Parliamentary questions
Craig Hoy
1,298 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
9 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-18309 by Angela Constance on 9 June 2023, whether any estimate of the cost of providing the long-term solutions has been made to date.
Answer · Angela Constance: No estimate of the cost of providing long-term solutions has been made to date. Police Scotland updated the Scottish Police Authority Resources Committee on 9 May 2023, that it is working with structural engineers and business areas to identify longer term so…
9 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-18309 by Angela Constance on 9 June 2023, whether any part of the three buildings has been closed and/or made unavailable for use.
Answer · Angela Constance: Police Scotland updated the Scottish Police Authority Resources Committee on 9 May 2023, that the Fettes workshop has been closed, with business continuity arrangements put in place; and that staff have been relocated from the affected area in Baluniefield. N…
9 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost of consultants working on the National Care Service has been to date.
Answer · Maree Todd: The total cost of consultants working on the National Care Service to date is £2,014,000.00.
8 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what investigations the public corporations have undertaken to determine whether any of the buildings that they manage were fitted with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, and what the cost was of conducting any necessary repairs, broken down by building.
Answer · Tom Arthur: That information is not held centrally. Building safety is a matter for the owner of the building. Questions regarding day-to-day operational matters of public corporations, including information relating to any repair and maintenance works, are best answer…
8 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what investigations non-departmental public bodies have undertaken to determine whether any of the buildings that they manage were fitted with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, and what the cost was of conducting any necessary repairs, broken down by building.
Answer · Tom Arthur: That information is not held centrally. Building safety is a matter for the owner of the building. Questions regarding day-to-day operational matters of non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), including information relating to any repair and maintenance work…
8 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what investigations Transport Scotland has undertaken to determine whether any of the buildings that it manages were fitted with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, and what the cost was of conducting any necessary repairs, broken down by building.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Transport Scotland owns and manages a small number of buildings but has not carried out any assessments of this kind. They have confirmed with its building occupiers that no assessments for this material have been carried out. Transport Scotland lease their c…
7 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-18306 by Patrick Harvie on 7 June 2023, whether it (a) has provided and (b) plans to provide financial support to local authorities to undertake inspections of buildings for reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government has not provided financial support to local authorities to undertake inspections of buildings for reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete. It is the responsibility of building owners to undertake such inspections. The Health & Safety Ex…
7 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-18315 by Shona Robison on 7 June 2023, when it anticipates that inspection surveys will (a) begin and (b) finish.
Answer · Shona Robison: Scottish Government has recently appointed an external professional advisor to provide guidance on the scope of building condition surveys required for Scottish Government buildings. It anticipates receiving details of the scope within approximately 8-10 week…
7 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-18315 by Shona Robison on 7 June 2023, by what date its appointed specialist will have developed the scope for inspection surveys.
Answer · Shona Robison: Scottish Government have recently appointed professional experts to prepare a scope for future surveys. Final security checks are currently being completed and thereafter it is anticipated that the 6 week programme to develop a scope will be completed by Sept…
7 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what body or organisation has jurisdiction over the funding for the provision of services for deaf children, including for access to Auditory Verbal therapy.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: NHS Health Boards and local authorities are responsible for the provision of, and funding for, services for deaf children. This includes the provision of specific therapeutic approaches. The Scottish Government also funds the Scottish Sensory Centre and C…
7 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that every deaf child has the opportunity to access a specialist Auditory Verbal programme, as part of its commitment to deliver equal opportunities for every child.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: NHS Health Boards and local authorities are responsible for the provision of, and funding for, services for deaf children. This includes the provision of specific therapeutic approaches. The Scottish Government funds the Scottish Sensory Centre and CALL S…
6 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-18313 by Maree Todd on 6 June 2023, whether it has any plans to attempt to determine how many nursing homes or social care settings may be fitted with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government does not have any plans to determine the number of social care settings that may be affected. Local authorities have responsibility for provision of social care services and therefore the contracts with relevant providers. Building saf…
4 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-18307 by Michael Matheson on 2 June 2023, what business continuity plans are being prepared for buildings with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Business continuity plans cannot be prepared until completion of the discovery surveys of NHS Scotland properties suspected to contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete. The outcomes of the discovery surveys will be used to inform business continuity pla…
4 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-18307 by Michael Matheson on 2 June 2023, (a) how many and (b) which properties the desktop review assessed as having reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The purpose of the desktop review was to assess which properties should be investigated for the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC). NHS Scotland Assure is preparing a paper on options to proceed with discovery surveys to assess which NH…
2 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-18307 by Michael Matheson on 2 June 2023, how the findings of individual discovery surveys will be shared with the (a) Parliament and (b) public.
