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: S5F-02098

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 February 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 March 2018

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on the dangers of teenagers in Ayrshire ingesting substances purporting to be the drug, MDMA.

Question reference: S5W-14436

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 22 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to healthcare practitioners to ensure that survivors of sexual violence receive healthcare that is sensitive to their needs.

Healthcare and Forensic Medical Services Standards for people who have experienced rape, sexual assault or child sexual abuse were published by Healthcare Improvement Scotland, in December 2017. These widely available standards are an important step toward ensuring that, working in collaboration with partner agencies, consistent high quality trauma informed care is provided by Health Boards throughout Scotland. Standardising the quality of care offered will further ensure the timely collection of high quality evidence to support any criminal justice proceedings.

The Taskforce for the improvement of services for adults and children who have experienced rape and sexual assault, established by the Scottish Government, and chaired by the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Catherine Calderwood, has set out key priorities areas for delivery within its five year work plan. These include developing the Quality Indicators which will underpin the standards and the development of clinical pathways and guidance to clinical practitioners delivering these services.

NHS Education for Scotland has also been commissioned by the Scottish Government to provide portable education and trauma-informed training with the aim of increasing the number of particularly female physicians who are able to undertake forensic medical examinations. NES have also been funded to provide mentoring, peer support and continuous professional development for those new to the service, as well as experienced forensic physicians already undertaking this work. Feedback from a reference group of organisations who represent the views of those with lived experience informs all aspects of the work of the Taskforce.

The Taskforce’s 5 year work plan can be accessed here: ��

The HIS standards can be accessed here:

Question reference: S5O-01787

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 February 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when it will take forward the Ayrshire Growth Deal, given that it has not yet received UK Government support.

Question reference: S5W-13664

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 13 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its��position is��on NHS Dumfries and Galloway reportedly being the only mainland��NHS board with no paediatric epilepsy specialist nurse.

The Scottish Government has overall responsibility for health and social care policy in Scotland, however the statutory responsibility for delivering or commissioning services at a local level lies with local authorities, NHS Boards and integrated health and social care partnerships. Operational decisions, including whether there is a need for a paediatric epilepsy specialist nurse in NHS Dumfries & Galloway, are therefore matters for these bodies.

NHS Dumfries & Galloway has assessed local needs and arrangements are in place to support children and young people with epilepsy.

NHS Dumfries & Galloway has an acute paediatric nurse who has additional specialist training and she provides input into paediatric outpatient clinics locally and also tertiary clinics. The nurse also provides education and training to paediatric ward staff. The Community Children's Nursing Team provides support in the community across the region. Given the remote and rural aspect of Dumfries & Galloway this gives a responsive service regardless of the home location of the child or young person.

The Board is currently assessing its provision of support to education colleagues in relation to children with epilepsy and the administration of rescue medication and are working with an Epilepsy Specialist Nurse from Epilepsy Scotland to develop a robust model of delivery. I am advised that NHS Dumfries & Galloway feels that its current arrangements to support children and young people with epilepsy are satisfactory and it has no current plans to employ a Paediatric Epilepsy Nurse Specialist.

Question reference: S5F-01996

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 January 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 February 2018

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the Centre for Cities report, Cities Outlook 2018, which suggests that automation and globalisation could displace 230,000 Scottish jobs by 2030.

Question reference: S5W-13663

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 29 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent MBRRACE-UK triennial report on UK maternal deaths, which reportedly found that, for 78% of women with epilepsy who died, improvements in their care were identified��that may have changed the outcome, and what its position is on the��evidence that there is "a lack of ownership for the care of women with epilepsy, fragmented services and inefficient or poor communication".

The Scottish Government welcomes the recent MBRRACE-UK report and is currently working with the clinical community in Scotland to deliver the recommendations of the report. We also look forward to working with The Scottish Parliament’s Cross Party Group on Epilepsy. All Obstetricians in Scotland can refer women with epilepsy to a neurologist and/or an epilepsy nurse specialist.

The Scottish Government has ensured that all relevant advice issued by the MHRA to highlight the risks associated with taking Sodium Valproate have been circulated to healthcare professionals in Scotland. This includes strengthened warnings and educational materials.

The Scottish Government has also worked with NHS Health Scotland on the text for the revised for 2018 reprint of Ready Steady Baby! which includes a new section providing advice on epilepsy and pregnancy and the use of sodium valproate and valproic acid during pregnancy.

Question reference: S5F-01963

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 January 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 January 2018

To ask the First Minister what steps the Scottish Government is taking to increase the uptake of screening for early diagnosis of cervical cancer.

Question reference: S5W-13662

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 18 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that women who are prescribed sodium valproate are (a) adequately counselled��regarding the risks of taking the drug while pregnant and (b) supported to plan their pregnancies in order to minimise the risk of foetal abnormalities.

Regulation for the licensing, safety and efficacy of medicines is currently reserved to the UK Government and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) who operate on a UK wide basis. The Scottish Government has ensured that all relevant advice issued by the MHRA to highlight the risks associated with taking Sodium Valproate have been circulated to healthcare professionals in Scotland. This includes strengthened warnings and educational materials.��

The Scottish Government will continue to work closely with the MHRA. This will include discussion on any outcomes from the current European wide review considering the effectiveness of measures taken so far and whether further regulatory measures are required to minimise risks of foetal abnormalities in girls and women of childbearing potential.

Question reference: S5O-01677

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 January 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to encourage qualified teachers who have left the profession to return.

Question reference: S5O-01660

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 December 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to promote cold water island tourism in 2018.

This year, the Scottish Government and our partners will continue to promote sustainable growth, right across Scotland, in the marine and coastal tourism sectors as we build towards the 2020 Themed Year of Scotland's Coast and Waters.

We have recently published our first estimates of the value of marine tourism in Scotland and, in 2015, marine recreation and tourism contributed around £485 million in GVA to the Scottish economy and employed 29,500 workers.

We will also work with Scotland’s islands, building on their proud traditions and vibrant cultures to maximise their contribution to the visitor economy, promoting their numerous festivals and events and their uniqueness as places to live, work, study and visit.