- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 July 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 30 July 2019
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the report, Beyond Holyrood: Why Scotland’s economic future depends on local power, by Reform Scotland, how it will ensure that commuters are contributing to the gross value added (GVA) of their area of residence rather than their place of work.
Answer
The Scottish Government jointly launched the Local Governance Review with COSLA to consider
how powers are shared across national and local government, and with
communities. The Review reflects our shared commitment to Scotland’s different
places and diverse communities having a direct say over decisions which affect
them. We are taking a whole system approach. This means looking across
Scotland’s public services, and ensuring that measures to empower people and
places in different spheres of governance are cohesive and mutually supportive.
We will shortly be consulting on a new National Transport Strategy for Scotland. Part of the development work for the
Strategy, included a review of transport governance which considered
arrangements at national, regional and local levels. It is recognised that
there is a need for change, in the current arrangements, and that further work
is required to determine what a future model or models might be acknowledging
that a one-size-fits approach all may not work. This work will commence when
the outcomes from the NTS consultation are known.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 July 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 30 July 2019
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent Scottish Stroke Care Audit report, which suggested that thrombolysis door to needle times have stalled.
Answer
We know that quick and decisive treatment is necessary when patients present with stroke symptoms and that’s why 60% of patients requiring thrombolysis were treated with one hour of arrival at hospital which is a similar rate as seen in the rest of the UK.
We are actively considering how we can increase the pace of improvement across Scotland.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 July 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Clare Haughey on 30 July 2019
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has plans to consider establishing treatment and guidance for psychopathy in adults.
Answer
Psychopathy is antisocial personality disorder. The Scottish Government has no plans at present to produce guidance on this. NICE clinical guideline [CG77] on “Antisocial personality disorder: prevention and management” was published in January 2009, and updated in March 2013. This guides clinical practice in the UK. The Royal College of Psychiatrists also publishes information for the public on personality disorders that includes information on psychological and physical treatment: https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mental-health/problems-disorders/personality-disorder
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 05 July 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 29 July 2019
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its report, Life at Age 12: Initial Findings from the Growing Up in Scotland Study, which stated that 40% of young boys engage in anti-social behaviour, what action it is taking to address this.
Answer
We are actively working with schools and local authorities to tackle serious disruptive behaviour, violence and anti-social behaviour. Developing and promoting positive relationships and behaviour with children and young people is at the heart of all of our schools, and all staff should be proactive in promoting this.
Our new policy guidance, ‘Developing a positive whole school ethos and culture: relationships, learning and behaviour’ https://beta.gov.scot/publications/developing-positive-whole-school-ethos-culture-relationships-learning-behaviour/ , in response to the findings of the most recent Behaviour in Scottish Schools Research contains actions designed to support local authorities, establishments, practitioners and partners to further improve the ethos and culture, and relationships and behaviour in Scottish schools.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 05 July 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 29 July 2019
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its report, Life at Age 12: Initial Findings from the Growing Up in Scotland Study, which stated that children who have experienced bullying have a much lower level of life satisfaction, how it plans to fund (a) schools and (b) healthcare services to allow them to take action to help these young people.
Answer
The Scottish Government takes bullying very seriously. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable and must be addresses quickly, whenever it arises.
In 2017, the Scottish Government published updated anti-bullying guidance for all those working with children and young people. The guidance sets out the responsibilities of local authorities and head teachers to record and monitor bullying incidents. This enables schools to identify issues and put in place effective programmes to prevent bullying and to promote positive relationships and behaviour. There is an expectation that all schools will be using the new approach to recording and monitoring by Autumn 2019.
respectme, Scotland’s anti-bullying service is fully funded by the Scottish Government to provide direct support to all those working with children and young people, including schools, to build confidence and capacity to address all types of bullying effectively.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 05 July 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 29 July 2019
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its report, Life at Age 12: Initial Findings from the Growing Up in Scotland Study, which stated that over 50% of 12-year-olds say that they feel pressured at school, what action it is taking to address this issue.
