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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 8823 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S4W-14426

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 9 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to ensure that every graduate dentist has access to a vocational training place.

We are aware of a potential mismatch between Scottish dental school graduates and availability of vocational training (VT) placements, and are actively exploring through NHS Education for Scotland several options to increase VT capacity in Scotland, including:

the initiation of a further recruitment drive of dental practice trainers (DVT);

contacting clinical leads in the salaried dental service in each of the territorial health boards to determine the extent of capacity;

determining capacity within the hospital dental service;

the relaxation of current criteria requirements in aspects of the recruitment of DVTs which will not affect the quality and development of the training provided.

As dental students are about to sit their finals, the overall supply and demand position remains fluid at this time and we will have a clearer picture on this issue by end May 2013.

Question reference: S4W-14422

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 9 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a shortfall in vocational training places for dentists graduating in 2013-14 and, if so, of how many places.

As the final number of Scottish dental school graduates will not be known until 28 May 2013, it remains uncertain how many dental vocational training places (DVT) will be required to meet our commitment to match DVT places to Scottish dental school graduate output.

There are 140 DVT places currently available and from current projections that seek to match expected dental graduates to DVT places(subject to the outcome of their final exams and individual choices on where to pursue their careers), some 41 Scottish dental students who have registered an interest in a DVT place in Scotland have not yet been matched to a placement. Some of this number may also have applied elsewhere and have not yet notified NHS Education for Scotland (NES) of their withdrawal from the Scottish system.

NES is currently in the course of a second round of recruitment to increase the availability of DVT places within dental practices.

Question reference: S4W-14425

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 9 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether a graduate dentist who is unable to secure a vocational training place is required to repay their dental bursary.

Dentists in receipt of the dental bursary and unable to secure a vocational training (VT) place on graduation have a number of options, including deferring NHS dental work in Scotland for a year following graduation, or securing employment as an assistant in an independent practice which provides General Dental Services (GDS).

A dentist who is unable to secure a VT place following graduation will not therefore be required to repay their dental bursary, provided they did not turn down a VT place on geographical grounds, and they begin NHS dental work within one year of graduation.

Question reference: S4W-14423

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 9 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how many dentistry students are expected to graduate in 2013.

Question reference: S4W-14567

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 29 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 9 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government where the proposed away day for the executive team of Healthcare Improvement Scotland will be held; at what cost, and who will attend.

Question reference: S4W-14562

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 29 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 9 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the staff response to Healthcare Improvement Scotland's recent survey of how staff perceived the performance of the organisation.

The Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) staff survey and responses to it were intended for internal use and reference and as such there was no intention to publish the results. The key themes of the survey have been shared with the HIS Partnership Forum and Corporate Management Team and will be incorporated into the Staff Governance Action Plan for 2013-14. All HIS staff will be fully engaged in the implementation of the Staff Governance Action Plan.

Question reference: S4W-14566

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 29 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 9 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether the concern about "transparency of communications" as set out in the minutes of Healthcare Improvement Scotland's Staff Governance Committee meeting of 26 March 2013 applies internally as well as to external relations.

Question reference: S4W-14563

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 29 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 9 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to encourage "behavioural improvement" as set out in the minutes of Healthcare Improvement Scotland's Staff Governance Committee meeting of 26 March 2013 and whether this relates to accusations of workplace bullying.

This statement relates to work required to further embed the values and behaviours’ of Healthcare Improvement Scotland which are aligned to the 2020 Workforce Vision and does not relate to accusations of workplace bullying. Mechanisms are being put in place to ensure consistent cascading of information; further develop leadership and management and in engaging staff in difficult times and this will be reflected in the organisation’s Staff Governance Action Plan.

Question reference: S4W-14564

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 29 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 9 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what is meant by "there is still a long way to go", "significant issues remaining include treating everybody with respect" and "variable experiences of leadership" as set out in the minutes of Healthcare Improvement Scotland's Staff Governance Committee meeting of 26 March 2013.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland is a relatively new organisation which has gone through significant change and restructure over the past 18 months. Some staff have experienced a period of uncertainty as they move into new structures and teams and have experienced changes in leadership and management reporting lines. Since the staff survey took place, support has been provided for new teams to help them build team relationships and support leaders and managers in taking forward their new teams. These statements reflect a culture of transparency and a strong commitment to improving internal ways of working.

Question reference: S4O-02108

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 May 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what its plans are to recognise and promote Scotland’s cultural achievers locally.