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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S6W-21749

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 9 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many GPs there currently are per head of population in Scotland, and what information it has on how this compares with (a) England and (b) Wales.

Question reference: S6W-21697

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 September 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 3 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government on which date it plans to publish a draft of the proposed Gaelic and Scots and Scottish Languages Bill.

Question reference: S6W-21748

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 September 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 29 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many qualified nurses there currently are per head of population in Scotland, and what information it has on how this compares with (a) England and (b) Wales.

Question reference: S6O-02585

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 September 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage people to support their local food and drink producers.

Question reference: S6W-21758

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 September 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Maree Todd on 27 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when the Independent Review of Inspection, Scrutiny and Regulation of Social Care Support in Scotland recommendation report will be published.

I can confirm Dame Sue Bruce, the Chair of the Independent Review of Inspection, Scrutiny and Regulation of Social Care Support in Scotland, has submitted her findings to Ministers and the Independent Review of Inspection, Scrutiny and Regulation Recommendation Report alongside the IRISR Call for Evidence Analysis Report have been published on 27 September 2023.

Dame Sue Bruce has made 38 recommendations and I will consider these in full before setting out a full response.

I am content with the recommendation report provided by Dame Sue Bruce and I will consider the recommendations in full before setting out a full response and make a statement to Parliament.

Question reference: S6W-21363

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 September 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 26 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to paying the Scottish Child Payment to student nurses, midwives and paramedics for the duration of their education and placements.

Scottish Child Payment is delivered using Section 79 of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018, which enables Scottish Ministers to top-up a qualifying reserved benefit, such as Universal Credit.

The groups mentioned may qualify for Scottish Child Payment if they are eligible for one of the qualifying benefits. However the eligibility criteria for students when applying for Universal Credit is stricter than that for individuals who are not undertaking studies and is set by the Department for Work and Pensions.

Eligible student nurses and midwives in Scotland continue to receive the highest level of support across the United Kingdom, including our non-means tested, non-repayable annual bursary of £10,000, plus associated allowances.

Question reference: S6O-02520

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 September 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the role of its international offices in promoting Scotland internationally.

Question reference: S6W-21107

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 September 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Michael Matheson on 7 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the external review of the paediatric Scottish National Spine Service in NHS Lothian.

In March 2023, the Scottish Government requested Public Health Scotland (PHS) to undertake an independent review of the Paediatric Scottish National Spinal Service (SNSS) which is hosted in NHS Lothian.

The review was requested to identify any variance between the number of cancellations reported by PHS and those held locally by SNSS. PHS confirmed cancellation data held by SNSS is aligned to PHS reported data.

PHS also assessed the application of National Waiting Times Guidance for children that were referred to SNSS, particularly focusing on children that required further diagnostic tests before a decision to treat was made. PHS found NHS Lothian to be adhering to and applying the waiting time guidance correctly.

Therefore, PHS concluded through this external assurance process that SNSS, hosted in NHS Lothian, in all of the areas reviewed adheres to and applies National Waiting Times Guidance with no apparent variation in the local data to that published by PHS.

A copy of the report can be found at Publications - Public Health Scotland .

Question reference: S6F-02343

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 04 September 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 September 2023

To ask the First Minister whether he will provide an update on the steps that are being taken to reduce drug deaths in Scotland.

Question reference: S6O-02462

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 August 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding ensuring access to the national grid for community energy schemes in Scotland.