Parliamentary questions
Sandesh Gulhane
385 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
31 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how its reported two-year freeze in capital expenditure for the NHS will impact on its NHS Recovery Plan target of recruiting 1,500 new clinical and non-clinical staff for National Treatment Centres by 2026.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government is continuing to provide a range of recruitment support, training and development activity to assist Health Boards in securing an appropriate mix of experienced and newly qualified staff for their National Treatment Centres (NTCs). As …
31 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-24594 by Jenny Gilruth on 29 January 2024, whether it will provide the information requested regarding for what reason, and based on what evidence, it has decided to set the target of two hours of physical education each school week for primary scho…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government has been committed to ensuring that all children in primary school receive at least two hours of physical education (PE) each school week since 2011. Our decision to set a target of two hours of PE for primary school children was promp…
31 Jan 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of the potential impact on its Medium-Term Financial Strategy and future Scottish Budgets of reports that the cost of a National Care Service could rise to £2 billion.
22 Jan 2024 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its current policy is regarding the deletion or retention of WhatsApp messages by ministers.
18 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to ensure that Scotland is fully prepared for any potential future pandemic.
Answer · Michael Matheson: We are working to ensure lessons identified from our policy response to the COVID-19 pandemic are put in place and that policy across government is better able to respond to the next pandemic. This includes clear responsibilities for preparedness and response…
18 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has put in place to eliminate the possibility of a so-called "lab leak" from virology research in Scotland.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government has no functions in relation to biosafety in virology laboratories, this is a matter for the UK Government. Under COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) legislation, employers must minimise the risk to laboratory staff worki…
17 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what time-sensitive targets it has for bringing waiting times for any NHS service into line with relevant standards.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Waiting times for planned care services is one of many metrics that contributes to the monitoring of performance and effectiveness across NHSScotland. There have been several changes to waiting time targets and standards over the last 30 years. The Patient …
17 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact that reducing the sportscotland budget will have on the physical activity of children.
Answer · Maree Todd: sportscotland’s budget has remained stable this year, with a £100k reduction due to a reduced requirement for non-cash funding and offsetting increase in resource requirement, both relating to recent accounting changes. We have committed to ensure that the A…
17 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-23791 by Maree Todd on 8 January 2024, what proportion of (a) primary and (b) secondary school pupils are currently receiving the specified target levels of physical education each school week.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24594 on 29 January 2024 Data on the provision of physical education in schools has been recorded in the Schools Healthy Living Survey Statistics Report since 2012. The most recent Schools Healthy Living Surv…
17 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-23791 by Maree Todd on 8 January 2024, on what evidence it has based its commitment to ensure that all children in primary schools receive at least two hours of physical education each school week.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Being physically active is one of the best things we can do for our physical and mental wellbeing. Physical education (PE) and physical activity have a positive impact on pupils' health, educational attainment, and life chances. That is why we have committed…
17 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many sexual health clinics are currently not operating.
Answer · Jenni Minto: This information is not held centrally. NHS Boards and Health and Social Care Partnerships are the experts on their communities and are responsible for providing sexual health services that meet local needs. This can sometimes include changing clinic operatin…
17 Jan 2024 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the MV Isle of Islay will be launched on 16 March 2024.
21 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many GP premises formerly owned or leased by GP contractors have been acquired by NHS boards in each year since 2017, when the National Code of Practice for GP premises was published, also broken down by the number of acquisitions by (a) lease and (b) ownership.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government does not hold this data. NHS Boards have been responsible for implementing the National Code of Practice for GP premises since it came into effect in 2018 when the new GP contract was agreed.
21 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assurances and support it will offer to any GP contractors coming to the end of third-party leases, who are reportedly unable to assign their leases to NHS boards through no fault of their own and feel pressured into signing new leases against Scottish Government advice.
