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-20004

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 16 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 29 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to revise A Healthier Future - Scotland’s Diet & Healthy Weight Delivery Plan to include measures regarding incontinence management.

A Healthier Future: Scotland’s Diet & Healthy Weight Delivery Plan, published in July 2018 following wide consultation with stakeholders, sets out a vision for everyone in Scotland to eat well and have a healthy weight.

The delivery plan has a strong focus on prevention while also recognising that some people need additional support to help them achieve a healthy weight. That is why outcome 3 of the plan makes a commitment to improve access to effective weight management services, as a way of reducing health conditions associated with excess weight.

While there is no specific mention of incontinence in the plan, I am aware of evidence showing that overweight and obesity are strong risk factors for this condition.

People with incontinence issues are therefore likely to be among the service users to benefit from improved access to weight management services.

Given that it is newly published, and that we are now focussed on delivery of the plan’s 60+ actions, we currently have no plans to revise our delivery plan.

Question reference: S5O-02643

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 November 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its response to the vote in the Parliament on 19 September 2018 opposing National Standardised Assessments for P1 pupils.

Question reference: S5W-19951

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 28 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what monitoring is taking place to ensure compliance with the latest Muirburn Code to help protect peatlands and other fire-sensitive habitats.

Where land managers are in receipt of certain Scottish Government support payments, they have to meet Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) requirements, one of which relates to the Muirburn Code. Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspection Division (SGRPID) has a programme of inspections, which includes monitoring of these and other requirements. If anyone considers that a breach of the requirements of GAEC relating to the Muirburn Code has occurred, they may wish to contact their local SGRPID office.

Scottish Natural Heritage’s Site Condition Monitoring programme on designated sites also includes assessment of burning impacts on relevant habitats.

Question reference: S5W-19881

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 12 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 28 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government by what date Transport Scotland will introduce signs in Edinburgh and Fife that direct appropriate vehicles to the Queensferry Crossing to replace the signage that directs all traffic to the Forth Road Bridge.

Question reference: S5W-19952

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 27 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to publicise the latest Muirburn Code to land managers in advance of the current moorland burning season, and what future steps are planned.

Following the launch of the revised Muirburn Code last year, publicity appeared in the relevant trade press and on social media, and land managers were directly notified by the Scottish Government’s Rural Payments and Inspections Division. The current Muirburn season began on 1 October and ends on 15 April, with an extension period until 30 April. The vast majority of Muirburn takes place in late winter and early spring, and it is considered that publicity about the Code is best focused on this period rather than autumn.

The Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform announced last year that the Scottish Government would to set up an independently-led group to examine how to ensure grouse moor management is sustainable and compliant with the law. The group, chaired by Professor Alan Werritty, is examining the environmental impact of grouse moor management practices such as Muirburn. The Group will report back to the Cabinet Secretary in Spring 2019, including recommendations on whether further regulation of grouse moors is required.

Question reference: S5W-19950

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 27 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to prevent an outbreak of large moorland wildfires similar to those in spring 2018.

The Scottish Government is working with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Scottish Wildfire Forum (SWF) to develop a wildfire risk scenario for Scotland. This will support individuals and agencies in planning for and responding to wildfire events.

The Scottish Government is also currently funding a project which will provide a Fire Weather Index system for Scottish conditions. This project, which is due to be completed in 2021, will allow the development of a reliable Fire Danger Rating System for Scotland. This will reduce both the incidence and impact of wildfire through increasing awareness of risk and enhancing response preparedness.

Question reference: S5T-01355

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 26 November 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce the incidence of neonatal abstinence syndrome.

Question reference: S5W-19999

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 16 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 26 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what remuneration GPs receive for carrying out six-week post-natal checks.

Question reference: S5W-20001

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 16 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 23 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on including a self-assessment questionnaire regarding (a) pelvic health and (b) incontinence in the bowel screening kit sent to people aged 50 and over.

The Scottish Government would not support the inclusion of self-assessment questionnaires into the invitation issued by NHS Scotland’s Bowel Screening programme. The programme has tailored invitations, offering key information to support individuals in making an informed decision about participating in screening. The inclusion of additional, non-related requests, could detract and deter invitee’s from participating in screening.

Question reference: S5W-20005

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 16 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 23 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on including a self-assessment questionnaire regarding incontinence when issuing invites to attend a mammogram.

The Scottish Government would not support the inclusion of self-assessment questionnaires into the invitation issued by NHS Scotland’s Breast Screening programme. The programme has tailored invitations, offering key information to support individuals in making an informed decision about participating in screening. The inclusion of additional, non-related requests, could detract and deter invitee’s from participating in screening.