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: S6W-05080

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 10 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what data it collects on the diagnosis of (a) idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and (b) interstitial lung disease.

Question reference: S6W-05079

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 10 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the early diagnosis of (a) idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and (b) interstitial lung disease.

On 24 March 2021, we published our Respiratory Care Action Plan for Scotland that sets out our vision for driving improvement in the prevention, diagnosis, care, treatment and support of people living with Asthma, Bronchiectasis, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD), and Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSA).

A link to the Plan can be found by following link: https://www.gov.scot/publications/respiratory-care-action-plan-scotland-2021-2026/documents/.

Question reference: S6W-05078

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 5 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how much NHS Scotland spends annually on the (a) diagnosis of, (b) treatment of, (c) management of and (d) rehabilitation services for (i) idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and (ii) interstitial lung disease.

The Scottish Government provides baseline funding to NHS Boards and it is for Boards to determine how to use this funding to meet the healthcare needs of their resident population.

In 2021-22, Health funding exceeds £16 billion with £11.6 billion allocated to our frontline Health Boards. Our latest Budget takes funding for Health and Social Care to £18 billion for the first time, with £12.4 billion investment in our frontline health boards, representing additional investment of £387m (3.2%).

We continue to ensure that our health and care services receive the support that they need to address additional financial pressures resulting from Covid, including £862m provided to date in 2021-22.

Detail on how funding has been used specifically for diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and interstitial lung disease would require to be requested from NHS Boards.

Question reference: S6W-05116

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 23 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how long it takes currently, after a COVID-19 booster vaccine is administered, for the information to be available through the COVID status app.

Question reference: S6O-00610

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 December 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how the fishing quotas secured during the trilateral negotiations will be distributed to fishing businesses to incentivise more sustainable practices.

Question reference: S6W-04862

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 20 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-4128 by Humza Yousaf on 30 November 2021, whether it will provide an update on when details of COVID-19 booster vaccinations will be added to COVID-19 vaccine certification.

Question reference: S6W-04800

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 03 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 16 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what the scope will be of the forthcoming review of snaring.

A statutory review as required by section 11F of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 is currently underway which will be complete early in 2022.

We are also currently developing the scope for a wider review of aspects of snaring including the question of a ban. Details of this review will be announced in due course.

The Scottish Government is committed to upholding the highest standards of animal welfare and we shall, of course, engage widely with stakeholders as part of this work.

Question reference: S6O-00570

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 December 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on small businesses of non-domestic rates being reintroduced after the first three months of the new financial year.

Question reference: S6O-00513

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 December 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support the agriculture and fisheries sectors to play a leading role in delivering a net zero Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-04459

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 1 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reopen the Dumfries-Stranraer railway line.

The reopening of the Dumfries-Stranraer railway line is being considered within the second Strategic Transport Projects Review.

This option is one of a number investments in the rail network across Scotland, that are being appraised as part of the Review.

The interventions which are recommended in STPR2, when it is published this Winter, will seek to contribute to our vision of a sustainable, inclusive, safe and accessible transport system helping deliver a healthier, fairer and more prosperous Scotland for communities, businesses and visitors.

Therefore, we need to consider the social and economic benefits and to determine the overall Value for Money. This also takes into account risks, uncertainties and other factors such as affordability, deliverability and the wider acceptability of options. This will be an important consideration given pressures on current and future public finances.

Also underpinning STPR2 is the Sustainable Investment Hierarchy published in the National Transport Strategy, where we will aim first to reduce the need to travel unsustainably, then to make better use of and enhance existing infrastructure, before investing in new capacity. This hierarchy is also central to the Infrastructure Investment Plan.

Until the appraisal process is completed, it is not possible to make individual decisions on the reopening of lines such as the Dumfries-Stranraer line. The publication of the recommendations for investment will be followed by an appropriate statutory consultation period.