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: S5W-32413

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 29 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what communications Ministers have received regarding the Spaces for People projects in Edinburgh and a reported lack of consultation with local residents and businesses.

Question reference: S5W-32415

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by James Wolffe QC on 27 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on introducing driver awareness courses as an alternative to penalty points for motoring offences.

A working group comprising Police Scotland, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, Transport Scotland, the Road Safety Programme and the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service is developing the infrastructure and guidance for the possible introduction of Speed Awareness Courses. The work of the group was paused due to the pandemic response but has recommenced.

The scope of the work means that it is not possible to provide a specific timescale for any final decision on speed awareness courses and their implementation.

Question reference: S5W-32082

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 23 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address reported concerns that there is a lack of awareness of bladder cancer (a) among medical professionals, (b) in workplaces and (c) across the general public, which can lead to late or misdiagnosis and poorer outcomes, especially for women.

The Scottish Government Recognises the importance of cancer awareness - including that of bladder cancer - and have undertaken a number of actions to support this, including:

A clinical review of the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer, was completed, with updated guidance published early 2019. Eight pathways were included in the refresh including urology, which bladder cancer forms part of. The Guidelines support GPs in identifying patients who are most likely to have cancer, and therefore require urgent assessment by a specialist. Education events were held across Scotland, with support from Cancer Research UK & Macmillan Cancer Support, to raise awareness of the Guidelines and share referral best practice amongst clinicians.
Through the Scottish Government’s £44 million Detect Cancer Early Programme a new social marketing campaign – entitled Survivors - was launched in September 2018 to raise awareness of potential cancer symptoms, including those of bladder cancer. A symptom-checker tool was developed as part of the campaign to increase awareness and education of possible signs and symptoms.
During the COVID19 outbreak there were concerns that the public were staying at home with potential symptoms of cancer and other serious disease. The NHS is Open campaign, launched 24 April and concluded on 7 June, urged people to contact their GP or local hospital if they have urgent health worries.
A new Cancer Recovery Plan is being developed, with patients’ experience at the core, and is due for publication in Autumn. The plan will have an operational focus on diagnosis and treatment in cancer services, and will also focus on reducing the inequalities exacerbated by the pandemic, ensuring patients are receiving treatment equally across Scotland using a ‘Once for Scotland’ approach.

Question reference: S5W-32084

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 23 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason bladder cancer was not focused on in its previous Detect Cancer Early Programme, and whether it will include this condition in any future initiatives.

Through the Scottish Government’s Detect Cancer Early (DCE) Programme a social marketing campaign – entitled Survivors - was launched in September 2018, to raise awareness of potential cancer symptoms, including those of bladder cancer. A roadshow also visited around 30 locations across Scotland in 2019 to engage people face-to-face and raise awareness of potential symptoms, including bladder cancer.

In 2013, the DCE Programme Board – a multi-disciplinary group from across NHS Scotland - considered how new tumour types might be introduced to the Programme. It was agreed that this would best be achieved by developing and applying a set of criteria against which additional tumour types could be scored objectively, based on evidence. This included evidence that early detection would improve 1 year and 5 year survival; ease of diagnosis; cost effectiveness of early detection; and the chance to improve quality of life, living well after treatment. Stakeholder engagement and clinical input to this process was key.

Detect Cancer Early (DCE), has traditionally focused on Scotland’s most common cancers – bowel, breast and lung – but has more recently supported innovative tests-of-change in melanoma and head and neck pathways following a robust options appraisal exercise.

The Scottish Government is committed to continuing to improve the survival rates of all cancers, including bladder, and will continue to work closely with the third sector to inform and shape future activity.

Question reference: S5W-32425

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 23 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has allocated to the arts sector from the Barnett consequentials arising from the culture rescue fund that was announced by the UK Government in July 2020.

We have announced dedicated support for the culture and heritage sectors of £96.47m, comprising:

£12.5 million for Performing Arts Events Venues Relief Fund (added to £10 million already made available by the Scottish Government, announced 3 July and fully distributed)
£2.2 million for Grassroots Music Venues (10/07)
£4 million for Museums Recovery and Resilience Fund (25/07)
£10 million for the Events sector (26/07)
£3.8 million for National Trust for Scotland to protect jobs (16/08)
£15 million for a Culture Organisations and Venues Recovery Fund (28/08)
£21.3 million for Historic Environment Scotland (28/08)
£5.9 million to support heritage organisations (28/08)
£270,000 for the New Lanark Trust (28/08)
£5 million to address hardship faced by creative freelancers (28/08)
£5 million to support artists developing new creative work that will make a significant contribution to Scotland’s recovery from Covid-19 (28/08)
£3.5 million for independent cinemas (28/08)
£3 million of youth arts, including the Youth Music Initiative (28/08)
£4 million for historic environment sector recovery (17/09)
£1 million to support Scotland’s Science Centres (17/09)

Further announcements will be made shortly for the remaining funds available from the £107m which the Scottish Government has allocated to the culture and heritage sector. This may include the options of supplementing some of the funding already announced. We are in close dialogue with the culture sector to ascertain their needs so we can respond accordingly.

Question reference: S5W-32418

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 23 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when it will update the Parliament on plans for a new-build Edinburgh Cancer Centre.

Question reference: S5W-32431

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 23 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how much hospital waste has been stored in each month since April 2010, broken down by location.

Question reference: S5O-04682

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 October 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what proposed changes have come from its review into international development programmes in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Question reference: S5W-32165

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 20 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the development of Hillend junction following Transport Scotland's recent meeting with Midlothian Council.

Question reference: S5W-32412

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 20 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what communications Ministers have received regarding a bullying culture in local authorities.

The Scottish Government occasionally receives allegations of bullying and harassment within local government from individuals. However, as councils are independent corporate bodies responsible for the management of their workforces we have no power to investigate such allegations ourselves. Officials will refer those individuals to appropriate organisations for assistance. On rare occasions and, if the allegations are anonymous, details of an allegation may be referred to the Accounts Commission to consider in its scrutiny role and the council notified to ensure it is aware and takes appropriate action through their policies and practices.

We receive very few allegations and have no evidence of an endemic problem in local government. Where we are legally able to do so and have evidence of the need to intervene the Scottish Government will do so, such as amending the Councillors’ Code of Conduct to emphasise that bullying and harassment by Councillors is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated.