Gillian Mackay

30 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report, Alcohol marketing during the 2020 Six Nations Championship: A frequency analysis, including the finding that a reference to alcohol appeared every 12 seconds during the broadcast of a match played in Scotland.

Answer · Maree Todd: Sports sponsorship entails a range of alcohol advertising and promotional activity, which we know is seen by children and young people across Scotland. The findings of this report undertaken by researchers at the University of Stirling highlight just how much…

27 Sep 2021 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the ongoing economic impact on Scotland of Brexit.

23 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to implement each of the eight recommendations that are directed to it in the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland report, Racial Inequality and Mental Health in Scotland: A call to action.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government is already working with key partners to address existing data and evidence deficits which will allow us to fully understand the complex picture that exists in health inequalities for people from ethnic minority groups. The Scottish Gov…

23 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the findings of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland report, Racial Inequality and Mental Health in Scotland: A call to action.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-03286 on? 1 October 2021. 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-committ…

21 Sep 2021 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that young people's views on climate change are listened to in the run up to COP26.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: On 13 September, we announced £300,000 of support for the 16th conference of youth—COY16—the UN’s official youth event for COP26. For the first time, five young people from Scotland will join participants from around the world and will help to shape the confe…

13 Sep 2021 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is in discussions with the UK Government regarding its decision to terminate its supply agreement with Valneva for its COVID-19 vaccine candidate, VLA2001.

8 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-01792 by Humza Yousaf on 24 August 2021, what proportion of the NHS budget is spent specifically on general practice.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Further to the answer to question S6W-01792, the Scottish Government invests £862 million in general medical services, and a further £250 million in support of general practice through the Primary Care Fund. Specific details of actual expenditure would requi…

8 Sep 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports vulnerable people in the prison system.

1 Sep 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the average waiting time is for cataract surgery.

27 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to alleviate any impact of the shortage of blood specimen collection tubes.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is working closely with NHS National Services Scotland (NSS), NHS Boards and other partners to manage supply issues relating to certain blood collection tubes. NSS is continuing to meet supply requirements and all of NHS Scotland ser…

26 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will implement the Scottish National Party manifesto commitment to renew every play park; how much funding will be allocated to this, and what support will be provided to ensure that (a) the renewed parks are regularly maintained and (b) any antisocial behaviour at these …

Answer · Clare Haughey: The Scottish Government is providing funding of £60 million towards renewing play parks in Scotland to ensure that all children have access to quality play in their own community. This funding will be distributed to local authorities over the course of this p…

6 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the current guidance on vitamin D supplementation.

Answer · Maree Todd: We currently have no plans to revise our advice on vitamin D supplementation. We will continue to be guided by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) and others as the evidence base on vitamin D develops. We will review our advice as necessary …

21 Jul 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of the NHS budget is spent on general practice costs.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The 2021-22 Scottish Budget provides £1.1 billion for investment in general medical services, in addition to £11.6 billion for our frontline NHS Boards. General medical services includes general practice investment and a wider range of additional and linked …

21 Jul 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many full-time equivalent GPs are employed.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: A publication by Public Health Scotland on 26th January 2021 showed the total number of GPs in Scotland was 5,134 as at 30th September 2020, a rise of 89 compared to 2019. Public Health Scotland are currently analysing data collected from the 2019 Workforce …

8 Jul 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the number of people currently awaiting an invitation for routine (a) bowel, (b) breast and (c) cervical screening.

Answer · Maree Todd: The bowel, breast and cervical screening programmes were paused in March last year, and restarted last summer with the initial focus on higher-risk screening participants and those whose appointments were affected by the pause. The bowel screening programme …

8 Jul 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the level of uptake of (a) bowel, (b) breast and (c) cervical screening since its resumption compares with pre-COVID-19-pandemic levels.

Answer · Maree Todd: Statistics for the cervical screening programme that will allow comparisons with pre-Covid-19 pandemic uptake are due to be published by Public Health Scotland on 1 September 2021. Comparable data on national performance for uptake in the breast and bowel sc…

8 Jul 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans are in place to increase the uptake for the (a) bowel, (b) breast and (c) cervical national screening programmes.

