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-28669

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 April 2020
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 28 April 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the concerns regarding the potential impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the higher education sector, what action it is taking to reassure staff and students that it has a coherent plan to retain capacity across the sector following the end of lockdown period, which will aim to ensure stability and maintain the positive impact that higher education can bring to the country.

Work around the financial impact of COVID-19 on universities continues to be progressed as a priority and at pace by the Scottish Government and the Scottish Funding Council. We are working closely with our universities, other stakeholders and through the Further and Higher Education Covid-19 Ministerial Leadership Group, to build an understanding of immediate and longer term impacts across teaching, research, staff and student issues and how to support universities now and when current lockdown measures are lifted.

Through this work we are developing an action plan to deliver a direct response to the needs for the sector as a result of Covid-19. We are also discussing additional financial support needs with the UK Government and have committed to working with our universities to ensure they remain at the forefront of global education as we emerge from this crisis.

Question reference: S5T-02112

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 April 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 April 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to tackle fraudsters who are targeting vulnerable people during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Question reference: S5W-28076

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 15 April 2020

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason self-catering businesses in Scotland are reported to have been excluded from the application process in respect of the Coronavirus Business Support Fund, in light of being instructed to close along with other "non-essential" businesses.

Question reference: S5W-27721

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 18 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with third sector organisations regarding its plans for No Smoking Day 2020.

The Scottish Government worked with ASH Scotland to promote No Smoking Day on 11 March. A social media campaign – highlighted the positive outcomes people have achieved through quitting tobacco products and raised awareness of the free NHS Quit Your Way approach – encouraging those thinking of quitting to do so. A communications toolkit, developed with Scottish Government funding, was shared throughout the organisation’s network.

Question reference: S5W-27723

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 18 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many people in each Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) decile area were prescribed the nicotine addiction medication, Champix, by a (a) GP and (b) pharmacist in 2019.

Figures are available in the following tables:

a) Table 1: Number of patients prescribed the nicotine addiction medication, generic varenicline or branded Champix, in 2019 by a GP

Calendar Year	Prescriber Type	SIMD Scotland Decile	Number of Patients
2019	GP	1	877
2019	GP	2	945
2019	GP	3	768
2019	GP	4	972
2019	GP	5	793
2019	GP	6	702
2019	GP	7	655
2019	GP	8	501
2019	GP	9	327
2019	GP	10	240
2019	GP	Unknown	68

b) Table 2: Number of Patients prescribed the nicotine addiction medication, generic varenicline or branded Champix, in 2019 by a pharmacist

Calendar Year	Prescriber Type	SIMD Scotland Decile	Number of Patients
2019	Pharmacist	1	2,243
2019	Pharmacist	2	1,588
2019	Pharmacist	3	1,281
2019	Pharmacist	4	1,078
2019	Pharmacist	5	859
2019	Pharmacist	6	803
2019	Pharmacist	7	773
2019	Pharmacist	8	588
2019	Pharmacist	9	491
2019	Pharmacist	10	294
2019	Pharmacist	Unknown	106

Source: ISD Scotland, PIS (Prescribing data)
‎ Ref: IR2020-00308

Question reference: S5W-27722

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 18 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce smoking rates in Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) decile 1 areas.

The Scottish Government has recently been commended by Cancer Research UK for our action in setting annual smoking cessation targets for Health Boards which focusses efforts in deprived areas. In addition a targeted approach is taken by directing both local initiatives and national campaigns – such as Get Through 72 – at this specific group to ensure our quit smoking message reaches those in our less affluent areas.

Reducing the use of, and harm from, tobacco is one of Scottish Government public health priorities. Around £10 million has been invested annually in stop-smoking services over the last five years. Smoking rates have continued to fall and, since 2010, Scotland has recorded the largest decline in the proportion of smokers in any UK country by seven percentage points.

Question reference: S5O-04282

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 March 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to the independent review of the Humanitarian Emergency Fund.

Question reference: S5W-27725

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 11 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how much additional funding smoking cessation services will receive under the respiratory care action plan.

In December 2019, the draft Respiratory Care Action Plan for Scotland was published for consultation. It sets out our commitments for driving improvement in the diagnosis, care, treatment and support for people living with respiratory conditions.

Smoking cessation sits alongside a wide range of government policy, including the Scottish Government's Tobacco Control Plan, published in June 2018. This Plan sets out our determination to provide the best possible support for those people who want to give up smoking.

The Scottish Government currently provides £9 million per year to fund free NHS Smoking Cessation Services.

Question reference: S5O-04240

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its Cleaner Air for Scotland strategy.

Question reference: S5O-04200

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 February 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to protect local authority services, in light of the claim by COSLA that the proposals in its draft Budget "will hit vulnerable communities the hardest".