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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 438 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S5W-11169

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 26 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to ensure that it meets its obligations under article 26 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities with regards to stroke care, and what analysis it has made of how effective it has been in doing so.

The Scottish Government published 'A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People' in 2016; http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0051/00510948.pdf.

This is our Delivery Plan to 2021 which demonstrates our commitment to upholding the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and sets out how we will report on progress.

Our Health and Social Care Delivery Plan published in December 2016 sets out our aim for Scotland to provide high quality services with a focus on prevention, early intervention and supported self-management. The plan sits alongside our National Clinical Strategy, which evidenced the need to change the way services are delivered in order to continue meet the healthcare needs of our population, setting out the framework for developing health services in Scotland for the next 10-20 years, including people living with the effects of stroke.

The Stroke Improvement Plan (2014) recognises the importance of specialist rehabilitation and the need for the delivery of services to support people living with stroke and their families. The Plan includes a priority on Transition to the Community. This emphasises the need for specialist stroke rehabilitation to both reduce mortality and long-term disability. We expect NHS Boards to appropriately resource stroke specialist Early Supported Discharge and Community Teams to optimise patients’ personal outcomes and reduce lengths of hospital stay.

There is also a priority to improve well-being and quality of life for people affected by stroke by ensuring provision of self-management approaches to care, physical activity and services to support people wishing to return to work.

The Scottish Stroke Improvement Programme report published on 11 July contains information on Stroke Improvement Plan priorities and actions; http://www.strokeaudit.scot.nhs.uk/index.html

Progress on the Stroke Improvement Plan is closely monitored by the National Advisory Committee for Stroke.

Question reference: S5W-11174

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 26 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce a stroke care strategy, and whether this will include rehabilitation.

Our Stroke Improvement Plan (2014) sets out a comprehensive programme for further reducing the number of deaths from stroke and improving stroke treatment and care across the whole patient pathway including rehabilitation, as well as helping people’s longer-term outcomes in their own communities. In making these improvements, we will continue to work closely with our stakeholders, including health boards, third sector organisations and patients.

Question reference: S5W-11183

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 26 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to ensure that people recovering from stroke receive a whole care pathway approach that is consistent with international recommended practice.

Our Health and Social Care Delivery Plan published in December 2016 sets out our aim for Scotland to provide high quality services with a focus on prevention, early intervention and supported self-management. It is about ensuring that those who use services get the right care and support whatever their needs, at any point in their care journey.

Our Stroke Improvement Plan (2014); http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2014/08/9114 which aims to improve stroke treatment and care across the whole patient pathway in Scotland, based on the best available evidence.

We expect stroke patients to be provided with rehabilitation care in line with the recommendations in Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) Guideline 118, which focuses on rehabilitation, prevention and management of complications, and discharge planning.

SIGN Guidelines are developed through rigorous processes to review evidence including international sources. The Guideline provides recommendations on best practice in the management of stroke rehabilitation in the first 12 months after stroke.

Question reference: S5O-01285

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 September 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking regarding the charitable status of university commercial activities.

Question reference: S5W-10896

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 August 2017
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 19 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to retain (a) shops and (b) businesses in (i) towns and (ii) cities; how it can help them in reducing their bills; what its position is on introducing an extended 12-month period of business rates relief for them, and what specific support it can offer to those that (A) are investing in expansion and (B) source their supplies locally rather than through wholesale distributors.

The Scottish Government acted decisively in light of the 2017 rates revaluation, cutting the rates poundage, limiting application of the large business supplement so that 8,000 fewer properties pay it, and expanding the Small Business Bonus Scheme so that it lifts 100,000 properties out of rates altogether.

Further rates relief was also targeted where it was most needed, including in the hospitality sector and for office space in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, as part of a total package of relief worth around £660 million this year. Local authorities can also further reduce rates following the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015.

The Scottish Government has now responded to the recent Barclay review, and has gone beyond Barclay's recommendations to support business. New properties will only be entered in the valuation roll once first occupied. A ‘business growth accelerator’ will mean no rates for a year for new premises once occupied, and no increases for a year for upgrading or expansion of existing premises. And 'Fresh Start' relief will be increased to 100% and extended to all property types, to incentivise re-use of vacant property. An implementation plan will be published by the end of the year.

Question reference: S5W-10797

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 6 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle respiratory disease and what consideration it has given to banning aerosols and solvents in the workplace, on public transport and in other public places to protect the health of vulnerable people.

Respiratory Managed Clinical Networks (RMCN) exist in most NHS Boards in Scotland. They work to improve the respiratory health and quality of life of patients, ensuring that they have equitable access to high quality respiratory services.

The Respiratory National Advisory Group (RNAG) is an overarching group for the RMCNs to identify and discuss improvements in respiratory care and includes third sector representation.

In line with our approach to other public health issues, the Scottish Government receives evidence-based advice from Health Protection Scotland, our national health protection experts, and also from Public Health England. They have the expertise to assess the scientific literature available on environmental exposures and hazardous substances, and keep it under review.

Workplace health and safety is reserved to the UK Government and regulation is led by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Advice on safe working with hazardous substances can be obtained from the HSE or the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives.

The use of chemicals and hazardous substances in Scotland is overseen by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) who provide guidance on the safe use of chemicals for the protection of human health and the environment: https://echa.europa.eu.

Question reference: S5W-10787

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Mark McDonald on 30 August 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure the protection of vulnerable children in Fife, in light of the recent number of child deaths in the local authority area.

Question reference: S5W-10551

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 28 August 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a provision as part of its disability strategy, A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People, for medical rehabilitation for people who have experienced conditions such as stroke.

We published our disability strategy A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People – our Delivery Plan to 2021 for the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in December 2016. While there is no specific reference to stroke rehabilitation in the strategy, it applies to all disabled people in Scotland, regardless of their impairment or condition. The plan has five long-term ambitions aimed at transforming the lives of disabled people in Scotland and ensuring that their human rights are realised.

Question reference: S5W-10342

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 July 2017
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 27 July 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many wind farm applications that have been turned down by local authorities have been subsequently (a) approved and (b) rejected by ministers on appeal since July 2016.

*The number of wind farm applications that have been turned down by local authorities (or where the authority have failed to make a decision) and have been subsequently a) allowed and b) dismissed by Ministers on appeal since July 2016 are set out in the following table:

	Decisions issued on appeals against refusal	Decisions issued on appeals against conditions imposed	Decisions issued on appeals against planning authority’s failure to give a decision	Total
Allowed (planning permission granted)	11	1	1	13
Dismissed (planning permission refused)	6	0	4	10
Total	17	1	5	23

*Figures shown relate to the period 1 July 2016 to 24 July 2017

Question reference: S5W-09612

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 June 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 19 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what progress the NHS is making with reducing bed blocking.

The latest delayed discharge census (April 2017) was published on 6 June. It showed a reduction in bed days associated with delay, continuing the downward trend that has seen 25 out of 26 months showing a reduction on the equivalent month the previous year.

The standard health and social care delays over 3 days fell again in April to713, down 63 from March. This is the lowest level since recording changes were introduced in July 2016.