Parliamentary questions
Pam Gosal
490 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
19 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average waiting time is for those awaiting gender reassignment surgery within the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The information requested is not currently held centrally by the Scottish Government. Gender reassignment surgery is a specialised field, and due to the highly specialist nature of this surgery, it is carried out in the UK under a four-nations contract, whic…
19 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average waiting time is for patients within the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area awaiting breast reconstructive surgery.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. We advise the member to contact the NHS Board directly.
19 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many patients within the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area are currently on waiting lists for breast reconstructive surgery.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. We advise the member to contact the NHS Board directly.
7 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Scottish Strategy for Autism.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government published the Scottish Strategy for Autism in 2011. This was a 10 year strategy which ran until 2021. In March 2021, we published our Towards Transformation Plan as a follow-on to the Scottish Strategy for Autism and the Keys to Life …
7 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will deliver the final purpose and principles for post-school education.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government will publish the final Purpose and Principles for post-school education, research and skills [the week commencing 26 June DATE TBC].
30 May 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting community-based facilities in the West Scotland region to preserve Scottish culture and heritage.
16 May 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact it anticipates that its taxation policy, including in relation to businesses, will have on the strength of the economy.
10 May 2023 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its commitment to abolish NHS dental charges by the end of the current parliamentary session.
9 May 2023 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to support colleges and universities in Scotland.
19 Apr 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the justice secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding action to prevent child sexual exploitation.
14 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Scottish Qualifications Authority on the decision to revert to pre-COVID-19 pandemic arrangements for coursework and exams for the 2023-24 academic year.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Scottish Government is represented on the National Qualifications Group, and Scottish Ministers and officials were kept informed of the decision, and the rationale behind it, through regular meetings with SQA. I last discussed this with SQA when I met with th…
30 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the participation of people from BAME backgrounds in politics.
Answer · Emma Roddick: The Scottish Government is committed to increasing the participation of people from BAME backgrounds in politics. In 2016 the Scottish Government published the Race equality framework for Scotland 2016-2030. One of its aims is to ensure minority ethnic partic…
30 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the participation of women in politics.
Answer · Emma Roddick: The Scottish Government is committed to achieving fair and equal political representation in the Parliament and local government. Since the 2021 Parliamentary Election, women account for 45% of MSPs, with two women of minority ethnic background for the first …
30 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is, regarding any impact in Scotland, on the decision of the World Athletics Council to “exclude male-to-female transgender athletes who have been through male puberty from female World Rankings competition from 31 March 2023”.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government and sport scotland believe that sport is for everyone. An ongoing priority for the Scottish Government is to support participation across all groups and tackle inequalities in participation. Sports are incredibly diverse, so Governing …
29 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many of its properties do not have single-sex restrooms.
Answer · Shona Robison: All Scottish Government buildings offer gender-specific toilet facilities as well as accessible facilities which are gender-neutral. Five buildings also offer gender-neutral facilities in addition to gender-specific facilities.
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to conduct a review of gender identity services for children and young people, similar to the Cass Review in England.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government does not seek to replicate the work of the Cass Review. However, as we have previously stated, the interim findings of that Review continue to be closely considered by both Scottish Government and NHS Scotland, alongside broader nation…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the majority of transgender prisoners in Scotland began the process of transitioning after being convicted.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Prison Service are committed to treating everyone in their care with dignity and respect and do not provide the personal information of prisoners. Any transgender individuals in custody are supported and managed through an individualised risk as…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans on introducing a requirement for (a) Police Scotland, (b) the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and (c) the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service to record the sex of people charged with or convicted of rape or attempted rape.
Answer · Angela Constance: We have no plans to introduce such a requirement. It is a matter for those relevant public bodies collecting information on sex to establish the best approach in their individual institutional settings. In the case of those committing crime, this approach wil…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its response to reports that students at the University of Edinburgh who have experienced sexual assault have been warned against reporting incidents to the police.
Answer · Graeme Dey: It is imperative that all institutions support victims of sexual assault, and that victims feel comfortable in reporting incidents to their institutions and to the Police. The Scottish Government has received assurances from the Principal of the University o…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it taking to ensure that people enrolled in higher or further education institutions disclose any sexual assault charges.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Equally Safe in Colleges and Universities Core Leadership Group, which I chair, has established a short-life working group to consider institutional enrolment and safeguarding processes, including with regard to students subject to criminal proceedings. …
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on whether it plans to introduce a domestic abuse register.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government are not currently considering any plans to introduce a domestic abuse register but remain open minded to consider any proposals that further our commitment to do more for victims of domestic abuse.
27 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take in response to the Skills Development Scotland report, Economy, People and Skills, published in March 2023, which reported that, for the period from November 2022 to January 2023, there was an increase of 5,000 unemployed young people compared with the same perio…
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government will continue to work closely with a range of partners, including Skills Development Scotland, to ensure that all young people have access to a positive destination, including employment opportunities. Additionally, we are working with…
27 Mar 2023 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on targeted counsellor funding for colleges and universities.
22 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that compulsory redundancies are being implemented by colleges.
Answer · Graeme Dey: Operational decisions on resourcing and staffing matters are for colleges to consider and decide but the Scottish Government expects colleges to align their staffing complement and skills with the needs of the economy and future skills. Colleges should work t…
8 Mar 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when its response to the Agriculture Bill consultation will be published.
28 Feb 2023 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Recorded Crime in Scotland statistics for the year ending December 2022.
27 Feb 2023 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister whether she will provide an update on what discussions she has had with the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills in relation to bullying and harassment in schools.
22 Feb 2023 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle homelessness, in light of reports that the number of people classified as homeless has reached a record high.
20 Feb 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the finding in the Analysis of the Call for Evidence responses to the Violence Against Women and Girls Funding Review that 65% of respondents expressed a preferred funding period for women's services of at least five years.
Answer · Christina McKelvie: The Scottish Government established the Independent Strategic Review of Funding and Commissioning of violence against women and girls services to develop a new funding model to ensure victims have access to high-quality, accessible specialist support. The ca…
20 Feb 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the view expressed in a number of the responses to the Violence Against Women and Girls Funding Review that the loss of single-sex services and facilities erodes female privacy and deprives women and girls from feelings of security and comfort.
Answer · Christina McKelvie: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W- 15244 on 1 March 2023. 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-committee…