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: S5W-30535

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 6 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that people who are shielding from COVID-19 feel safe when accessing healthcare spaces.

Healthcare in Scotland is following the clear Scottish Government guidelines to protect all members of the public from the Covid-19 virus.

People who are shielding need to receive the care they need in the safest way possible and clinicians will assess their needs as part of any GP or hospital care and undertake a risk assessment and decide where, when and how they are seen. This could be over the telephone or via Near Me (a video calling service used by the NHS) or a face to face consultation or appointment may happen at the person’s home. Equally, after assessment of infection risk and clinical need, the shielded person may need to go to a practice, health centre or hospital.

We have ensured that they have the most up to date and relevant information available to support decisions in requiring treatment.

As the restrictions on the shielded community are lifted there is ongoing advice provided through a variety of websites operated by NHS inform, Public Health Scotland and the Scottish Government. In order to ensure the shielded community know the latest details of the routemap those registered on the shielding list have been issued with letters updating them at the various phases.

We announced recently because the infection rate in Scotland is low enough, we were able to pause shielding from 1 August. I should note that the changes to the shielding advice will not apply to people in care homes who are shielding.

We have written to people who are shielding to inform them of these changes and have stressed that their needs, care and treatment remain a priority for the Scottish Government and the NHS in Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-30923

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 6 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports of shortages in the supply of HRT products, including patches, and what discussions it has had with relevant bodies about the supply chain.

The supply and pricing of medicines is reserved to the UK Government. The UK Department of Health and Social Care Medicines Shortages Team have been working closely with all suppliers of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) medicines to maintain overall supply to patients. Although some HRT products are affected by supply issues, supplies of several other alternative HRT products remain available.

The Chief Pharmaceutical Officer wrote to all healthcare professionals across Scotland on 23 July 2020 setting out the latest position on availability for all HRT products marketed in the UK.

Question reference: S5W-30778

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 17 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 6 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-27374 by Jeane Freeman on 26 February 2020, whether any progress has been made on this issue.

Each NHS Board is responsible under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and its subsequent regulations, to provide appropriate rest facilities for their staff. They are best placed locally to determine the particular requirements for sleeping pods in hospitals to allow staff to have a rest on their breaks.

The Scottish Partnership Forum (SPF) had been considering the evidence base for the use of sleep-pods, but due to the focus on managing the COVID-19 pandemic, this issue has not been progressed.

Question reference: S5W-30587

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 5 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to optimise uptake of the 2020 winter flu vaccinations, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The seasonal flu vaccination programme, will be critically important in terms of protecting the most vulnerable, and alleviating pressure on the NHS. This is more vital than ever in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. We are actively engaged with public health partners to plan the programme effectively and ensure optimal vaccination uptake and this will include an extensive public health marketing campaign.

Question reference: S5W-30585

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 5 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how pharmacies will be utilised in the delivery of vaccines going into the winter period.

Question reference: S5W-30487

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 5 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its plans are for the 2020 flu vaccination programme, and whether it plans to bring forward the timetable for this.

The Scottish Government is actively engaged with public health partners in planning for the 2020-21 flu vaccination programme that will begin in October. As part of this, we are considering carefully the impact of COVID-19 and how to encourage increased uptake of the flu vaccine amongst all eligible groups.

We will soon set out how we will expand free eligibility for the 2020-2021 seasonal flu vaccine. These options will be driven by the best clinical evidence available.

Question reference: S5W-30738

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 4 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that there is a lack of local authority special school places in Edinburgh; what discussions it has had with The City of Edinburgh Council on this, and what support it is providing to the council to tackle any shortages of places.

All children and young people should learn in the environment which best meets their needs, whether that be a mainstream or special school setting.

It is for education authorities to determine the most appropriate provision for children and young people with additional support needs, in their area, taking account of their legislative responsibilities and the individual circumstances and wishes of children, young people and their families.

Question reference: S5W-31047

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S5W-31046

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S5W-29611

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 31 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many people with no power of attorney have had a DNACPR (do not attempt CPR) order agreed by ministers since 1 January 2020.