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-17048

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 14 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 10 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it (a) has had and (b) will have with the UK Government regarding the licencing of testosterone for women in perimenopause or menopause.

The Scottish Government has not had any discussions with the UK Government on the licensing of testosterone for women in perimenopause or menopause. The regulations for the licensing, safety and efficacy of medicines are currently reserved to the UK Government and are the responsibility of the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

For a medicine to be routinely prescribed, it firstly needs to receive a licence from the MHRA. It is the responsibility of individual companies to apply to the MHRA for a marketing authorisation (licence). The application process requires a company to provide data demonstrating the quality, safety and efficacy of the medicine.

Question reference: S6W-17049

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 14 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 10 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether women in perimenopause or menopause are prescribed testosterone in cases where they are showing symptoms that research has shown to benefit from such treatment.

No testosterone products are currently licensed in the UK for use in women. We are aware that some NHS menopause specialists are following prescribing advice from the British Menopause Society (BMS) and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and prescribing testosterone off-label (out with the terms of its current licence) for individual women who are experiencing a loss of libido during menopause.

The decision to prescribe a medicine, and which medicine to prescribe, is entirely for the clinician in charge of an individual’s care, having considered the individual’s clinical condition and any associated safety considerations. This includes prescribing a medicine off-label.

Question reference: S6W-16521

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 27 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to rolling out HPV self-sampling, and whether it would expedite any such process if the UK National Screening Committee were to make a recommendation to this end.

The Scottish Government remains committed to exploring the implementation of HPV self-sampling, acknowledging the potential that it has to increase uptake levels and reduce barriers to cervical screening. As introducing a new screening test into the National Screening Programme is inherently complex, a working group has been convened to assess potential models and understand any required changes to the screening programme to support an initial roll-out. This work is being informed by emerging evidence from UK and global research, and will put us in a strong position to consider how any recommendation from the UK National Screening Committee (NSC) can be implemented in Scotland.

While the NSC recognises the potential benefits of self-sampling, it has concluded that there is currently insufficient evidence to recommend implementation. Studies are underway to gather further evidence, but it is not yet known when the NSC may make a positive recommendation. Additionally, it is unclear when the work to assess and validate a test for HPV self-sampling in the UK will be complete.

Question reference: S6O-02181

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 April 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce financial incentives to encourage households to install low-carbon heating in their homes, to help reach net zero by 2045.

Question reference: S6W-16451

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 21 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding restrictions on gaming, including mechanisms to reduce time spent playing games online.

Question reference: S6W-16450

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 21 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has a strategy for tackling gaming addiction in children.

In Scotland gaming addiction in children and young people is treated as a compulsive disorder and not as a standalone condition. The Scottish Government understands that compulsive disorders such as gaming addiction can be both debilitating and distressing. We expect children and young people in Scotland with any compulsive disorders to receive the appropriate help and support that they need when they need it.

Since 2020 we have invested over £300,000 to provide a range of resources for children, young people and parents on healthy use of screen time, social media, online gaming and their known impacts on sleep and emotional and mental wellbeing. This includes the ‘Mind yer time’ web resource, created in partnership with the Scottish Youth Parliament and Children’s Parliament, and advice hosted on ParentClub.Scot .‎

In common with other issues classed as addiction or compulsive behaviours we would direct children, young people and their families who have concerns around gaming addiction to seek support from their GP in the first instance.

Treatment for compulsive disorders or addiction is delivered by Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and ongoing support for those children and young people facing these issues is provided through local NHS boards.

Question reference: S6W-16520

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what work it is undertaking to develop a national cervical cancer elimination strategy.

The Scottish Government is continuing to take steps towards achieving the World Health Organisation’s targets to eliminate cervical cancer. As part of this, we have recently provided funding to Strathclyde University to conduct research into modelling that will estimate when we might expect to reach the point of elimination.

83.9% of S4 pupils in 2021/22 completed the two dose schedule for the HPV vaccine in Scotland. From January this year, a one dose schedule will be introduced for all those eligible in the programme up to their 25th birthday. It is expected this simplified schedule will increase uptake further. One-dose HPV vaccine coverage is currently 91.5% for girls in S4. The Scottish Government will continue to work with Public Health Scotland (PHS) and Health Boards to maintain high vaccination uptake.

Data regarding cervical screening uptake in Scotland is due to be published by Public Health Scotland later this year, and efforts are on-going to improve uptake. We have awarded £456,000 to Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust to support campaign work on screening benefits. Additionally, in preparation for a potential UK National Screening Committee recommendation, the screening programme continues to consider the steps necessary for introducing cervical self-sampling, which has the potential to remove some of the barriers which deter people from attending screening appointments.

We are developing a new 10 year cancer strategy which will launch in spring this year and take a comprehensive approach to improving patient pathways from prevention and diagnosis through to treatment and post-treatment care.

Question reference: S6O-02159

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 April 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Scotrail regarding improving Sunday train services in west central Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-16924

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 19 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many train stations currently impose toilet charges.

Question reference: S6W-16923

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 19 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether there are any plans to abolish toilet charges at train stations.