- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 April 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 14 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether any (a) existing and (b) new claimants of the Adult Disability Payment will be affected by the UK Government's proposed reforms to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP), in light of reports that some people with mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety could be disadvantaged regarding financial support in some cases.
Answer
Last week I sought urgent clarity from the DWP that people receiving our Adult Disability Payment will not be penalised and will continue to automatically receive the reserved benefits that they rely on. I have also sought assurances from the UK Government it will not seek to impose any resultant cuts to expenditure on the Scottish Government.
The Scottish Government will never accept the cruel welfare reforms being pursued by the UK government. These punitive proposals will only further stigmatise and impoverish disabled people and have been rightly called out by stakeholders as a “reckless assault on disabled people”.
In contrast, Scotland’s social security system is designed on the principles of dignity, fairness and respect. Those are the values of this government, of the people of Scotland, because disability payments are there for all of us whenever we should need them. The Scottish Government is committed to continuing to deliver Adult Disability Payment in a compassionate and caring way.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 May 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 13 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to promote the development of Bruntwood SciTech's Met Tower digital and tech hub project in Glasgow.
Answer
Scottish Enterprise has been working with partners and Bruntwood SciTech on proposals for the redevelopment of the Met Tower in Glasgow. Scottish Enterprise has advised that Bruntwood SciTech has recently confirmed that commercial property market conditions, including a fall in values and an increase in construction costs, have made the proposed redevelopment scheme commercially unviable. Discussions are ongoing to explore all options to secure investment in the city.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 May 2024
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Current Status:
Answer expected on 23 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider amending the provisions in the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 in relation to the licensing and regulation of taxis in order to make the provision of a card payment facility mandatory, in light of reported concerns regarding the inconvenience that cash-only operations can cause to passengers and the potential impact on the efficient operation of taxi ranks.
Answer
Answer expected on 23 May 2024
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 April 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 8 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Change Mental Health report, The Rural Divide: The Realities of Mental Healthcare for Children and Young People in Rural Scotland, on mental health services in rural areas.
Answer
The Scottish Government acknowledges this report and we recognise that people in rural areas can experience particular challenges in relation to their mental health and wellbeing.
We also recognise that CAMHS performance still varies across Health Boards, and we are committed to supporting rural mental health services to develop their workforce, increase service provision and will provide tailored support to those Boards with the longest waits to ensure that those who need care can receive it in a timely manner.
We continue to work closely with all Boards to support them to meet the standard that 90% of patients begin treatment for CAMHS within 18 weeks of referral. This includes regularly engaging with remote and rural Boards and providing them with access to professional advice.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 May 2024
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 8 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-25231 by Joe FitzPatrick on 29 February 2024, whether it will provide an update on when the (a) Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF) and (b) Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme (VDLIP) will reopen to new projects.
Answer
We are not yet in a position to advise on any future funding rounds for the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund or the Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme. We will be in touch with COSLA and local authorities when we have further information and will also update the website: Capital investment for regeneration - Regeneration - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 April 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 8 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address any inequalities in access to mental health services in rural areas.
Answer
The Scottish Government recognise that people in rural areas can experience particular challenges in relation to their mental health and wellbeing.
We have a specific focus on rural communities within the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund. Across the first two years of the Fund, over 700 awards have been made to projects supporting people disadvantaged by geographical location (including rural areas).
We have also provided £50,000 per year to fund the National Rural Mental Health Forum managed by Change Mental Health. The Forum focuses on exchanging knowledge, experience and learning about mental health and wellbeing in rural areas, enabling it to better understand and support rural communities.
We are committed to supporting rural mental health services to develop their workforce and increase service provision. We also provide tailored support to those Boards with the longest waits to ensure that those who need care can receive it in a timely manner, including regularly engaging with remote and rural Boards, providing access to professional advice.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 April 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 7 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, in the last five financial years, how much was allocated to the General Dental Service budget in total, and how much of the yearly allocation was spent, broken down by financial year.
Answer
Figures in the following table show the gross General Dental Services budget and respective spend for the previous four financial years.
- Information on 2023-24 spend is not available at this time and will be published as part of the overall Scottish Government consolidated accounts to be laid in Parliament later this year.
| | 19-20 | 20-21 | 21-22 | 22-23 | 23-24 |
| | £'m | £'m | £'m | £'m | £'m |
Budget documents | 416.6 | 428.6 | 431.0 | 469.0 | 476.2 |
Total spend | 439.4 | 423.5 | 449.4 | 502.2 | Not Available |
- Budget figures do not include funding provided in each financial year for contractor uplifts or, for 2021-22, additional consequential funding applied to support the dental sector’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic however these are included in spend.
- Activity in 2019-20 was significantly restricted due to the enforcement of stringent Infection Prevention Control guidance to reduce COVID-19 transmission.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 April 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 7 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether patients receiving their free NHS dental check-up may be charged for receiving verbal advice on dental health and toothbrushing during their appointment.
Answer
In introducing dental payment reform from 1 November, we have rightly sought to place greater focus on preventive treatment, including detailed clinical advice on the importance of self-care for good oral health.
During routine check-ups, and where a dentist deems it clinically appropriate, an individual may receive enhanced preventative advice as part of a treatment plan. This must include a physical demonstration of toothbrushing techniques and has been introduced to better support individuals in maintaining their own oral health between appointments. This activity attracts a claimable fee for dentists – to cover the costs of their time and any equipment used to teach patients – and therefore there is a related charge for those patients who are not eligible for free NHS dental care.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 22 April 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 3 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is permissible for the emergency vehicles operated by Glasgow Street Aid to use blue lights.
Answer
The Scottish Government is not responsible for authorising any company or organisation to drive under blue light conditions.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 April 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 2 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the Adult Eating Disorder Service in Glasgow, and whether it plans to continue funding the originally temporary government-funded posts at the service that are reportedly due to end in the coming months.
Answer
The Scottish Government remains committed to supporting and improving eating disorder services across Scotland and ensuring everyone receives the best possible care and support from our health services. It is essential that someone who is diagnosed with an eating disorder receives a thorough assessment and gets the right care and treatment for every aspect of their illness as soon as possible.
That is why in 2023-24, we directly allocated £55.5 million to Health Boards via the Mental Health Outcomes Framework. The Framework aims to enable continued improvements to mental health services, including eating disorder services, in line with the aims of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy Mental health and wellbeing strategy - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) and associated specifications and standards.
Whilst this Government sets the strategic policy direction for mental health workforce development within NHS Boards, the direct recruitment of staff and operational decisions about individual services are the responsibility of each NHS Board. Workforce and service planning is conducted by Health Boards according to the needs of their populations.
