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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: S5O-00499

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 December 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what is being done to provide access to fibre broadband in areas where there is an insufficiency of hardware to meet demand.

Question reference: S5W-05046

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 25 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 14 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-04549 by Aileen Campbell on 22 November 2016, what analysis it has carried out to determine the reason for the fall in the number of hepatitis C diagnoses in 2015; what estimate it has made of the current number of undiagnosed cases, and what steps it is taking to ensure that each NHS board has the capacity to exceed its treatment target for the condition.

Health Protection Scotland have investigated the reduction in the number of diagnosis in 2015 but has not identified a particular trend to explain this. HPS has specifically examined whether or not there has been a reduction in the volume of testing undertaken, but based on an analysis of the four largest NHS boards, this appears not to be the case. Rather this has demonstrated a 40% increase in hepatitis C tests carried out during 2015 compared to the annual average for the 2010-2014 period. Over 65,000 people were tested in 2015 compared with an average of 46,546 tests per year over the prior five years).

It is estimated that the number of people chronically infected with hepatitis C in Scotland is 35,900 of which 21,500 (60%) have been diagnosed. This equates to a 50% increase in the proportion of infected people being diagnosed since the launch of the Hepatitis C Action plan in 2008. The proportion of the infected population being diagnosed is continuing to increase each year.

The annual treatment target is a national minimum target. Each NHS Board is responsible for managing its own population and the disease within its locality. NHS Boards are currently on track to exceed the national target for 2015-16 of 1,500.

Question reference: S5W-05305

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 05 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 14 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how long it takes for third-party approval for a Section 47 certificate of incapacity under Part 5 of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000.

The Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 provides a framework for safeguarding the welfare and managing the finances of adults (people aged 16 or over) who lack capacity due to mental illness, learning disability or a related condition, or an inability to communicate.

Some people are not able to give consent, either permanently or temporarily.

Part five of the Act gives a general authority to treat a patient who is incapable of consenting to the treatment in question, on the issuing of a certificate of incapacity (section 47 certificate). Doctors can issue certificates for a range of medical treatments. Dentists, optometrists and registered nurses, who have specialist training can also issue certificates for treatment related to their speciality.

Section 47 (1A)(a) allows the medical practitioner primarily responsible for the medical treatment of the adult to certify that an adult lacks capacity in relation to medical treatment, and to carry out that medical treatment. Part five defines "medical treatment" to include any procedure or treatment designed to safeguard or promote physical or mental health. If there is a welfare attorney or guardian with the power to consent to treatment then their authority must be sought unless it is impracticable to do so.

There are no official statistics which record the length of time taken to secure authority from a persons relevant attorney or welfare guardian.

Question reference: S5W-05236

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 12 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason applied behavioural analysis (ABA) to assist children who have been diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder is not recognised by (a) the NHS in Scotland and (b) local authorities and, in light of reports that ABA is being used by the NHS in other parts of the UK and internationally, whether it will ask for this to be reconsidered.

The key to providing appropriate support, is to take a person-centred approach and to use the range of tools and strategies which will ultimately result in the best outcomes for that individual. The use of interventions based on ABA is identified both in the SIGN 145 Assessment, diagnosis and interventions for autism spectrum disorders guideline (http://www.sign.ac.uk/guidelines/fulltext/145/index.html) and in the NHS Education for Scotland Matrix of psychological interventions for children and young people with autismhttp://www.nes.scot.nhs.uk/education-and-training/by-discipline/psychology/the-matrix-(2015)-a-guide-to-delivering-evidence-based-psychological-therapies-in-scotland.aspxas being recommended in response to particular behaviours or needs.

NHS Education for Scotland also have a learning resource on Positive Behavioural Support

(http://www.nes.scot.nhs.uk/education-and-training/by-theme-initiative/mental-health-and-learning-disabilities/publications-and-resources/publications-repository/positive-behavioural-support-a-learning-resource.aspx).

Additionally, within the CAMHS workstream in NHS Education for Scotland there have been recent Masterclass events on Applied Behavioural Analysis.

However, whilst the Government sets national policy direction to local authorities and health boards, ultimately it is the responsibility of local authorities and NHS and their integrated local planning partnerships to deliver services and allocate resources according to local priorities and considerations. Ultimately, NHS and local council care services are free to implement behavioural approaches depending on circumstances and needs.

Question reference: S5W-05232

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 12 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the use of applied behavioural analysis to assist children who have been diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder.

The Scottish Government is not prescriptive in the use of particular autism interventions. The Scottish Strategy for Autism’s publication the Menu of Interventions was published in 2013 link: http://www.autismnetworkscotland.org.uk/menu-of-interventions/. It provides a guide to interventions and the supports required by people diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder.

The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network develops evidence based clinical practice guidelines for the National Health Service in Scotland. SIGN guidelines are derived from a systematic review of the scientific literature and are designed as a vehicle for accelerating the translation of new knowledge into action to meet our aim of reducing variations in practice, and improving patient-important outcomes. The SIGN 145 Assessment, diagnosis and interventions for autism spectrum disorders guideline can be viewed using the following link:

http://www.sign.ac.uk/guidelines/fulltext/145/index.html. Ultimately, NHS and local council care services are free to implement behavioural approaches depending on circumstances and needs.

Question reference: S5W-05233

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 12 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reports that some local authorities refuse to fund applied behavioural analysis to assist children who have been diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder, including through self-directed support.

A supported person’s needs and outcomes will not always respect the traditional boundaries between healthcare services and social care services. The Statutory Guidance accompanying the Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013 encourages the respective professionals and organisations to work together, to conduct assessments based on personal outcomes. An individual’s allocated budget may then be spent in anyway, provided that it meets the outcomes within the support plan.

Question reference: S5W-05304

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 05 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 12 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what the timetable is for consultation on adults with incapacity legislation, and whether extending registered medical practitioners to include psychologists will be part of the consultation.

Question reference: S5W-05048

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 25 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 8 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its efforts to assess the potential effectiveness of a population-based case finding approach to hepatitis C.

Question reference: S5W-04800

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 5 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to people who are addicted to betting (a) on fixed-odds betting terminals and (b) in general.

In common with other behaviours that cause difficulties in people’s lives and contribute to their ill health, problem gambling is addressed as part of wider health issues that a person may be experiencing including mental health problems and substance misuse problems. Where a person is referred to a service for treatment, the clinical team will work with the person to identify the issues or problems that are important to support their recovery in a holistic person-centred way. Specialist psychological skills and competencies used in the management of alcohol and drug misuse have some applicability to some problem gamblers as do problem solving counselling skills.

The Scottish Government is committed to delivering faster access to psychological therapies for people with mental illness or disorders, including those who have problems with gambling which is recognised as a type of impulse-control disorder. The delivery of psychological therapies is a core part of NHS activity. NHS boards have made good progress in recent years in improving access to many psychological therapies.

Question reference: S5W-04799

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 1 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reports that betting shops frequently bypass current rules on the maximum number of fixed-odds betting terminals per shop by opening a number of shops close to each other.