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-16519

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support the mental health of women who are reportedly experiencing long waits for referrals for colposcopy.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-16518 on 27 April 2023. This answer set out action being taken to enhance capacity and facilitate increased activity within colposcopy services.

We recognise that uncertainty while waiting can have an impact on health and wellbeing. That is why we are undertaking a new programme of work, ‘Waiting Well’, which aims to support an active waiting well period by providing access to good information, signposting to local services and community assets, and to professional support and services as required.

In addition, we have launched a Women’s Health Platform on NHS Inform to help women find the information they need on a range of issues relating to their health. The platform hosts information and advice on mental health as well as a series of self-help guides. These offer practical help and support with mental health symptoms and sign post to further support from NHS24 mental health services, Breathing Space and NHS psychology services as required.

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-16518

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 17 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to NHS boards to address colposcopy waiting times.

To support scope based diagnostics we have published an Endoscopy and Urology Diagnostic Recovery and Renewal Plan which is backed by a £70m investment. The plan focuses on key areas such as: Balancing Demand and Capacity; Workforce Training and Development; Infrastructure; and Innovation and Redesign.

In recognition of the pressures on Colposcopy services specifically, we have provided over £660,000 additional funding to NHS Ayrshire & Arran, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, NHS Highland, NHS Lothian and NHS Tayside to support capacity.

This funding was used to enhance capacity through recruitment and additional clinics, including at weekends, to allow increased activity and reduce demand on consultant time.

Question reference: S6O-02124

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 April 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to support the development and expansion of Glasgow's International Financial Services District in the past year.

Question reference: S6W-15814

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 10 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Elena Whitham on 20 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government, as it relates to Scotland, regarding the appointment of an Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, in light of the post having been vacant since April 2022.

The Scottish Government has regular communication with the UK Government on a range of issues relating to human trafficking and exploitation, including the vacant role of Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner.

Section 40 of the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 sets out that the Secretary of State must appoint an Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner.

While we understand that a second appointment round is now underway, the delay in replacing the former Commissioner is unacceptable at a time of UK Government legislation which seeks to prohibit access to vital support and assistance for victims of human trafficking and exploitation in Scotland.

Question reference: S6O-02047

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what mitigations the Scottish Qualifications Authority will have in place during this year's exam diet for any senior phase pupils who have been adversely affected by targeted strike action.

Question reference: S6W-15225

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 14 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-08612 by Humza Yousaf on 1 June 2022, whether it can provide an update on any ongoing discussions with the UK Government regarding the seeking of a lasting solution to the reported hormone replacement therapy supply issues.

Scottish Government continues to work with the Department for Health and Social Care in relation to supply challenges with HRT medication.

The UK Government appointed Madelaine McTernan as its HRT tsar and her taskforce put together a set of three core recommendations to help mitigate HRT supply issues. These are:

continued dialogue with industry both via continuing the successful model of regular industry roundtables as well as individual engagement
continued use of SSPs when appropriate to manage shortages as steps are taken by suppliers to increase production
continued assessment whether NHS formularies may be impacting access to HRT

Serious Shortage Protocols are still in place to help manage supply and patient access to HRT medication.

Question reference: S6F-01928

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 March 2023

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will provide police with access to all correspondence, transcripts, meeting notes and other communications with ministers, its officials and with the Scottish Prison Service, to assist with the investigation regarding the Allan Marshall case.

Question reference: S6W-14824

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 28 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to monitor the delivery of recommendations 1-9 in the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland report, Mental health support in Scotland’s prisons 2021: under-served and under-resourced, which was published in April 2022, and what actions it has taken to work with the Scottish Prison Service and National Health Service to resource and deliver on better outcomes for people with mental health-related conditions in prisons.

We are committed to supporting our prisons to be health promoting opportunities where the healthcare provided is at least equal to that offered in the community.

We have been working with the Scottish Prison Service and NHS Boards, through the National Prison Care Network (NPrCN), to address the issues highlighted by the recommendations of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland’s review. This work is also taking into account the studies into the health needs of prisoners commissioned by the Scottish Government that were published in September 2022.

As part of this, we are bringing together senior leaders from across the Scottish Government health and justice portfolios, the Scottish Prison Service, and NHS Boards to provide additional collaborative and strategic oversight, to support the delivery of priority improvements.

We will continue to support delivery partners in the consideration and implementation of these recommendations. This includes ongoing engagement with the Scottish Prison Service on the development of its Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

Question reference: S6O-01951

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 February 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support Glasgow students in student rental accommodation, in light of the reported proposed rent increases by the University of Glasgow.

Question reference: S6O-01927

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 February 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the Scottish Prison Service regarding the lifting of all COVID-19-related restrictions in prisons.