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: S6F-03488

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 28 October 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31 October 2024

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the reported rise in sex crimes.

Question reference: S6W-30484

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 28 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of the current (a) COVID-19 and (b) flu vaccination programme, including in relation to (i) uptake, (ii) age group and (iii) how it is taking care of any transport issues for those wishing to attend an appointment.

Openness and transparency of vaccination programmes is essential to building trust with the public and easy access to uptake data is an important aspect of this.

Public Health Scotland (PHS) will release the first COVID-19 and Seasonal Flu Vaccination public uptake data on 24 October 2024 via PHS Vaccination Surveillance (shinyapps.io). It will provide uptake for Covid-19, adult flu and child flu, as well as total uptake by Health Board for each of the eligible cohorts (in line with eligibility recommendations from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI)).

Uptake data will be updated every Thursday, until December, at which point reporting will move to monthly. The shift to monthly data is because the vast majority of vaccinations will be completed before the festive break and historically the numbers vaccinated in January, February and March are negligible and therefore do not require weekly updates. At a later point in the winter, uptake data broken down by ethnicity, SIMD and urban/rural will also become available.

The Scottish Government understands that some members of the public may require support in order to attend a vaccine appointment. The Scottish Government funds the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) for mobile vaccination units to reach remote and rural communities, recognising the challenge some may experience in traveling to clinics. Health Boards have been asked to plan their vaccine clinics with their local communities in mind, making them as accessible as possible. It is for Boards to decide where they deploy the SAS offer within their own area, utilising their own local knowledge and data. Information on local travel support available can be found here.

Question reference: S6F-03394

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 23 September 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 September 2024

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to reports regarding the number of young people aged 11 to 14 who are involved in violent crime.

Question reference: S6W-28993

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 28 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what the current average waiting time is for a diagnosis of endometriosis, and what plans are in place to reduce the time for an endometriosis diagnosis.

Routinely collected data on the waiting time for a diagnosis of endometriosis are not available.

However, in 2024 Endometriosis UK published a report based on a survey of 4,371 people who received a diagnosis of endometriosis from a medical practitioner or following a diagnostic intervention. The report suggested that the current average waiting time for a endometriosis diagnosis in Scotland is now 8 years and 10 months.

Endometriosis has two stages of diagnosis, a working diagnosis at primary care level and a confirmed diagnosis via laparoscopy at secondary care. Not everyone with endometriosis will want to have a laparoscopy to confirm their diagnosis, particularly if their symptoms can be well managed.

We know that excessively long waits for laparoscopy are not acceptable and we apologise to all patients waiting too long. We are determined to drive improvements in this area and continue to work closely with NHS boards and stakeholders on a number of actions which will see patients treated as quickly as possible.

We want people to achieve a working diagnosis as soon as possible to enable swift access to appropriate care and treatment. Through the actions set out in our Women’s Health Plan we have taken steps to support both women and health professionals to learn more about endometriosis, the symptoms and treatment options.

Question reference: S6W-28994

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 26 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will (a) implement a baseline for endometriosis care and (b) ensure that everyone with endometriosis gets access to care in line with NICE guidelines.

We are committed to ensuring those living with endometriosis symptoms can access the best possible care and support and that they benefit from healthcare services that are safe and effective.

The Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD) has developed and published the Endometriosis Referral Care Pathway for Scotland, which has been adapted from NICE guidelines. The pathway aims to support healthcare professionals to provide a holistic approach and timely care for those with endometriosis and endometriosis-like symptoms. All NHS Boards should be taking steps to implement the pathway.

Question reference: S6W-28976

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 14 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will implement menstrual wellbeing education to ensure mandatory age appropriate education in all primary and secondary schools.

Question reference: S6W-28621

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 July 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 6 August 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to ask the Scottish Prison Service to undertake ligature audits at all prisons, and, if this is not the case, what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

My deepest thoughts and condolences are with those families affected by a death in prison custody. The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) cares for and supports some of the most complex and vulnerable individuals in our society, often at times of personal crisis.

Ligature prevention is an operational matter and ongoing priority for the SPS. The SPS Estates team consider ligature prevention in the design of cells, which continues to evolve, in order to minimise ligature points.

Following every death in prison, the SPS undertake a Death in Prison Learning Audit and Review to learn from the incident. Any learning in relation to ligature points is reported to the National Suicide Prevention Group, a multi-disciplinary group, which consider the high-level policy implications of tackling ligature risks and agree on any changes to be implemented.

There are ‘safer cells’ throughout the prison estate, which are specifically designed to reduce, as far as possible, opportunities for individuals to cause injury to themselves. Anti-ligature clothing and bedding is available where it is considered appropriate. Safer cells are used as a short term measure when the SPS believes they are necessary to safeguard the health and wellbeing of someone in their care.

Designing a prison that is considered to be entirely ligature point free would create a sterile living environment, incompatible with the aspiration of the provision of a normalised space for those in the care of the SPS. Placing individuals in the care of the SPS in restrictive, depersonalised environments as a matter of course could negatively impact on mental health, as well as indicating a lack of trust or acknowledgement of their needs.

Question reference: S6W-28540

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 July 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 30 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what the current anticipated timescale is for the completion of HMP Glasgow.

Question reference: S6W-28541

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 July 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 30 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on whether the final design plans have been accepted for HMP Glasgow.

Question reference: S6W-28466

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 July 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 30 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason HMP Barlinnie’s target operating capacity is reportedly over 300 prisoners more than its design capacity.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

The prison population rose by around 400 between March and May and by around 13% since the beginning of 2023, resulting in the need to take a variety of actions to deal with the unprecedented high prisoner numbers. These actions will ensure the safety and well-being of SPS staff and those in our care, allowing prisons such as Barlinnie to continue to function effectively and accommodate those who pose the greatest risk of harm.

Despite being above its design capacity, HMP Barlinnie is currently operating below its extended operating capacity.