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-01791

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 August 2016
Current Status: Answered by Annabelle Ewing on 18 August 2016

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish (a) a summary and (b) all of the responses to the consultation on the law of succession that closed on 18 September 2015.

The Scottish Government is considering the analysis of responses to the consultation on the law of succession together with the findings of a survey of public attitudes towards succession law of just over 1000 people representative of the Scottish population and a targeted Survey Monkey on disinheritance which received over 800 responses. The analysis of, and the responses to, the consultation will be published when that consideration is concluded.

Question reference: S5W-01550

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 July 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 9 August 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the NHS Centre for Integrative Care.

Question reference: S5W-01039

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 25 July 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reorganise access to NHS dentistry in Lochgilphead.

Responsibility for NHS dental services lies with NHS boards, and in view of the substantial increase in the numbers of independent dentists, boards are currently looking at how oral health care may be rebalanced from the Public Dental Service (PDS) to high-street provision.

NHS Highland are currently exploring options on how to migrate PDS provision to independent 'high street' contractors providing NHS dental services.

Presently the PDS in Lochgilphead has a vacancy for a dentist and therefore, in the short-term, the board are seeking to recruit a part-time locum dentist for the PDS. In the longer term the board are considering various options including the possibility of leasing part of the PDS facility to an independent dentist.

Question reference: S5W-01154

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 12 July 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the use of autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the treatment of (a) relapsing remitting and (b) secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.

The Scottish Government understands that Autologous Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) is currently considered to be effective for people with highly active relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) who have already trialled other highly effective drugs or forms of immunomodulatory treatment. Unfortunately, many of the people requesting this treatment have progressive forms of MS, for which it is not presently shown to help.

HSCT is not widely available anywhere on the NHS for people with MS at present, but is currently being trialled across the UK. Clinical trials and other emerging treatments are continually monitored to see if there are any potential benefits to patients in Scotland, and we would expect the NHS to act appropriately regarding HSCT once the evidence is considered and a clinical consensus is reached.

Question reference: S5W-00971

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 11 July 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to raise awareness of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

The Scottish government recognises that there are gaps in knowledge and awareness of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder across Scotland.

We are taking a number of steps to promote messages around prevention and harm reduction on alcohol use in pregnancy, for pregnant women and service providers.

As part of our prevention activity, the Scottish Government funded the NHS Education Scotland (NES) resource, ‘Compassionate Connections’, an online interactive tool which supports and trains midwives to enquire in an effective, sensitive way about potential alcohol use, during mothers’ early pregnancy booking appointments.

The Scottish Government is working with a wide range of professionals, including health visitors, midwives, GPs, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, teachers, paediatricians and social workers to raise awareness by holding seminars and training days. We have also supported the development of an e-training resource hosted by NES.

We want to reduce the potential for stigma and shame to be associated with this condition, and are therefore considering what additional communications should be developed to support both parents/carers and professionals, to get the right support for the families and children affected by FASD

Question reference: S5W-00970

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 11 July 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the (a) diagnosis and (b) treatment of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

A) Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is an umbrella term which defines a wide range of developmental disorders of childhood including in the most severe cases major difficulties which affect growth behaviour and learning. There is evidence that early diagnosis and tailored interventions can improve outcomes for the child.

The Scottish Government will publish the fetal alcohol spectrum disorder care pathway in the summer. This e-learning tool will sit alongside the NHS Education Scotland(NES) FASD eLearning resource and gives professionals, whether neonatal nurse, GP, teacher or social worker, the guidance required to engage with the appropriate medical personnel to initiate the diagnostic process.

We are also providing pilot funding for NHS Ayrshire and Arran to develop a diagnostic pathway that better meets the needs of families affected by FASD.

B) There is no known single ‘treatment’ for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder which is highly variable in its presentation and severity, and is a life-long condition. However there is evidence that early intervention and support, for example to enhance learning and manage self-regulation and behaviour, can be beneficial. This involves early enrolment with relevant educational resources and other agencies such as social and psychological services. Enhanced awareness and recognition of FASD and adopting the Getting it Right for Every Child approach to support families can optimise the long term management of FASD.

Question reference: S5F-00126

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 June 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 June 2016

To ask the First Minister what long-term plans the Scottish Government has to address concerns about the sustainability of the NHS in Scotland that were raised recently by the BMA.

Question reference: S5W-00684

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 21 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-00145 by Aileen Campbell on 26 May 2016, how much funding it is providing to each NHS board in 2016-17 from the outcomes framework budget to implement the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework.

Question reference: S5W-00267

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 9 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the use of (a) Orkambi and (b) Kalydeco as treatments for cystic fibrosis.

Question reference: S5O-00034

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 June 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether the full £750 million pledged for the Scottish Attainment Challenge will be given to headteachers to spend on their individual schools’ priorities.