Parliamentary questions
Gillian Mackay
183 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
6 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the causes of the reported delay in implementing the fracture liaison service audit, and what steps it is taking to prevent further delays.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Public Health Scotland (PHS) are responsible for the delivery of the Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) audit which was commissioned by Scottish Government in July 2024. PHS has informed Scottish Government that there was a delay in recruitment required for audi…
26 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what annual funding has been made available for HIV transmission elimination since that goal was set in 2020.
Answer · Jenni Minto: HIV transmission elimination is funded as part of the wider Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus (SHBBV) budget. Many of the interventions which support this have wider impacts on sexual health improvement and blood borne virus elimination.Prior to the Sexual …
26 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to fund an extension of emergency department opt-out HIV testing.
Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-34901 on 3 March 2025. 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-committees/…
26 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider the merits of a national HIV testing week for Scotland.
Answer · Jenni Minto: A national HIV testing week was carefully considered by the HIV Transmission Elimination Scoping Group, including clinical and public health experts, who did not recommend that it should be prioritised in the short to medium term. Based on the Group’s a…
19 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken in response to the Young Carers Covenant, which was launched by the Carers Trust in 2024, and made a commitment to improve the lives of young carers, including supporting the covenant in achieving its 10 desired outcomes.
Answer · Maree Todd: As promised in the Scottish Parliament debate on Young Carers Action Day on 14 March 2024, I have tasked my officials with looking at the feasibility of the Scottish Government committing to the Young Carer Covenant. The Covenant’s overarching principle…
19 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to assist young carers,including supporting them in being able to access (a) short breaks and respite,(b) education and (c) employment.
Answer · Maree Todd: Under the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 every young carer has a right to a personalised support plan, called a young carer statement. The process of producing the statement must include identifying the young person’s needs, such as support to take a break,…
19 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Services in Scotland: An updated analysis of Health Board survey data as of July 2024, which was published in November 2024 and (a) suggested that there was a lack of services for children and…
Answer · Jenni Minto: We recognise the importance of good quality care for children and young people living with ME/CFS.The Scottish Budget 2025-26 includes £4.5 million to deliver specialist support across the country for long COVID, ME/CFS and other similar conditions. We …
15 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15841 by Humza Yousaf on 24 March 2023, what feedback it has received from doctors using the EnergyPods at the Victoria Hospital since March 2023, and what additional steps it is taking with NHS boards in their workplaces to support the wellbeing of…
Answer · Neil Gray: The allocation of funding for healthy food provision, out-of-hours catering or rest spaces for doctors remains the responsibility of individual Health Boards, who will manage their facilities effectively within their individual budgets.NHS employers are encou…
15 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15841 by Humza Yousaf on 24 March 2023, whether it has received feedback on the impact of the provision of hot food appliances for use by resident doctors in hospitals since 2023, and, if not, whether it will commission each NHS board to gather this…
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government invited Health Boards to submit requests for hot food appliances required to support resident doctors in late 2022. In February 2023, invitations were closed and Scottish Government provided funding to responding Health Boards to enabl…
15 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15841 by Humza Yousaf on 24 March 2023, how many hot food appliances have been provided for resident doctors in hospitals since March 2023, and what feedback it has received from NHS boards regarding their effectiveness in improving staff wellbeing.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government invited Health Boards to submit requests for hot food appliances required to support resident doctors in late 2022. In February 2023, invitations were closed and Scottish Government provided funding to responding Health Boards to enabl…
15 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of the health budget in the 2025-26 financial year will be allocated to the provision of healthy foods, out-of-hours catering and rest spaces for doctors working in hospitals, and what practical steps it will take with NHS boards to ensure the daily operation of such faci…
Answer · Neil Gray: The allocation of funding for healthy food provision, out-of-hours catering or rest spaces for doctors remains the responsibility of individual Health Boards, who will manage their facilities effectively within their individual budgets.NHS employers are encou…
11 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it spent on policy implementation for (a) cancer, (b) stroke, (c) heart disease, (d) diabetes, (e) dementia and (f) respiratory care, in each year since 2021.
Answer · Jenni Minto: As policy implementation and delivery is carried out primarily within health boards, the total budget figures for policy implementation are not centrally held.The Scottish Government’s published budgets for the last five years, including details of plan…
11 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many full-time equivalent civil servants currently work within its (a) cancer policy unit, (b) long-term conditions policy unit, broken down by condition, and (c) long-term conditions strategy unit.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The number of full-time equivalent civil servants is broken down by policy area and condition as follows:Policy AreaHealth ConditionFull-time equivalent (FTE) civil servantsCancer and Rehabilitation Policy UnitCancer8.74 WTELong-Term Conditions Policy UnitHea…
3 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light the commitment set out in its document, Stroke Improvement Plan 2023, to set up a forum “for regular engagement between stroke services from every NHS board”, whether it will confirm whether this forum has been established and, if so, (a) on what date it first met, …
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Stroke Engagement Forum met for the first time on 2 October 2024. The agenda included items on acute stroke care and research involvement and involved the sharing of local practices and approaches to shared challenges. The next meeting of the group will b…
23 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the requirements of the National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) Policy 3 pertaining to biodiversity enhancement will be integrated into the proposals for Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme.
