Parliamentary questions
Craig Hoy
1,298 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
12 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether NHS Scotland and its partners identify veterans as a distinct group in their work in tackling health inequalities.
Answer · Keith Brown: We recognise that veterans may have specific health needs as a result of their military service. Scottish Government works with key partners, including NHS Armed Forces and Veterans Champions to ensure that veterans are identified as a distinct group to ensur…
12 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Armed Forces and Veterans Health Joint Group last met, and when it will next meet.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-13888 on? 27 January 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-commit…
12 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the work of the Scottish Trauma Network includes the specific needs of veterans who have suffered polytrauma.
Answer · Keith Brown: To develop the Scottish Veterans Treatment Pathway, we are working with a range of partners, including the Scottish Trauma Network to understand what is required to most effectively treat and meet the needs of veterans and their families who have endured inju…
12 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the costs of specialist care for veterans who have suffered polytrauma will be funded through the National Services Division.
Answer · Keith Brown: Scottish Government has established a working group to further progress our vision of developing a Scottish Veterans’ Treatment Pathway. The pathway will integrate physical, mental and wellbeing support and provide a route for treatment for veterans presentin…
12 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how NHS Scotland ensures that an appropriate level of funding is available to guarantee that wheelchairs provided by the Ministry of Defence for veterans with amputations can be serviced, maintained and replaced with the best possible equipment commensurate with the individual's needs, a…
Answer · Keith Brown: A letter was sent to Health Boards from National Clinical Director on 30 December 2020 requesting that Wheelchair and Seating services maintain and replace wheelchairs used by veterans to at least a level commensurate with that issued to them at the time of t…
12 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05156 by Maree Todd on 10 January 2022, on what date the National Advisory Committee for Chronic Pain last met.
Answer · Maree Todd: The NACCP last met in May 2021. As set out in the Implementation Plan for the Framework the NACCP has been replaced by the Pain Management Task force.
12 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the remit of the Armed Forces and Veterans Health Joint Group was last refreshed.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-13888 on? 27 January 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-commit…
12 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the membership of the Armed Forces and Veterans Health Joint Group was last refreshed.
Answer · Keith Brown: Up to date information on membership, remit and dates of meetings are available here Armed Forces Personnel and Veterans Health Joint Group - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
12 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a National Managed Clinical Network on veterans’ health and, if so, what its membership is.
Answer · Keith Brown: NHS National Services Division operated the Scottish Veterans Care Network between November 2020 and March 2022. A range of stakeholders were involved in shaping the Network. The Network’s primary focus was on the Mental Health and Wellbeing Action Plan (MHW…
12 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to Scotland hosting the Invictus Games.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government commends and congratulates the athletes competing at the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf later this year. The Invictus Games has been hosted in a range of locations worldwide, and has been successful in using sport to inspire recovery and…
12 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it has done to ensure that housing legislation supports the wider veterans population.
Answer · Shona Robison: We support veterans across our housing legislation. We published Social Housing Allocations in Scotland – A Practice Guide in 2019, to ensure that social landlords have an allocation policy that complies with all relevant legislation and statutory guidance. T…
12 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to promote breakfast clubs as positive ways for veterans and their families to integrate into communities.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government continues to work with the Veterans in Custody Support Officer network to encourage breakfast clubs for veterans in Prison. In 2020-21, the Scottish Veterans Fund provided funding to the Lothian Veterans Centre to run a weekly lunch-t…
12 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it has done to provide clearer pathways for people transitioning out of military service into employment in Scotland.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: No One Left behind and Fair Start Scotland are integral parts of the employability support landscape in Scotland and aim to support individuals, including veterans and their partners, to overcome barriers through person-centred tailored support, enabling them…
12 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding the Scottish Veterans Commissioner has received, in each year since the position was established.
