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: S5T-01989

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 February 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what impact there will be on the economy and public finances of the downwards revision of estimated GDP from £180 to £175 billion.

Question reference: S5W-27058

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 3 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-26549 by Jeane Freeman on 6 January 2020, in light of reports that NICE has stated that there is clinical evidence to support their use, whether it will review its position regarding the use of trans-labial ultrasound scans.

NICE confirms that, as stated in response to S5W-26549, there is presently no evidence to support the use of translabial scanning, and that further research would be welcomed.

However, as also stated in response to that question, the Scottish Government recognises that there may be circumstances where translabial scanning can offer additional reassurance to patients. As such, active consideration is being given to its use together with other emerging modalities such as 3D transvaginal scanning.

Further to that answer, I can now confirm that the Scottish Government has requested that Healthcare Improvement Scotland carry out an evidence review into this particular form of imaging.

Question reference: S5W-27024

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 29 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what resources will be allocated to the production of an alternative set of figures to GERS, as proposed by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work.

The GERS publication explicitly states that it shows Scotland’s position within the UK and not as an independent nation. As the decisions of the UK Government increasingly go against the interests and democratic wishes of the people of Scotland, it is more important than ever that we complete the necessary steps to hold a referendum on independence.

The Scottish Government produced a comprehensive plan for an independent Scotland in 2014. As we set out in the Programme for Government, we will undertake the necessary work to update that plan and ensure that the people of Scotland have the information they need to make an informed choice over the future of their country. I will set out my plans for this in due course.

Question reference: S5W-27025

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 29 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) the Chief Economist and (b) its statisticians will work on the production of an alternative set of figures to GERS, as proposed by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work.

Question reference: S5W-27028

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 29 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the anticipated cost will be of the production of an alternative set of figures to GERS, as proposed by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work.

Question reference: S5W-27027

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 29 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it proposes to publish its alternative set of figures to GERS, as proposed by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work, at the same time as the GERS figures are published.

Question reference: S5O-04035

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 January 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to increase the number of young people taking SQA qualifications in modern languages.

Question reference: S5O-04000

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 January 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with potential buyers for the ScotRail franchise.

Question reference: S5W-26549

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 6 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has plans to use trans-labial ultrasound scans to locate implanted mesh in a woman’s body.

Translabial scanning is not presently offered routinely in Scotland or England, a position supported by NICE and NIHR who indicate there is no clinical evidence to support its use and that more research would be welcomed. Nor is it performed in two centres in the USA recently visited by the Chief Medical Officer and Scottish clinicians. Instead, MRI scanning is used in Glasgow, where required, to aid the accurate identification of the position of mesh within the body. Radiologists have become expert at interpreting the resulting images due to the volume of experience accrued.

However there is recognition that TLS can offer additional reassurance to patients and active consideration is being given to its use together with other emerging modalities such as a 3D transvaginal scanning.

Question reference: S5O-03926

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 December 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that, since 2009, the number of GP practices in NHS Tayside has fallen from 69 to 63, while the average practice list size has increased.