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-35473

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 3 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to provide guidance to NHS boards regarding accurate data collection for any reports of sexual assault within their board, including in relation to the age and biological sex of any victims and alleged perpetrators.

The Scottish Government expects all NHS Boards to record and report incidents through their local reporting systems and investigate as required including escalation to Police Scotland, if necessary.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland are working with all NHS boards and partner organisations to standardise the reporting of adverse events and have developed a National Framework for Reviewing and Learning From Adverse Events which was published in February 2025.

We strongly encourage patients and staff to report all instances of violent and aggressive behaviour, including sexual violence. Police Scotland will record crimes through their Crime Management System.

Question reference: S6W-35472

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 3 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to update any policies that it has on the procedures for NHS patients and staff to follow when (a) reporting and (b) raising concerns regarding sexual assault.

We strongly encourage staff to report all instances of violent and aggressive behaviour, including sexual violence, through their local reporting systems. We expect Health Boards to record and report all instances of violent behaviour, including sexual assaults. These should be investigated and reported to the police where appropriate.

For NHSScotland Staff, the Managing Health at Work policies include guidance on preventing, reporting and dealing with violence and aggression. This staff policy is being refreshed under the NHSScotland ‘Once for Scotland’ Workforce Policies Programme.

We expect all health boards to be actively committed to protecting staff from violence and assault, including sexual violence, and make sure that any employees who are victims of violence or aggression have access to appropriate support.

A Sexual Harassment Guide is also in development to supplement the Gender Based Violence Policy which is currently being refreshed.

Question reference: S6W-35471

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 3 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to assist NHS boards with the implementation of systems and record-keeping procedures to ensure patient safety in hospitals.

The Scottish Government expects all NHS Boards to record and report incidents through their existing adverse events reporting systems and investigate as required including escalation to Police Scotland, if necessary.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland are working with all NHS boards and partner organisations to standardise the reporting of adverse events and have developed a ‘National Framework for Reviewing and Learning From Adverse Events’ which was published in February 2025.

Question reference: S6O-04746

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 May 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the roll-out of the Caledonian System.

Question reference: S6O-04712

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 May 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to improve waiting times for audiology appointments.

Question reference: S6W-37073

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 19 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it had with women’s rights groups in relation to the For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers case.

No meetings were held with organisations or stakeholders to discuss the case of For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers prior to the Supreme Court judgment as it is not appropriate for the Scottish Government to comment on live legal proceedings.

Following the Supreme Court ruling on 16th April, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice spoke with Scottish Women’s Aid, Rape Crisis Scotland and Engender on 17 April and the Women’s Rights Network on 22 April to discuss the judgment. The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice also offered a meeting to For Women Scotland on 17 April, but they declined the invite. Subsequently, a new invite has issued and both organisations are in discussion regards a date to meet.

Question reference: S6W-37070

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the total amount is that has been spent to date on the For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers case.

Question reference: S6W-37071

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an outline of the legal advice that it received for the For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers case.

Question reference: S6W-37072

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether any civil servants were involved in any work related to the For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers case.

Question reference: S6O-04688

Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 May 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to implement any necessary measures as a consequence of the interim update from the Equality and Human Rights Commission, following the Supreme Court's ruling on the legal definition of "woman”.