Tess White

7 Dec 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has taken a decision regarding the extension of the temporary provisions in the Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Act 2022.

28 Nov 2022 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the cyber-attack on 4 August 2022 which reportedly targeted NHS Scotland's patient management software.

21 Nov 2022 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the emergency response to flooding in the north east of Scotland in recent days.

3 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many women aged 75 and over have self-referred for a breast screening appointment since the programme restarted on 29 August 2022, broken down by screening centre, and whether it plans to widen the eligibility criteria for this age group to self-refer to the breast screening programm…

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally as it is a matter for Regional Screening Centres. Self-referral appointments have begun in a careful, phased manner. At present, women aged 71 to 74 (up to their 75 th birthday), and women over…

24 Oct 2022 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the Royal College of Emergency Medicine Scotland’s reported warning that the NHS winter resilience plan “will not be in place in time to prevent further harm to patients and staff this winter”.

19 Oct 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the actions that are being taken to recruit teachers in primary and secondary schools.

13 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been allocated to the Ready Scotland campaign in (a) each of the past three years and (b) 2022, and how much of this funding has been (i) spent on or (ii) allocated to (A) digital, (B) radio and (C) other forms of advertising.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government allocates a budget of £70,000 per annum to the Ready Scotland campaign, comprising a website, social media, radio and digital advertising. If required spend is likely to exceed this figure, facility exists within the relevant Scottish …

13 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Programme Board will be extended beyond March 2023.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Programme Board will not be extended in its current format beyond March 2023. Perinatal and infant mental health continues to be a key priority for the Scottish Government and the continued development and implementati…

26 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding has been provided to coastal local authorities for coastal change adaptation in (a) 2022-23 and (b) 2023-24, following the announcement in the Programme for Government 2020-21 that £12 million would be invested to help these areas adapt to the threat of sea level rise, broke…

Answer · Mairi McAllan: We announced the new capital budget of £11.7 million for coastal change adaptation in the 2020 Programme for Government. Scottish Ministers and COSLA agreed a methodology to distribute the new budget for the first two years to coastal local authorities based …

7 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the establishment of the National Centre for Remote and Rural Health and Social Care; whether it is on track to be operational by April 2023, and where the staff for the centre will be based, in light of it reportedly being envisaged that it will be a…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government’s Programme for Government 2021-22 included a commitment to create a centre of excellence for rural and remote medicine and social care, with scoping work starting in 2021-22. The Scottish Government has been working closely with NHS …

30 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the timeline for the introduction of its Public Health Bill.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Public Health (Restriction of Promotions) Bill will be introduced this parliamentary year. As set out in Programme for Government 2022-23, as a first legislative step in this session to meeting wider public health commitments, the Bill will include provi…

30 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Active Scotland Delivery Group last met, and what was discussed.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Active Scotland Delivery Group last met on 21 July 2021, with partners rightly focussing on Covid management and recovery in the interim period. Meetings have recently been undertaken with individual partners with a view to reconvening the group by the en…

30 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Public Health Scotland regarding the public health implications of waste accumulation across local authorities as a result of the recent strike action by refuse workers.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government received written advice from Public Health Scotland on the public health implications of waste accumulation as a result of the recent industrial action by refuse workers. Public Health Scotland subsequently issued a public statement i…

11 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the total number of women aged between 50 and 70 who have waited more than 36 months for their breast screening appointment in each of the last five years, broken down by breast screening centre.

Answer · Maree Todd: This is a matter for Regional Screening Centres. The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally.  

11 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its analysis of the uptake in breast screening appointments since the programme was resumed on 3 August 2020 compared with pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, broken down by breast screening centre.

Answer · Maree Todd: The following tables 1 to 4 show breast screening uptake from January 2019 to June 2022 for each of the breast screening centres. Uptake is defined as the proportion of eligible patients invited who receive a technically adequate and complete screen. 2019 dat…

11 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the specific restart date for the breast cancer self-referral scheme for women aged 71 and over.

