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-20199

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 5 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the call by Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland for it to invest in a universal and equal right to pulmonary rehab for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Question reference: S5W-19821

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 20 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the Safe Drive, Stay Alive project has had on road safety in the Forth Valley area, and whether it will consider allocating additional funding outwith the local government settlement to support the initiative.

We recognise the import role that our road safety partners play in running pre driver interventions such as Safe Drive Stay Alive. Pre-drivers are a priority focus area and we are committed to improving the road safety knowledge, attitudes and safe behaviours of individuals before they start driving.

Transport Scotland commissioned TRL to carry out research on pre-driver interventions in Scotland. Key findings indicate that there is currently insufficient evidence to demonstrate their effectiveness. The report made a number of recommendations and can be found at: https://www.transport.gov.scot/publication/review-and-assessment-of-pre-driver-interventions-in-scotland/

Whilst Scotland's Road Safety Framework to 2020 offers structure and guidance in how partners, including the Scottish Government, work together, deciding which intervention is funded in each area is a matter for delivery partners.

Question reference: S5W-19822

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 20 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to reduce the single-person council tax discount to 10% and, if so, what its position is on introducing a concession for older people.

Question reference: S5W-19823

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 20 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how much it expects to receive in Barnett consequentials from the UK Budget, and what its position is on allocating funds from this to support reinstating the Levenmouth rail link.

As a result of the UK Budget 2018, the Scottish Government will receive additional Barnett consequentials of £959.6 million over the years 2018-19 to 2020-21, the majority of which arise from planned announcements around Health. Even with these consequentials, the Scottish Government Resource Block Grant will be almost £2 billion lower in real terms in 2019-20 when compared with 2010-11. UK Budget consequentials form part of the overall funding available to the Scottish Government, and Scottish Ministers will announce their plans for the 2019-20 Scottish Budget on 12 December 2018.

Transport Scotland is progressing the transport appraisal work for the Levenmouth Sustainable Transport Study in line with Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) and in close collaboration with Fife Council. The Levenmouth rail link is one of a number of transport options currently being considered as part of the ongoing transport appraisal work. A robust Strategic Business Case based on evidence from a completed transport appraisal would be needed to inform any investment decision to progress a transport project to the next stage of business case development.

Question reference: S5W-19387

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 15 October 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 1 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what the terms of reference are of the Directors of Planning Thrombectomy Advisory Group.

The purpose, governance and remit from the Terms of Reference for the Thrombectomy Advisory Group (TAG) are below. These terms of reference were agreed in November 2-17 and are due to updated in December 2018.

Purpose of the Group: The TAG provides a professional leadership and governance body with responsibility for ensuring that the startegic vision for the implementation of thrombectomy services in Scotland is defined and delivered. The Group's membership has representation from across NHS Scotland to ensure that decisions relating to the proposed service are made in the best interests of stroke patients across Scotland and that it aligns with the wider health and social care strategies.

Governance: The TAG is accountable to the Directors of Planning Group who will be responsible for submitting papers for approval to the Board Chief Executives as appropriate and required.

Remit of the Group: The TAG will be responsible for:

Defining and approving a strategic vision for the implementation of thrombectomy services in NHS Scotland which aligns to the emerging regional and national Health and Social Care Delivery Plans and follows the principles set out in the National Clinical Strategy.
Approving the scope of work to be undertaken and prioritising this to ensure timely delivery to achieve the strategic vision.
Commissioning professional groups to undertake specific work packages (see table below for examples).
Providing a focus on delivery to drive the pace of change
Owning the resolution of risks and issues, where resolution may lie in their representative area.
Fostering collaboration between stakeholders
Ensuring appropriate data processes are in place to capture and analyse the service performance.
Reporting progress to the Directors of Planning Group

Question reference: S5W-19388

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 15 October 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 1 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-18910 by Jeane Freeman on 27 September 2018, how consideration of evidence from acute stroke service reconfiguration elsewhere in the UK by the Thrombectomy Advisory Group will be used to improve aspects of acute stroke care, other than thrombectomy, such as access to thrombolysis and brain scanning.

The Thrombectomy Advisory Group is responsible for ensuring that the strategic vision for the implementation of thrombectomy services in Scotland is developed and delivered. We will ensure that decisions relating to the proposed service are made in the best interests of stroke patients across Scotland and that it aligns with the wider health and social care strategies. Thrombolysis and brain scanning are already reported on in the Scottish Stroke Care Programme Report and to improve services effectively, the Scottish Stroke Care Audit National Clinical Coordinator and Stroke Improvement Programme Lead and will continue to work closely with NHS Boards to ensure the Scottish Stroke Standards are implemented, monitored and reviewed.

Question reference: S5O-02511

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 October 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when air passenger duty will be fully devolved.

Question reference: S5O-02498

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 October 2018
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 31 October 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what Social Security Scotland's full-time equivalent headcount will be by 31 December 2018.

Social Security Scotland’s current headcount is 263, with a full-time equivalent headcount of 258.5.

Subject to pre-employment checks for 15 new recruits, Social Security Scotland’s headcount is expected to be 278 by the end of the 2018 calendar year. The exact full-time equivalent figure will depend on individual working patterns and hours which have still to be agreed.

Social Security Scotland will continue to grow as benefits are devolved. The full-time equivalent headcount for 2019 and beyond will depend on the sequencing of benefits which has still to be agreed.

Question reference: S5F-02709

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 October 2018
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 October 2018

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on the report from Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland, which suggests that one in five patients are not receiving the support they require.

Question reference: S5F-02657

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 01 October 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 October 2018

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking in response to reports that there has been the biggest rise in HIV infection in Scotland for three decades.