Answer · Maree Todd: The bowel, breast and cervical screening programmes are governed by their respective programme boards, as well as the National Screening Oversight and the Scottish Screening Committee. They monitor and evaluate performance, including uptake rates, against a s…

7 Jul 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Versus Arthritis campaign for a six-point support package to be provided to those waiting for joint replacements.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is supportive of the work of Versus Arthritis including the six-point support package. In support of this the Minister for Public Health, Women’s Health and Sport is due to meet with representatives of Versus Arthritis soon to discuss …

1 Jul 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the findings of the study that it commissioned on the human health and environmental impacts of the use of sewage sludge.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The study report on the impacts of sewage sludge on the environment and human health is scheduled to be published later this year.

1 Jul 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to (a) consult on and (b) implement the recommendations in its paper, Review of the Storage and Spreading of Sewage Sludge on Land in Scotland (The Sludge Review).

Answer · Michael Matheson: The legislative changes recommended by the review are being introduced via the Integrated Authorisation Framework regulations, however the progression of the regulations was paused due to Covid-19. We have now recommenced taking this work forward and a consul…

23 Jun 2021 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on talks with the Scottish Green Party on a potential co-operation agreement.

Answer · John Swinney: As the First Minister advised Parliament on 26 May, the Scottish Government and the Scottish Green Party have committed to exploring opportunities for cooperation and joint working for the common good and to change the dynamic of our politics for the better i…

9 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the NHS Recovery Plan will take account of the importance of providing rehabilitation and community support services following a stroke.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that people who have had a stroke receive the best possible care as quickly as possible to enable them to live longer, healthier independent lives. As we progress with our NHS Recovery Plan, evidence-based caut…

9 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its commitment that, by 2025, all adults who require rehabilitation will be able to access the necessary information and services, what action it is taking to ensure that people affected by aphasia following a stroke can access ongoing support in the community.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Our overall vision is for everyone with rehabilitation needs to be able to access the care and support they need to live well, on their own terms. Work is underway to deliver the Framework for supporting people through Recovery and Rehabilitation during and a…

8 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what criteria it uses to determine whether countries are listed as (a) red, (b) amber or (c) green on its international travel and managed isolation regime.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Decisions on the risk rating for individual countries is made on the basis of assessments by the Joint Biosecurity Centre, using a methodology endorsed by the four UK Chief Medical Officers. This takes into account incidence and test positivity, presence of v…

7 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact on the COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing plant in Livingston would be, should Valneva's inactivated whole virus vaccine not be approved for use.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Valneva is an important part of the life science eco-system and supports directly high value jobs directly. Scottish Government can offer support to companies impacted by a change in projected work and if required, a package of mitigation measures can be del…

7 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much money it has invested in Valneva to fund the (a) research and development of an inactivated whole virus COVID-19 vaccine and, (b) expansion of the manufacturing capacity for the vaccine at its factory in Livingston. 

Answer · Humza Yousaf: a) Valneva has not received economic development funding to expand their manufacturing capacity from the Scottish Government, but have received account management support and advice from Scottish Enterprise. b) The UK Government through the Vaccines Taskforc…

7 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many doses of the whole virus COVID-19 vaccine has Valneva been contracted to produce for (a) the NHS, (b) distribution to low-income countries, as a contribution to COVAX and (c) other high-income countries.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Vaccines Taskforce and BEIS provided the following commentary that the UK Government has secured early access to 100 million doses of Valneva’s COVID-19 vaccine across 2021 and 2022. The Prime Minister announced at the G7 on 11 June that the UK will donate 1…

7 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what safeguards it has put in place to ensure that the investment it has made in the (a) research and development and (b) manufacturing in Livingston of Valneva’s inactivated whole virus COVID-19 vaccine, will not be used to fund shareholder pay-outs when the company lists on the New Yor…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government has provided in-kind support to Valneva via Scottish Enterprise. There has been no financial investment made in this facility by the Scottish Government. The decision for any company to list on the Nasdaq is a commercial decision made…

7 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what public interest conditions relating to (a) open licensing, (b) equitable access and, (c) affordability were attached to the public funding of Valneva for the (i) research and development of its inactivated whole virus COVID-19 vaccine and (ii) expansion of manufacturing capacity at …

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Public Interest Conditions for this specific project are a matter for the UK Government. Vaccines Taskforce, BEIS have provided the following commentary that the UK Government’s investments to fund Valneva’s early clinical trials and upgrade and expand V…

7 Jun 2021 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government is doing to improve trans and LGBT+ healthcare.