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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-34985

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 26 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to extend the planning exclusion zone at the Eskdalemuir Seismological Array beyond 10km to allow additional generational capacity, as suggested by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) report, Consultation on the Ministry of Defence's approach to safeguarding the Eskdalemuir Seismological Array, and which of its departments is leading engagement with the MoD on this issue.

The Scottish Government is committed to working with the UK Government, including the Ministry of Defence, with the aim of developing a solution that opens up the possibility of onshore wind deployment in the Eskdalemuir area whilst ensuring the protection of the seismological array. Any such development would be subject to the normal consenting consideration process.

The Onshore Electricity Policy Unit leads on Eskdalemuir related matters for the Scottish Government. Discussions within the Eskdalemuir Working Group are ongoing, with the Scottish Government aiming to publish a consultation on new draft Eskdalemuir guidance in due course.

Before any Scottish Government guidance is put out to public consultation, a series of related work packages must be completed and then approved by the Ministry of Defence.

Question reference: S6W-34984

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 26 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, what discussions it has had with the Eskdalemuir Working Group, in light of the publication of the Ministry of Defence report, Consultation on the Ministry of Defence's approach to safeguarding the Eskdalemuir Seismological Array, and when the group will next meet.

The Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) consultation on its proposals regarding its approach to safeguarding the Eskdalemuir Seismological Array closed on 20 December 2024. The MOD is currently reviewing the consultation responses.

The Eskdalemuir Working Group (EWG) receive a verbal update from the MOD on the timescales for completion of the review process at each EWG meeting. The next EWG meeting is scheduled for 1 April 2025.

Question reference: S6W-35115

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Neil Gray on 20 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress and impact of the £30 million allocated in 2024-25 to reduce NHS waiting times.

NHS Boards have exceeded the commitment to deliver 64,000 appointments and procedures in 2024-25, funded through our additional investment of £30 million to drive action to address the longest waits.

To the end of January 2025, Boards are reporting delivery of 75,500 appointments and procedures, as follows:

Over 9,800 of 12,000 new outpatient appointments;
almost 9,200 of 12,000 surgeries delivered;
and almost 56,500 diagnostic procedures delivered, exceeding the original plan to deliver 40,000 by 41%.

Funding was targeted in specialties including Ophthalmology, Orthopaedics, Urology, Diagnostics and Cancer. Since April 2024, Scottish Government has been closely monitoring progress and impact and will continue to do so until the end of March 2025.

Across Scotland, the latest published data in the PHS Stage of Treatment Statistics show that, between April 2024 and September 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, there has been an 8.3% increase in activity for inpatient/daycase procedures and 2.5% increase for new outpatients appointments. While the activity through the additional investment cannot be directly attributed to the increased activity, we are confident that has supported increased throughput.

The targeted funding has also helped reduce the total national diagnostics waiting list size. Between April 2024 and September 2024 imaging list size reduced by 7.5% and scopes by 7.3%.

At Board level, we have seen significant percentage reductions in waiting times across a number of specialities where funding has been targeted, as set out in the following table:

NHS Board	Speciality	Activity Type	% change between ongoing waits April to end Sept 2024
Ayrshire & Arran	Imaging	Diagnostics	-35.2%
Fife	Imaging	Diagnostics	-44.3%
Forth Valley	Imaging	Diagnostics	-22.9%
Golden Jubilee National Hospital	Imaging	Diagnostics	-16.7%
Grampian	Imaging	Diagnostics	-34.3%
Highland	Imaging	Diagnostics	-6.0%
Lanarkshire	Imaging	Diagnostics	-7.3%
Tayside	Imaging	Diagnostics	-11.4%
Borders	Scopes	Diagnostics	-19.0%
Greater Glasgow & Clyde	Scopes	Diagnostics	-26.7%
Grampian	Scopes	Diagnostics	-9.0%
Highland	Scopes	Diagnostics	-6.5%
Lanarkshire	Scopes	Diagnostics	-16.1%
Tayside	Scopes	Diagnostics	-8.6%
Lanarkshire	Ophthalmology	Inpatient / Daycase	-14.9%
Shetland	Ophthalmology	Inpatient / Daycase	-35.5%
Fife	Orthopaedics	Inpatient / Daycase	-5.2%
Greater Glasgow & Clyde	Orthopaedics	Inpatient / Daycase	-0.4%
Highland	Orthopaedics	Inpatient / Daycase	-6.2%
Lanarkshire	Orthopaedics	Inpatient / Daycase	-9.3%
Lothian	Orthopaedics	Inpatient / Daycase	-7.6%
Forth Valley	Urology	Inpatient / Daycase	-22.4%
Lothian	Urology	Inpatient / Daycase	-12.7%
Highland	ENT	Inpatient / Daycase	-19.0%
Lothian	General Surgery	Inpatient / Daycase	-9.8%
Highland	Gynaecology	New Outpatients	-9.6%
Highland	Orthopaedics	New Outpatients	-8.5%

Following the budget announcement in December 2024 to invest a further £200 million to reduce waiting and support reductions in delayed discharge, we will continue to build on progress to ensure that no one is waiting over 52 weeks by March 2026.

Question reference: S6O-04350

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the announcement by Creative Scotland that it will provide multi-year funding to deliver cultural and creative programmes.

Question reference: S6W-34774

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 February 2025
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 7 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making with supporting farmers and crofters to deliver its Vision for Agriculture.

Today the First Minister will outline a £20m package of support to assist in implementing transformational change required to deliver its Vision for Scottish Agriculture. This will provide:

capital funding to support investment in equipment and measures aimed at driving efficiency and supporting nature and climate friendly farming;
innovative food and drink investment; and,
funding for Lidar surveys.

Proposals for the Agricultural Transformation Programme continue to be developed, 70% funding has already been confirmed for Tiers 1 and 2 of the future farming support framework. Within the two tiers, 70% of funding will be devoted to Tier 1 and 30% to Tier 2.

Question reference: S6O-04287

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 January 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out an assessment of the economic impact on Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders of the South Scotland Enterprise Agency, since its inception in 2019.

Question reference: S6O-04230

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 January 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with NHS Dumfries and Galloway regarding the provision of dentistry.

Question reference: S6W-32442

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 December 2024
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Gillian Martin on 18 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what work is underway to improve national flood resilience.

We know that flooding in Scotland will become more frequent and more severe in the decades ahead. As our biggest climate adaptation challenge, we need to do all we can to be prepared for this. That is why today we will publish Scotland’s first Flood Resilience Strategy. Part of our Scottish National Adaptation Plan 2024-2029, this strategy will help us meet this challenge and support the changes we need to make over the long-term to make our communities more flood resilient.

Question reference: S6W-31967

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 16 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is regarding what support should be provided to people with dyslexia when appearing before the judiciary.

Access to inclusive communication is a fundamentally important matter for people using public services, many of whom have diverse communication needs, and that is why the Scottish Government is investing in new guidance and tools to strengthen the public sector’s approach.

The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) is an independent public body and has a legal duty under the Equality Act 2010 to protect the rights of people living with disabilities. SCTS recognises the need and responsibility that the public sector in Scotland has to provide accessible services to its users. The specific support provided to people with dyslexia is an operational matter for the SCTS board.

Question reference: S6O-04105

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 December 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to people who are going through family court proceedings.