Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government believes all women should have access to abortion services as part of routine care, and available free from stigma.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-16699 on 31 May 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

The Scottish Government believes all women should have access to abortion services as part of routine care, and available free from stigma.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-16699 on 31 May 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

There are specific provisions, via amendments to the Functions of Health Boards (Scotland) Order 1991, which came into force in November 2017, that require NHS Boards in Scotland to provide access to abortion treatment free of charge for women resident in Northern Ireland. In addition, asylum seekers and refugees living in Scotland can also access abortion services free of charge.

The National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors)(Scotland) Regulations 1989 provide that people who are not ordinarily resident in the UK are, subject to some exceptions, liable to be charged for any treatment they receive. Emergency treatment and certain other specific types of healthcare and groups are excepted, but there is no general exception for abortion services (where the abortion is not emergency treatment provided in a hospital Emergency Department), so abortions are not normally available free of charge to overseas visitors.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-16703 on 31 May 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

The Scottish Government confirmed in its Programme for Government for 2016-2017 that it had no current plans to change the law on abortion. The Scottish Government’s priority in this area is to focus on improving abortion services for women. For example, this includes the October 2017 approval enabling women undergoing early medical abortion to take the second drug, misoprostol, in their own home where it is clinically appropriate and they wish to do so.

Scottish Ministers have had meetings with stakeholders on matters regarding abortion and with the National Sexual Health and Blood-borne Virus Advisory Committee (NSHBAC), which advises Ministers on ways to improve sexual health services, including abortion.

Scottish Government promotes cervical screening on an on-going basis.

Last year we ran a successful advertising campaign ‘Flower’ to raise awareness of cervical screening among women aged 25-35. In 2018, we will focus on the overall benefits of early detection for all cancers.

We are investing up to £5m of funding from the Cancer Strategy 'Beating Cancer: Ambition and Action' 2016 to reduce inequalities, raise awareness and improve uptake in cervical screening, particularly amongst those less likely to participate. As part of this work, we are establishing a network, involving clinical and academic experts from across Scotland as well as third sector organisations to identify new activities and learn from local practice and innovation, to improve participation in screening programmes.

We also support the work of charities like Jo's Cervical Cancer trust to increase awareness and address some of the barriers to screening. We are funding their innovative 'Be Cervix Savvy Roadshow' which will be visiting high streets and retail parks across Scotland to raise awareness of cervical cancer and increase uptake of cervical screening.

I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

Where any person in our care is identified as eligible to apply for release on Home Detention Curfew (HDC), and wishes to be considered, then they are asked to complete an HDC Prisoner Information Request form. This form does not ask if an individual has a live appeal in process, as appellant status does not result in statutory exclusion.

Once an application for HDC has been submitted, then a full risk assessment is undertaken. Should an individual be contesting their conviction or sentence, then this would be considered.

Those in our care who wish to progress to less secure conditions, such as at the Open Estate, are asked if they are appealing against their conviction or sentence.

It is for the Scottish Courts to determine an individual’s guilt; SPS’ role is to accommodate those committed to custody. The principal objective of SPS is to contribute to making Scotland Safer by protecting the public and reducing reoffending. Where an individual does not acknowledge guilt, then this may understandably impact upon their ability to demonstrate that they have satisfactory addressed their offending behaviour. The measures taken by an individual to address their offending behaviour constitute a key consideration in the risk assessment process.

Increasing participation in the Scottish Cervical Screening Programme is a key objective for the Scottish Government.

Last year we ran a successful advertising campaign ‘Flower’ to raise awareness of cervical screening among women aged 25-35. In 2018, we will focus on the overall benefits of early detection for all cancers.

Up to £5m of funding from the Cancer Strategy 'Beating Cancer: Ambition and Action' 2016 is being invested in our screening programmes, including cervical screening, to reduce inequalities and improve uptake, particularly amongst those less likely to participate in screening.

Scottish Government officials meet cervical screening coordinators from all NHS Boards on a quarterly basis to discuss a range of issues relating to the national screening programme, including promoting screening services and initiatives to improve uptake. NHS Boards have responsibility for publicising screening within their local area and for working closely with their communities to increase screening uptake.

Under the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014, it is the responsibility of Integration Authorities to plan and deliver services for their area using the integrated budgets under their control. This includes hospice and palliative and end of life care services.

In April 2018, representatives from the Integration Authorities Chief Officers Group and Scottish Government officials met with representatives from independent Hospices to discuss how consider how best to use previous guidance to inform future arrangements.

At this meeting a way forward was agreed between Chief Officers and hospice representatives, for examining previous guidance to pave the way for establishing updated arrangements between independent Hospices and Integration Authorities.

Any proposal to get more young people engaged and involved in the democratic process is worthy of close consideration.

The Scottish Government believes that 16 and 17 year olds should have the right to vote in all elections. We’ve led the way in Scotland, putting young people at the very heart of deciding how our communities and country are run.