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: S5O-01298

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 September 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to expand the number of places at medical schools for Scottish-domiciled students.

Question reference: S5W-10972

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 20 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported concerns that the one month period for ISD Scotland's consultation on the publication of chronic pain waiting times information is too short to provide everyone who may wish to participate sufficient time to respond, and how it will ensure that as many (a) people experiencing chronic pain and (b) other stakeholders as possible are able to submit their views to the consultation.

Question reference: S5W-11120

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 19 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support the retention of consultant radiologists, in light of reported concerns regarding retention.

The Scottish Government is fully committed to a sustainable NHS and its workforce, which continues to deliver a consistently high quality healthcare service to the people of Scotland.

Under this Government, the number of Consultants with a specialty of Radiology in NHSScotland have increased by 41.9 per cent to 317.2 Whole Time Equivalent.

We have also enhanced the supply of doctors to fill Radiology training posts, with 26 new training places over the past 4 years – an increase of 20%. This will be augmented by a further increase of 10 Radiology training places for 2018, as agreed by the Shape of Training Transition Group on 24 August 2017. Supply will improve from 2018 onwards as our increased investment in Radiology training numbers begins to produce an increased output.

In addition to these measures, the National Radiology Implementation Programme aims to develop a longer term vision for Radiology over the coming year. This will rely on NHS Boards working together in a joined-up service approach to maximise available services in an effort to reduce demand, increase training numbers and other initiatives including an increase in Radiographer reporting.

We will also be meeting with the Royal College of Radiologists later this month to discuss recruitment and retention of Radiologists in NHS Highland.

Question reference: S5W-11119

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 19 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) full- and (b) part-time (i) consultant and (ii) other radiologists have been employed in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board.

Information on how many (a) full time and (b) part time (i) consultant and (ii) other radiologists have been employed in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS Board, is published by ISD Scotland and is available at the following web links:-

Information between 30 September 1999 and 30 September 2001 (please note this does not provide a breakdown of full-time and part time consultant staff):-

Information between 30 September 2002 and 30 September 2009 (please note this does not provide a breakdown of full-time and part-time consultant staff):-

Information between 30 September 2010 and 30 June 2010 (part-time and full-time consultant staff):-

Question reference: S5W-10947

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 25 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 14 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-10644 by John Swinney on 24 August 2017, what action it is taking to increase the number of modern language assistants in (a) Lothian, (b) local authorities that do not currently employ any and (c) Scotland.

Since 2013, Scotland’s local authorities have received £24.2m in developmental funding from the Scottish Government to support the implementation of the 1+2 policy by 2021. Many choose to use this to fund Modern Language Assistant posts. It is, however, the decision of each individual Local Authority to determine how to best use this funding to support language learning in their schools.

The Scottish Government recognises the value young native speakers bring to the classroom and we will continue to work closely with British Council Scotland to encourage them to explore creative and innovative ways to generate a greater take up of language assistants in Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-11088

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 14 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with NHS Lothian and the area's health and social care partnerships regarding the (a) action that is being taken to reduce delayed discharge and (b) the delayed discharge monthly census, which was published on 5 September 2017 and recorded the board as having the most delays.

Senior officials are engaging with the four Health and Social Care Partnerships across NHS Lothian (East Lothian, Midlothian, West Lothian and Edinburgh City), with the most recent meeting with the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership on 31 August. All partners have assured us that they have plans to make improvement.

Scottish Government officials worked particularly closely with the Edinburgh Partnership in the early part of last year. We also allocated £2m to help address issues there, which led to the Partnership successfully reducing delays by 50% in April 2016. However, the Partnership continues to experience problems with their home care and care home capacity. The recent departure of the Chief Officer in Edinburgh poses another difficult challenge for the Partnership, and officials continue to work closely with them through this challenging time.

Question reference: S5W-10984

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 14 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the action it is taking to attract more men into the nursing sector.

The Scottish Government is committed to promoting and maintaining equality and diversity in all walks of life, including for students undertaking nursing and midwifery pre-registration programmes. The Nursing 2030 Vision acknowledges that there has been a small decrease in applications from men despite continuing work by the universities to promote positive images of men in nursing and midwifery to both primary and secondary school pupils.

Chief Nursing Officer, Professor Fiona McQueen, has commissioned Professor Paul Martin CBE, Depute Principal and Depute Vice Chancellor of the University of the West of Scotland, to chair a review into widening access to nursing and midwifery education and careers. The review brings together stakeholders to identify current barriers to the professions, and is expected to make recommendations later in 2017 on improving the opportunities for anyone who aspires to be a nurse or midwife, irrespective of their gender or background.

Question reference: S5W-10986

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 14 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that (a) teachers, (b) lecturers and (c) career advisers in (i) schools and (ii) colleges are fully informed of the full range of career opportunities in nursing for men, and what plans (A) it and (B) its agencies have to refresh any guidance on this subject.

Question reference: S5W-10985

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 14 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of any barriers to men entering the nursing profession.

Question reference: S5O-01277

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 September 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve access at Waverley station for disabled, blind and visually-impaired people.