Parliamentary questions
Pam Duncan-Glancy
1,119 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
11 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to help ensure that asylum seekers in Scotland are provided with appropriate accommodation by private providers and local authorities, in light of the decision by Mears to end its use of hotel accommodation.
Answer · Shona Robison: Asylum is a matter reserved to the UK Parliament and handled by the Home Office. This includes provision of asylum accommodation to people who require it while awaiting the outcome of their asylum application. The Scottish Government has no control of asylum …
27 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to increase funding to carers' services provided by the third sector, in light of reports that such services have experienced a 50% increase in referrals.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: We recognise that local carer support services have been under additional pressure during the pandemic. Local authorities and integration authorities are responsible for carer support under the Carers Act and commission third sector organisations to provide …
22 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what evidence-based assessment it has made of the (a) quality and (b) provision of palliative care services, in all settings, in each NHS board area.
Answer · Maree Todd: Ensuring high quality palliative and end of life care for people towards the end of life is an important priority for the Scottish Government. Since 2016, it has been the responsibility of Integration Authorities to commission and plan palliative and end of …
22 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in appointing a new National Clinical Lead for palliative and end of life care.
Answer · Maree Todd: Scottish Government officials are currently working to identify the most appropriate and effective way to appoint a National Clinical Lead for Palliative and End of Life Care. This work is ongoing and further information regarding this appointment will be mad…
22 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of individuals have (a) requested and (b) received hospital-based palliative care, broken down by NHS board area, for the most recent year for which figures are available.
Answer · Maree Todd: The information about the number of individuals requesting hospital-based palliative care is not collected centrally. The following table shows the number of people recorded as receiving inpatient palliative care in 2019-20. However, this information may not…
21 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government by what date free school meals will be available for all children in (a) P6 and (b) P7.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government is committed to expanding the universal provision of free school lunches to include all primary school children, during school term-time, by August 2022.
20 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many children are currently eligible for the Scottish Child Payment, and, of those who are eligible, how many (a) have and (b) have not applied for the payment.
Answer · Ben Macpherson: Using the latest available forecasts published by the Scottish Fiscal Commission in January 2021 1 , it is estimated that 163,000 children are eligible for Scottish Child Payment in 2021-22. Social Security Scotland publish official statistics on the number …
20 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the take-up of the Scottish Child Payment.
Answer · Ben Macpherson: Social Security Scotland has been proactively promoting Scottish Child Payment by writing to those eligible on Universal Credit and HMRC tax credit databases to invite them to apply. Social Security Scotland also continue to work closely with public sector se…
13 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of the DWP and Social Security Scotland's development of a shared protocol and agreement to ensure swifter data sharing on a benefit-by-benefit basis.
Answer · Shona Robison: Data sharing between the UK Government’s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Social Security Scotland is an important element of the current devolution settlement. It allows the Scottish Government to top up reserved benefits in line with the provision…
13 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on discussions with the UK Government on work to deliver the six-to 16-year-old data required to roll out the Scottish Child Payment.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Child Payment team are working closely with the DWP Scottish Devolution Programme to refine the scope of the delivery, including the data sharing requirements, to ensure the safe and secure roll out of the Scottish Child Payment to eligible famil…
12 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the scope of the Restricting Food Promotions Bill before it is introduced.
Answer · Maree Todd: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-01446 on 26 July 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-committees…
12 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government by what date legislation will be introduced to restrict the promotion of (a) food and (b) drinks with high fat, sugar and salt content.
Answer · Maree Todd: Plans for future legislation are set out in the annual legislative programme announced in the Programme for Government. We remain fully committed to restricting the promotion and marketing of foods high in fat, sugar or salt where they are sold to the public…
6 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many disabled interns each NHS board has hired in each of the last three years.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Information on how many disabled interns each NHS Board has hired in each of the last three years is not centrally held.
6 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which NHS boards have self-organised groups of disabled staff members.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. We are however developing a meaningful equality and diversity objective for Chairs of NHS Boards that directly support the work of staff equality networks, ensuring they have a voice and influe…
5 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government by what date universal free meals in primary schools will be fully implemented, and what progress has been made to date regarding the delivery of this.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Free school meals are a vital support to thousands of children and young people across the country - ensuring that children have access to a free, healthy and nutritious meal on every day they are in school and are ready to engage in learning. The Scottish G…
5 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (a) has or (b) plans to introduce a 24/7 rota to provide thrombolysis for stroke patients, and what the reasons are for the NHS board's position on this matter.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Around 10-15% of patients presenting with acute stroke in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHS GG&C) Health Board area are candidates for reperfusion with thrombolysis. The other 85-90% of admissions require specialist local care. Within NHS GGC, acute stro…
5 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make a commitment to include a stroke action plan in the forthcoming Programme for Government.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Our focus for the current Programme for Government stroke commitments is to continue our work to deliver a national thrombectomy service for stroke and define a progressive stroke pathway. We are making progress against both of these commitments, with a repor…
29 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for how long it has committed to funding the Self-Isolation Support Grant.
