The Scottish Parliament

Question reference: S6W-10387

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 22 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that, compared with the period from October to December 2019, in the period from October to December 2021 in Scotland there has been an increase of 136% in patients paying for private cataract operations, 169% increase in private hip-replacement operations, and 111% increase in private knee operations.

Question reference: S6W-10385

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 22 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported increase in the number of people using private healthcare.

Over the last two and a half years, our NHS has suffered the biggest shock of its 74-year existence. Caring for large numbers of patients seriously unwell with COVID-19 has inevitably meant that planned care procedures have had to be delayed, and while we are working hard to recover and remobilise our NHS, this will not be done in a few weeks or even months. Throughout the pandemic, NHS Boards have ensured that urgent, maternity and vital cancer services continue as usual. Addressing the backlog of care, while continuing to meet the ongoing urgent health and care needs of the country, remains a priority for this Government.

We recognise the impact long waiting times can have on patients. That is why we have introduced a new set of ambitious targets for NHS Scotland to address the backlog of planned care. Key targets are to eliminate:

Two-year waits for outpatients in most specialities by the end of August 2022
18-month waits for outpatients in most specialities by the end of December 2022
One-year waits for outpatients in most specialities by the end of March 2023
Two-year waits for inpatient / daycases in most specialities by the end of September 2022
18-month waits for inpatient / daycases in most specialities by the end of September 2023
One-year waits for inpatient / daycases in most specialities by the end of September 2024

We are working with NHS Boards to maximise capacity to meet these targets and have increased the flexibility Health Boards and clinicians have to manage waiting lists, with a focus on eliminating long waits, as well as continuing to treat the most clinically urgent patients.

The latest Private Healthcare Information Network figures show Scotland has lower rates of self-pay admissions per head of population than England and Wales

Question reference: S6W-10457

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 22 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many beds it currently has procured for temporary accommodation for each mode of accommodation, including cruise ship and hotel.

Question reference: S6W-10438

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure impartial scrutiny from the National Drugs Mission Oversight Group, given that it is chaired by the Minister for Drugs Policy and in light of reports that the membership of the group is at the invitation of the Minister.

Following the first Oversight Group meeting in June, David Strang, former chair of the Drug Death Taskforce, has accepted my offer to become Chair of the group, ensuring its independence from government. I will of course continue to attend as a member of the group. This will begin from the next meeting scheduled for 22 September 2022.

To ensure independence from government, a steering board of members has been nominated to co-ordinate the agenda for Oversight Group meetings.

Question reference: S6W-10443

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide the full operational costs of Circularity Scotland in (a) 2020-21 and (b) 2021-22.

Question reference: S6W-10444

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 20 September 2022

Question reference: S6W-10447

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 22 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that the Department of Health and Social Care has asked NICE to conduct an appraisal of tixagevimab–cilgavimab, also known as Evusheld, whether it will refer Evusheld to the Scottish Medicines Consortium, in order to ensure that patients in Scotland are able to access this preventative treatment for COVID-19.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) is a partner in a UK-wide multi-agency RAPID C-19 initiative, which is a collaborative partnership between the SMC and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Building on this work, the SMC is exploring the potential for collaboration with NICE on a single technology assessment (STA) of tixagevimab–cilgavimab (Evusheld ® ) for the prevention of COVID-19.

Question reference: S6W-10799

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 02 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the amount of remuneration for each individual currently serving on two or more boards of public bodies, and whether it will provide a list showing the amount for each position held.

The Scottish Government public appointments team, in line with the Ethical Standards Commissioner Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies in Scotland, publishes information including the rate of remuneration on those holding board member and Chair positions on the boards of regulated public bodies. This information is published on the Public Appointments website on the Scottish Government Website. [ Full list of public appointments by public body - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) ].

An extract is attached highlighting the remuneration received by those individuals who currently serve on the boards of two or more public bodies.