Answer · Keith Brown: Since its inception in 2014, the annual budget for the Commissioner’s office has been £250,000. This is funded by the Scottish Government and covers the Commissioner’s remuneration, support staff, office and IT requirements and general running costs. The draf…
12 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to support the process of translating military qualifications into those civilian employers recognise.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-13853 on 26 January 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-committ…
12 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to encourage further education and training as realistic and accessible options for people leaving military service.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Skills Development Scotland(SDS), the Scottish Government’s Skills agency, works closely with the Career Transition Partnership who have responsibility for delivering the career and employment support as part of the transition for those leaving military servi…
12 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what work it has done with partners in the justice system to provide support to veterans who need it.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government works closely with the Scottish Prison Service and last year attended the Veterans in Custody Support Officer (VICSO) gathering at HMP Castle Huntly to discuss how we can better support their work, including future attendance at a Brea…
12 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it has done to develop support for spouses and partners of people in the Armed Forces who are seeking employment or training in Scotland.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: No One Left behind and Fair Start Scotland are integral parts of the employability support landscape in Scotland and aim to support individuals, including veterans and their partners, to overcome barriers through person-centred tailored support, enabling them…
12 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what it has done to address the issue of homelessness experienced by veterans.
Answer · Shona Robison: Scotland has some of the strongest homelessness legislation in the world and all local authorities have a legal duty to provide support to anyone at risk of homelessness, including veterans. Preventing homelessness from happening in the first place is the be…
12 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it has done to ensure that there is no disadvantage in accessing welfare, benefits and other support as a result of military service.
Answer · Ben Macpherson: Veterans’ specific welfare support is a matter centrally supported by UK Government policy and delivered by Veterans UK and the Veterans Welfare Service (VWS) , part of Ministry of Defence (MOD). The UK-wide service works with local authorities, voluntary…
12 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it has done to promote further recognition of skills and experience gained in military services to employers and the wider community.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-13853 on 26 January 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-committ…
12 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to encourage public services to work to identify veterans accessing their services.
Answer · Keith Brown: In relation to veterans healthcare, the Scottish Government has developed a scheme to help General Practices to identify and recognise the circumstances of veterans and their families . This is currently in the pilot phase of the programme. In addition, the …
12 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it has done to ensure that veterans have good awareness and access to core housing support programmes.
Answer · Shona Robison: We have published a housing guide which provides information about housing in Scotland and contacts of organisations who may be able to help Armed Forces and ex-service personnel obtain housing suitable for their needs. The guide also directs veterans to th…
12 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what actions it has taken to ensure that any specific needs of veterans are considered within its policies on rehabilitation.
Answer · Angela Constance: Through the National Drugs Mission, the Scottish Government is investing £250 million over the life of the Parliament to save and improve lives by expanding capacity in and improving access to treatment and support, both in the community and in residential re…
12 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to promote its guide, Welcome to Scotland - A guide for Service personnel and their families in Scotland for veterans and their families.
Answer · Keith Brown: The ‘Welcome to Scotland’ guide was first introduced in 2018 to provide practical information to Service personnel and their families who are moving to or already living in Scotland, on topics such as housing, education, healthcare and employment. It is not s…
12 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what work it has done with the Ministry of Defence to ensure that the financial landscape in Scotland is clearly understood by, and that sufficient information is made available to, people leaving military service, during their transition.
Answer · Keith Brown: Transition is reserved to the UK Government, and there is no funding provided to the Scottish Government to undertake transition related activities. However the Scottish Government has designed the application guidance for devolved benefits to provide compreh…
12 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that all veterans and Armed Forces families do not experience disadvantage when accessing health services in Scotland.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all armed forces personnel serving and veterans living in Scotland are able to access the best possible care and support, including safe, effective and person-centred healthcare. Our policy states that all…
12 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it has done to ensure that the welfare and benefits available to veterans in Scotland are well understood by the veterans community.
Answer · Ben Macpherson: Veterans’ specific welfare support is supported by UK Government policy and delivered by Veterans UK and the Veterans Welfare Service (VWS) , part of Ministry of Defence (MOD). The UK-wide service works with local authorities, voluntary organisations, ser…
12 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to integrate veterans into its work on social isolation.
Answer · Christina McKelvie: In 2021 we increased the Scottish Veterans Fund to £500,000 per annum to provide greater support to veterans and their families. This year, 25 projects are supported by the Fund. This includes projects helping to combat social isolation, for example a program…
12 Jan 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the awarding criteria are for the Scottish Veterans Fund.
Answer · Keith Brown: The criteria for the Scottish Veterans Fund are published on the Scottish Government website. The criteria for the 2023/24 fund can be found at the following link: Apply to the Scottish Veterans Fund - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) . Bids for the Scottish Vetera…