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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 2387 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S5W-14049

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 7 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the risk of people being deterred from attending social security assessments due to them being misinformed about what they involve.

Making sure that everyone receives the financial support they are entitled to is one of the first steps towards putting dignity and respect at the heart of social security in Scotland.

We have made clear that the private sector will not deliver assessments in Scotland. We are committed to making sure we get decisions right the first time by using existing evidence to support decision making - reducing the number of face to face assessments and reassessments currently being carried out unnecessarily. We will continue to work with our Experience Panels and stakeholders to help us design a new approach to decision making in Scotland.

Once we are delivering benefits in Scotland, we will ensure that our communications are clear, accessible and transparent so that individuals are fully informed about what will happen at each stage of their claim. Further, the Social Security (Scotland) Bill was amended on 1 February to place a duty on Scottish Ministers to have regard to the importance of ensuring that people receive information in a way that best meet each individual's needs. We will work to ensure people feel confident and comfortable about accessing the system and that services are tailored to individual needs, as part of our rights-based approach.

Question reference: S5W-14051

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 26 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 6 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has evidence of (a) any and (b) all people attending social security assessments being refused the opportunity to be accompanied by someone.

The Scottish Government has committed to building a social security system based on dignity and respect. To support the creation of this system, we have recruited 2400 people with experience of the current system to join our experience panels.

The user research we have conducted with our experience panels has found evidence that the ability to be accompanied is not being applied consistently at all times. In some cases where accompaniment has been allowed, it has been reported that the person there to provide support is often not allowed to participate in the assessment process. Witnesses giving evidence to the Work and Pensions Select Committee at Westminster as part of their on-going Inquiry into Personal Independence Payment and Employment Support Allowance Assessments have also provided evidence that allowing companies to contribute to the assessment was not consistently permitted.

Question reference: S5W-13653

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 6 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what the current waiting times are from referral to testing for the sacral nerve stimulation procedures service, broken down by NHS board.

Question reference: S5W-14041

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 6 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what restrictions there are on the ability of local authorities to erect signs that identify a location as having accredited fair trade status.

Traffic signs and permitted variants that can be used on public roads are contained in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 (the TSRGD). This legislation ensures a continuity and consistency of signing throughout the country.

Local roads authorities have considerable latitude over the design and content of gateway signs, which are located at the entrance to settlements including references to matters of local interest and historical events. However, authorisation in accordance with the TSRGD does not extend to the use of signage indicating “Fairtrade”, as these are not considered to be traffic signs.

While the Fairtrade campaign is well recognised and the initiative is to be commended, Fairtrade is a recognised global brand, which is promoting a commercial interest. As such they are not considered suitable for inclusion in traffic signs and fall to be considered as advertisements. In addition, most towns, villages and other settlements in Scotland will meet the Fairtrade criteria so this is not considered to be a distinctive local message for the purposes of road signage, nor is it a relevant consideration when promoting safe and efficient traffic management.

The Council (as planning authority) could consider a planning application for ‘Fairtrade’ however these signs should not be incorporated in any traffic sign (such as a town gateway sign) which is controlled by the TSRGD.

I have instructed Transport Scotland to carry out a review of traffic sign and general signage policy, which will include a review of the use of Fairtrade accreditation on signs.

Question reference: S5W-14125

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 26 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 1 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many LARC (long-acting reversible contraceptive) methods are (a) offered and (b) administered in primary care settings.

The IUD (the coil), IUS (mirena) and contraceptive implant are all available to women wishing to access LARC. Other hormonal and barrier methods of contraception are also available meaning women are supported and empowered to choose the method most suited to them. The number of LARC prescriptions can be obtained from the ISD publication on LARC in Scotland at Table 5a:

It is the responsibility of NHS Boards to ensure that women can access LARC, whether that is through primary care or specialist sexual health services.

Question reference: S5W-14127

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 26 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 1 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what efforts are being made to recruit nurses who are trained in sexual health.

It is for NHS Boards to determine their recruitment requirements based on local need.

However, following the commitments in both the 2016-17 Programme for Government and the National Workforce Plan, published in June, we are planning to commission a further 2,600 nursing and midwifery training places over the next 3 years.

The CNO Commission report, Widening Participation into Nursing and Midwifery Education and Careers, also sets out ways in which to maximise opportunities to participate in nursing and midwifery education and careers, recommending initiatives to remove current barriers of entry into nursing and midwifery training and careers.

We plan to create and fund further enhanced initiatives that are expected to result in a further 1,300 nurses and midwives working in Scotland.

Initiatives include:

Commission additional nursing and midwifery student training places;
Undertake a marketing campaign that tackles stereotypical images of nurses and midwives;
Strengthening the successful Return to Practice programme, which has already seen over 370 former nurses and midwives start this programme, with 257 completions to date;
Increase places for access programmes for healthcare support workers;
Provide funding to enable the Open University to double their intake numbers;
Finalise the review of the nursing and midwifery student bursary and consider specific funding packages for students in remote and rural areas;
Improve recruitment, retention and completion rates;

Question reference: S5W-14126

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 26 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 1 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many nurse prescribers are trained to administer IUD (coil) implants in each NHS board.

Question reference: S5O-01769

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 January 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent Guardian/ICM survey, which suggests that 69% of people in Scotland support a referendum on the final terms of Brexit.

Question reference: S5W-14016

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 30 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what consultation it is having with stakeholders to inform its assessment of ways to maximise opportunities for access to repurposed off-patent medicines.

Question reference: S5W-14017

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 30 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the results of its work to assess the improvements that can be made to the way repurposed off-patent drugs are assessed and recommended for use.