Board Members Holding Two or More Public Appointments

Name	Board	Position	Remuneration
Ailsa Raeburn	Crown Estate Scotland	Member	£219.50 per day
Ailsa Raeburn	Highlands and Islands Enterprise	Member	£10,056 per annum
Albert Donald	Grampian NHS Board	Member - Whistleblowing Champion	£8,930 per annum
Albert Donald	Highland NHS Board	Member - Whistleblowing Champion	£8,930 per annum
Amanda Bryan	Crown Estate Scotland	Chair	£361 per day
Amanda Bryan	Highlands and Islands Enterprise	Member	£10,056 per annum
Andrew Thin	Crofting Commission	Commissioner	£178.23 per day
Andrew Thin	Scottish Land Commission	Chair	£273.60 per day
Angiolina Foster CBE	Public Health Scotland	Chair	£27,830 per annum
Angiolina Foster CBE	Scottish Fire and Rescue Service	Member	£297.95 per day
Ann Allen MBE	Architecture and Design Scotland	Chair	£200 per day
Ann Allen MBE	National Museums of Scotland	Member	Nil
Ann Allen MBE	Scottish Futures Trust	Member	£325 per day
Ann Allen MBE	Water Industry Commission for Scotland	Member	£13,780 per annum
Anne-Marie Monaghan	Greater Glasgow & Clyde NHS Board	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Anne-Marie Monaghan	Independent Living Fund Scotland	Member	£182.56 per day
Bill Matthews	Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission	Chair	£425 per day
Bill Matthews	Scottish Futures Trust	Member	£325 per day
Brian Baverstock	Scottish Fire and Rescue Service	Member	£297.95 per day
Brian Baverstock	Scottish Legal Aid Board	Member	£238.92 per day
Brian Moore	Lanarkshire NHS Board	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Brian Moore	The State Hospitals Board for Scotland	Chair	£27,830 per annum
Carole Wilkinson	Care Inspectorate	Member (in capacity as Chair of HIS)	Nil - paid as Chair of Healthcare Improvement Scotland
Carole Wilkinson	Healthcare Improvement Scotland	Chair	£178.39 per day
Caroline Stuart	Regional Colleges and Regional Boards (Dumfries and Galloway)	Chair	£211 per day
Caroline Stuart	Scottish Funding Council	Member	£350.73 per day
Caroline Stuart	Scottish Police Authority	Member	£378 per day
Christine Lester	Accounts Commission for Scotland	Member	£296.23 per day
Christine Lester	Healthcare Improvement Scotland	Lay Member	£171.74 per day
Douglas Moodie	Care Inspectorate	Chair	£272.50 per day
Douglas Moodie	Healthcare Improvement Scotland	Member (in capacity as Chair of Care Inspectorate)	Nil - paid as Chair of Care Inspectorate
Douglas Moodie	Scottish Social Services Council	Member (in capacity as Chair of Care Inspectorate)	Nil - paid as Convenor of Care Inspectorate
Dr Carol Evans	Food Standards Scotland	Member	£227 per day
Dr Carol Evans	Skills Development Scotland	Member	£8,136 per annum
Dr Gaener Rodger	Highland NHS Board	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Dr Gaenor Rodger	Cairngorms National Park Authority	Member	£226.75 per day
Dr Heather Reid	Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority	Member	£199.35 per day
Dr Heather Reid	NatureScot	Member	£317.22 per day
Dr Keith Nicholson	Highlands and Islands Enterprise	Member	£10,056 per annum
Dr Keith Nicholson	VisitScotland	Member	£8,235 per annum
Dr Kirsty Darwent	Scottish Fire and Rescue Service	Chair	£444 per day
Dr Kirsty Darwent	Scottish Agricultural Wages Board	Chair	£250.50 per day
Dr Mike Cantlay OBE	Scottish Funding Council	Chair	£485.17 per day
Dr Mike Cantlay OBE	NatureScot	Chair	£361.43 per day
Dr Paul Stollard	Historic Environment Scotland	Member	Nil
Dr Paul Stollard	Scottish Fire and Rescue Service	Member	£297.95 per day
Dr Poonam Malik	Scottish Enterprise	Member	£13,260 per annum
Dr Poonam Malik	Skills Development Scotland	Member	£8,136 per annum
Dr Susan Walker	Food Standards Scotland	Member	£227 per day
Dr Susan Walker	Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland	Member	£219 per day
Dr William Maxwell	Care Inspectorate	Lay Member	£174.50 per day
Dr William Maxwell	Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator	Member	£212 per day
Elizabeth Humphreys	Independent Living Fund Scotland	Member	£182.56 per day
Elizabeth Humphreys	Public Health Scotland	Member - Whistleblowing Champion	£8,930 per annum
Elizabeth Humphreys	Scottish Ambulance Service	Member - Whistleblowing Champion	£8,930 per annum
George Walker	Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator	Interim Chair	£283 per day
George Walker	Scottish Housing Regulator	Chair	£216.14 per day
Gillian Mawdsley	NHS Education for Scotland	Member - Whistleblowing Champion	£8,930 per annum
Gillian Mawdsley	Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission	Legal Member	£12,192 per annum
Gordon Johnston	Forth Valley NHS Board	Member - Whistleblowing Champion	£8,930 per annum
Gordon Johnston	Mental Welfare Commission	Lay Member	£220 per day
Graham MacNeil Bell OBE	Community Justice Scotland	Member	£4,000 per annum
Graham MacNeil Bell OBE	Highland NHS Board	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Grant Macrae	David MacBrayne Ltd	Non-Executive Director	£320 per day
Grant Macrae	Scottish Police Authority	Member	£378 per day
Ian Russell CBE	National Museums of Scotland	Chair	Nil
Ian Russell CBE	Scottish Futures Trust	Chair	£18,432 per annum (not taken)
James Martin	Scottish Legal Complaints Commission	Chair	£313 per day
James Martin	Environmental Standards Scotland	Chair	£300 per day
Janie McCusker	Forth Valley NHS Board	Chair	£33,052 per annum
Janie McCusker	Regional Colleges and Regional Boards (Glasgow)	Chair	£330 per day
