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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: S6F-01099

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 16 May 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 May 2022

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6W-07916

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 16 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government which NHS boards pay district nurses at band 6.

Question reference: S6W-07871

Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 16 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to the Climate Change Committee report published on 15 March 2022, which found that "data are not being collected on the number or location of new properties being built in flood risk areas".

All proposals for new properties in flood risk areas are examined in detail through a well-established process, involving planning authorities and SEPA. In the small number of cases where proposals are given permission within the floodplain, it is notified to Scottish Government and the decision is reviewed.

We note the recommendation of the Climate Change Committee report published on 15 March 2022. The Scottish Government is working with SEPA to develop an indicator for monitoring new development on the floodplain based on SEPA’s flood maps and records of new development.

Question reference: S6W-08473

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 16 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support communities affected by recent bank branch closures, and what representations it is making to those banks regarding their proposals to close branches.

The Scottish Government recognises that physical bank branches provide an important service for many individuals and businesses across Scotland. The closing of branches in Scotland raises concerns around access to cash and banking services - particularly for rural communities, vulnerable individuals and digitally excluded customers

I engage regularly with the banking sector through bilateral ministerial meetings and the Financial Services Growth and Development Board, engagements in which concerns around the ability for consumers to access cash and banking services are raised. Following the Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) announcement in March to shut 19 Bank of Scotland branches, I met with LBG representatives to discuss their decision and Governments concerns on the potential impacts on affected communities.

The responsibility for the regulation of the financial services industry is reserved to the UK Government and Scottish Ministers are unable to intervene in the commercial decisions made by banks. HM Treasury announced their intention last year to legislate on “access to cash” and in the Queen’s Speech on 10 May 2022, “ensuring continued access to cash across the UK” is referenced as an intended outcome of the Financial Services and Markets Bill.

The Scottish Government is ready to work constructively with the UK Government on this matter to ensure that Scotland’s communities have fair access to convenient, local cash and banking services.

Question reference: S6W-08169

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Friday, 22 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 16 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03517 by Humza Yousaf on 27 October 2021, and the National Services Division review of NHS Scotland’s genomics services, what steps are being taken to align the timing of the publication of advice by the Scottish Medicines Consortium with the commissioning of companion diagnostic tests in order to prevent delays for patients getting advanced therapies.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) currently provides early information to National Services Division (NSD) on cancer medicines in clinical development that are expected to require a companion diagnostic through regular horizon scanning reports; these are also discussed at regular meetings between the SMC and NSD. To support financial and service planning, the SMC also provides Health Boards – in confidence - with information on medicines that may require a companion diagnostic through regular forward look reports which include emerging new medicines, including Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs).

The Scottish Government recognises that an improved streamlined process for the implementation of new genetic tests linked to a Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC)-approved medicine is required. A key priority of the Scottish Genomics Leadership Group will be to review how horizon scanning for new medicines is linked to implementation of testing for Scottish patients to prevent delays for patients getting access to advanced therapies. Close collaborative working with the pharmaceutical industry will be essential to this process.

Question reference: S6W-08167

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Friday, 22 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 16 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03514 by Humza Yousaf on 27 October 2021, what engagement the National Services Division and Scottish Genomics Leadership Group are having with the pharmaceutical industry and academia on the design of sustainable genetic laboratories and frontline genetics services that would benefit patients and attract clinical research to Scotland.

Engagement is ongoing with industry, academia and other interested stakeholders in the expansion of NHS Scotland capabilities for genomics. Over the coming months we will be expanding the membership of our Scottish Genomics Leadership Group (SGLG) and relevant work streams to include a wider pool of stakeholders than those currently on the SGLG. This expanded structure will consider the recommendations from the Genetic Major Service Review as well as considerations for further genomics expansion.

Our genetic laboratories are engaged with NHS Board Research and Development departments as well as a number of academic institutions and charity organisations regarding clinical research in Scotland.

