- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 November 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 20 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how many appointments were held in each NHS board area from (a) 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021 and (b) 1 April to 25 November 2021 for ophthalmology care in (i) an outpatient setting and (ii) day cases, also broken down by the specific eye condition, including cataracts, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration.
Answer
Information on cataract procedures is set out in the acute hospital publication available through the link below. However, this does not cover the full time period requested as the latest publication shows procedures during the 2020-21 financial year. Information on the other conditions you have asked about is not held centrally.
https://publichealthscotland.scot/media/9294/table-7-procedures.xlsx
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 December 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 20 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that people who are exempt from wearing face coverings due to medical reasons are not unfairly penalised or judged in public settings, such as shops and hospitality settings.
Answer
The vast majority of people can wear a face covering and everyone who can is required to do so where it is mandated by law.
The Scottish Government was the first of the devolved administrations to produce guidance on the use of face coverings – recognising exemptions where people are unable to, or it would be inappropriate to, wear a face covering. Discrimination against people in this situation is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
The Scottish Government, in conjunction with a range of equality stakeholders, developed a face covering exemption card, to support those who are unable to wear a face covering to feel more confident and safe when accessing public spaces and using public services.
Further information is available on the Exemption Card Scotland website .
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 December 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 20 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide more information about the location of the single event linked to the identification of nine cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in Scotland.
Answer
As the First Minister set out in her statement of 30 November. The nine cases of Omicron identified at that time continue to be supported by Health Protection Teams and, as enhanced contact tracing is still taking place, it would not be appropriate to disclose further information with regards to the event in question.
- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 November 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 20 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how many patients were on waiting lists in each NHS board area from (a) 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021 and (b) 1 April to 25 November 2021 for ophthalmology care in (i) an outpatient setting and (ii) day cases, also broken down by the specific eye condition, including cataracts, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration.
Answer
This information is not held centrally. I would suggest contacting territorial Health Boards directly for this information.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 December 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 20 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how many local authorities have begun accepting applications to the Tenant Hardship Grant Fund, and when full statistical information on the applications submitted will be released.
Answer
Local authorities were issued with non-statutory guidance to support them in their administration of the Tenant Grant Fund on 17 September 2021. A copy of this guidance can be found here .
We know some local authorities are already delivering Tenant Grant Fund payments at pace. For example, Dundee City Council has already paid out over £36,000 in grants, providing vital support to tenants in financial need caused by the pandemic.
All 32 local authorities are required to submit their first quarterly report by the end of December 2021, which will set out the number and level of grants issued (broken down by tenure); how many of these grants paid off the rent arrears in full or partially; and how many tenancies were sustained, at that time, as a direct result of the grant being paid.
- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 November 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 20 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what data it holds on the waiting times for ophthalmology care in (a) an outpatient setting and (b) day cases, in each NHS board area from (i) 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021 and (ii) 1 April to 25 November 2021.
Answer
The link below leads to the latest elective waiting times publication which was published on Tuesday 30 November for the quarter ending 30 Sep 2021. This provides number of patients waiting and seen by specialty for outpatients and inpatient / day cases.
Stage of treatment waiting times - Inpatients, day cases and new outpatients 30 November 2021 - NHS waiting times - stage of treatment - Publications - Public Health Scotland
The split between inpatient and day case is not published. in addition, this publication only covers details up to the end of September 2021, with the information on the quarter ending 31 December 2021 due to be published at the end of February.
- Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 December 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 20 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether the commitment in its Programme for Government 2021-22 to provide long term funding for third sector organisations includes governing bodies of sport and, if so, whether sportscotland will be given core funding, in order to provide funding to such governing bodies.
Answer
We have committed to increase multi-year funding for the third sector and where possible we will do so. However, our ability to fulfil our devolved responsibilities remains hampered by a centralised UK budgeting approach that gives little fiscal flexibility.
Spending plans were contained in the Scottish Budget published on 9 December 2021. As set out in Programme for Government we will double investment in sport and active living to £100 million a year by the end of the Parliament ensuring more people can enjoy active lives as we recover, improving physical, mental and social health. We are working with the National Agency for Sport, sports cotland and other partners to consider how that money can best be invested to deliver against our priorities.
- Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 December 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 20 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Scottish SPCA in relation to (a) powers to investigate wildlife crime, (b) any offers of assistance by experienced Scottish SPCA inspectors to investigate wildlife crime and (c) the setting-up of a taskforce to review the extension of wildlife powers and enforcement in relation to wildlife crime.
Answer
As stated in the answer to question S6W-04876 on 20 December 2021 we have committed to establishing an independent taskforce to consider investigatory powers of the Scottish SPCA. The taskforce’s remit will cover the Scottish SCPA’s role in investigating wildlife crime and will involve engaging with the Scottish SPCA, alongside other relevant stakeholders, as it conducts its review.
Furthermore, the Scottish Government has regular discussions with stakeholders, including the Scottish SPCA at both official and Ministerial level. We will continue to work closely with stakeholders as work on the taskforce develops.
All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 December 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Lorna Slater on 20 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-04540 by Lorna Slater on 1 December 2021, whether it will provide a breakdown for each local authority of projected (a) cost savings, including how long it will be before those savings are fully realised in each case and (b) losses, as a result of the deposit return scheme.
Answer
As per the answer to S6W-04540 on 1 December 2021, we expect that 29 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities will incur a net financial benefit from the implementation of Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS). This figure is calculated for the first year in which the scheme target is set at 90%, so savings will be realised by 2025.
Local authorities are also expected to benefit from a reduction in the impact of litter, and from efficiencies to collection services following the implementation of DRS. Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS) is engaging with the three local authorites currently projected to not to make savings, to explore how such efficiencies may be realised.
These results have been calculated based on commercially sensitive data shared with ZWS by individual local authorities in confidence. It would therefore not be appropriate to provide a breakdown of these results publicly.
- Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 December 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 20 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will develop a stand-alone strategy for carers, and, if so, when the strategy will be published.
Answer
We recognise the incredible contribution that Scotland’s unpaid carers make to our communities and know that the pandemic has added significant additional pressures. We are committed to giving a strong voice to unpaid carers, listening to their needs and acting on what they tell us.
We will develop and publish a stand-alone Carers Strategy with a focus on recovery and improving carer support in a meaningful and sustainable way. The strategy will focus on carers and their needs, setting out how policies across the Scottish Government can work together with other public bodies to support carers as we recover from the pandemic and beyond.
We will engage with unpaid carers about the strategy’s scope and purpose in the coming months, and this will inform its development. Our approach to the development of the strategy will be both a collaborative and an iterative one which will draw on the knowledge and lived experience of unpaid carers so that the strategy is shaped by those who best understand the many challenges faced. We will seek to publish the strategy as soon as possible to provide a clear vision for how we will respond to the challenges faced by so many carers.