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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: S6O-02749

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting businesses in rural areas to become accredited Living Wage employers.

Question reference: S6W-22086

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 06 October 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 30 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the implementation of its Respiratory Care Action Plan.

Since the publication of the Respiratory Care Action Plan for Scotland (RCAP), the Scottish Government has established the Scottish Respiratory Advisory Committee (SRAC) to oversee its implementation.

Since publication of the Plan, the SRAC identified three initial areas of focus: child to adult transition, pulmonary rehab and respiratory data.

The Child to Adult Transitions subgroup has produced a set of recommendations to ensure children with asthma and other respiratory conditions have the best possible care and treatment as they move into adult service.

We are continuing to focus on improving access to pulmonary rehabilitation. The British Thoracic Society recently published a refreshed quality statement on pulmonary rehab . We are working closely with services across Scotland to identify improvements in delivery and to ensure more people have access.

Public Health Scotland have been commissioned to begin scoping work to develop a respiratory audit programme. This will allow us to monitor the delivery of the RCAP and ensure people are receiving the best possible care, treatment and support for respiratory conditions.

In addition, the Respiratory Specialist Delivery Group (SDG) at the Centre for Sustainability Delivery (CfSD) is progressing significant improvements across a vast range of services, teams, and NHS Boards. This work aligns with the commitments in the RCAP, and we are working closely with the CfSD to ensure that these links continue.

Question reference: S6O-02666

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 October 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it defines "sustainability" when creating policies aimed at reaching its net zero targets.

Question reference: S6O-02629

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 October 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support the recruitment of police officers in Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders.

Question reference: S6W-21749

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 9 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many GPs there currently are per head of population in Scotland, and what information it has on how this compares with (a) England and (b) Wales.

Question reference: S6W-21697

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 September 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 3 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government on which date it plans to publish a draft of the proposed Gaelic and Scots and Scottish Languages Bill.

Question reference: S6W-21748

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 September 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 29 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many qualified nurses there currently are per head of population in Scotland, and what information it has on how this compares with (a) England and (b) Wales.

Question reference: S6O-02585

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 September 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage people to support their local food and drink producers.

Question reference: S6W-21758

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 September 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Maree Todd on 27 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when the Independent Review of Inspection, Scrutiny and Regulation of Social Care Support in Scotland recommendation report will be published.

I can confirm Dame Sue Bruce, the Chair of the Independent Review of Inspection, Scrutiny and Regulation of Social Care Support in Scotland, has submitted her findings to Ministers and the Independent Review of Inspection, Scrutiny and Regulation Recommendation Report alongside the IRISR Call for Evidence Analysis Report have been published on 27 September 2023.

Dame Sue Bruce has made 38 recommendations and I will consider these in full before setting out a full response.

I am content with the recommendation report provided by Dame Sue Bruce and I will consider the recommendations in full before setting out a full response and make a statement to Parliament.

Question reference: S6W-21363

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 September 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 26 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to paying the Scottish Child Payment to student nurses, midwives and paramedics for the duration of their education and placements.

Scottish Child Payment is delivered using Section 79 of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018, which enables Scottish Ministers to top-up a qualifying reserved benefit, such as Universal Credit.

The groups mentioned may qualify for Scottish Child Payment if they are eligible for one of the qualifying benefits. However the eligibility criteria for students when applying for Universal Credit is stricter than that for individuals who are not undertaking studies and is set by the Department for Work and Pensions.

Eligible student nurses and midwives in Scotland continue to receive the highest level of support across the United Kingdom, including our non-means tested, non-repayable annual bursary of £10,000, plus associated allowances.