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-24265

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 08 July 2019
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 1 August 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how much is being allocated to each NHS board from the £1.7 million it has provided to reduce childhood obesity levels.

The following table provides a breakdown of 2019-20 NHS Board allocations to support the implementation of the Standards for Tier 2 and 3 Weight Management Services for Children and Young People, which were published by NHS Health Scotland on Tuesday 2 July: http://www.healthscotland.scot/publications/standards-for-the-delivery-of-tier-2-and-tier-3-weight-management-services-in-scotland . This is in addition to funding provided to NHS Boards through the Outcomes Framework for adult and child healthy weight.

NHS Board	Total allocation	70%	30%
Ayrshire & Arran	£118,000	£83,000	£35,000
East Region*	£416,000	£291,000	£125,000
Greater Glasgow & Clyde	£275,000	£193,000	£82,000
Highland	£112,000	£78,000	£34,000
Lanarkshire	£174,000	£122,000	£52,000
Grampian	£154,000	£108,000	£46,000
Tayside	£140,000	£98,000	£42,000
Forth Valley	£103,000	£72,000	£31,000
Dumfries & Galloway	£73,000	£51,000	£22,000
Western Isles	£45,200	£32,000	£13,200
Orkney	£45,200	£32,000	£13,200
Shetland	£45,200	£32,000	£13,200
Scotland	£1,700,600	£1,192,000	£508,600

* NHS Borders, NHS Fife and NHS Lothian.

NHS Boards will receive 70% of this funding at end July and, where they can demonstrate ability to spend and the need for further funding, will be allocated the remaining 30% through a second tranche later in the year.

While these services are necessary and important, reducing childhood obesity requires ambitious and coherent action right across the system. We are therefore committed to supporting local partners across health and local government to develop ambitious and effective plans to prevent and reduce childhood obesity.

Question reference: S5W-24271

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 July 2019
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 1 August 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have died from sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) in each year since 2015.

The number of people who have died from sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is not held centrally. However, the total number of deaths, registered in Scotland, for which epilepsy was the underlying cause are published each year in table 6.04 of the Vital Events Reference Tables, which are available via https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/vital-events/general-publications/vital-events-reference-tables

Table 1. Number of deaths where the cause of death was registered as 'epilepsy,' under the 'Episodic and paroxysmal disorders' category, 2015-2018

2015	105
2016	120
2017	111
2018	106
Source: NRS Vital Events Reference Tables

Question reference: S5W-24375

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 July 2019
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 1 August 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to improve access related to the timing and availability of vaccination appointments.

As part of the work to modernise Primary Care, GPs will move away from delivering some routine services, including vaccinations, to focus on complex care, undifferentiated presentation and local clinical leadership. The change in focus of the GP provides the opportunity to explore alternative or more flexible approaches to delivering vaccinations through other areas of the NHS.

The Vaccination Transformation Programme (VTP) has been established to consider and implement new approaches to vaccination delivery. This programme empowers Health Boards to identify and apply local solutions to vaccine delivery that best suit them, their patients, and their geography. Health Boards are exploring a range of models which may involve establishing immunisation teams, centralised clinics, local GP delivery, or combinations thereof. This more localised approach to delivery will facilitate easier access to vaccination appointments.

Question reference: S5W-24376

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 July 2019
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 1 August 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to reverse the reported fall in the number of children in Scotland being vaccinated.

Childhood immunisation rates across Scotland remain very high. Apart from rotavirus vaccine, over 95% of children had received each routine immunisation by the time they were 12 months of age.

This reflects both the hard work and commitment of our colleagues in the NHS and a recognition among parents of the benefits of vaccination. However, we are not complacent and will continue to make every effort to promote and encourage childhood vaccinations.

Question reference: S5W-24163

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 July 2019
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 31 July 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce a four-year health MOT pilot for people over 40, and, if so, how much it will cost.

Question reference: S5W-24227

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 July 2019
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 31 July 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its analysis of the responses to its consultation on the Job Grant, what its position is on almost three quarters of the organisations that responded seeing potential unintended consequences, and whether it plans to amend the Job Grant in light of this.

Question reference: S5W-24226

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 July 2019
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 31 July 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its analysis of the responses to its consultation on the Job Grant, what it is doing to amend the Job Grant to make it more accessible to people on zero hour contracts.

The Scottish Government is committed to introducing a Job Grant to support a smooth transition into employment for young people on low incomes. The analysis of consultation responses, published on 3 July 2019, shows that an overwhelming majority of individuals and organisations who responded believe that the Job Grant will meet this policy intention.

The Scottish Government will publish its response to the Job Grant consultation analysis in due course. This will address the issues raised by respondents and take into account the views gathered through our Young People’s Survey and our direct engagement with a range of stakeholders.

Question reference: S5W-24228

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 July 2019
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 31 July 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its analysis of the responses to its consultation on the Job Grant, which highlights concerns among some respondents that certain groups are being overlooked, whether it is considering amending the Job Grant to take more account of the views of (a) disabled people and (b) ethnic minorities and refugees.

Question reference: S5W-24087

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 01 July 2019
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 31 July 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance exists regarding the installation of netting around hedgerows, trees and other wildlife to protect nesting birds.

The Scottish Government is not aware of any specific guidance covering the installation of netting around hedgerows, trees and other wildlife.

There is currently no legislation that specifically prevents the installation of netting around hedgerows or trees.

However, Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 does makes it an offence to obstruct or prevent any bird from using its nest during the nesting season and this would include the use of netting.

Question reference: S5W-24080

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 01 July 2019
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 31 July 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to ensure that fairness is built into the entitlement for the Carer’s Allowance Supplement.