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 MSPs 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: S6W-24594

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 January 2024
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 29 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-23791 by Maree Todd on 8 January 2024, on what evidence it has based its commitment to ensure that all children in primary schools receive at least two hours of physical education each school week.

Being physically active is one of the best things we can do for our physical and mental wellbeing. Physical education (PE) and physical activity have a positive impact on pupils' health, educational attainment, and life chances.

That is why we have committed to ensuring that all children in primary school receive at least two hours of PE each school week, and that all young people in secondaries 1 to 4 receive at least two 50-minute periods of PE each school week, ever since first making this commitment at the 2011 Scottish Parliament election.

To monitor progress on this commitment, local authorities have provided us with data about provision of PE in their schools since 2012. This data is reported through the Schools Healthy Living Survey Statistics Report, which is available through the following web link: Data and Methodology - School Healthy Living Survey: school meal uptake and PE provision statistics 2023 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

Information about schools meeting PE targets is contained on Table 18 of the supplementary statistics spreadsheet in the Schools Healthy Living Survey.

Question reference: S6W-24595

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 January 2024
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 29 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-23791 by Maree Todd on 8 January 2024, what proportion of (a) primary and (b) secondary school pupils are currently receiving the specified target levels of physical education each school week.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24594 on 29 January 2024

Data on the provision of physical education in schools has been recorded in the Schools Healthy Living Survey Statistics Report since 2012.

The most recent Schools Healthy Living Survey Statistics Report was published on the Scottish Government’s website on 5 September 2023 and this is available through the following web link: Data and Methodology - School Healthy Living Survey: school meal uptake and PE provision statistics 2023 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

Information about schools meeting physical education targets is contained on Table 18 of the supplementary statistics spreadsheet.

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 .

Question reference: S6W-24294

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 January 2024
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 25 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that the commitments made to GP contractors in The National Code of Practice for GP premises are being upheld.

NHS Boards are responsible for implementing the National Code of Practice for GP premises.

The NHS Scotland National Primary Care (GP) Premises Group has been set up to consider all matters relating to GP Premises including:

Oversight of the implementation of the Code of Practice for GP Premises.
Implementation of GP Sustainability Loans.
Consideration and review of available guidance.
Consideration of appropriate schedules of accommodation within Primary Care premises, and specifically that of General Practice occupied areas and how this may affect reimbursement.
Provide a platform for the Scottish Government to present papers/proposals to the group.
Provide a platform for the BMA to present papers to the group.
Provide a platform for the NHS Boards to present papers to the group.
Ensure the Rent Review Process is consistent and supports the intent of the GP contract where required.
Standardise approaches, e.g. standardise leases across Scotland.

Health Boards are represented on a regional basis alongside the BMA, the Scottish Government and other stakeholders.

Question reference: S6W-24293

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 January 2024
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 24 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that (a) due to funding and personnel difficulties between NHS board property management departments and estates teams, there are currently no leases being taken by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in accordance with The National Code of Practice for GP premises, forcing GP contractors to take out new third-party leases and (b) this is a Scotland-wide problem.

NHS Boards are responsible for implementing the National Code of Practice for GP premises.

The NHSScotland National Primary Care (GP) Premises Group has been set up to consider all matters relating to GP Premises including:

Oversight of the implementation of the Code of Practice for GP Premises.
Implementation of GP Sustainability Loans.
Consideration and review of available guidance.
Consideration of appropriate schedules of accommodation within Primary Care premises, and specifically that of General Practice occupied areas and how this may affect reimbursement.
Provide a platform for the Scottish Government to present papers/proposals to the group.
Provide a platform for the BMA to present papers to the group.
Provide a platform for the NHS Boards to present papers to the group.
Ensure the Rent Review Process is consistent and supports the intent of the GP contract where required.
Standardise approaches, e.g. standardise leases across Scotland.

Health Boards are represented on a regional basis alongside the BMA, the Scottish Government and other stakeholders.

