Parliamentary questions
Douglas Lumsden
1,891 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of any impact on hospital capacity of patients that are deemed “surgically fit for discharge” but refuse to leave.
Answer · Neil Gray: As discussed in answer to question S6W-34114 on 12 February 2025, the standard definitions of delayed discharge in use across NHS Scotland since 2016 do not identify patients as surgically fit for discharge, and the reasons for delayed discharge (when patient…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to work with NHS boards and other stakeholders to reduce instances of patients refusing to leave hospital after being deemed “surgically fit for discharge.”
Answer · Neil Gray: In addition to existing policies in place that address situations where patients who are deemed ready for discharge refuse to leave hospital, the Scottish Government continues to meet with NHS Boards to understand what actions can be taken to inform policy de…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out an analysis of the cost-effectiveness of maintaining emergency telephones on the A90, including the section north of Dundee, compared with alternative measures.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The emergency telephones on the A90 are maintained under a term contract managed by Transport Scotland whereby a monthly unitary payment is made, for the maintenance and repair of, Scotland wide, ITS (Intelligent Transport System) roadside assets such as the …
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that the use of surgical wards for so-called medical boarders does not impact on patient outcomes for those requiring surgery.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government does not collate information on medical boarders centrally.Health Boards operate their own policies for the management of inpatient capacity. Therefore, the member may wish to contact NHS Boards directly for information.I can confirm i…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the process is for approving and authorising legal costs for current or former ministers, and how this is monitored to ensure value for money.
Answer · Shona Robison: As with all decisions on the use of public funding the authorisation to meet costs would be cleared at the appropriate level within the organisation.Accountable Officers are in place to ensure that public money is used efficiently and effectively in line with…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy’s visit to Berlin supports the Scottish Government’s objectives for expanding innovation opportunities in renewable energy.
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-34080 on 13 February 2025. 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-a…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact of so-called medical boarders in surgical wards on the scheduling and delivery of planned surgeries.
Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-34124 on 12 February 2025. 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-c…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what legislative or policy changes it is considering to ensure that hospital capacity is not unduly impacted by any patients who are deemed “surgically fit for discharge” but refuse to leave, while ensuring patient rights are upheld.
Answer · Neil Gray: Existing policies and practices are in place to address situations where patients who are deemed ready for discharge refuse to leave hospital.The Scottish Government deems the current policy is sufficient and there are currently no planned changes.
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many surgeries have been delayed due to the presence of so-called medical boarders in surgical wards in each year since 2018, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government has confirmed with Public Health Scotland that Public Health Scotland do not hold information on delays/ cancellations due to medical boarders.
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what financial or policy commitments it made during the Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy’s meetings at the Handelsblatt Energy Summit in Berlin.
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-34080 on 13 February 2025. 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-a…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many patients have been deemed “surgically fit for discharge” but have refused to leave hospital in each year since 2018, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Neil Gray: As discussed in answer to PQ S6W-34114 on 12 February 2025, the standard definitions of delayed discharge in use across NHS Scotland since 2016 do not identify patients as surgically fit for discharge, and the reasons for delayed discharge (when patients rema…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on any legal costs related to defending or advising former ministers in each year since 2018, and from which budgets these costs were drawn.
Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested is not held centrally by Scottish Government.
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it anticipates the benefits to Scotland will be of the Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy’s engagements with German energy companies at the Handelsblatt Energy Summit in Berlin.
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-34080 on 13 February 2025. 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-a…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions took place during the Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy's recent visit to Berlin regarding Scotland’s grid and transmission infrastructure.
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-34080 on 13 February 2025. 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-a…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what policies are in place to determine when external legal counsel is used instead of its in-house legal expertise.
Answer · Shona Robison: As Scottish Government functions have increased and matured, the volume and complexity of outsourced legal work has also evolved. This work is procured and we are now utilising the third iteration of a framework providing Legal Services to the Scottish Govern…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has sought feedback from NHS staff on their experiences of using NHS-issued pagers, including what alternative technologies they would recommend.
Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-34097 on 12 February 2025. 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-c…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what actions it will take following the Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy’s recent discussions with German energy firms to develop Scotland’s renewable energy workforce.
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-34080 on 13 February 2025. 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-a…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS-issued pagers, or so-called bleeps, are currently in use, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Neil Gray: The information requested is not collected or held by the Scottish Government and would require to be obtained directly from Health Boards.
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any potential impact on patient safety of any continued reliance on pagers in the NHS.
Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-34097 on 12 February 2025. 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-c…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions the Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy had with international energy firms in Berlin regarding investment opportunities in Scotland’s offshore wind, green hydrogen, and carbon capture sectors.
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-34080 on 13 February 2025. 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-a…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions took place during the Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy’s recent visit to Berlin regarding collaboration between Scotland and Germany on achieving net zero targets.
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-34080 on 13 February 2025. 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-a…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what role the Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy’s recent meetings with German energy firms will play in achieving Scotland’s Clean Power 2030 targets.
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-34080 on 13 February 2025. 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-a…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what specific areas of renewable energy innovation were discussed during the Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy’s recent engagements at the Handelsblatt Energy Summit.
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-34080 on 13 February 2025. 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-a…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has issued to NHS boards regarding the use of pagers in critical care and emergency situations.
Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-34097 on 12 February 2025. 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-c…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will build on the Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy’s recent discussions at the Handelsblatt Energy Summit to improve energy interconnectivity between Scotland and Europe.
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-34080 on 13 February 2025. 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-a…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to phase out the use of pagers in the NHS and replace them with more modern communication technology devices.
Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-34097 on 12 February 2025. 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-c…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to address the reported challenge, identified in the True North survey, of public scepticism over the effectiveness of the Clean Power 2030 target within the stated timeframe.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-34075 on 18 February 2025. 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-a…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to follow up on the Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy’s recent discussions in Berlin with German energy firms to facilitate joint projects in offshore wind and carbon capture.
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-34080 on 13 February 2025. 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-a…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what international partnerships the Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy sought to establish or enhance during her recent trip to Berlin.
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-34080 on 13 February 2025. 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-a…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what outcomes were achieved from the Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy’s meetings with German energy companies during her recent trip to Berlin.
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-34080 on 13 February 2025. 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-a…