- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 December 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 5 January 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its position in relation to introducing an equal right of appeal in the planning system.
Answer
The Scottish Government has no plans to make changes to rights of appeal in the planning system.
A number of amendments that sought to introduce a third party right of appeal were considered, and rejected, by the Scottish Parliament during consideration of the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 December 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 5 January 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to address the variation across NHS board areas regarding the experiences of patients trying to access integrative care and services offered by the NHS Centre for Integrative Care.
Answer
It is for individual NHS Boards to decide which services they make available based on national and local priorities and the needs of their resident populations.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 December 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 5 January 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the British Academy of Audiology report on NHS Lothian's Paediatric Audiology Services, which reportedly found there were 887 cases in which children were affected of which at least 100 were deaf, what measures it is taking to ensure that all children who may have been affected are urgently identified.
Answer
NHS Lothian has, as part of their response to the reports, sent diagnostic appointments for those children identified in the review as being of clinical concern and requiring recall. In addition, the Board is working with the British Academy of Audiology to review the Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) recordings of all children seen by the service for ABR testing during the last five years. An agreed escalation process is in place to highlight any cases of concern on a weekly basis and those of significant concern within 24 hours.
The Board is also undertaking work to review children known to the service who have risk factors for hearing loss and, based on the outcome of each review, recall children where appropriate in line with national guidance.
NHS Lothian will continue to report to the Scottish Government on a monthly basis.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 December 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 5 January 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to allowing NHS boards to take over the running of any community pharmacies that are struggling to remain open.
Answer
The Scottish Government is not considering the possibility of allowing Health Boards to take over the running of community pharmacies that are struggling to remain open. Community pharmacies, along with other primary care contractors, are wholly independent private entities providing NHS services on behalf the Health Board. Any challenges faced by community pharmacy contractors in delivering existing pharmaceutical care services should be discussed with the Health Boards who will be able to consider actions to support service provision.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 December 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 5 January 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will clarify the details of its aim to reduce the kilometres, or miles, travelled by car by 20% by a target date; whether the target date remains 2030; whether the aim has changed to a (a) quantity of miles or (b) target date of 2032; if so, for what reason, and, if not, for what reason the Minister for Transport stated otherwise on social media on 10 December 2021.
Answer
The commitment to reduce car kms by 20% by 2030 (against a 2019 baseline) as set out in the Scottish Government’s Climate Change Plan update (CCPu) published in December 2020 remains unchanged, either in terms of measurement or time scale.
An incorrect graphic was posted on social media on the 10 th of December. As soon as the error was noticed, the post was removed at the earliest opportunity to avoid further confusion, and we remain fully committed to reducing car km driven in Scotland by 20% by the year 2030.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 December 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 5 January 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported delays associated with road surfacing, which was followed by flooding to the gas network, whether it will provide an updated delivery (a) timescale and (b) cost for the completion of the A92/A96 Haudagain Improvement project.
Answer
he A92 A96 Haudagain Improvement project, which was anticipated to be complete in winter 2021, has faced a number of challenges including the impact of the pandemic continuing to disrupt progress. The contractor has indicated a revised date for completing the works, with the Improvement now due to open to traffic by the end of March 2022 as detailed in the recent press release available on the Transport Scotland website at https://www.transport.gov.scot/news/a92a96-haudagain-improvement-update-to-expected-completion-date/ . I also refer the member to the answer to question S6W-05362 on 21 December 2021 available on the Parliament's website at the following link: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers/question?ref=S6W-05362
I can confirm that the project remains on budget. There is no change to the estimated total project cost of £49.5m at Q4 2018 prices, of which the construction contract value is £18m, as reported in the Infrastructure Investment Plan updates.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 December 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 5 January 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce protected learning time and the necessary infrastructure in order for all pharmacists to receive support in professional development from foundation to consultant level.
Answer
There are no plans to introduce protected learning time at present. It is a decision for employers to allow staff time to study for additional qualifications.
To support delivery of the Community Pharmacy First Plus service, Community Pharmacist contractors receive backfill (up to £5750) to release community pharmacists to undertake their IP qualification (5 days face to face teaching + 12 days Period of Learning in Practice), clinical skills training (4 days) and also access to a maximum of 3 sessions at a CCC Teach and Treat Training Hub (backfill up to £750).
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 December 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 5 January 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, as part of the proposed licensing of grouse moors, whether it will consider putting in place a system to quantify and publish the number of gamebirds and other quarry species that are shot in Scotland each year.
Answer
As we set out in our 2021 Programme for Government we will: ‘ deliver the recommendations of the Grouse Moor Management Review Group as a matter of urgency, including the licensing of grouse moors. Licensing or further regulation will cover the key areas identified in the review, including muirburn, wildlife control, the use of medicated grit and wildlife crime .’
The Grouse Moor Management Group chaired by Professor Werritty did not make any recommendations for a system to quantify and publish the number of gamebirds and other quarry species that are shot in Scotland each year and we have no plans to introduce such a system at present.
We are working with NatureScot to develop proposals for a licensing scheme for grouse moor businesses and it is conceivable that such a system might require records of quarry species shot on grouse moors. We will engage closely with relevant stakeholders as those proposals are developed.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 December 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 5 January 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether integrative care is a cost effective and efficient approach to healthcare.
Answer
The Scottish Government recognises that Complementary and Alternative Medicines Services (CAMS), may offer relief to some people suffering from a wide variety of conditions.
It is for individual NHS Boards to decide what complementary and alternative medicines/therapies they make available based on the needs of their resident populations and in line with national guidance.
The NHS Centre for Integrative Care (CIC) is a facility owned, operated and funded by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHS GGC). It offers people with long term conditions a range of services, including complementary, holistic and homeopathic treatments. Most patients referred to the centre are experiencing chronic pain, chronic low energy, and/or chronic low mood or anxiety.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 December 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 5 January 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what research is being done to explore the use of AI in further high-demand medical areas.
Answer
There is a range of projects being undertaken in Scotland to explore the use of AI in further high-demand medical areas, ranging from robotic surgery to the use of virtual reality in supporting mental wellbeing is currently being researched, evaluated, and implemented in Scotland.
The Industrial Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research in Digital Diagnostics (iCAIRD) website provides more information:
iCAIRD – Industrial Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research in Digital Diagnostics .