Answer · Gillian Martin: It is the responsibility of Local Authorities to plan, develop and deliver flood protection schemes and other flood resilience actions.Policy 3 of the National Planning Framework requires that development proposals contribute to the enhancement of biodiversit…
23 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration and support has been given to ensure that all reasonable upstream flood alleviation measures have been taken to reduce flood risk at Grangemouth
Answer · Gillian Martin: It is the responsibility of Local Authorities to plan, develop and deliver flood protection schemes and other flood resilience actions.It is best practice for options development to be carried out by local authorities using an appraisal framework. The options…
23 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on what level of certainty would be required that essential infrastructure would remain operational for a significant period of time in order for its protection from flooding to be considered an imperative reason of overriding importance for the purpose of the Habita…
Answer · Gillian Martin: Flood protection schemes are an effective way to improve flood resilience for the design flood, they are not an absolute guarantee that flooding will not occur. Events beyond the design flood are possible and a residual risk will always remain. It is up to in…
23 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported need for rapid transition from fossil fuels, what its position is on whether the defence of petrochemical infrastructure from flooding could be considered an imperative reason of overriding public interest for the purposes of the Habitats Regulations, and whethe…
Answer · Gillian Martin: Individual local authorities have responsibility for the development and delivery of flood protection schemes. Every location at risk is unique and therefore the business case for improving flood resilience will reflect this.Where a flood protection developme…
23 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had to ensure that the use of natural flood management measures is prioritised as part of any flood defence scheme at Grangemouth.
Answer · Gillian Martin: It is the responsibility of Local Authorities to plan, develop and deliver flood protection schemes and other flood resilience actions.Local authorities carry out appraisals of flood protection schemes. It is expected that every scheme, which is delivered by …
21 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the reported failure to meet national standards of stroke care, as outlined in the most recent Scottish Stroke Improvement Plan annual report, and what its plan is to ensure that people who experience a stroke are able to get access to appropriate and …
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Stroke Care Standards are designed to drive effective service delivery and improve patient outcomes. Monitoring of performance against stroke standards through the Scottish Stroke Care Audit allows us to identify where challenges are being faced …
17 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the outcome of the 2022 review, Stop, Sort, Burn, Bury - incineration in the waste hierarchy, what its position is regarding the 12 incinerators that were approved, or were in the process of construction, prior to the decision to stop all new applications for incinerators; …
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Independent Review of the Role of Incineration in Scotland’s Waste Hierarchy recommended that no further planning permission is awarded to incineration facilities, beyond those for which planning permission has already been granted, with some limited exce…
21 May 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what steps it is taking to address child poverty.
9 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-26372 by Siobhan Brown on 16 April 2024, which local authorities have (a) applied for funding from the Scottish Government relating to the implementation of firework control zones and (b) opened the application process for firework control zones so …
Answer · Siobhian Brown: Funding was provided in the 2023-24 financial year to City of Edinburgh Council, North Ayrshire Council, South Ayrshire Council and Dundee City Council to support their work on firework control zone development. Based on discussions with officials funding has…
8 May 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update ahead of the introduction of the proposed Post Office (Horizon System) Offences (Scotland) Bill, including in relation to the potential overturning of any wrongful convictions of postmasters in Scotland that were based on evidence from the Post Office’s …
2 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on the two FAST (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) stroke awareness commitments in the Stroke Improvement Plan 2023, and when it plans to run a FAST media campaign.
Answer · Jenni Minto: There are two commitments relating to FAST In the Stroke Improvement Plan 2023: 1. Establish the current degree of public understanding of FAST stroke symptoms and the action required, and whether certain at-risk groups require different messaging. 2. Suppo…
11 Mar 2024 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the current 40 Days for Life protests.
28 Feb 2024 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what public health measures are being taken to minimise harm from vaping, prior to the introduction of the proposed ban on single-use vapes.
26 Jan 2024 · Inspired Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the action that it will take to tackle the environmental impact of single-use vapes, following the closure of the four nations consultation, Creating a Smokefree Generation and Tackling Youth Vaping.
Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government takes the environmental impact of single-use vapes very seriously. Last year I commissioned an urgent review of the environmental impact of single-use vapes, which found that up to 26 million disposable vapes were consumed and thrown a…
8 Dec 2023 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of any social benefit of extending free bus travel to all under 22s.
9 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider the expansion of community link workers for children and young people, as recommended in the Barnardo’s report, The Missing Link: Social Prescribing for Children and Young People.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government notes the recommendations of the Barnardo’s report, The Missing Link: Social Prescribing for Children and Young People. Community link workers (CLWs) have a key role for social prescribing in primary care settings. We have not prescri…