Answer · Maree Todd: From 29 August 2022, eligible groups of women over the age of 71 will be able to register for self-referral appointments by contacting their local breast screening service. Invitations will begin issuing to the eligible groups from 26 September, with appoint…

11 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to S6F-01264 by the First Minister on 23 June 2022 that a women's health champion would be appointed "this summer", whether it will provide an update on the selection process and the date that the appointment will be announced.

Answer · Maree Todd: A number of candidates are being considered at present to take on the role of the Women’s Health Champion. The Government expects to make an announcement about an appointment soon. Whilst work is underway to appoint a champion, we have been prioritising impr…

20 Jun 2022 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of reports that incidents of bullying in NHS Scotland have risen by nearly 50% in five years.

6 Jun 2022 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that less than a quarter of nursing shifts have enough staff.

23 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work that it is doing with the Scottish Perinatal Network to make placental growth factor (PlGF) testing for pre-eclampsia routinely available to pregnant women, and when it anticipates PlGF testing will be rolled out across all NHS boards in Scot…

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Perinatal Network has been tasked with examining the adoption of PlGF testing in light of the draft NICE guidance published for consultation in March this year. Project information and associated documents are publicly available on the NICE websi…

23 May 2022 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the sports and events sectors regarding alternative transport arrangements in light of the revised ScotRail train timetable.

18 May 2022 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the consultation with women and women's organisations regarding their safety while using the public transport system.

9 May 2022 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with INEOS regarding possible restructuring at the Grangemouth Refinery.

25 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6O-00445 by Angus Robertson on 25 November 2021, whether it will provide an update on its work on culture sector recovery and renewal, which was due to be published in early 2022.

Answer · Angus Robertson: We are working with the sector to develop an updated and refreshed Action Plan under the auspices of our existing Culture Strategy, setting out the workstreams we are taking forward to support recovery and renewal. In doing so, we are currently considering th…

31 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether COVID-19 spot checks on businesses will continue once restrictions relating to the pandemic have been fully lifted on 18 April 2022.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The remaining Covid-19 specific legal requirements have been removed, but regulators will continue to engage to support businesses in managing their risks and applying any relevant guidance. While Covid-19 specific spot checks may no longer be carried out, pr…

31 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to reports that the number of children hospitalised for deliberate self-poisoning from paracetamol in NHS Grampian was almost three times higher in 2021 than in 2019.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: We know that the pandemic has had a significant impact on the mental health and wellbeing of many children and young people. There is help available for anyone struggling with their mental health, including support for young people feeling suicidal – details …

31 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the financial public cost has been of cyber attacks on public bodies in Scotland over the last three years.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is not a reporting agency for cyber attacks in Scotland. When notified of a cyber incident under the Scottish Public Sector Notifiable Cyber Incident Procedure and Policy, the Scottish Government together with other relevant partners s…

31 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to the Climate Change Committee report published on 15 March 2022, which found that "data are not being collected on the number or location of new properties being built in flood risk areas".

Answer · Mairi McAllan: All proposals for new properties in flood risk areas are examined in detail through a well-established process, involving planning authorities and SEPA. In the small number of cases where proposals are given permission within the floodplain, it is notified to…

31 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the announcement that its revised Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan will not be published until Autumn 2022, whether the strategy will still be "refreshed", or fully updated, in light of this extended timescale.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Energy Strategy and Just Transition plan will refresh the 2017 Energy Strategy, and deliver Scotland’s first Just Transition Plan. It will take a whole-system view of how the sector must evolve to drive our transition to net zero, with a specific focus on…

31 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of its Blue Economy Vision for Scotland, when it plans to publish the blue economy action plan.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Following the publication of the Blue Economy Vision for Scotland on 31 March, which outlined six outcomes for Scotland’s marine environment up to 2045, the Scottish Government will publish the subsequent Action Plan in 2022 to meet the current Programme for …