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-32711

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 9 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the report requested by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport from the Junior Doctors' 48-hour Expert Working Group, and whether it will provide an update on its plans to ensure that all junior doctors work for no more than 48 hours every week.

We have received the final report from the independent expert working group.

The pandemic response remains a priority and we have agreed with BMA Scotland that this report and its important recommendations will be released at the first available opportunity.

We continue to take work forward in partnership with BMA Scotland, and employers, to agree further actions that continue to improve the working lives of junior doctors. This includes improvements to rest and catering provisions, and support for all staff at this time.

Question reference: S5W-32474

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 9 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce treatment times for secondary breast cancer.

We are continuing to work with Health Boards throughout the COVID19 pandemic and beyond to ensure patients are seen and treated based on their clinical priority. Guidance and direction has been provided to boards to help prioritise cancer, including all breast cancer treatments, throughout the pandemic and the Framework for the Recovery of Cancer Surgery continues to be implemented across Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-32476

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 9 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase awareness among GPs of the potential symptoms of recurring breast cancer.

To support GPs in referring patients on an Urgent Suspicion of Cancer pathway, including Breast, the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer was updated and disseminated in January 2019.

These guidelines are applicable to patients who have already received a diagnosis of breast cancer who may have a recurrence or secondary cancer and a full case history should always be considered.

Patient records also highlight previous cancer diagnoses, for GPs to be alert to potential recurrence.

We will continue to work with our third sector partners to establish whether any further opportunities can be taken to increase GP awareness.

Question reference: S5W-32477

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 9 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the number of secondary breast cancer nurses and patients' access to them.

NHS Scotland's staffing levels are at a record high, with 16,300 more whole time equivalent staff members working in our NHS under this Government.

To meet projected future requirements, we are creating an estimated 2,600 extra nurse and midwifery training places over this parliament as part of a wider package of measures to accelerate the supply of newly qualified nurses and midwives.

In December, we published the first Integrated National Health and Social Care Workforce Plan in the UK. Developed in partnership with COSLA, the Integrated Plan sets out how health and social care services will meet growing demand to ensure we have the right numbers of staff, with the right skills, across health and social care services.

Question reference: S5W-32417

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 6 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what advice it will provide for the public regarding taking vitamin D supplements over the winter months.

The Scottish Government is taking forward a range of actions to raise awareness of current advice on vitamin D supplementation.

Current advice on vitamin D was updated on 21 October 2020 to emphasise the importance of supplementation during the autumn and winter months. This is available at:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/vitamin-d-advice-for-all-age-groups/

Food Standards Scotland has launched a social media messaging campaign to remind the public of the current advice on vitamin D intake and supplementation during winter months. This will run from end October 2020 – March 2021.

Advice on the importance of vitamin D supplements has been provided to those on the shielding list through Chief Medical Officer letters and Scottish Government websites. Everyone on the shielding list has been offered a free four month supply of vitamin D from December 2020 – March 2021 to support their health and wellbeing.

We have also raised awareness of vitamin D amongst Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic populations. Leaflets highlighting the importance of vitamin D and supplements are available in a range of languages. Healthy Start vitamins, which contain Vitamin D, are provided free to all pregnant women in Scotland and have been since April 2017. Healthy Start vitamins are also available for all babies up to the age of one.

Further action to raise awareness of current vitamin D advice, particularly amongst at risk groups, is being considered and the need for this will be kept under regular review.

Question reference: S5W-32420

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 6 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions in each of the last five years non-ministerial MSPs have travelled with Ministers using the ministerial vehicle fleet, broken down by date.

Question reference: S5W-33062

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S5W-33061

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S5W-32419

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 5 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what additional support it has provided to help parents of autistic children with home learning.

We recognise that children and young people with additional support needs, including those with autism may be finding this difficult time particularly challenging.

The Scottish Government has developed a range of information and guidance, to help support all children and young people, including those with autism when learning at home. This includes: comprehensive guidance to help support continuity for children and young people’s learning for the term ahead; updating the Autism Toolbox to include a section on coronavirus, which provides information and signposting on supporting autistic learners at home, information on the Parent Club website specifically for parents and carers and guidance on the re-opening of schools.

Local authorities developed a range of creative ways to support children and young people with a wide range of needs during this challenging time. This includes creating opportunities for distance and online learning and the use of a range of learning resources which can be adapted to meet the learning needs of all children and young people.

Question reference: S5W-32426

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 3 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many dentists have stopped providing NHS services in each month since April 2019, broken down by NHS board area.