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-11634

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 25 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the (a) short- and (b) medium-term goals of its Strategy for Autism.

The Scottish Strategy for Autism is a ten-year strategy. In 2014 the Scottish Government published a progress report on the strategy’s first two years – the foundation stage – which can be accessed here http://www.autismstrategyscotland.org.uk/strategy/key-documents.html.

In 2015 the Scottish Government reframed the strategy’s recommendations into an outcomes-based approach, which identified priorities for the period 2015-17. The outcomes focus on improving services so that autistic people live healthier lives, have choice and control over the services they use and are supported are support to be independent and active citizens. The medium-term priorities referenced in the original strategy document, including ensuring autistic people have access to integrated service provision across the lifespan, remain priorities.

The Scottish Government continues also to review the progress of the strategy through quarterly meetings with the national autism governance group. This group provides service expertise, strategic leadership and challenges the delivery of the strategy’s outcomes. The strategy’s progress is highlighted at the annual autism conference, which was most recently held in January 2017.

The Scottish Government are currently refreshing the Scottish Strategy for Autism. There are plans to undertake a full evaluation of the strategy in due course.

Question reference: S5O-01350

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 October 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to monitor and protect the social and human rights of young people.

Question reference: S5W-11604

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 18 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the third supplementary to question S5F-01510 by Nicola Sturgeon on 14 September 2017 (Official Report, c.15), when it will produce its first set of data regarding people with neurological conditions.

Question reference: S5W-11605

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 18 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the third supplementary to question S5F-01510 by Nicola Sturgeon on 14 September 2017 (Official Report, c.15), how the audit of health and social care services for people with neurological conditions will be conducted; what the timescale for it is, and when it will report.

The National Advisory Committee for Neurological Conditions proposes to survey NHS Boards, IJBs and third sector organisations on the type of services they provide, the workforce that provides it, planned service changes, and suggestions for service improvements. The survey will provide information that will enable the committee to map services and provision across Scotland. The findings will feed into the National Action Plan.

Question reference: S5W-11607

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 18 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the third supplementary to question S5F-01510 by Nicola Sturgeon on 14 September 2017 (Official Report, c.15), how it plans to take forward the Sue Ryder recommendation regarding the provision of specialist support to generalist care providers.

Question reference: S5W-11606

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 18 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the third supplementary to question S5F-01510 by Nicola Sturgeon on 14 September 2017 (Official Report, c.15), what the process and timescale will be for the development of strategic commissioning guidance on neurological services for health and social care partnerships.

Scottish Government has published statutory guidance in relation to Strategic Commissioning which applies across integrated services rather than for individual conditions or diagnoses. The integration legislation requires extensive involvement of appropriate local clinicians and stakeholders in service design at local level. In carrying this out local partnerships are also expected to bring to that process clinical expertise ensuring standards and quality of care, building on existing appropriate guidelines and ensuring sensible joint working.

Question reference: S5W-11602

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 18 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the third supplementary to question S5F-01510 by Nicola Sturgeon on 14 September 2017 (Official Report, c.15), what progress is being made with developing the national action plan on neurological conditions; who it is consulting, and when it will be published.

Work on the National Action Plan for Neurological Conditions has commenced. Discussions have been held with organisations and members of the National Advisory Committee for Neurological Conditions, including The Neurological Alliance of Scotland which represents third sector organisations, The Health and Social Care Alliance, who are leading on engagement with people living with neurological conditions, clinicians from the Scottish Association of Neurosciences, and the Association of British Neurologists.

It is envisaged that the National Action Plan will be published in draft form in summer 2018, prior to a period of formal consultation.

Question reference: S5W-11601

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 18 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the third supplementary to question S5F-01510 by Nicola Sturgeon on 14 September 2017 (Official Report, c.15), what the timescale is for the development of new standards on neurological services, and whether these standards will include social care.

The Healthcare Improvement Scotland short-life working group that reviewed the Neurological Health Service Standards recommended that future standards should cover multi-agency working (health, social, third sector and community groups), transition between acute and community services, and access to local services.

Our expectation is that these new neurological standards will support people with neurological conditions across health and social care. They will be informed by the overarching Health and Social Care Standards, and developed over the next 12 months.

Question reference: S5W-11603

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 18 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the third supplementary to question S5F-01510 by Nicola Sturgeon on 14 September 2017 (Official Report, c.15), what its position is on working with people with neurological conditions to help develop a national strategy to assist the NHS, local authorities and health and social care partnerships in delivering suitable services.

Scottish Government considers that working with people with neurological conditions is essential, to ensure that the National Action Plan reflects people's priorities, needs and aspirations.

To this end, we are funding the Health and Social Care Alliance, to lead a Neurological Programme to support those with lived experience of neurological conditions in shaping priorities for the National Action Plan. We are also working closely with the Neurological Alliance of Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-11344

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 18 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 5 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, following the announcement in its Programme for Government, what discussions it (a) has had and (b) plans to have with (i) schools, (ii) colleges and (iii) universities regarding the provision of free sanitary products.