Beatrice Wishart

24 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what current delays there are to the issuing of bowel cancer screening invites, broken down by NHS board, also broken down by the average length of delay.

Answer · Maree Todd: Following the pause on all adult screening programmes in March 2020, due to COVID-19, the Scottish bowel screening programme resumed issuing home testing kits from 12 October 2020. All those who were due to be sent a bowel screening kit during the pause were …

24 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what criteria are being used to establish eligibility for ongoing COVID-19 booster vaccinations, and whether consideration will be given to allow GPs or local NHS boards to recommend that individuals receive a booster, dependent on their personal medical history, where they fall outside …

Answer · Humza Yousaf: From the outset, the Scottish Government’s decision-making on the COVID-19 vaccination programme has been guided by the expert advice provided by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and senior clinicians. It is presently anticipated th…

11 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications there have been for the (a) interim voucher and (b) full voucher, of the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme, from households in Shetland, and, as of May 2022, how many of these applications have resulted in successful connections.

Answer · Kate Forbes: As of May 2022, 33 applications had been received for properties located in Shetland for the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme’s interim voucher, which offers up to £400 to secure a temporary superfast connection. Twenty six of these vouchers have been i…

11 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, as of May 2022, how many properties in Shetland are outwith the scope of the main R100 programme or commercial build plans and will be reliant on its broadband voucher scheme for a superfast internet connection.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (SBVS) is a key strand of R100 programme delivery. As of May 2022, 1,847 properties on Shetland were eligible for a voucher worth up to £5,000 through the R100 SBVS.

10 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to increasing the discount under the Air Discount Scheme in light of the cost of living crisis.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: We are pleased to have funded the significant 50% discount through the scheme since 2016, helping residents of our remote and island communities that rely on these connections. We anticipate over £10 million of discounts being provided in 2022-23 and believe …

9 May 2022 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to provide local support to new mothers who require a specialist mental health bed with their baby, following recent reports that many are having to travel hundreds of miles in order to receive the treatment they need.

28 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what advice it has provided to NHS boards about the use of GP DACS (General Practice Digital Asynchronous Consultation Systems).

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I can advise that all Health Boards in Scotland have been advised of the national approach being taken to the provision of a 'once for Scotland' GP DACS. Boards are aware that a national steering group is overseeing this development and has established a ‘pat…

28 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidelines are in place for NHS boards regarding the use of GP DACS (General Practice Digital Asynchronous Consultation Systems) that are available, such as Near Me and AskMyGP.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: As part of the pathfinder programme guidance will developed and issued to NHS Boards on GP DACS. However, I should clarify that Near Me is not an asynchronous model (as it only provides real-time video consultations) and that AskMyGP has been procured at a lo…

28 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much each NHS board has spent on GP DACS (General Practice Digital Asynchronous Consultation Systems) in each of the last three financial years, and how much does each NHS board anticipate it will spend on these systems in the (a) current and (b) next financial year.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The expenditure on local adoption of GP DACS is not currently monitored at a national level given the variation in different approaches and systems that are currently in use for online triage and asynchronous consultations. We expect to develop a clearer pict…

28 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how patient confidentiality is ensured in connection with the use of GP DACS (General Practice Digital Asynchronous Consultation Systems), in light of some NHS Scotland GP practices reportedly using such systems.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: As outlined in my reply to your letter dated 28 April 2022, I can assure you that the Scottish Government takes the security of patient information and data extremely seriously. I can confirm that there are robust Digital Security and Governance procedures th…

28 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many incidents of animal theft there have been in each of the last five years, broken down by species.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government does not hold statistics on incidents or crimes of animal theft. The data we receive from Police Scotland is a count of the number of crimes and offences recorded by the police, split by local authority, and the number cleared up by th…

25 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of some NHS Scotland GP practices reportedly using GP DACS (General Practice Digital Asynchronous Consultation Systems), what consideration it has given to developing an in-house GP DACS.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government has made a general commitment to providing 24 hour digital access to services through asynchronous communication (generally recognised as the ability to 'chat' with services any time, when an instant response is not required, such as v…

8 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what support is available to people living with myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

Answer · Maree Todd: While the Scottish Government’s role is to set the strategic policy for the NHS in Scotland, NHS Boards and healthcare professionals locally have responsibility for both service delivery and people’s care. NHS Boards are expected to ensure that patients, incl…

1 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans are in place to ensure that, following the end of free home COVID-19 testing, people who develop long COVID as a result of COVID-19, but who have no proof of a positive COVID-19 infection, will be able to access the treatment and support that they need.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The identification, assessment and management of people with long-term effects of COVID-19 in Scotland is guided by the UK-wide clinical guideline developed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Ne…

31 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it had with established incinerators and energy recovery plants in Scotland regarding its review of the role of incineration in the waste hierarchy.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government appointed Dr Colin Church to act as Chair of the Independent Review of the Role of Incineration in the Waste Hierarchy in Scotland. As independent Chair, Dr Church determined the Review process, including seeking evidence from stakehol…

