Questions and answers

Chamber and committees

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 ��˿�� 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-05487

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 21 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the five commitments regarding stroke made in its 2019-20 Programme for Government.

The five commitments made in the 2019-20 Programme for Government were; 1) appoint a Chief Medical Officer Speciality Advisor for stroke care, 2) review and improve the current stroke care bundle to improve outcomes for patients, 3) collaborate across government on stroke prevention and raising awareness of the signs of stroke, 4) begin work to scope out and define what a progressive stroke unit looks like, and 5) ensure that a national planning framework is in place for a high quality and clinically safe thrombectomy service.

Updates are as follows;

Professor Martin Dennis (Chief Medical Officer Specialty Advisor for Stroke) and Dr Fiona Wright (Deputy Chief Medical Officer Speciality Advisor for Stroke) were appointed in 2020.

The Scottish Stroke Care Audit standards have, for several years, included the proportion of patients with a final diagnosis of stroke who were managed in accordance with all four standards comprising the care bundle. The standards within the bundle include the prompt delivery of: a) admission to a stroke unit; b) brain scanning; c) screening for swallow problems; and d) administering aspirin (unless contraindicated). The standards are regularly reviewed in line with current evidence and updated guidelines.

We have progressed with work to scope out and define a progressive stroke pathway. The resulting document is expected in early 2022. It will set out our vision for what stroke services across Scotland should deliver across the whole patient pathway, including prevention, recognition of stroke, timely access to acute and hyperacute care and the provision of stroke rehabilitation.

We remain committed to introducing a high quality and clinically safe thrombectomy service in Scotland. A pilot thrombectomy programme began in the North of Scotland at NHS Tayside on 9 November 2020 and the East of Scotland began their pilot service on the 6th September 2021. A Scotland wide service is expected to be operational by 2023.

Question reference: S6W-05429

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 13 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to publish the results of its consultation on a Sectoral Marine Plan for offshore wind for Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas Decarbonisation.

Question reference: S6O-00604

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 December 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what the environmental priorities will be for the new Chief Scientific Adviser for Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture.

Question reference: S6W-04803

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 22 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the (a) direct and (b) wider impact on the (i) retail and (ii) tourism sector in (A) the Lothians and (B) Scotland of the UK Government's decision to withdraw tax-free shopping from the start of 2021, and what representations it has made to UK ministers on the matter.

We have heard directly from retail businesses advising that the impact of these changes are already being felt, and that the new rules put Scottish and UK-wide businesses at a disadvantage when compared to other European destinations who continue to operate VAT refund schemes.

Following the announcement of the changes to tax-free shopping on 11 September 2020, the then Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture, Fiona Hyslop, and I wrote a joint letter to the UK Chancellor opposing the proposed changes; especially at such a challenging time for businesses. No action was forthcoming from the UK Government, so on 20 December 2021 I sent a follow-up letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to reiterate the Scottish Government’s concerns on the matter, and request any data and analysis on the impact of these changes.

Question reference: S6O-00527

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 December 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what the latest Open with Care guidance is for care homes, in light of the emergence of the Omicron variant.

Question reference: S6O-00490

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 December 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration was given to increasing the maximum spend on both long and short campaigns for the forthcoming Scottish local council elections in May 2022.

Question reference: S6W-04449

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 29 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to bring together public, private and third sector stakeholders to inform and drive the policy decisions that will help reset working lives in a positive way that supports both good mental health and economic productivity.

The Scottish Government engages regularly with the public, private and third sectors on economic policy developments, including Fair Work, and our upcoming National Strategy for Economic Transformation. Fair Work is a key driver for sustainable and inclusive economic growth; it sits at the heart of our wellbeing economy ambitions and is central to economic recovery and renewal. A key strand of our Fair Work Action Plan is creating more diverse and inclusive workplaces, and our Fairer Scotland for Disabled People: Employment Action Plan contains a commitment to work with employers to support the development of mentally flourishing workplaces and also to develop pathways that enable those seeking to enter or remain in work to access appropriate and timely mental health and employability support.

As I highlighted in the Sustainable Procurement and Fair Work debate on 2 November 2021, we have launched a public consultation on the action needed to ensure Scotland becomes a Fair Work Nation. The consultation has been informed by discussions with key stakeholders from the public, private and third sectors and workshops are being held to gather wider views. I encourage you and members to promote this consultation to employers and workers across their constituencies.

Question reference: S6W-04448

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 29 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to meet the third sector organisations that are proposing the establishment of a statutory so-called future of work commission to help improve workplace wellbeing.

The Scottish Government recognises the issues raised by third sector organisations regarding the impact the Covid pandemic has had and is having on working lives, especially those in low-paid or insecure jobs. That is why a range of actions have been set out in the Mental Health Transition and Recovery Strategy and the broader Covid Recovery Strategy to mitigate negative impacts on workers and to improve the financial security of lower income households.

Our overarching vision to become a Fair Work Nation by 2025 is central to addressing issues of job insecurity, in-work poverty and under-employment – priorities that will also be reflected through the forthcoming National Strategy for Economic Transformation. The Scottish Government is committed to safeguarding the wellbeing of workers across Scotland and will keep a future of work commission under review.

Question reference: S6W-04447

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 26 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has introduced to ensure that workplaces safeguard the mental wellbeing of their staff.

We know that meaningful, fair work can provide important benefits for people’s mental health and wellbeing. We also know that creating workplaces which support and promote good mental health benefit individuals and employers.

Our ‘Mental Health – Transition and Recovery Plan outlines our response to the mental health impacts of COVID-19 and sets out our commitments to supporting mental health and wellbeing as we recover from the pandemic. The plan includes key employment actions to promote and support mental health and wellbeing at work.

A Short Life Working Group, consisting of employer groups, trade unions and mental health organisations, has been established to help take forward our key employment actions. The group is working collaboratively to identify the issues and challenges that employers are facing in supporting mental health at work. The outcomes of this phase of work will inform the next steps that will be undertaken to ensure employers have the support they need to create mentally healthy workplaces, free of stigma and discrimination.

Question reference: S6O-00459

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 November 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the veterans secretary has had with skills agencies regarding maximising employment opportunities for veterans.