Sandesh Gulhane

20 Jun 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to end the marking and assessment boycott in Scottish universities.

20 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of what role the pharmaceutical industry is playing in developing the Scottish life sciences sector.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The pharmaceuticals sector plays a crucial role in the growth and development of the life sciences sector and as a result is a key contributor to the growth and development of the Scottish economy. The manufacturing of pharmaceuticals sector is an important …

20 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to deliver on the 27 recommendations set out in the Lord O’Shaughnessy review of commercial clinical trials in the UK, as they relate to Scotland.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government recognises that the ability to attract and deliver innovative clinical research studies is vital to improving healthcare and patient outcomes. We therefore welcome Lord O’Shaughnessy’s review into commercial clinical trials in the UK. …

20 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its upcoming innovation strategy will support pandemic preparedness.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government's recently published National Innovation Strategy identifies Scotland's Health and Life Sciences sector as an innovation priority area, and outlines a tailored cluster approach to each of the innovation priority areas in order to scale…

20 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the recommendations of the Lord O’Shaughnessy review of commercial clinical trials in the UK, as they relate to Scotland.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government recognises that the ability to attract and deliver innovative clinical research studies is vital to improving healthcare and patient outcomes. We therefore welcome Lord O’Shaughnessy’s review into commercial clinical trials in the UK. …

20 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, as it relates to Scotland, what engagement it has had with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) regarding improving the clinical trials system across the UK.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist Office is fully engaged with UK partners, including the MHRA, on improving the clinical trials system across the UK. In addition to facilitating inputs from across the Scottish clinical research community to the MHRA’s re…

20 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many doses of COVID-19 vaccines it currently has in stock.

Answer · Jenni Minto: As our spring campaign officially ended on 30 June, the level of stock held in Scotland is minimal, after a programme where we delivered over 490,000 doses. The number of doses currently held by NHS Scotland is calculated to be around 96,000. In addition th…

20 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to improve recruitment rates for clinical trials, especially among ethnically diverse communities.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist Office invests through NHS Research Scotland in the Scottish Health Research Register and Biobank (SHARE) to support the recruitment of people into health research studies and clinical trials. SHARE is an expanding re…

20 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what dialogue it has had with the UK Government regarding streamlining the processes involved in clinical trials of new medicines and therapies.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist Office engages regularly with UK Government and agencies directly, and through cross-UK fora, on streamlining the clinical trials system across the UK. These discussions cover a range of topics, recently including post-pa…

20 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support the development of new and innovative medicines in Scotland.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist Office (CSO) invests through NHS Research Scotland in a range of research infrastructure to support Health Boards host and participate in clinical research, including to support the development of new medicines. CSO a…

20 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with pharmaceutical companies regarding pandemic preparedness.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government engages with the pharmaceutical industry directly as well as via the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, and through Four Nations partners as part of UK-wide pandemic preparedness and resilience measures. This has range…

20 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of how the pharmaceutical industry is supporting pandemic preparedness and resilience in Scotland.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The pharmaceutical industry continues to successfully support pandemic preparedness and resilience in Scotland, as described in the answer to question S6W-19343 on 11 July 2023. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s…

20 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to improve access to patient clinical trials.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist Office invests through NHS Research Scotland in the Scottish Health Research Register and Biobank (SHARE) to support the recruitment of people into health research studies and clinical trials. People interested in par…

20 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the letter from the Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care on 27 April 2023, whether the two recently made permanent psychologist posts, providing specialist support for teenagers and young adults in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Grampian, have the…

Answer · Maree Todd: The Managed Service Network for Children and Young People with Cancer (MSN CYPC) works with local Health Boards to ensure specialist age-appropriate care is delivered to children and young people with cancer across Scotland. This includes the delivery of a …

15 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will develop an action plan on chronic kidney disease, in light of the Kidney Research UK report, Changing the future for chronic kidney disease in Scotland, published in December 2022, and the charity’s recent report on the economic impact of the disease.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is committed to improving care for people with chronic kidney disease through a number of activities which are aligned with the recommendations set out in Kidney Research UK’s (KRUK) Changing the Future for Chronic Kidney Disease in Sc…

6 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to raise awareness among event organisers and the public about the importance of selecting safe and responsible first aid providers to cover events.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Scottish Government has developed guidance on Protective Security at Publicly Accessible Locations. The aim and purpose of the document is to increase knowledge of what counter terrorism products are available, and it includes first aid provisions and the hyp…