Question reference: S6W-24291

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 January 2024
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 24 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what assurances and support it will offer to any GP contractors coming to the end of third-party leases, who are reportedly unable to assign their leases to NHS boards through no fault of their own and feel pressured into signing new leases against Scottish Government advice.

NHS Boards are responsible for implementing the National Code of Practice for GP premises.

The NHSScotland National Primary Care (GP) Premises Group has been set up to consider all matters relating to GP Premises including:

Oversight of the implementation of the Code of Practice for GP Premises.
Implementation of GP Sustainability Loans.
Consideration and review of available guidance.
Consideration of appropriate schedules of accommodation within Primary Care premises, and specifically that of General Practice occupied areas and how this may affect reimbursement.
Provide a platform for the Scottish Government to present papers/proposals to the group.
Provide a platform for the BMA to present papers to the group.
Provide a platform for the NHS Boards to present papers to the group.
Ensure the Rent Review Process is consistent and supports the intent of the GP contract where required.
Standardise approaches, e.g. standardise leases across Scotland.

Health Boards are represented on a regional basis alongside the BMA, the Scottish Government and other stakeholders.

Question reference: S6W-24292

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 January 2024
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 23 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many GP premises formerly owned or leased by GP contractors have been acquired by NHS boards in each year since 2017, when the National Code of Practice for GP premises was published, also broken down by the number of acquisitions by (a) lease and (b) ownership.

Question reference: S6T-01757

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 January 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its current policy is regarding the deletion or retention of WhatsApp messages by ministers.

Question reference: S6O-03016

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 January 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the MV Isle of Islay will be launched on 16 March 2024.

Question reference: S6W-23791

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 December 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 8 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to increase physical activity levels among school children.

The Scottish Government understand the importance of sport and physical activity and the positive impact that it has, not only on physical, mental, and social health, but also on wider social outcomes.

We are committed to ensuring that all children in primary schools receive at least two hours of physical education each school week, and all young people in secondaries 1 to 4 receive at least two 50-minute periods of physical education each school week. Local authorities and individual schools also have the flexibility, under Curriculum for Excellence, to decide upon the content of their own lessons at the local level, since we believe they are best placed to understand the needs and circumstances of the children and young people in attendance.

Alongside opportunities to be physically active in physical education, sportscotland works in partnership with all 32 local authorities to invest in and support Active Schools. Active Schools is dedicated to developing and supporting the delivery of high quality sport and physical activity opportunities to all children and young people, taking an inclusive approach and providing targeted opportunities where there is a need. Data published by sportscotland shows significantly increased participation levels across the past academic year (2022-23), with 4.6 million visits to Active Schools sessions, a rise of 34% on 2021/22.

We have committed to ensure that the Active Schools programme is free for all children and young people by the end of this Parliament.

In addition we are funding the Active Play Development Project which provides children with the opportunity to develop physical skills in their early years and to encourage a long-term, positive relationship with physical activity. The programme targets areas of disadvantage and will support more children from areas of higher deprivation, to develop the skills and confidence to enjoy being more physically active.

Question reference: S6W-23793

Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 December 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 8 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its projected timeline is for achieving consistent and year-round adherence to the A&E target of ensuring that 95% of patients are processed within four hours.

A&E performance remains below the levels we all wish to see, however, we continue to work closely with Boards to support delivery of sustained improvements across a range of areas.

Emergency Departments across NHS Scotland and the rest of the UK, continue to face sustained pressures. The combined impact of pandemic backlogs, Brexit-exacerbated staff shortages, and delayed discharges are all contributing to the challenges the NHS is facing, with significant pressure being placed on our urgent care services in particular.

Through our Urgent and Unscheduled Care Collaborative Programme, we are supporting Health Boards to take action to improve patient flow and reduce A&E delays through a range of actions such as: increasing community capacity such as hospital at home, optimising the use of early and effective triage, rapid decision-making and streaming to assessment areas.