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: S6W-02307

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 4 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what criteria need to be met in order for an area of a hospital to be designated a stroke unit; how the capabilities of stroke units have been maintained during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that people who survive a stroke receive full stroke unit care; which NHS boards have had their stroke units downgraded during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how many stroke patients have had their recovery impacted as a result.

The core criteria for defining a stroke unit are well described in the academic literature, including in Langhorne et al (2002). Though the size and configuration of stroke units across Scotland may vary depending on local factors, most will be in a defined ward setting and have a specialist stroke multidisciplinary team.

Covid-19 has had an unprecedented impact on the world, NHS Scotland and stroke services. Each service will have responded in the best way that it could, depending on the specific issues affecting them.

The 2021 Scottish Stroke Improvement Programme Report (which includes 9 months of the pandemic) shows slight deterioration in performance against the stroke standards for stroke unit access (77% in 2020 compared to 82% in 2019).

While stroke unit access declined, achievement of standards in other areas, including brain imaging within 12 hours of arrival (86% in 2020 compared 84% in 2019), time to carotid intervention (61%; 59%) and mean thrombolysis door-to-needle (DTN) time (51 minutes in 2020 compared to 53 minutes in 2019), improved.

All of these aspects also have an important impact on recovery from stroke, and therefore it is not possible to isolate the recovery impact based on one standard (such as stroke unit access).

Question reference: S6W-02306

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 4 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the World Stroke Organization's Roadmap to Delivering Quality Stroke Care, how it assesses Scotland’s stroke care against this roadmap; what Scotland’s current level of stroke service capacity is; what gaps exist, compared with the roadmap; what action it will take to ensure that stroke care in Scotland is based on evidence and best practice from around the world, and by when.

Work is ongoing to produce a progressive stroke pathway document by December 2021. This will take account of international evidence, including the World Stroke Organisation’s roadmap to delivering quality stroke care, to define what a progressive stroke pathway should look like in Scotland.

The progressive stroke pathway will, similarly to the roadmap, follow the continuum of care starting at the onset of a stroke event through the acute phase (emergency department and inpatient care), and stroke rehabilitation and long term supported recovery.

Following this, an implementation plan will identify any gaps between current capacity and the progressive stroke pathway vision, and outline clear actions to take.

Question reference: S6W-02866

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 21 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report, Non-Communicable Disease Prevention: Priorities 2021/22, and what action it will take in relation to the report’s recommendations.

The Scottish Government welcomes the report on Non-Communicable Disease Prevention published on 6 September and recognises that its recommendations are in line with the Government’s own approach, based on the World Health Organisation strategies of reducing Affordability, Availability and Attractiveness of alcohol, tobacco and unhealthy foods.

We are committed to supporting individuals and local communities by delivering measures to target harmful health behaviours early and provide access to holistic and person-centred treatment when needed.

Question reference: S6W-02688

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 16 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of it granting planning permission in principle in 2017, whether it will provide an update on its involvement with the Park of Keir development.

In August 2017 Scottish Ministers issued their intention to grant permission for a tennis and golf centre, including hotel and 19 houses, subject to conditions and completion of a legal agreement. On 26th August 2021 the signed legal agreement was submitted to Ministers, meaning the appeal moves closer to a final decision.

Given the passage of time since Ministers indicated their intention to grant permission in 2017, further procedure is necessary before the appeal can be determined. This is to allow parties to submit contributions on any material changes that may have occurred. After that, a final decision will be taken on this planning application appeal.

As this is still a live planning application, it would not be appropriate to comment on the merits of the case.

Question reference: S6O-00070

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 August 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to ensuring that any legislation it introduces to support the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic does not seek to allow regulations to be made or changed without being subject to the affirmative parliamentary procedure.

Question reference: S6W-01461

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 21 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the advice on its website, which was last updated on 8 July 2021, stating "domestic cruises with more than 12 passengers will be allowed when all of Scotland reaches Level 1", when restrictions on domestic cruises will be lifted.

Question reference: S6W-00410

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 June 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 18 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the appeal launched by the European Stroke Organisation in May 2021 calling for health ministers across Europe to sign a declaration for action on implementing a Europe-wide stroke action plan, and how its response impacts its Stroke Improvement Plan.

The Scottish Government welcomes the work of the European Stroke Organisation and we agree that it is vital to ensure improvements are made to stroke pathways and services, including prevention, treatment and care.

Through our Programme for Government commitments and the Stroke Improvement Plan, we are already reflecting the aims of the European Stroke Organisation’s appeal targets.

We will continue to implement our Stroke Improvement Plan which sets out our priorities for improving diagnosis, treatment and care for those affected by stroke alongside the ongoing work to deliver the Programme for Government stroke commitments. We are expecting a report on progressive stroke services by the end of December 2021. This will set the intention for our future actions to improve care for people with stroke.

Question reference: S6W-00409

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 June 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 18 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to publish the definition of its progressive stroke service as detailed in its Programme for Government 2019-20; what plans it has to implement a progressive stroke service, and how it will ensure that people who survive a stroke in Scotland will have the same opportunity to achieve their recovery potential as those across the rest of the UK and North West Europe.

The Scottish Government is expecting a report on progressive stroke services by the end of December 2021. This Report will help to support and drive improvement in stroke services across Scotland.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that people who have had a stroke receive the best possible care as quickly as possible to enable them to live longer, healthier independent lives. That’s why the Programme for Government 2019-20 commits to ensuring that improvements are made to stroke pathways and services, including prevention, treatment and care. Work is ongoing to deliver against those commitments.

Question reference: S6W-00396

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 16 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when it will begin its public consultation on Nicotine Vapour Products (NVPs), as proposed in the Respiratory Care Action Plan.

Question reference: S6T-00075

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 14 June 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to a recent survey, which records that more than 2,000 incidents of racism have been reported in schools over the last three years.