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-08800

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 15 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how much NHS Lanarkshire expects to pay in staff costs in each of the next four years, and what projections it has made on what the impact on this would be of an (a) increase and (b) decrease in the number of (i) medical staff, (ii) administrative staff, (iii) agency staff and (iv) locums.

Question reference: S5W-08792

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 15 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how much in financial resources has been transferred from hospital care to community care since the establishment of Integrated Joint Boards.

Integration went live across Scotland on 1 April 2016, with strategic commissioning plans in place in each Integration Authority setting out local plans for service improvement. Integration Authorities are also taking account of the ambitions set out by the Scottish Government in our Delivery Plan for Health and Social Care, which was published in December 2016. Integration Authorities will publish annual performance reports by the end of June, which will include information on how they spent their resource during 2016-17, including in terms of the balance of care. We anticipate that this first year of implementation is too early to see material changes in the use of integrated budgets across community and hospital settings, particularly in light of requirements on local systems for effective engagement with communities on changes.

Question reference: S5W-08802

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 15 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason NHS Lanarkshire (a) planned to achieve £43million of recurring savings in its 2016-17 budget and (b) is forecasting a financial deficit in each year of the next two years.

In order to deliver its services within the level of investment being made, NHS Lanarkshire and all NHS boards are required to deliver both reform of services and savings. The savings generated are reinvested in frontline care within the boards.

NHS Lanarkshire has received baseline resource funding of £1,107.0 million in 2016-17 and an uplift of £22.6 million (2%) to £1,129.6 million in 2017-18.

At its most recent board meeting on 29 March, NHS Lanarkshire reported that efficiency savings in 2016-17 were ahead of the trajectory set out in the board’s Local Delivery Plan. NHS Lanarkshire also confirmed its commitment to continue to deliver a balanced financial position.

Question reference: S5W-08799

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 11 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what it position is on how the proposal by NHS Lanarkshire to establish dedicated resources to encourage staff to work for the board for longer period reflects on the overall NHS workforce planning strategy since 2007.

The Scottish Government is fully committed to a sustainable NHS. The National Health and Social Care Workforce Plan, which will be published in Spring 2017, will take full account of the many demographic and other influences on our NHS workforce, ensuring it continues to deliver high quality care for generations to come. However, while the Scottish Government provides the policies, frameworks and resources for high quality healthcare in Scotland, it remains the responsibility of NHS Boards – including NHS Lanarkshire – to plan their workforce in order to deliver those services. As part of this planning process, Boards must take account of Scotland’s ageing population and consider how they can support an older workforce.

Question reference: S5O-00996

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 May 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government when its officials last met Atos Healthcare.

Question reference: S5W-08668

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 10 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to Ineos regarding the working practices, terms and conditions and pension arrangements of employees on the Forties pipeline following the company's purchase of it, and whether any guarantees were given.

Question reference: S5W-08741

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 07 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 9 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made regarding Commitment 29 in its Mental Health Strategy 2012-15 to publish guidance setting out the evidence base for employability and mental health.

Question reference: S5W-08793

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 3 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its position will be on any recommendation for a reduction in neonatal services in NHS Lanarkshire arising from the consultation, Achieving Excellence.

The Scottish Government is committed to working with NHS Boards to provide the best neonatal care for babies and families in Scotland. This is reflected in the Scottish Government review - The Best Start - a five year forward plan for maternity and Neonatal are in Scotland. Scottish Government continues to work with NHS Boards through the implementation of The Best Start to ensure appropriate cot capacity and the best care for babies.

Question reference: S5W-08750

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 07 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 27 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has issued to employers regarding supporting people to recover from mental health problems.

The Scottish Government funds the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives, part of NHS Health Scotland, to provide information and advice on workplace health and wellbeing. The Centre, and the network of advisers in territorial NHS Boards, offer free and confidential advice on a wide range of issues relating to health, safety in the workplace. This includes promoting wellbeing in the workplace, managing sickness absence and supporting employees to return to work.

Health Working Lives runs training courses for employers on managing and promoting good mental health in the workplace.

Question reference: S5W-08747

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 07 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 27 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has issued to health and social care partnerships regarding employment services for people with mental health problems.

The Scottish Government continues to engage with Integration Authorities to strengthen the links between health, social care and employability, however decisions for the delivery of services at a local level are for Integration Authorities to agree depending on local priorities.

The Scottish Government recognises the very specific challenges that people with mental health conditions can face in securing sustained employment. In designing our devolved employment support programmes, we have made sure to consult with service providers and people who use services to better understand the challenges and how they can be addressed. With devolved employment support, we have an opportunity to do things differently in Scotland and we are currently exploring ways in which we are able to join up devolved employment services with other key areas including health and social care, and justice.

The Mental Health Strategy 2017 – 2027 focuses on the important role of getting a job and staying in work. In particular, action 37 commits to explore with others innovative ways of connecting mental health, disability, and employment support in Scotland.