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-22014

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 11 March 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 18 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to improve early diagnosis of blood cancer.

The Scottish Government is committed to early detection – this is reflected in our £42 million Detect Cancer Early (DCE) Programme. DCE’s latest social marketing campaign – Survivors – ran on TV, radio and digital channels across Scotland late 2018 to highlight that more people are surviving cancer than ever before and early detection plays a big part.

The Scottish Cancer Coalition – which includes representation from blood cancer charities - was consulted on the campaign’s development and human interest stories secured through the forum, to encourage individual early action.

Meanwhile, the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer were clinically refreshed and published in January 2019, to support primary care clinicians in referring patients with symptoms suspicious of cancer. Work is ongoing, with support from Macmillan Cancer Support Scotland and Cancer Research UK, to ensure the revised Guidelines are fully disseminated and adopted across NHSScotland.

Question reference: S5O-03023

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 March 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the ongoing dispute between lecturers and management at the City of Glasgow College.

Question reference: S5W-21795

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 25 February 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 5 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government which three reviews were approved by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in the week beginning 18 February 2019 in relation to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and the Royal Hospital for Children.

In a paper submitted to the board of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (GGC), the Health Board set out the three main elements of the work that they are undertaking to assess the overall position at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) and the Royal Hospital for Children (RHC):

NHS GGC Workstreams – a GGC commissioned review of the facilities and environmental issues in respect of the QEUH and RHC.
A review of capacity and flow to assess the position now, against the original model and planning assumptions.
A review of clinical outcomes over the period to provide assurance.

Further detail on the reviews is included in the board paper which has been published online at: https://www.nhsggc.org.uk/media/252955/item-9-paper-19_03-board-paper-qeuhrhc-evsg.pdf

This local board’s work will feed into the Independent Expert Lead Review I have commissioned but it will of course, and rightly, be for the Chair(s) of the Independent Review to determine the degree to which the outcome of this Board led work meets their requirements and to take further steps to secure additional information and evidence if they wish to do so.

It is essential that all relevant information is available to the Independent Review to ensure that a robust, evidence-based assessment can be provided. It is expected that individuals involved in the design, construction, commissioning and maintenance of the hospital, along those providing healthcare (staff) and relevant expertise will input into the review. Patients and families will also have an opportunity to have their views heard. It will be for those undertaking the review to establish where and how the required information is collected.

The Review will fully address and investigate all matters it considers relevant. The review’s recommendations will be made public and the Scottish Government will inform Parliament of its response to the review recommendations. We must all understand what the issues are, why they have arisen and the recommendations will be taken forward and learning applied across NHS Scotland to ensure our healthcare facilities – existing and future – are fit for purpose and support the delivery of world class health care.

Question reference: S5W-21205

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 1 February 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of 5G mobile communication on public health.

The Scottish Government receives evidence based advice on the health effects of 5G networks from Public Health England (PHE). PHE has the expertise to assess the scientific literature available on this topic. The current evidence suggests that overall exposure to radio waves when 5G is added to the existing network or in a new area, is expected to remain low relative to guidelines and as such there should be no consequence for public health.

Question reference: S5O-02832

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 January 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Airbnb, and what issues were discussed.

Question reference: S5W-20615

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 14 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will publish its endoscopy action plan, which it announced on 25 June 2018 in its news release, Action on diagnostics.

Our Waiting Times Improvement Plan was launched in October and will be overseen by a new Operational Programme Board. The plan aims to improve waiting times performance across all NHS Boards for cancer, diagnostics, outpatient appointments and day case procedures. The Endoscopy Action Plan is central to this and activity and outputs will be monitored via the Operational Programme Board. The Scottish Government Endoscopy Action Plan will be published in February 2019.

Question reference: S5W-20444

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 24 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that all cancer patients receive a treatment summary at the end of their treatment.

Question reference: S5W-20442

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 24 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring that all cancer patients are offered a holistic needs assessment at diagnosis and at the end of treatment.

The Scottish Government’s Beating Cancer: Ambition and Action strategy is committed to ensure that there is capacity in our health and social care services to address the needs of people living with cancer.

Through working with partners like Macmillan, every Scottish patient newly diagnosed with cancer receives a letter offering them time with a link worker to talk about their support needs, using the Holistic Needs Assessment (HNA) to guide the conversation.

The Three Regional Cancer Networks are currently working with Managed Clinical Networks and the Transforming Cancer After Treatment Programme Board to ensure the HNA is included within follow-up guidance, highlighting its important role within routine care.

Question reference: S5W-20443

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 24 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its completion, how it will embed what was learned from the Transforming Care After Treatment programme.

Question reference: S5O-02657

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 5 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that school meals are healthy and nutritious, and how this has been informed by the Good Food Nation agenda.

Food and drink served in Scottish schools must meet minimum nutrient standards set by the Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2008. We are carefully considering views offered through the recent consultation on our proposals to amend these Regulations and make school food and drink even healthier.

' Better Eating, Better Learning ' includes guidance for schools and caterers on using school food as part of a whole school approach. This supports learning as an integral part of the curriculum and a Good Food Nation by championing use of fresh, seasonal, local and sustainable produce.