Answer
We take child and adolescent mental health very seriously. The wellbeing of school pupils is vitally important, and we recognise the impact that pressure at school can have on children and young people. That is why health and wellbeing is a key priority of the Curriculum for Excellence. All adults working in schools are responsible for supporting and developing mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing to support successful learning and happy lives.
All schools should help young people to develop resilience and personal coping skills, and should have measures in place to support young people who experience stress. Opportunities should be available through the school year for young people to have regular conversations about their learning and progress.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 July 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 29 July 2019
To ask the Scottish Government how it defines the terms "adverse childhood experience-aware" and "trauma-informed", and whether it considers that these can be used on an interchangeable basis.
Answer
Language is important to people affected by trauma and to those who provide services. The Scottish Government does not routinely use the language "adverse childhood experience-aware". Rather, the terms Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), childhood adversity and trauma- informed would be used.
In 2017, the Scottish Government and NHS Education for Scotland published Transforming Psychological Trauma: a Knowledge and Skills Framework for the Scottish workforce . This was informed by evidence and co-produced with employers, experts in psychological trauma and people with lived experience. Pages 20 – 23 of the Framework discusses language and terminology and how these interrelate. The diagram on page 20 provides an illustration of how the terms overlap.
The Framework recognises that terms used in this area are complex and overlapping. The terms “Adverse Childhood Experience and “trauma- informed” are not interchangeable. Trauma can be experienced at any point in life. Childhood adversity can cause trauma but a person who has not experienced childhood adversity can still experience trauma.
In 2018, the Scottish Government established a National Trauma Training Programme coordinated by NHS Education for Scotland (NES), to implement this Framework, giving the workforce the evidence, skills and confidence to recognise and respond effectively to people affected by trauma and adversity. The evidence base on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) is incorporated in course content, along with wider evidence on the impact of trauma and appropriate responses.
Further information on the principles of trauma-informed practice and guidance for employers are available on the NHS Education for Scotland webpage on National Trauma Training Framework .
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 26 July 2019
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Current Status:
Answer expected on 23 August 2019
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of a recent YouGov poll, which found that the cost of childcare has risen, what it is doing to ensure that childcare is provided through a diverse range of sources.
Answer
Answer expected on 23 August 2019
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 July 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 26 July 2019
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Northern Ireland reportedly having nearly double the percentage of home-domiciled students than Scotland, 89.0% against 52.4%, what steps it is taking to ensure that the percentage of Scottish-domiciled student equals that of the rest of the UK.
Answer
Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) data shows that in 2017-18, 53.8% of
full-time first degree medical enrolments at Scottish Higher Education Institutions
(HEIs) were Scottish domiciled. At Northern Irish HEIs, 66.5% of full-time
first degree medical enrolments were Northern Irish domiciled.
Evidence shows that Scots domiciled graduates remain working in NHS Scotland in the longer term at a significantly higher
rate than graduates from elsewhere in the UK or overseas. Following discussion
with universities, a new target for Scottish domiciled and the rest of EU
medical intake for 2019-20 was introduced in line with Scottish Government
guidance to increase retention of medical students. This will enable 100 rest
of UK medical students to be replaced with 100 Scottish domiciled/EU students
on a phased basis over the next three years.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 July 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 26 July 2019
To ask the Scottish Government which three projects have been funded through the £2.7 million announced in the Race Equality Action Plan - Year 1 highlight report, and how much of this was directed towards BAME communities.
Answer
To date, 26 projects are being supported through the Screening Inequalities Fund. This includes a number of activities specifically tackling inequalities of access to cancer screening programmes within BAME communities. Examples of this work include the creation of an innovative new Outreach Service targeting women less likely to attend screening services; and raising awareness of breast and cervical screening within the Chinese community in Scotland.
We have also established a Screening Inequalities Network which will oversee the development of a national screening inequalities strategy and will include a 3 year programme of action.
