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-22467

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 14 November 2023

To ask Scottish Government how many additional allied health professional (AHP) training spaces have been created as a result of the increase in training provision, as outlined by the Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social care during his ministerial statement on winter planning and resilience on 24 October 2023, broken down by profession.

The Scottish Government has significantly expanded AHP training, recruiting 335 Scottish-domiciled students each year for paramedic education programs from 2023 to 2026, and 25 students for specialist prosthetics and orthotics education programs each year from 2022 to 2026. With a substantial investment of £45 million recurrently for the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS), and an additional £5 million, 317 staff are being recruited, including clinicians for an integrated clinical hub, enhancing triage and reducing emergency response needs. Additionally, £4.5 million is allocated to train 225 more MSK practitioners in Primary Care, and £1.2 million enhances Reporting Radiography training by 30 spaces.

As part of the Scottish Government's commitment to a sustainable healthcare workforce, efforts include creating opportunities for AHP career advancement. Key features of the AHP Education and Workforce Policy Review, are being implemented through an ongoing plan, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to fostering the growth and advancement of the AHP workforce.

Question reference: S6W-22466

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 14 November 2023

To ask Scottish Government, further to the Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care's ministerial statement on winter planning and resilience on 24 October 2023, how many of the "additional 1,000 nurses, midwives and allied health professionals" (AHPs) from overseas who have joined NHS Scotland over the past two years were AHPs, broken down by profession.

In October 2022, we announced that further Scottish Government funding of £8m was being made available to recruit allied health professionals and midwives from overseas for the first time alongside nurses whereas the £4.5m funding in 2021 for international recruitment was provided solely for registered nurses.

I am pleased to advise that between October 2022 and 30 September 2023, a total of 109 AHPs have been recruited from overseas and are in posts across NHS Scotland, with further arrivals expected as we continue to support international recruitment. The Scottish Government does not hold data centrally relating to the AHP professions recruited to, that information is held by employing health boards.

Question reference: S6F-02538

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 November 2023

To ask the First Minister what immediate action the Scottish Government is taking to address the reported crisis in social care, in light of the letter from the Coalition of Care and Support Providers in Scotland stating that the social care pay uplift is insufficient.

Question reference: S6W-22243

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 16 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 13 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Short Life Working Group report arising from the Fatal Accident Inquiry recommendations following the fire at Cameron House Hotel, and in relation to the commitment to establish an expert working group to consider mandating automatic fire suppression systems where historic buildings are being converted into hotels, whether it will confirm (a) the membership of the group and (b) when the group’s (i) terms of reference and (ii) remit will be in place, and when it expects the group to report.

Question reference: S6W-22244

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 16 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 13 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Short Life Working Group report arising from the Fatal Accident Inquiry recommendations following the fire at Cameron House Hotel, when it will amend the guidance in the technical handbooks to promote the use of automatic fire suppression systems for historic building conversions to hotels.

Question reference: S6W-22245

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 16 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 13 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Short Life Working Group report arising from the Fatal Accident Inquiry recommendations following the fire at Cameron House Hotel, when it will carry out its commitment to “amend the Section 34 letter to Local Authority Chief Executives under the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 (Section 34 - Reports and Information - Notification of Application for Building Warrant - Section 2 - Fire) to require that a verifier must notify the Scottish Government where future conversions of historic buildings are to be used as hotel accommodation”.

The Section 34 letter to Local Authority Chief Executives under the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 (Section 34 - Reports and Information - Notification of Application for Building Warrant - Section 2 - Fire) to require that a verifier must notify the Scottish Government where future conversions of historic buildings are to be used as hotel accommodation has been sent to all Local Authority Chief Executives and copied to Building Standards Managers on 31 October 2023.

Question reference: S6W-22246

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 16 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 13 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Short Life Working Group report arising from the Fatal Accident Inquiry recommendations following the fire at Cameron House Hotel, when the first workshop will be held with partners, including industry, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Local Authority Building Standards Scotland/The Building Standards Hub, and Historic Environment Scotland, to promote key fire safety messages around the dangers of historic construction techniques, materials, and fire spread in hidden voids.

Question reference: S6W-22313

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 20 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 13 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it anticipates breast cancer screening will be reintroduced for women aged 75 and over, following a pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as committed to by the former First Minister on 24 November 2022.

As noted in S6W-19908 on 31 July 2023, the age ranges for breast screening are based on recommendations from the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), an independent expert advisory group which informs decisions taken across the UK on screening programmes. There is no clear evidence that the benefits of screening this age group outweigh the potential harms.

Since October 2022, women aged 71-74, and those over 75 with a history of breast cancer, have been able to self-refer for a screening appointment. Due to the challenges around programme capacity and wait times as a result of the pandemic, self-referrals for those over 75 without a history of breast cancer remain paused. This ensures those between 50 and 70 and for whom screening has clear benefits are prioritised. The most recent statistics show that breast screening uptake has increased across Scotland which is the most important factor when maximising cancer detection and effectiveness of the screening programme.

Considerable work has been undertaken to improve programme capacity, including extending screening hours, using additional mobile units, and optimising appointment allocation. The scale of the challenge facing the screening programme since the pandemic means it has taken time for this work to have a significant impact. However, considerable progress has been made, and the scope to extend self-referrals to all those over 75 remains under active review. Both Parliament and NHS Inform will be updated when any decision is made to lift the current pause.

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-22287

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 13 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its reported decision to downgrade neonatal services at University Hospital Wishaw, for what reason Healthcare Improvement Scotland reportedly does not give a view on whether Scottish Government decisions constitute a major service change, as it is required to do in respect of decisions made by NHS boards, health and social care partnerships and local authorities.

It is not within Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s legal remit to assess decisions made nationally. Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s Community Engagement arm supports, ensures and monitors NHS Boards and Integration Authorities activity in relation to patient focus and public involvement in health services.

When decisions are made by the Scottish Government on NHS services, they are scrutinised through the Parliamentary process, the Health and Social Care Committee and Audit Scotland.

The Scottish Government’s Participation Framework provides information / guidance on relevant commitments to public participation that Scottish Government must adhere to. The Participation Framework supports Scottish Government to take decisions about how to open up opportunities for participation in ways that best suit the needs policy areas, the types of contribution being sought, and the characteristics and needs of the people being engaged with.

Question reference: S6W-22493

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 13 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish any paper on the potential implications of losing intensive care status in neonatal units.

The Best Start recommendation to move to a model of three intensive care units in Scotland was based on evidence that this will improve outcomes for the smallest and sickest babies.

The Framework for Practice ‘Criteria to Define Levels of Neonatal Care including Repatriation within NHS Scotland’, published on 25 July 2023 describes the care that can be provided at each level of neonatal care. It outlines that Local Neonatal Units can continue to care for babies requiring short periods of intensive care in accordance with agreed pathways.

In addition the British Association of Perinatal Medicine published ‘ in 2021, which provides a framework for practice for neonatal care. This sets out the optimal arrangements for neonatal intensive care to provide the lowest mortality and morbidity, and the best baby and parent experience.