHS Ayrshire and Arran area and (b) Inverclyde in each year since 2016, and what the average waiting time to receive a transplant has been in each year since 2016.
Answer
The number of patients that have been or are on the active kidney transplant waiting list as of 31 March each year since 2016 in the NHS Ayrshire and Arran and the Inverclyde local authority postcode areas is as follows:
Postcode Area | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
NHS Ayrshire & Arran | 37 | 27 | 20 | 26 | 33 | 15 | 20 |
Inverclyde | 7 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 11 |
Some patients who receive a living donor transplant may never be registered on the waiting list for a deceased donor transplant so those patients would not be included in the table above.
The risk-adjusted median waiting times for kidney only transplants for adults in the various UK transplant centres are published annually by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT). In Scotland, kidney transplants are undertaken at the Edinburgh and West of Scotland (Glasgow) Transplant Units; patients living in either Ayrshire and Arran or Inverclyde would receive their transplant at the Glasgow Unit. The figures for those adults registered at the Glasgow transplant unit from 2016 were published in the 2019-2022 NHSBT annual reports as follows:
Year published | Patient Registered | Waiting time (days) | | | Unadjusted median | 95% Confidence Interval | Risk-adjusted median | 2022 | 01-04-16-31-03-19 | 622 | 566-678 | 626 | 2021 | 01-04-15-31-03-18 | 644 | 579-709 | 689 | 2020 | 01-04-14-31-03-17 | 622 | 558-686 | 689 | 2019 | 01-04-13-31-03-16 | 699 | 622-776 | 721 |
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Please note that there are significant differences in waiting times depending on a number of factors, such as the patient’s blood group and also antibodies they have from previous pregnancies, transplants or blood transfusions.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 December 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 16 January 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Scottish Water regarding the reported 150% increase in burst water pipes in December 2022.
Answer
The Scottish Government and Scottish Water are in regular dialogue about a number of issues, including the potential for burst water pipes.
I was briefed in person by Scottish Water on the expectations that the recent thaw would bring a substantial increase in the number of bursts across Scottish Water’s network and I was reassured that additional response teams were ready to tackle that anticipated situation.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 January 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 13 January 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how many people are currently subject to a sexual harm prevention order.
Answer
Commencement of Sections 10 to 40 of the Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Act 2016 will allow Sexual Harm Prevention Orders to be made in Scotland. Commencement of these provisions has been coordinated with the UK Government in order that we can commence the necessary provisions at the same time, to allow UK wide recognition of these orders. These provisions are expected to be commenced in the early part of this year.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 January 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 13 January 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports on 22 December 2022 that HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland has criticised the “disappointing underuse” of HMP Castle Huntly, with only 100 inmates housed at its last inspection out of a capacity of 285.
Answer
I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:
SPS welcomes the Chief Inspector’s report and her recognition of many areas of good practice at HMP Castle Huntly.
Like many areas of public life, SPS continues to recover from the global pandemic. Despite this, SPS has been working towards making further improvements to the progression of those people in our care. This has resulted in an increase of 25 percent in the population of HMP Castle Huntly since April 2022.
We have also commenced a review of population management and progression, which will identify any barriers to safe progression for those in our care to the Open Estate and reduce the risk of reoffending to the public.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 December 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 13 January 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported comments by the National Farmers Union Scotland that "deteriorating and unreliable" lifeline services to and from island communities are "increasingly impacting on the farmers and crofters who depend on them", and what assessment it has made of the economic impact of cancelled and delayed ferry services on the crofting industry.
Answer
I have not received any correspondence from the National Farmers Union for Scotland on this matter.
The Scottish Government has undertaken reports on the economic condition of crofting, and the measures to support crofting in Scotland. The latest of these was published on Tuesday 20 December 2022, https://www.gov.scot/publications/economic-condition-crofting-2019-2022/ .
The importance of farming and crofting to our rural and island areas is fully appreciated by the Scottish Government.
