Tess White

28 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how (a) many potholes have been reported and (b) much has been spent on repairing potholes on the (i) A92/A96 Haudagain Roundabout, (ii) A92 Trunk Road (Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route) (Stonehaven to Charleston), (iii) A956 Trunk Road (Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route) (Cleanhill to …

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Transport Scotland, through its four Trunk Road Operating Companies and five Design Build Finance Operate (DBFO) Concessionaires, is responsible for the management and maintenance of the strategic trunk road network, including motorways.? The repair of pothol…

28 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how (a) many potholes have been reported on the trunk road network and (b) much has been spent on repairing potholes, in each year since 2007, also broken down by geographical area.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Transport Scotland, through its four Trunk Road Operating Companies and five Design Build Finance Operate (DBFO) Concessionaires, is responsible for the management and maintenance of the strategic trunk road network, including motorways. The repair of pothole…

14 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any research has been undertaken into the possible reasons for fertility rates in Scottish cities being "substantially lower than cities in England and Wales with comparable age and student profiles", as highlighted in its publication, A Scotland for the future: opportunities and…

Answer · Emma Roddick: In November 2022, we published the report ‘Attitudes to family formation in Scotland’ . The purpose of this study was to update the evidence base with regards to attitudes to family formation and ideal family size, to formulate a current and more nuanced pict…

14 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the actions outlined in its publication, A Scotland for the future: opportunities and challenges of Scotland's changing population.

Answer · Emma Roddick: Since publication, the Ministerial Population Taskforce has taken forward a range of priority commitments from the Population Strategy, including the forthcoming Addressing Depopulation Action Plan, Talent Attraction and Migration Service, updating the eviden…

13 Nov 2023 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of it being three weeks since Storm Babet, whether it will provide an update on the support that it is making available to the affected communities in Angus, Aberdeenshire and Dundee.

9 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking with NHS 24 to ensure that the Breathing Space webchat channel provides a reliable service for users, in light of reports of repeated incidents of the channel crashing and being offline for repairs.

Answer · Maree Todd: Breathing Space is operated by NHS24 to provide free and confidential support for people experiencing low mood, depression and anxiety. The phone line operates between 6pm-2am on weekday evenings and from 6pm Friday to 6am Monday. The web chat is available Mo…

9 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the additional £12 million of funding for the expansion of the Hospital at Home service will be made available to NHS boards.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Work is ongoing with NHS Boards and Health and Social Care Partnerships to identify the greatest opportunities in terms of increasing Hospital at Home capacity to ease system pressures and improve patient care over winter. We have notified the majority of Boa…

2 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the implementation of the delayed discharge and hospital occupancy action plan, in light of reports that the number of patients waiting at least 24 hours in A&E is 200 times higher in 2023 than before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Action Plan reflects on the strong evidence of what we know works and builds on the firm foundations of best practice to reduce delayed discharges and overall hospital occupancy and reasserts the Scottish Government’s commitment to responding to the many …

2 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the announcement of NHS Scotland's menopause and menstrual health workplace policy, what action it is taking with stakeholders across the (a) public, (b) private and (c) third sector to improve employers' awareness of menopause and menstrual health.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The NHSScotland Menopause and Menstrual Health Policy launched on 31 October 2023. Whilst the policy was written specifically for NHS Scotland, the supporting resources, including line managers guidance and workplace adjustment guidance, are intended for use …

12 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking with NHS boards to support remote and rural populations who have to travel long distances to receive vaccinations, as part of the winter vaccination programme.

Answer · Jenni Minto: We seek to ensure that people can access vaccination appointments as close to home as possible. Health Boards continue to recognise and support the needs of rural communities in planning and delivering the winter vaccination programme. Health Boards continue…

12 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to figures from the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland showing that in 60% of cases where someone is detained for compulsory mental health care and treatment, there was no mental health officer consent, in light of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland…

Answer · Maree Todd: The Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 provides for rigorous safeguards in respect of individuals’ human rights. Sometimes compulsory treatment needs to be carried out on an emergency basis and consent from a Mental Health Officer (MHO), i…

11 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that dementia is the leading cause of death among women in Scotland, what work the Women's Health Champion is doing to address the (a) cause, (b) diagnosis and (c) treatment of the illness in women, and whether further iterations of the Women's Health Plan will inclu…

Answer · Jenni Minto: Professor Anna Glasier is Scotland’s independent Women’s Health Champion, and her remit encompasses all of the aims of the Women’s Health Plan. There are many other issues and conditions that are important to women and their health, and there is a range of w…

11 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it plans to announce the long-term formal governance structure to replace the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Programme Board, which disbanded in March 2023.