29 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the hip replacement surgery operation waiting times are for the (a) first hip and (b) second hip, and what percentage of first hip replacements result in the need for the second hip to replaced.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. Public Health Scotland is not currently able to report accurately on waiting times to this level of detail. More detailed information on the procedure(s) that are planned or undertak…

23 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions have been held with NHS Grampian about increasing capacity for elective cardiac surgeries to reduce patient waiting times.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The pandemic has seen the NHS under the most severe pressure in its 73-year existence. Pausing of non-urgent activity has taken place in health systems across Scotland, and the UK, which has inevitably led to a build-up of the numbers of people waiting for tr…

23 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken by NHS Grampian to clear the waiting lists for patients who need elective cardiac surgery, in order to ensure that they can be seen within recommended guidelines.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-07632 on 19 April 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committee…

23 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions have been held with NHS Grampian about increasing capacity for elective surgeries to reduce patient waiting times.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-07632 on 19 April 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committee…

17 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to extend rates relief for the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, in light of reports that businesses are struggling following the Omicron variant of COVID-19. 

Answer · Tom Arthur: We are extending the retail, hospitality and leisure relief by offering 50% relief for the first three months of 2022-23, capped at £27,500 per ratepayer. This follows 100% relief for retail, hospitality and leisure premises for the past two years without any…

17 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether any business rates for pubs that are based on turnover assessed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic will be artificially high, and whether consideration has been given to whether this may be the case when making decisions on rates relief.

Answer · Tom Arthur: All non-domestic properties are valued periodically at a revaluation and the resulting ‘Rateable Value’ applies for the full period of the valuation cycle. Values are benchmarked against same date for all properties which is called the ‘tone date’. Both of th…

10 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking, alongside National Records of Scotland (NRS), to ensure the accuracy of the data collected by Scotland's Census 2022. 

Answer · Angus Robertson: National Records of Scotland consulted a range of groups and organisations across Scotland to help decide what topics to cover and what questions to ask in Scotland’s Census 2022. In order to be considered for inclusion topics must meet a significant and cle…

10 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it can provide regarding the accuracy of the data collected from Scotland's Census 2022, in light of reports that there is an inability to view or amend answers for those who choose to complete the census early. 

Answer · Angus Robertson: Questions included in the census are intended to provide a snapshot of the population on census day, 20 March 2022. The online census questionnaire allows you to change your previous answers right up until you submit your questionnaire. Further changes canno…

7 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the UK Government regarding the future administration and targeting of the Warm Home Discount scheme in Scotland.

Answer · Michael Matheson: In February 2021 the Scottish Government proposed combining the Warm Home Discount (WHD) and Energy Company Obligation (ECO) together as a single, flexible fuel poverty scheme in Scotland. This was among our formal asks of the UK Government when we consulted …

3 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that its commitment to making public services “digital first”, such as Scotland's Census 2022, does not disadvantage households in rural and island communities that do not have a fast and reliable broadband connection.

Answer · Angus Robertson: In the specific context of Scotland’s island communities and Scotland’s Census 2022, we are aware that the most significant barrier is likely to be digital connectivity. The Scottish Government Digital infrastructure strategy aims to: deliver 100% superfast b…

3 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it has sought from National Records of Scotland in relation to people with poor or intermittent internet connectivity still being able to complete Scotland's Census 2022.

Answer · Angus Robertson: We want everyone living in Scotland to be included in the Census and we recognise that digital exclusion (and other barriers to participation) may prevent people from being able to complete online. We understand that not everyone will be able to, or wish to,…

3 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to resolve the reported issues with completing Scotland's Census 2022 online as a result of codes not being recognised by the system, in order to ensure that people who choose to complete the census online can do so by Census Day on 20 March 2022.

Answer · Angus Robertson: We apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused any individual. We are aware of a very small number of instances of this occurring in the first few days of operation, out of the 2.7M Internet Access codes (IAC) issued. This issue was resolved. If requ…

1 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when the written report by Seagreen Wind Energy Limited, in respect of unexploded ordnance clearance activities, will be published, and on what grounds regulation 10(5)(b) was invoked when this document was requested under the Environmental Informatio…

Answer · Michael Matheson: Marine Scotland Directorate's– Licensing Operations Team (“MS-LOT”) are currently consulting with NatureScot on the written report by Seagreen Wind Energy Limited in respect of unexploded ordnance clearance activities. MS-LOT intend to publish this report on …

1 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will update its policy regarding explosive ordnance disposal in light of the reported recent trials of deflagration conducted by the Danish Navy.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Protecting Scotland’s marine environment is of paramount importance to the Scottish Government. I am aware of the recent trials conducted by the Danish Navy into the deflagration method of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) disposal, and look forward to the data analy…

25 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to planning guidelines to prevent power disruption, in light of the disruption caused by recent storms across Scotland.

Answer · Tom Arthur: Resilience of the Energy Sector is reserved and therefore the responsibility of the UK Government. Following the severe disruption caused by recent storms across Scotland the Scottish Government has fed in to independent reviews undertaken by BEIS and Ofgem. …