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: S5W-14294

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 20 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how regional variations in the delivery of services for people requiring stoma care support at home are being addressed.

Where an individual is identified as being at critical or substantial risk regarding their independent living or wellbeing, personal and nursing care services should be provided.

A recent survey of NHS Boards indicates that stoma care is provided through local home care services in the majority of health board areas across Scotland with the support of District Nurses and Stoma Nurse Specialists. In all cases support should be tailored to meet the needs of individuals requiring stoma care.

Question reference: S5W-14290

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 20 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what plans are in place to meet an increase in demand for specialist support for people living at home who require stoma care.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all people who require stoma care services are able to receive the best possible care and support wherever possible and benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put the patient at the centre of their care.

While the Scottish Government provides the policies, frameworks and resources for high quality health care in Scotland, it is for each NHS Board to decide how best to deliver those services to meet the needs of the population to ensure they can provide safe, effective care for their patients.

Patients who require stoma care living at home receive their care from a multidisciplinary team including specialist stoma care nurses and, increasingly, suitably trained home care staff. I expect NHS Boards to continually assess the number of patients who require stoma care at home and also to ensure that appropriate care is available to those patients whenever they need it.

Question reference: S5W-14172

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 19 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its assurances for public transparency in 2017 in relation to meetings of the government-appointed National Advisory Committee for Chronic Pain, for what reason there is no publication of minutes or agendas for meetings in August and December 2017.

There was a slight delay to the August minutes being ratified as the Chair was absent from the December meeting due to illness. These minutes are now available to view on the website.

Minutes of the December meeting will be published once they have been ratified; this normally occurs at the next meeting, which will take place on 28 March 2018.

Ratified minutes will be published on the Scottish Government’s website at http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Health/Services/Chronic-Pain/NACCP.

Question reference: S5O-01806

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 February 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what importance it gives to the environmental protection of green belt land in the Central Scotland region.

Question reference: S5O-01767

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 January 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the finance secretary has had with the Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities regarding how the 2018-19 Budget can contribute to tackling child poverty.

Question reference: S5W-14026

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 January 2018
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 31 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the collapse of Carillion, what discussions it has had with the ScotRail Alliance regarding the Edinburgh Waverley platform extension contract, and what steps it plans to ensure that the workers involved in (a) this and (b) other public infrastructure projects are employed directly via the supply chain and not through umbrella companies.

Transport Scotland has been in regular dialogue with Network Rail following the announcement on 15 January 2018 regarding Carillion. Network Rail has confirmed that works on the Edinburgh Waverley platform extensions remain on programme.

The Scottish Government continues to press the liquidators and the UK Government for the total number of jobs that might be affected and details of measures they are putting in place regarding contracts in Scotland. We stand ready to provide support for any affected employees through our Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) initiative.

Question reference: S5W-13906

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 26 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-13628 by Aileen Campbell on 10 January 2018, what action it takes to ensure that officials dealing with chronic pain issues take account of the public interest when making decisions; what training the officials receive in this regard, and what its position is on these decisions being subject to external supervision.

Question reference: S5W-13483

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 18 December 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 16 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, in order to meet its objectives for increasing the number of women entering and remaining in the industry, what support it can give to Forth Ports to ensure the development of a more diverse workforce, including through maximising the opportunities offered by the development of the new training academy.

The Scottish Government is committed to equality between men and women and we believe that women should be fairly and properly represented across all sectors. Forth Ports offers a wide range of career opportunities across its business with a focus on schools, further education and higher education to facilitate applications from all sections of the local community.

We have set out how we will tackle gender imbalances and promote equality of access in relation to subject and career choices, through the Modern Apprenticeship Equality Action Plan and Scottish Funding Council Gender Action Plan for colleges and universities

We are taking action to ensure women’s equality in the workplace and to ensure women are represented in senior and decision making roles, including in the boardroom.

We are delivering a Returner’s programme to assist women to re-enter the workforce following a career break.

We are developing a Workplace Equality Fund aimed at reducing employment inequalities, in particular those face by women and other equality groups.

Question reference: S5W-13477

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 18 December 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 10 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many specialist stoma care nurses are currently employed by each NHS board, and how many were employed five years ago.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all people who require stoma care services are able to receive the best possible care and support wherever possible, and benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put the patient at the centre of their care.

Stoma care is assessed within the NHS by a stoma care or colorectal nurse specialist following surgery and people will be discharged with the necessary equipment to manage their stoma care at home. Those who require support should receive that either at home or in a care home from a social care officer. If the care home provides nursing care, then this will be managed by registered nurses or carers.

Information on how many specialist stoma care nurses currently employed by each NHS board and how many were employed five years ago can be found by following the link below: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/data-tables2017.asp

Question reference: S5W-13406

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 December 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 9 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how young parents will be supported in taking up the opportunities that will be offered by the Manufacturing Innovation District.