6 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received any complaints or concerns regarding the lack of provision or qualifications of private first aid companies operating at events, and, if so, what actions have been taken to address these.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Yes, the Scottish Government has received complaints and concerns regarding private first aid companies operating at events. Where appropriate, officials have followed this up with relevant organisations. Scottish Government officials are currently undertaki…

6 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to ensure that appropriate safeguarding measures and training are a mandatory requirement for companies providing first aid cover at events.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Organisations providing first aid at events must comply with their responsibilities under general health and safety legislation, which is reserved. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides guidance on how to manage events safely Events health and safe…

6 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that individuals providing first aid cover at events possess the necessary skills and up-to-date qualifications to be able to handle various medical emergencies and incidents.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Under Health and Safety legislation, which is reserved, it is the responsibility of the employer to satisfy themselves of the competence of first aiders. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides relevant guidance on first aid provision and on event safe…

6 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the (a) first aid and (b) hospitality and events sector regarding the regulatory control of private event first aid providers.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Work is underway to look into this issue, and officials are engaging with Healthcare Improvement Scotland and other stakeholders to scope the issues involved and to consider the most appropriate and proportionate next steps. Discussions with first aid provide…

6 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many private first aid companies are currently registered and authorised to provide event cover, and what criteria are used to assess their eligibility.

Answer · Jenni Minto: There is no register of authorised first aid providers however, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides guidance which sets out steps an employer should take to ensure the training their first aiders receive is adequate and appropriate for the needs of…

6 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings outlined in the Manchester Arena Inquiry report, what measures are in place to ensure that individuals providing first aid cover at events in Scotland receive ongoing training and updates to maintain their skills and qualifications at an appropriate level.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides guidance which sets out steps an employer should take to ensure the training their first aiders receive is adequate and appropriate. The recommendations outlined in Volume 1 of the Manchester Arena Inquiry falls…

31 May 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has assessed the economic impact on businesses of the changes to the Deposit Return Scheme that it announced on 18 April 2023.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The deposit return scheme is a major undertaking for businesses, bringing very significant environmental and economic benefits. Accordingly, we have regularly consulted with a wide range of businesses, trade associations, the scheme administrator, and other o…

25 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to fund the cumulative pay uplift offered to junior doctors, and how much the proposed uplift will cost in total.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has made a 14.5% pay offer to Junior Doctors covering the period of 2022-24. This represents a £61.3 million investment in junior doctor pay - the largest in the last 20 years and the best offer in the UK. This will be funded from with…

24 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) flu, (b) DTaP/IPV, (c) MMR, (d) Td/IPV, (e) MenACWY, (f) HPV and (g) COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed to people living in Scotland in each year since 2018-19.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The number of vaccines distributed to people living in Scotland for the outlined immunisation programmes is monitored by Public Health Scotland. The information requested is not held centrally. Vaccination statistics in Scotland are publicly reported as outli…

24 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17364 by Jenni Minto on 10 May 2023, what specific progress the Minister for Public Health and Women's Health has made in relation to introducing buffer zones for premises that provide abortion services since being appointed to her ministerial role.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government had made clear our commitment to supporting Gillian Mackay MSP on her Abortion Services Safe Access Zones (Scotland) Bill. The First Minister and I met Ms Mackay to reaffirm that commitment during the First Minister’s first week in off…

24 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government (a) what the uptake has been of and (b) how much has been spent on its Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme in each financial year since 2021-22.

Answer · Natalie Don: The Scottish Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme (SMHSS) expands and improves on the UK Nursery Milk Scheme, which it replaced in August 2021. It is the only Scheme in the UK offering children a healthy snack of fruit or vegetables, in addition to milk, promoting b…

24 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent on the provision of free vitamins for pregnant women in each financial year since the scheme’s inception.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Scottish Government has provided free multi-vitamins to all pregnant women, for the duration of their pregnancy, since April 2017. Annual costs are set out in the following table.  2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 Pregnant Women Vitamins…

24 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the budget of the neonatal care fund has been in each year since 2018-19.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Scottish Government launched the Neonatal Expenses Fund (NEF) in April 2018 to help support parents to be able to spend as much time with their babies as possible, while they were receiving care within a neonatal unit. Scottish Government increased funding i…

24 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been allocated to (a) NHS Pharmacy First Scotland and (b) Community Pharmacy Scotland in each year since 2018-19.

Answer · Jenni Minto: All funding for services delivered by the community pharmacy network, including for Pharmacy First Scotland, is paid directly to independent community pharmacy contractors as part of the remuneration arrangements. No funding is paid directly to Community Phar…