Answer · Maree Todd: Following the planned conclusion of two previous governance structures, the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Programme Board and the Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Joint Delivery Board, the Scottish Government and COSLA have agreed …

11 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of a reported increase in retail crime, what support it is providing to the retail sector as it deals with this, and whether any data will be made available on convictions under the Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Act 2021.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government recognises the disruption and harm that retail crime does to both businesses and the individuals who work there. We support the work of our Justice partners to tackle this, including through the innovative Scottish Partnership Against …

9 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work that it is undertaking to develop a single shared electronic patient health and social care record.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government continues to work to co-design a nationally-consistent, integrated social care and health record, with the public and our partners, including COSLA and the NHS. Work is underway to determine the scope, investment required and subsequen…

9 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on establishing a Mental Health and Capacity Reform Programme.

Answer · Maree Todd: Over the summer we have started work to design the Mental Health and Capacity Reform Programme. We intend to publish an initial implementation plan in early 2024. This will include information about the activities that will be taken forward during the first 1…

9 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many drones have been detected at HMP & YPI Grampian in each of the last three years, and what measures the Scottish Prison Service is taking to prevent drones from being used to smuggle drugs and weapons onto the prison estate.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: There have been no drones detected at HMP & YOI Grampian in each of the last three years. The Scottish Prison Service recognises the …

9 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the report from NHS National Services Scotland on the options appraisal process on mother and baby unit provision in Scotland is still anticipated to be delivered in October 2023, and when the findings will be made publicly available.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government has received the report from NHS National Services Scotland on the options appraisal process on Mother and Baby Unit provision in Scotland. It is intended to publish the report once those options have been fully considered and next ste…

9 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many recorded incidents of prisoners at HMP & YOI Grampian taking synthetic drugs and new psychoactive substances, including the reported "street" benzodiazepines, there have been in each of the last three years.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: This information is not currently held by SPS. This type of information can only be obtained through analysis and testing via a labora…

26 Sep 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on cladding remediation in Scotland.

19 Sep 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking ahead of the festive period to support poultry farms, in light of the potential threat of avian flu.

14 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported concerns that misinformation on social media about hormonal contraception is encouraging women to move away from using traditional contraceptives.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is aware of concerns raised by clinicians about the impact of social media on women’s contraceptive choices, and we are grateful to them for raising awareness of this important issue. We would always encourage women to seek advice from…

14 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the national survey programme of the NHS estate to identify the use of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in NHS buildings, including the number of buildings at risk and their location.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19366 on 21 July 2023 in relation to the desktop review and a full list of the 254 properties identified as having two or more characteristics consistent with the presence of RAAC was placed in the Scottish Par…

14 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress towards meeting its target of halving the child obesity rate by 2030, and what assessment has been made of the impact of A Healthier Future – Scotland’s Diet & Healthy Weight Delivery Plan, now that it is five years since it was published.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government reports on progress on its aim to halve childhood obesity by 2030 on an annual basis in the regular Scottish Health Survey (SHeS) Report. In 2021, almost two thirds of children were in the healthy weight range, the lowest the survey…

14 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking with NHS boards to address the reported long waits that women are experiencing for urogynaecology treatments.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Working Collaboratively with clinical colleagues across NHS Scotland, the Centre for Sustainable Delivery’s (CfSD) National Elective Coordination Unit (NECU) are working to support a nationally coordinated campaign to expedite treatment for patients waiting f…

14 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress in relation to the medium-term action in the Women's Health Plan to establish a Women's Health Lead in every NHS board, including the number of Women's Health Leads that are currently in place and where, and whether the "funding and resource …

Answer · Jenni Minto: The recent Women’s Health Plan: Interim Progress Update 2023 produced for the Women’s Health Plan Implementation Programme Board and the quarterly blog by the Women’s Health Champion sets out progress made since the Report on Progress , which was publis…

14 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the minutes of the Women's Health Plan Implementation Programme Board for the meeting on 17 May 2023 will be published on the Scottish Government's website, and when the Board will next meet.

Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-21433 on 2 October 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-committe…

14 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the development of the role description of the Women's Health Leads that took place in November 2022, how much time of the Women's Health Leads has been allocated to implementing the Women's Health Plan.

Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-21433 on 2 October 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-committe…

14 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the Scottish Prison Service is responding to reported concerns from independent prison monitors that an estate-wide issue regarding the capacity of GEOAmey to transport prisoners, including those at HMP and YOI Grampian, has meant that prisoners have been unable to attend hospital ap…

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: It is clear the Geo Amey contract, which SPS leads on behalf of justice partners, is not working as it should and causing disruption. …

13 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent report by Epilepsy Consortium Scotland, Specialist Epilepsy Appointments, which emphasises the importance of face-to-face care, but found that 40% of patients had only attended their specialist epilepsy appointments by telephone since March 2020.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Delivering person-centred care is a priority for both NHS Scotland and the Scottish Government. As far as possible services should be organised around people’s needs, enabling them to be involved in their care in a way that is meaningful and tailored to their…