I am aware that the NFU have raised an issue in relation to agricultural vehicles and CalMac’s systems. I am more than happy to meet with the NFU to discuss their concerns and to ensure systems are improved to support agricultural traffic when using the CalMac fleet, however I note I am yet to receive any formal representation from the NFU on this matter.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 January 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 12 January 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how many students have (a) applied for and (b) received discretionary funds to support their higher education in each year since 2020.
Answer
In the academic year 2020-21, there were 33,761 applications to the Higher Education Discretionary Funds across colleges and universities. The Discretionary Funds include the additional Covid Fund, introduced to support students during the pandemic.
27,500 applications were successful.
These figures come from the financial returns provided by colleges and universities, and reflect the applications made to them. The overall total applications number is not disaggregated into individual students’ applications - it could include several applications being made by the same individual student.
Data for 2021-22 is not yet available, and is due to be published in the annual SAAS Statistical Publication in August.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 December 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Christina McKelvie on 11 January 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made since 2018 under each of the articles of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to advancing gender equality in Scotland, and since 2018 has introduced a range of legislative and other measures to implement the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in Scotland.
This includes introduction of the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act 2021 to ensure access to free period products, introduction of the Forensic Medical Services (Victims of Sexual Offences) (Scotland) Act 2021 to provide for consistent access to healthcare and forensic medical examinations without first making a report to police, publication of the Women’s Health Plan in 2021 to improve women’s health outcomes, and the expansion of free early learning and childcare provision. In addition, the Scottish government is committed to introducing a new Human Rights Bill which will incorporate CEDAW into Scots Law, as far as possible within devolved competence, andwill consult formally on proposals this year. Through incorporation of CEDAW the Scottish Government will enhance our efforts to eliminate the discrimination, traditional gender roles and stereotypes faced by women and girls. It will ensure a focus on fulfilling their human rights and development.
The UK’s 9th periodic report on the implementation of CEDAW is due to be submitted to the UN CEDAW Committee by the end of March 2023. In addition to contributing to the periodic report, the Scottish Government will publish a standalone Scottish Position Statement in 2023, reporting on progress made since 2018 under each of the articles of CEDAW.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 December 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 10 January 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12469 by Jenny Gilruth on 6 December 2022, what discussions it has had with (a) police forces in England and Wales, (b) Living Streets Scotland, (c) the British Horse Society Scotland, (d) the AA, (e) the RAC, (f) Brake, (g) the British Motorcyclists Federation and (h) Cycling UK regarding a National Dashcam Safety Portal in Scotland, and whether it has an estimated timeframe for its implementation should the pilot be successful.
Answer
The initial implementation date for the NDSP pilot was indicated as January 2023, however, this is currently under review by Police Scotland. I will meet with Police Scotland to discuss the importance of delivering the NDSP and to obtain a timescale for the programme’s implementation later this month.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 December 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 10 January 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide a breakdown of the number of
(a) dentists and (b) dental care professionals registered as (i) UK, (ii) EU,
and (iii) overseas domiciled, in each year since 2015.
Answer
Information on the number of dentists is provided by NHS Education for Scotland and can be found at: Data tables | Turas Data Intelligence (nhs.scot)
We do not hold information on country of origin of dentists, nor information on Dental Care Professionals as this group is in the main employed by independent dental practices.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 December 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 10 January 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to expand the C Card scheme to all NHS boards.
Answer
There are currently no plans to implement the C:Card scheme across all NHS Boards in Scotland, however free condoms are available through a number of initiatives and can be accessed across the country.
All NHS Boards in Scotland offer free condoms, but the way in which this service is provided varies. Most NHS Boards offer free condoms by post to anyone living within the Board area, as well as making them available to pick up at various NHS facilities and other locations including some schools. Third sector organisations, such as Waverley Care and the Terrence Higgins Trust, also provide free condoms.
The Scottish Government are currently developing a refreshed Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework. As part of this work, the provision of contraception will be considered, and any learning from the C:Card scheme will be taken into account.