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-39586

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 28 July 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 25 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many interventional neuroradiologists are currently employed by NHS Scotland, and how many are required to deliver a 24/7 thrombectomy service.

Question reference: S6W-39589

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 28 July 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 25 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many patients in each of the last five years were assessed as eligible for mechanical thrombectomy within the recommended six-hour treatment window but did not receive the procedure due to the unavailability of local thrombectomy services.

Question reference: S6W-39587

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 28 July 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 25 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated cost is of establishing a 24/7 thrombectomy service across all relevant hospitals in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-38960

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 22 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to implement the World Health Organization’s resolution on reducing the burden of noncommunicable diseases through promotion of kidney health and strengthening prevention and control of kidney disease, particularly in relation to ensuring equitable access to psychosocial support services for people with chronic kidney disease, as highlighted in the Kidney Care UK report, 'Left to get on with it': The real impact of inadequate psychosocial support in kidney care, published in June 2025.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all people living in Scotland with long term conditions including Chronic Kidney Disease are able to access the best possible care and support, and benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put people at the centre of their care.

We are running our public consultation on the Long Term Conditions Framework from 23 April to 20 July 2025. This is available at .

We will take the results of the consultation into account when developing the framework which will include identifying areas where targeted condition-specific action will still be needed.

The Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors programme launched by the Chief Medical Officer in April 2025 aims to improve early identification of CVD risk factors and work with people to manage their disease. This will help people reduce or eliminate their risks, or prevent the escalation of their disease to further severity, such as the development of kidney failure.

Our shared vision is of a Scotland, free from stigma and inequality, where everyone fulfils their right to achieve the best mental health and wellbeing possible. We recognise that a highly effective mental health system must address all levels of need. It means recognising and responding to the many underlying social determinants, circumstances and inequalities that can affect people's mental health and wellbeing. Actions contained in The Scottish Government’s Mental Health Delivery Plan cover a wide spectrum, from maintaining good mental wellbeing, to support in communities, to ensuring those experiencing physical ill health, such as kidney disease, are supported.

Question reference: S6W-39478

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 21 July 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 18 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many funeral directors have registered with the Funeral Sector Register.

Question reference: S6W-39477

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 21 July 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 18 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many funeral directors there are in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-37578

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 21 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the palliative care strategy has not yet been published.

Question reference: S6W-38992

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 18 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that Scottish Ambulance Service managers introduce and enforce rotas to enable crew members to take breaks.

The Scottish Ambulance Service launched its demand and capacity programme in 2019, to ensure they are working as effectively as possible by having the right resources in place to deliver the most appropriate care. This has resulted in the recruitment of an additional 1,388 staff and the introduction of 52 additional ambulances in the first three years. The increase in staffing and resources, coupled with alignment of shift patterns to patient demand profiles, was designed to improve patient safety and staff welfare.

Following discussions facilitated by the Scottish Government between the Scottish Ambulance Service and trade unions, a working group has been established to seek to resolve the complex issues surrounding rest break compliance. The group will meet fortnightly, with an oversight group established which includes representation from the Scottish Government. This oversight group will meet regularly to monitor the progress of the working group.

Question reference: S6W-39075

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 30 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 18 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether molecular testing for (a) PIK3CA, (b) AKT1 and (c) PTEN gene alterations in breast cancer is (i) on the Scottish Strategic Network for Genomic Medicine horizon scanner and (ii) currently being considered for inclusion in the Scottish Genomic Test Directory.

Question reference: S6W-39074

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 30 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 18 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress regarding the commitment in its strategy, Genomics in Scotland: Building our Future, which was published in April 2024, to develop a sustainable funding model to allow new tests approved through the SG-TAG process to be funded and implemented as quickly as possible following an SMC approval of a medicine with associated genomic testing to help ensure that patients have access to potentially lifesaving targeted cancer medicines.

We recognise the critical importance of ensuring that patients can access targeted cancer medicines promptly when associated genomic tests are required.

The development of a sustainable and more reactive funding model for genomic testing is a core commitment within the Genomics in Scotland strategy. Work to develop new funding mechanisms continues to progress, however, this process takes time and significant negotiation across Scottish Government and the entirety of the NHS in Scotland.

The Scottish Government remains committed to delivering equitable access to genomic tests associated with Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) approved medicines without unnecessary delay.