Answer · Ben Macpherson: The self isolation support grant(SISG) is designed to encourage eligible individuals who have tested positive for Covid 19 to self isolate for the required period to stop onward spread. The SISG will be available for as long as required, subject to budget ava…
29 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether an equalities impact assessment was carried out in relation to the most recent COVID-19 strategic framework.
Answer · John Swinney: Equality impact assessments have been carried out where appropriate in relation to the levels approach in Coronavirus (Covid-19): Scotland’s Strategic Framework, including following its updates in February and June 2021.
29 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its forecasted spend on the Self-Isolation Support Grant is for each remaining month of the current financial year.
Answer · Ben Macpherson: The Self Isolation Support Grant (SISG) is a demand driven grant with one overall budget that is not allocated by period or location. We have committed to providing funding for both the programme and administration costs for these payments. Local authorities …
29 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates its review of the Scottish Welfare Fund will commence; what the scope of the review will be; when it will report, and what the anticipated timescale is for any recommendations to be implemented.
Answer · Ben Macpherson: The Scottish Government has committed to undertake a review of the Welfare Fund, including examination of its funding, administration, promotion, take-up and accessibility. The detailed scope, delivery and timescales of the review will be determined in due co…
29 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with the Department for Work and Pensions, and what issues were discussed.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government meets with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) routinely on a range of matters. The last time Scottish Government Ministers met with DWP Ministers was at the last Joint Ministerial Working Group on Welfare on 16 December 2020, …
28 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government by what date it anticipates a decision on the continuation of telemedical abortion care will be announced.
Answer · Maree Todd: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-00713 on 23 June 2021. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/2…
17 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what date the Clinical Priorities Unit began issuing the most recent guidance provided by the Faculty of Pain Medicine, the changes of which came into effect on 29 July 2020.
Answer · Maree Todd: I appreciate how difficult postponement of treatment has been for people with chronic pain. This includes those who may have had their normal treatment paused, including injections to manage acute pain, owing to clinical concerns related to an increased risk …
17 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements are in place to ensure that everyone facing delays in receiving pain relief injections receive their treatment as soon as possible, and what assessment it has carried out of the impact of these delays on people’s health.
Answer · Maree Todd: I appreciate how difficult postponement of treatment has been for people with chronic pain. We want to ensure people with chronic pain can access appropriate support, however we are aware of the challenges facing specialist pain services as they continue to r…
17 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will (a) begin and (b) conclude its review of assessment and eligibility criteria for Disability Assistance, in light of the forthcoming devolution of powers over this benefit.
Answer · Ben Macpherson: An independent review of Adult Disability Payment will commence in summer 2023. We will consult with stakeholders on the specific details of undertaking the review, including on the appropriate duration, and will provide an update in due course.
9 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the timetable is for the implementation of the provisions in Part 6 of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 that prohibit pavement parking, and by what date these provisions will be fully in force.
Answer · Graeme Dey: Following a delay due to Covid-19, officials are continuing work with Local Authorities to develop both the secondary legislation required to allow them to enforce the National pavement parking prohibition as well as the Parking Standards Guidance which will …
2 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the additional funds for business support, as announced on social media by the leader of Glasgow City Council on 28 May 2021, will be paid to businesses in Glasgow.
Answer · Kate Forbes: Glasgow City Council received additional discretionary funding of £769,000 to further help businesses affected by the increased period of level 3 restrictions from 17 May. Grants have already been paid and over 2000 businesses received additional support thro…
2 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider providing specific support for the mental health of people working in Glasgow, including self-employed people.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government is working with mental health organisations, employer groups and trade unions to improve mental health support in workplaces across Scotland. In October 2020 we published our ‘Mental Health – Transition and Recovery’ plan which outlin…
27 May 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what mechanisms are in place to enable people to demonstrate their COVID-19 vaccination status, and what its position is on introducing an NHS vaccination card, similar to that provided in England.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S6T-00019 on 26 May 2021. The answer is available on the Parliament's website at: Official Report - Parliamentary Business : Scottish Parliament .