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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-30031

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 27 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to a replacement for the Fruit and Vegetable Aid scheme to help provide clarity to growers.

The Scottish Government remains committed to supporting the valuable fruit and vegetable sector in Scotland. We recognise the many benefits of the Fruit and Vegetables Aid Scheme and Producer Organisations operating in this sector.

We have no plans to change the existing scheme model for Scotland. Farmers and crofters must not lose out from Brexit, a multi-year programme funding settlement from the UK Government is needed to reflect the essential role of Scottish agriculture to sustain high quality food production while delivering towards climate and nature outcomes.

Question reference: S6W-30032

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 26 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on gynaecology waiting lists.

Our investment of £30 million is supporting significant targeted action across a number of specialities, including gynaecology, with around 3,500 additional New Outpatient appointments planned for the longest waiting patients.

NHS Scotland’s Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD) also continues to work with Health Boards to accelerate implementation of high impact changes, including Active Clinical Referral Treatment (ACRT) and Patient Initiated Review (PIR), freeing up additional capacity in the NHS system and providing sustainable solutions for the future.

CfSD programmes have developed strong clinically-led Specialty Delivery Groups (SDG), including one for gynaecology, which was established to support, innovate and develop high quality gynaecology services across Scotland, reducing unwarranted variation, promoting a best-in-class and - where appropriate - a once-for-Scotland approach.

This is all part of our programme to drive up productivity and tackle waiting lists, supported by the CfSD. Together, our actions will further enable NHS Scotland to maximise capacity, build greater resilience and deliver reductions in the number of patients who have waited too long for treatment.

Question reference: S6O-03796

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 September 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the use of locums in local mental health services.

Question reference: S6O-03760

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 September 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the comments of Professor Graeme Roy, Chair of the Scottish Fiscal Commission, that Scotland's net position in 2022-23 was around £624 million lower than it would have been had Scottish economic performance matched that of the rest of the UK.

Question reference: S6F-03340

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 09 September 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 September 2024

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to recent reports regarding Police Scotland’s policy on gender self-identification for individuals charged with or convicted of serious sexual assaults.

Question reference: S6W-29376

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 9 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Borders regarding the repayment of total brokerage accumulated once the NHS board returns to financial balance.

NHS Borders are at Level 3 of the NHS Support and Intervention Escalation Framework and the Board continue to receive tailored support from Scottish Government

Under the terms of this tailored support, the Scottish Government Financial Delivery Unit maintain frequent contact with NHS Borders Executives regarding its financial position. At present, these conversations are focussed on securing a credible path to balance and, once this has been established and on course to be achieved, conversations will commence on brokerage repayment.

Question reference: S6W-29375

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 9 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what action has been taken through its performance escalation framework in relation to "financial sustainability" at NHS Borders.

NHS Borders are at Level 3 of the NHS Support and Intervention Framework and the Board continue to receive tailored support from Scottish Government. Support includes, a dedicated Finance Support Lead, advice on savings delivery in pursuit of 3% recurring savings against baseline budget, resource from the Finance Delivery Unit to improve capacity in the finance team including financial analysis, reporting tools, and stakeholder management, and non-recurring funding to bolster the Board’s finance team. The FDU have also attended Executive Board meetings to challenge the financial position and support path to balance.

Question reference: S6W-29377

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 9 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how much brokerage it expects NHS Borders to owe before it returns a financial balance.

NHS Borders are escalated to Level 3 of the NHS Support and Intervention Framework for finance. To date NHS Borders have £20m outstanding brokerage from years 2019-20 to 2022-23.

Scottish Government continue to work with NHS Borders to create a credible and realistic path to balance. This is an ongoing exercise due to ongoing pay negotiations, high inflation and increased demand for services, but the Board will be expected to repay all outstanding brokerage when it has reached financial sustainability.

Question reference: S6W-29378

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 9 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it expects NHS Borders to make any further reductions or savings once the NHS board returns a financial balance to repay accumulated brokerage.

NHS Scotland is facing an unprecedented financial challenge, but all NHS Boards continue to have a statutory responsibility to reach a break-even financial position.

NHS Borders delivered a deficit outturn in 2023-24 and continue to manage financial pressures in 2024-25. Scottish Government are working with NHS Borders to create a credible and realistic path to balance and, once that path balance has been achieved, the Board would start to repay outstanding brokerage.

Question reference: S6O-03715

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to strengthen its Fair Work First Guidance to support and promote the good practice example, referenced in the guidance, of providing a private, healthy and safe environment for breastfeeding mothers to express and store milk.