- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 28 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce any instances of (a) misdiagnosis and (b) so-called "never events" occurring in the NHS.
Answer
The Scottish Government and NHS Scotland have a shared vision for a culture that values openness and learning and supports continuous improvement. Health Boards are responsible for delivering safe, effective and person-centred care at a local level, which includes identifying and monitoring instances of patient misdiagnosis and adverse events. The Scottish Government has legislated and has implemented procedures to support this:
- The Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011 provides a specific right for people to make complaints, raise concerns, make comments and give feedback about their care, and places a duty on Boards to thoroughly investigate and respond to concerns raised, and to monitor all feedback with a view to improving the services they provide.
- The NHS model Complaints Handling Procedure (CHP) was revised in 2017 to support a more consistent, person-centred approach to complaints handling across NHS Scotland.
- The Duty of Candour Procedure (Scotland) Regulations 2018make it a legal requirement for all care providers, including Health Boards, to review certain types of adverse events, meet personally with those affected, offer an apology and consider how the learning from these events can be applied.
- Since 2020, Health Boards have been required to notify Healthcare Improvement Scotland of any Category 1 Significant Adverse Event Reviews commissioned. These reviews support NHS Health Boards to improve services by learning from adverse events, reducing the risk of them happening again, and providing public assurance that adverse events are effectively managed.
- In addition, the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO), which is independent of Scottish Government,looks into complaints about most organisations providing public services in Scotland, including Health Boards. The SPSO will create reports following an investigation, which will include their decision, any recommendations to put things right, and the deadline by which the organisation must carry out these recommendations.
The Scottish Government and NHS Scotland have a shared vision for a culture that values openness and learning and supports continuous improvement. Health Boards are responsible for delivering safe, effective and person-centred care at a local level, which includes identifying and monitoring instances of patient misdiagnosis and adverse events. The Scottish Government has legislated and has implemented procedures to support this:
- The Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011 provides a specific right for people to make complaints, raise concerns, make comments and give feedback about their care, and places a duty on Boards to thoroughly investigate and respond to concerns raised, and to monitor all feedback with a view to improving the services they provide.
- The NHS model Complaints Handling Procedure (CHP) was revised in 2017 to support a more consistent, person-centred approach to complaints handling across NHS Scotland.
- The Duty of Candour Procedure (Scotland) Regulations 2018make it a legal requirement for all care providers, including Health Boards, to review certain types of adverse events, meet personally with those affected, offer an apology and consider how the learning from these events can be applied.
- Since 2020, Health Boards have been required to notify Healthcare Improvement Scotland of any Category 1 Significant Adverse Event Reviews commissioned. These reviews support NHS Health Boards to improve services by learning from adverse events, reducing the risk of them happening again, and providing public assurance that adverse events are effectively managed.
- In addition, the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO), which is independent of Scottish Government, looks into complaints about most organisations providing public services in Scotland, including Health Boards. The SPSO will create reports following an investigation, which will include their decision, any recommendations to put things right, and the deadline by which the organisation must carry out these recommendations.
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 27 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the National Islands Plan Annual Report 2022, whether it can provide a (a) list of projects that have successfully applied to the Islands Heritage and Culture Project and (b) breakdown of how much funding has been allocated to each project.
Answer
To support delivery of the National Islands Plan, through the Islands Heritage and Culture Project the Scottish Government has supported the delivery of the following six projects:
- The Orkney Digitisation Project, delivered by Orkney Islands Council;
- The Angus Og Project, delivered by the Highland Archive Service and High Life Highland;
- The Shetland Culture and Heritage Hub, delivered by Shetland Amenity Trust;
- Outer Hebrides Heritage Trails, delivered by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar;
- The Aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark, delivered by Arran Geopark; and
- Opportunities for the Argyll Islands and Increased Visitor Footfall, Culture, Heritage and Arts Assembly
Each project received a grant allocation of £40,000 with the exception of the Orkney based project, which had a slight overspend, taking their allocation to £42,000.
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Paul McLennan on 27 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken in relation to its commitment in its strategy paper, A Scotland for the future: the opportunities and challenges of Scotland's changing population, to "work with the housing sector to make self-build homes a mainstream delivery option".
Answer
We are supporting people who want to self-build through the extension of the Self-Build Loan Fund for up to five years from November 2022, with a further £6m recyclable loan funding available to borrowers.