Answer · Michael Matheson: In response to part (a), the Scottish Government will update Parliament on the review of NHS Scotland properties suspected to contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) when appropriate. In response to part (b), the Scottish Government will liaise…
2 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-18307 by Michael Matheson on 2 June 2023, how much is being spent on conducting the discovery surveys.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Following a desktop review of all NHS Scotland properties suspected to contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, NHS Scotland Assure is preparing a paper to inform the Scottish Government on options to proceed with discovery surveys. The cost of conduct…
2 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-18307 by Michael Matheson on 2 June 2023, by what date the discovery surveys will be completed.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Following a desktop review of all NHS Scotland properties suspected to contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, NHS Scotland Assure is preparing a paper on options to proceed with discovery surveys. The timeframe for completion of the survey programme …
31 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment in its Care in the Digital Age: Delivery Plan 2022-23, whether the Security of Network and Information Systems (NIS) Regulations audit lifecycle is continuing to assess on a yearly basis all NHS Scotland health boards, cyber resilience practices and improvemen…
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Security of Network and Information Systems Regulations audit lifecycle continues to assess health boards on a yearly basis against the Public Sector Cyber Resilience framework Working with the NHS Scotland Cyber Centre of Excellence, the Scottish Healt…
31 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment in its Care in the Digital Age: Delivery Plan 2022-23, whether it has put in place enhanced information sharing between primary care and the Scottish Ambulance Service for patients treated but not transferred to secondary care by deploying Ensemble to all heal…
Answer · Michael Matheson: We have implemented the ability to share the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) electronic patient record (ePR) with General Practice. All Health Boards (with the exception of NHS Shetland) now have this in place. Ongoing monitoring of implementation and engag…
31 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment in its Care in the Digital Age: Delivery Plan 2022-23, whether it has put in place a "federated" collaboration of Microsoft 365 across health and social care (local government) systems.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The M365 Cross-Organisation Collaboration Programme has been established to maximise collaboration and communication opportunities available to organisations across Health and Social Care. The ability of organisations to safely and easily share information th…
31 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment in its Care in the Digital Age: Delivery Plan 2022-23, what infrastructure has been put in place to support the delivery of the Scottish Vaccination Immunisation Programme.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The digital infrastructure requirements for the Scottish Vaccination and Immunisation Programme (SVIP) are currently being explored in conjunction with our partners Public Health Scotland (PHS) and National Services Scotland (NSS). A report and roadmap will b…
31 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment in its Care in the Digital Age: Delivery Plan 2022-23, whether it has established a national decision support service, building on the Right Decision Service.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Right Decision Service is now in the process of being transitioned from an innovation development, run by our partners in the Digital Health and Care Innovation Centre, to a national service run by the NHS. This will see the establishment of this nation…
31 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment in its Care in the Digital Age: Delivery Plan 2022-23, whether it has conducted the second national Digital Maturity exercise with health and care organisations, and what the snapshot is of priority areas.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The second national Digital Maturity exercise commenced in March 2023 and concludes in June 2023. A national report summary will be published in the Autumn.
31 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment in its Care in the Digital Age: Delivery Plan 2022-23, what it has done to offer continued support for innovation through development of Healthy Ageing and Mental Health innovation clusters to support increased investment in Scotland and improved infrastructur…
Answer · Maree Todd: Please see answer to question SW-18813 on 20 June 2023 for how we support innovation through demand led challenges. We established the Digital Mental Health Programme in 2020 to respond to the increased demand for mental health services by integrating and ma…
31 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment in its Care in the Digital Age: Delivery Plan 2022-23, whether it has implemented a new Inventory Management System (IMS) as part of the wider Scan for Safety in Scotland programme.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Inventory Management System (IMS) was successfully rolled out to all Health Boards at the end of March 2023. Further work is underway with the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service and Scottish Ambulance Service to identify potential areas of benefi…
31 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment in its Care in the Digital Age: Delivery Plan 2022-23, whether it has carried out the identification of requirements (roles, responsibilities, knowledge and skills) for an IG competency framework across health and care.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The National Information Governance (IG) Competency Framework for health and care is currently under review as part of the Data Strategy for Health & Social Care. NHS Education for Scotland has been commissioned to review and update this framework. This will …
31 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment in its Care in the Digital Age: Delivery Plan 2022-23, whether it has developed new service design resources to support local skills and understanding of how to embed digital transformation, through completion of the Transforming Local System pathfinder progra…
Answer · Michael Matheson: Yes. The Transforming Local Systems programme concluded in May 2023. Work continues to ensure the key benefits of the programme can now be realised across health and care with Healthcare Improvement Scotland now taking ownership of the service design resource…
31 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment in its Care in the Digital Age: Delivery Plan 2022-23, whether it has provided the ability for people to have the choice for a video appointment with social work.
Answer · Maree Todd: Video appointments are an option across social work in Scotland via Near Me, through the Scottish Government’s purchase of a national licence for the use of Near Me by any part of the public sector that wishes to use it. Work continues supporting the social w…
31 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment in its Care in the Digital Age: Delivery Plan 2022-23, whether it has created a Knowledge, Information and Data (KIND) virtual learning academy.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The KIND learning network channel continues to grow and currently has 830 members. Weekly community meetup sessions are provided. Learning priorities are guided from learner requirement insights and the focus has been building advanced analytic capacity acros…
31 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment in its Care in the Digital Age: Delivery Plan 2022-23, whether the ability for people to refer themselves to digital mental health therapies for common conditions including depression, anxiety and insomnia exists.
Answer · Maree Todd: A range of digital mental health therapies are available to support people to self-refer. These include treatments for: Insomnia, Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Stress, Resilience, Space from COVID, Supporting An Anxious Child, Supporting An Anxious Teen…