Jean Ford	Ayrshire & Arran NHS Board	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Jean Ford	NHS Education for Scotland	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Jean Lindsay	Crown Estate Scotland	Member	£219.50 per day
Jean Lindsay	Revenue Scotland	Member	£275 per day
Katharina Kasper	Children’s Hearing Scotland	Chair	£21,120 per annum
Katharina Kasper	Lothian NHS Board	Member - Whistleblowing Champion	£8,930 per annum
Katharina Kasper	Scottish Police Authority	Member	£378 per day
Keith Redpath	Care Inspectorate	Lay Member	£174.50 per day
Keith Redpath	NHS National Services Scotland	Chair	£27,830 per annum
Linda Bamford	Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland	Chair (Convener)	£200 per day
Linda Bamford	Poverty and Inequality Commission	Member	£225 per day
Linda Semple	Ayrshire & Arran NHS Board	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Linda Semple	NHS Golden Jubilee Board	Lay Member (Vice Chair)	£8,930 per annum
Lorna Jack	Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd	Chair	£330 per day
Lorna Jack	Scottish Funding Council	Member	£350.73 per day
Marieke Dwarshuis	NHS 24	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Marieke Dwarshuis	Scottish Housing Regulator	Member	£179.78 per day
Marieke Dwarshuis	Scottish Legal Aid Board	Member	£238.92 per day
Martin Hill	Lanarkshire NHS Board	Chair	£35,489 per annum
Martin Hill	Scottish Environment Protection Agency	Member	£293.29 per day
Michelle Miller	Scottish Children's Reporter Administration (SCRA)	Chair	£22,880 per annum
Michelle Miller	Scottish Police Authority	Member	£378 per day
Naghat Ahmed	Care Inspectorate	Lay Member	£174.50 per day
Naghat Ahmed	Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland	Member	£150 per day
Peter Murray	Lothian NHS Board	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Peter Murray	Scottish Social Services Council	Member	£154.13 per day
Prof Donald MacRae OBE	Highlands and Islands Enterprise	Member	£10,056 per annum
Prof Donald MacRae OBE	Water Industry Commission for Scotland	Chair	£36,400 per annum
Raymond McMenamin	Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission	Legal Member	£12,192 per annum
Raymond McMenamin	Scottish Legal Aid Board	Member	£238.92 per day
Sandra Campbell	Care Inspectorate	Member (in capacity as Convener of SSSC)	Nil - paid as Convenor of Scottish Social Services Council
Sandra Campbell	Scottish Social Services Council	Chair (Convener)	£25168 per annum
Sandy Riddell	Grampian NHS Board	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Sandy Riddell	Mental Welfare Commission	Chair	£338 per day
Sharon O'Connor	Accounts Commission for Scotland	Member	£296.23 per day
Sharon O'Connor	David MacBrayne Ltd	Non-Executive Director	£320 per day
Siobhan White	Lanarkshire NHS Board	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Siobhan White	Scottish Housing Regulator	Member	£179.78 per day
Stephen McAllister	Forth Valley NHS Board	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Stephen McAllister	NHS Golden Jubilee Board	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Stephen McAllister	Risk Management Authority	Member	£5,880 per annum
Steve Barron	Public Health Scotland	Member	£8,930 per annum
Steve Barron	Scottish Fire and Rescue Service	Member	£297.95 per day
Stuart Currie	The State Hospitals Board for Scotland	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Stuart Currie	Scottish Ambulance Service	Lay Member	£8,930 per annum
Susan Douglas-Scott	Independent Living Fund Scotland	Chair	£217.54 per day
Susan Douglas-Scott	NHS Golden Jubilee Board	Chair	£27,830 per annum
Tim Ingram	David MacBrayne Ltd	Non-Executive Director	£320 per day
Tim Ingram	Western Isles NHS Board	Member	£8,176 per annum
Tim McKay	Accounts Commission for Scotland	Member	£296.23 per day
Tim McKay	Scottish Legal Aid Board	Member	£238.92 per day
Willie Watt	National Galleries of Scotland	Member	Nil
Willie Watt	Scottish National Investment Bank	Chair	£1,250 per day

Question reference: S6W-10818

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 02 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to contribute international aid to Pakistan following reports of extreme flooding in the south of the country, and in light of the UK Government’s commitment to contribute £1.5 million of humanitarian aid.

We are all shocked by the devastating effects of the floods in Pakistan, with children reported to be the most vulnerable; UNICEF has reported that some 17,566 schools nationwide have been damaged or destroyed. The Scottish Government has made £500,000 in funds available to be split between the Disasters Emergency Committee and the Humanitarian Emergency Fund. This is a clear example of loss and damage caused by climate change, speaking to the importance of Scotland’s leadership in this area. It is important that we stand in solidarity with Pakistan, its people, and the diaspora community during this crisis. I met with the Pakistan Consul General in Glasgow on 7 September to hear first-hand the situation on the ground, and to offer Scotland’s support. We are working with the Pakistani community to ensure that we provide consistent messaging on how they might best assist the people of Pakistan during this time.

Question reference: S6W-10821

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 02 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider introducing a statutory right to time off work for people undergoing fertility treatment.

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