National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), adopted and published by Scottish Ministers on 13 February 2023, also supports new homes that improve affordability and choice, and address gaps in provision, including self-provided homes.
The Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 introduced a requirement for planning authorities to prepare and maintain a list of persons who have registered interest with the authority with the intention of acquiring land in the authority's area for self-build housing. A planning authority is required to publish the list and have regard to this list in preparing their local development plan. Subject to Parliamentary approval, these requirements will come into force from 19 May 2023. We are preparing further guidance on these requirements, informed by stakeholders, as part of the Local Development Plan guidance to be published shortly.
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 26 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the National Islands Plan Annual Report 2022, whether it will provide a (a) list of projects that have been funded by the £1 million Islands Programme resource funding allocated to support the National Islands Plan and (b) breakdown of how much funding has been allocated to each project.
Answer
20 projects were funded through the 2022 Islands Programme resource funding to support delivery of the National Islands Plan. These can be found in the following table:
Project | Amount |
Scottish Islands Federation | £56,000.00 |
Scottish Futures Trust | £128,000.00 |
Shetland Anchor Project | £29,000.00 |
Island Heritage and Culture Posts for all six island Local Authorities | £242,000 |
Island Skills and Employment Repopulation Pilot | £210,000 |
Ulva Culture & Heritage Practical Policy Test – North West Mull Community Woodland Company | £7,500.00 |
North Ayrshire Council - Regeneration of Millport Town Hall | £20,000.00 |
Islands Profiles Project | £5,000.00 |
Island Communities Impact Assessment Guidance | £410.55 |
Gaelic translation of Implementation Route Map edits following Spending Review | £66.96 |
National Islands Plan Annual Report 2021 Publication in English and Gaelic | £8,283.98 |
Publication of Islands Bond Analysis and Scottish Government Response | £1,195.12 |
Castlebay Hall Hire for Island Healthcare Event | £42.50 |
National Islands Plan Implementation Route Map 2022 Publication in English and Gaelic | £6613.21 |
National Islands Plan Annual Report 2022 publication in English and Gaelic | £10,996.26 |
National Islands Plan Annual Report 2022 Gaelic translation | £5212.20 |
Islands Cost Crisis Emergency Fund | £200,000.00 |
Islands Programme Gaelic translations | £599.90 |
Hebridean Trust - Hynish Practical Policy Test | £15,000.00 |
Harris Tweed New Entrants Training Scheme | £25,000.00 |
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Christina McKelvie on 25 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects (a) Kisimul Castle, (b) the Bonawe Historic Iron Furnace and (c) Kilchurn Castle to reopen to the public.
Answer
I have asked Historic Environment Scotland to contact the member directly with an answer to his question. I can confirm that Historic Environment Scotland would be happy to arrange site visits for the member to discuss matters with its experts.
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 25 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to publicise the launch of the Small Producers Pilot Fund across the Highlands and Islands region.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-16876 on 25 April 2023. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 25 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether any civil servants will be redirected from other directorates to work for the Minister for Independence, and, if so, (a) which directorates and (b) how many staff will be involved.
Answer
No civil servants have been redeployed as part of my appointment.
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 25 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding was allocated to the Fuel Insecurity Fund in each financial year since it was established, and how much of this was distributed through the Fund in each of those years.
Answer
The Fuel Insecurity Fund was first established by The Scottish Government in the winter of 2020, as part of the wider Winter Support Fund, to help households struggling with their energy costs who were at risk of severely rationing their energy use, or self-disconnecting entirely.
The following table gives an overview of the Fuel Insecurity Fund’s budget and distribution since its inception:
Year | Budgeted | Distributed |
2020-21 | £7m | £3.595m |
2021-22 | £10m | £10m |
2022-23 | £20m* | £20m |
2023-24 | £30m** | N/A |
*originally £10m; raised to £20m at Emergency Budget Review
**originally £20m; raised to £30m in March 2023
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 25 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what the day-to-day responsibilities will be of the Minister for Independence in terms of governmental business.
Answer
Details of the responsibilities of the Minister for Independence can be found on the Scottish Government’s website at: Minister for Independence - gov.scot ( www.gov.scot ) .
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 25 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what the total annual cost will be of the salaries of civil servants who work for the Minister for Independence.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-16884 on 25 April 2023. As only one member of staff is allocated to work directly for the Minister for Independence, their individual salary cannot be released.
All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/questions-and-answers