Answer · Michael Matheson: NHS Boards are responsible for implementing the National Code of Practice for GP premises. The NHSScotland National Primary Care (GP) Premises Group has been set up to consider all matters relating to GP Premises including:Oversight of the implementation of …
21 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that (a) due to funding and personnel difficulties between NHS board property management departments and estates teams, there are currently no leases being taken by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in accordance with The National Code of Practice for GP premi…
Answer · Michael Matheson: NHS Boards are responsible for implementing the National Code of Practice for GP premises. The NHSScotland National Primary Care (GP) Premises Group has been set up to consider all matters relating to GP Premises including:Oversight of the implementation of …
21 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that the commitments made to GP contractors in The National Code of Practice for GP premises are being upheld.
Answer · Michael Matheson: NHS Boards are responsible for implementing the National Code of Practice for GP premises. The NHS Scotland National Primary Care (GP) Premises Group has been set up to consider all matters relating to GP Premises including:Oversight of the implementation of…
11 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its projected timeline is for achieving consistent and year-round adherence to the A&E target of ensuring that 95% of patients are processed within four hours.
Answer · Michael Matheson: A&E performance remains below the levels we all wish to see, however, we continue to work closely with Boards to support delivery of sustained improvements across a range of areas. Emergency Departments across NHS Scotland and the rest of the UK, continue to…
11 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the finding in the Scottish Health Survey that people aged 16 to 24 experience the highest levels of loneliness among all recorded age brackets.
Answer · Emma Roddick: The Scottish Government recognises that Social Isolation and Loneliness is a public health issue, which has been exacerbated because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and will continue to be affected by the ongoing cost crisis. The Social Isolation and Loneliness St…
11 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to increase physical activity levels among school children.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government understand the importance of sport and physical activity and the positive impact that it has, not only on physical, mental, and social health, but also on wider social outcomes. We are committed to ensuring that all children in primar…
11 Dec 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it anticipates the quantitative impact will be of its current anti-obesity measures on reducing obesity rates, compared with the scenario in which no action is taken.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Addressing obesity is a priority for the Scottish Government, this financial year we have provided core funding of £8.25 million to health boards to deliver adult, children and young people’s weight management services. The Scottish Government remains commit…
29 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the total budget is for its Brush Up campaign to increase awareness of NHS dentistry reforms.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The budget for the ‘Brush Up’ campaign to increase awareness of NHS dentistry reforms was £250,000.
29 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will measure the effectiveness of its Brush Up campaign.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The effectiveness of the Brush Up campaign will be assessed using an on-line questionnaire of patients. Questions will focus on patients’ awareness of both the campaign itself and the accompanying dental reform.
29 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what specific outcomes or targets it seeks to achieve from running its Brush Up campaign.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Brush Up campaign has been developed to raise awareness of changes to NHS dentistry from 1 November, and to assure patients that they will still be able to access a full range of treatment on the NHS. In particular the campaign directs patients to update…
29 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will measure the effectiveness of its Take Hold marketing campaign.
Answer · Jenni Minto: To measure the effectiveness of the Take Hold Marketing campaign, the paid-for-media marketing campaign will be evaluated. Pre and post campaign qualitative evaluation is conducted by an independent research company, with a representative sample of the targ…
29 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the effectiveness of communicating its Take Hold campaign through radio and outdoor advertising, rather than social media and television, in reaching children and young people.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The campaign is not targeting children and young people through radio and outdoor advertising. These channels, along with online news sites, digital and social media are being used to reach and engage the parental audience across Scotland. To reach children …
29 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the total budget is for its Take Hold marketing campaign to raise awareness of the harms of vaping.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The total budget for the Take Hold marketing campaign is £200,000.
29 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for how long its Take Hold marketing campaign will run.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Take Hold marketing campaign runs in paid-for-media from the 22 November 2023 until 7 January 2024.
29 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what specific outcomes or targets it seeks to achieve from running its Take Hold marketing campaign.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The campaign aims to achieve the following objectives among the target audience by the end of the campaign period:To deliver 40% prompted campaign recognition.To achieve 30% of campaign recognisers claiming to have taken any action as a result of seeing the c…
29 Nov 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that all fire and rescue officers in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have access to decontamination facilities.
22 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people in Scotland currently have cystic fibrosis.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Information on the incidence or occurrence of rare conditions such as cystic fibrosis is not held centrally by the Scottish Government, however, it is estimated that approximately 900 people in Scotland have cystic fibrosis .