Questions and answers

Question reference: S5O-05132

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 March 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting adults with additional support needs in the West Scotland region into employment.

Question reference: S5W-34996

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 February 2021
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 12 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-34714 by Clare Haughey on 29 January 2021, for what reason Public Health Scotland’s role as licence holder for LivingWorks is reviewed on an annual basis, and what plans it has to replace the LivingWorks training package.

Public Health Scotland (PHS) reviews its licence with LivingWorks on an annual basis because it is good practice to review contractual arrangements annually. The current COVID restrictions have meant that all face to face training programmes, including those under the LivingWorks licence, have been paused.

As part of the Action 2 of the Suicide Action Plan “Every Life Matters”, PHS and NHS Education for Scotland (NES) have collaborated to develop online digital resources for the Scottish workforce. These learning resources are open to the entire workforce, irrespective of the training they have previously undertaken, and provide an opportunity for those individuals who have previously attended training such as the ASIST and safeTALK programmes to refresh their knowledge on mental health and suicide prevention, as well as expanding their knowledge around self-harm. Further information, including links to these resources, is available at: https://learn.nes.nhs.scot/17099/mental-health-improvement-and-prevention-of-self-harm-and-suicide

Question reference: S5O-05026

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 February 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many virtual prison visits have taken place since 29 June 2020.

Question reference: S5W-34714

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 22 January 2021
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 29 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it currently has a licence to deliver ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) and safeTALK training nationally and, if so, whether it plans to renew this licence.

Question reference: S5O-04980

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 January 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce homelessness.

Question reference: S5O-04921

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 January 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to tourism businesses in the West Scotland region in light of the current COVID-19 restrictions.

Question reference: S5W-32605

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 2 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried of trials of alterative medications to lithium.

Evidence based analysis following medical trials is undertaken by SIGN and NICE rather than Scottish Government. The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidance Network (SIGN) in Scotland and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in England regularly review guidelines for treatment and would consider and summarise such analysis. Clinicians use these guidelines when making treatment decisions. A relevant piece of SIGN guidelines is no 82 - Bipolar affective disorder: a national clinical guideline. In additional to SIGN and NICE the British Association for Psychopharmacology (BAP) also produces relevant guidance.

Question reference: S5O-04806

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 November 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken since 2019 to ensure that tenants can afford their rent payments.

Question reference: S5W-33075

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 19 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether the annual £15 million of funding announced on 2 September 2020 to provide new and enhanced community mental health and wellbeing services is in addition to the £17 million of funding that was announced in September 2019 for children and young people’s community wellbeing support and services.

On 3 September 2019 the First Minister announced £17 million of additional funding over 2020-21 and 2021-22 for use on community mental health and wellbeing services for 5-24 year olds. In line with that announcement, an initial sum of £2m was allocated to local authorities in March 2020 to enable the development of new and enhanced community mental health and wellbeing services for 5-24 year olds, their families and carers.

The pandemic understandably impacted on local authorities’ planning and delivery and as a result services will not start until January 2021. There is £3.75 million in the 2020-21 budget to fund these services and £15 million is expected to be available for 2021-22, assuming services are fully in place.

The Cabinet Secretary for Health’s announcement on 2 November 2020, confirmed the allocation of the £3.75 million in 2020-21 for new and enhanced community mental health and wellbeing services, in addition to announcing a new fund.

The new fund of £11.25m is for local authorities to provide community mental health and wellbeing services for 5-24 year olds, their families and carers impacted by the pandemic. This fund is more reactive than the former which has a greater focus on prevention and early intervention.

Table 1 – Scottish Government funding to local authorities for the delivery of community mental health and wellbeing services for 5-24 year olds.

Scottish Government Budget

2019-

20

2020-

21

2021-

22

Community Wellbeing Services for 5-24 year olds

2M

£3.75M

£15M*

Pandemic funding for Wellbeing Services for 5-24 year olds

£11.25M

*Subject to services being in place

Question reference: S5W-33076

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 19 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether the £15 million of funding announced on 2 November 2020 to respond to children and young people’s mental health issues is in addition to the £17 million of funding that was announced in September 2019 for children and young people’s community wellbeing support and services.