In particular, the genetic laboratory in Glasgow has been working with the Glasgow Precision Oncology Laboratory (GPOL), oncology colleagues and eHealth to build a platform for the delivery of clinical trials in cancer patients. This platform will enable the delivery of clinical grade next generation sequencing as well as novel systems for the collation of all diagnostic results including genomics, for cancer patients.

Question reference: S6W-07969

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 16 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the further easing of restrictions, what PPE will be recommended in the NHS across health and social care from April 2022, and what plans it has to fund the procurement and provision of PPE.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on the extended use of face masks and face coverings in hospitals, primary care and wider community healthcare was updated on April 14th 2022 to reflect the change from legislation to guidance for the wider use of face masks and face coverings in public spaces, and to align with the updated Scottish Winter (21/22 Respiratory Infections in Health and Care Setting Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Addendum.

The updated guidance for staff and patients/visitors reaffirms the continued use of face masks in healthcare settings. Staff (in hospital, primary care and community healthcare) providing direct care are strongly recommended to continue to wear Type IIR fluid resistant surgical masks (FRSMs) at all times while on shift.

Staff in non- clinical areas are strongly recommended to wear a FRSM (or their own face covering) when not seated at a desk.

Out- patients and visitors are strongly recommended to wear a face covering when attending health and community healthcare settings. Face masks are provided at the entrance to hospitals for any individual who requires one.

Section 5.1.5 of the Scottish Winter (21/22 Respiratory Infections in Health and Care Setting Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Addendum sets out the current recommended PPE requirements for Healthcare workers across the NHS (hospital, primary care and community healthcare).

The safety of staff in health and social care settings is our top priority and spending decisions on pandemic PPE are, at every stage, led by clinical need and current guidance. Work on implementing a joined-up public sector procurement arrangement which will provide Scotland with a resilient and secure pandemic PPE supply for the long term is being taken forward at pace.

Question reference: S6W-08358

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 16 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of children and young people are currently beginning treatment for mental health conditions within 18 weeks of referral in NHS Lanarkshire.

The Scottish Government national standard is that 90% of children and young people should start treatment within 18 weeks of referral. The publication for CAMHS waiting times for the quarter ending December 2021 can be found at Publications - Public Health Scotland .

Table 1 shows the total number of patients seen for first treatment following referral to CAMH Services in NHS Lanarkshire and the percentage seen within 18 weeks for the latest published data for quarter ending December 2021.

Table 1 : Total number of patients seen and waiting times from referral to treatment, quarter ending 31 December 2021, NHS Lanarkshire

NHS

Board

Total patients seen by CAMHS quarter ending Dec-21

Percentage seen by CAMHS within 18 weeks quarter ending Dec-21

NHS Lanarkshire

239

69.5%

Source: PHS CAMHS database

We have allocated nearly £40m additional funding in 2021-22 to NHS Boards to improve CAMHS from our £120m Recovery and Renewal fund. £4.25m of that allocation is directly focussed on offering treatment to those already on CAMHS waiting lists, with a view to clearing all backlogs by March 2023.

Question reference: S6W-08371

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 16 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many incidents of animal theft there have been in each of the last five years, broken down by species.

The Scottish Government does not hold statistics on incidents or crimes of animal theft. The data we receive from Police Scotland is a count of the number of crimes and offences recorded by the police, split by local authority, and the number cleared up by the police. The Scottish Government does not receive further details on the characteristics of these crimes. This means we are unable to identify how many reported thefts involved animals being stolen.

Question reference: S6W-08385

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how its guidance on recording incidents of bullying in schools is being implemented by (a) North Lanarkshire Council and (b) other local authorities.

In 2019, we introduced a uniform approach to recording and monitoring bullying incidents in schools, supported by guidance. All local authorities and schools are expected to be using the new approach.

It is the responsibility of school staff and local authorities to decide how to address bullying in their schools. We expect that all local authorities have an anti-bullying policy that covers all of their schools and each school should develop and implement an anti-bullying policy in line with this. The policy should indicate how incidents will be dealt with and recorded.

Therefore, this information would need to be requested from each local authority directly.