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-06856

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 25 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 25 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how the specific requirements of women using ScotRail services will be addressed from April 2022.

In addition to taking forward a National Conversation on rail, we will be consulting specifically on women’s safety when using public transport.

Specific timescales will be outlined following the discussion underway with relevant representative groups on the preferred approach for carrying out this engagement.

We have already made initial contact with Engender. We will also engage with groups who represent women working on our public transport network to capture the views of female staff.

Question reference: S6O-00925

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 24 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the possible resettlement in Scotland of refugees who may be fleeing conflict or persecution, including in relation to Afghans, Syrians, Iranians and Uyghurs, as well as Ukrainians.

All 32 Scottish local authorities welcomed refugees under the Syrian resettlement scheme. Local authorities have also re-affirmed their continuing support for resettlement with all 32 Scottish local authorities committing to participate in the Afghanistan resettlement and relocation schemes and to support those arriving from Ukraine.

The Scottish Government continues to work with local authorities, COSLA, UK Government and wider partners to support people arriving through the UK Resettlement Scheme, Afghanistan relocation and resettlement schemes and the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

We have a wealth of experience and learning from previous schemes to support and resettle displaced people. Scotland stands ready to offer refuge and sanctuary to anyone who may need it.

Question reference: S6W-07216

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 24 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that the process for requesting a paper copy of Scotland's Census 2022 is easy for people who (a) do not have, or are not confident using, online technology and (b) are uncomfortable with using, or unable to use, an interactive voice system.

Everyone living in Scotland is included in the census and we understand that not everyone will be able to, or wish to, complete their census online. That is why paper copies are available upon request by anyone who needs them either by calling our Freephone helpline on 0800 030 8308, by visiting our website . Or, by writing to:

Scotland’s Census 2022

National Records of Scotland

New Register House

3 West Register Street

Edinburgh

EH1 3YT

Copies of the paper questionnaire can be ordered via the automated service over the phone, or by asking to speak to an adviser. Paper questionnaires can also be requested on behalf of someone else with their permission.

Question reference: S6W-07175

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 22 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address any lack of awareness among health professionals and GPs of the reported potential impact of Essure contraceptive implants on women's health.

Question reference: S6W-07174

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 22 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S5W-14658 and S5W-24160 by Shona Robison on 6 March 2018 and Jeane Freeman on 22 July 2019 respectively, what steps it is taking to raise public awareness of the reported potential impact of Essure contraceptive implants on women's health.

Question reference: S6W-07176

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 22 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what support is in place to improve the health of any women who may have experienced reported side effects such as chronic pain, nickel poisoning, perforated organs and autoimmune reactions as a result of having an Essure contraceptive implant.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-06890 on 9 March 2022.

It is important that anyone who experiences complications receives appropriate and timely care, and so I would encourage any woman with concerns to speak to her GP in the first instance. We are clear that GPs must take any patient’s concerns seriously, and must ensure that they have all the advice they to make an informed decision on their care.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Question reference: S6W-07177

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 22 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of women in Scotland who had an Essure contraceptive implant have had to subsequently undergo (a) a hysterectomy and (b) any other surgery as a result of the implant.

Question reference: S6F-00929

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 21 March 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 March 2022

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to ensure that people are able to register with NHS dental practices and receive NHS dental treatments in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Question reference: S6W-07195

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 21 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that the available financial support to help tackle the rising cost of living is visible to and accessible for people in minority ethnic communities.

The £150 cost of living support payments are administered by local authorities who are responsible for ensuring this support, and indeed all the other services they deliver, are visible and accessible for people in minority ethnic communities. Local Authorities have indicated they are using the discretion we allowed to make payments as a credit to council tax accounts in the majority of circumstances. Where payments are made in this way, the credit should be automatically included in council tax bills for 2022-23.

The cost of living package also included extra funding for the Fuel Insecurity Fund which is distributed through third sector organisations who are partnered with referral organisations. Advice Direct Scotland (ADS) recently reported that they now have over 500 trusted referral partner organisations (advice /support services) signed up who can refer people they believe are in need of assistance.

Question reference: S6W-06858

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 25 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 18 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how the specific public transport requirements of disabled people are being addressed by operators.

Transport Operators across all modes of public transport are fully committed to ensuring public transport is accessible to disabled people. They are also bound by legal duties under the Equalities Act 2010 which are strengthened through the Public Service Vehicle Accessibility Regulations (PSVAR) to deliver equal access to their services.

Scottish Ministers have made clear their expectations through the Accessible Travel framework and its annual delivery plans, that Scotland’s transport operators will continually improve their performance to help disabled people travel with the same freedom, choice, dignity and opportunity as other citizens.

As a result, a number of improvements have been made by operators to ensure that key issues facing disabled people are met such as Infrastructure, Ticketing, Staff Training, Passenger Information and Assistance.