Parliamentary questions

Carol Mochan

846 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

24 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Minister for Housing last met with South Ayrshire Council to discuss its local housing strategy.

Answer · Paul McLennan: The Minister for Housing has not met South Ayrshire Council to discuss its Local Housing Strategy.

24 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the results of its 2023 consultation, Enhancing the accessibility, adaptability and usability of Scotland's homes, will be released.

Answer · Paul McLennan: The responses to the consultation on proposals for enhancing the accessibility, adaptability and usability of Scotland's homes are currently being analysed, and a report on the feedback received will be published in due course.

24 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to improve its guidance to local authorities in relation to the allocation of priority adapted housing for disabled people in social housing.

Answer · Paul McLennan: Social landlords (local authorities and housing associations) are responsible for the allocation of social housing. They must develop and publish allocation policies, within a broad legal framework for social housing allocations. Our Social housing allocation…

11 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the budget for the Scottish Cyber Coordination Centre will be.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Cyber Coordination Centre budget forms a component of existing Cyber Resilience funding, and the future budget for the Scottish Cyber Coordination Centre is still to be determined.

11 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out a full impact assessment of the public health implications of its recently announced decision to reduce funding for public health information marketing campaigns.

Answer · Shona Robison: For clarity, the Scottish Government has not suspended public health information marketing campaigns. The Scottish Government is fully aware of the importance that campaigns have in communicating public health priorities, and essential public health marketing…

11 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many jobs could potentially be lost as a result of its recently announced decision to reduce funding for public health information marketing campaigns.

Answer · Shona Robison: For clarity, the Scottish Government has not suspended public health information marketing campaigns. We continue to run awareness raising campaigns, aimed at raising awareness among key groups to ensure our investment in public health marketing generates is …

11 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to expand access to alcohol related brain damage (ARBD) residential rehabilitation services.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is currently working with representatives from our Residential Rehabilitation Development Working Group to ascertain whether the existing ARBD unit, managed by Penumbra for NHS Lothian, meets the Scottish Government’s definition …

9 Sep 2024 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking in response to the reported rise in hospice care costs, including to ensure that employees in that sector have pay parity with NHS staff.

3 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has provided to South of Scotland Enterprise in each of the last five financial years.

Answer · Kate Forbes: In the last five financial years Scottish Government has provided the following funding to South of Scotland Enterprise:South of Scotland Enterprise – Budget Allocations 2020-2025Year2020-212021-222022-232023-242024-25£000£000£000&poun…

3 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its fiscal statement on 3 September 2024, how much money it projects it will save from (a) restrictions on overtime and (b) recruitment freezes.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government Fiscal Statement (3 September 2024) and accompanying letter to the Finance Committee Scottish Government Pre-Budget Fiscal Update: Letter to Finance Committee - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)set out savings measures taken in the financial yea…

3 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many community pharmacies are currently delivering gender identity related healthcare.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Specialist NHS gender identity healthcare in Scotland is delivered by gender identity clinics. There are four NHS gender identity clinics in Scotland providing clinical assessment, treatment and specialist support to adults and a separate service for children…

2 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it was first advised to halt the use of puberty suppressing hormones.

Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to my the answer to question S6W-26340 on 19 April 2024, that clarifies that decisions on clinical pathways are not for the Scottish Government. Decisions on clinical pathways, and prescribing, are for clinicians, based on the best evidence…

2 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide further details of the anticipated delivery timescale for the Prestwick Spaceport.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Both Scottish and UK Government Ministers have accepted a South Ayrshire Council proposal that the Prestwick Spaceport is no longer taken forward as part of the Ayrshire Growth Deal. Scottish Ministers look forward to working constructively with AGD partners …

1 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work of the palliative and end-of-life care strategy steering group.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Strategy Steering Group for Palliative Care (SSG), representing the wide range of partners involved in palliative care, chaired by a National Clinical Lead for Palliative Care, and supported by a Clinical and Professional Advisory Group (CPAG), has been c…

1 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with the independent hospice sector to discuss long-term planning and funding for the commissioning of hospice care.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care met with the Chair of the Scottish Hospice Leadership Group and Hospice UK on 8 August to discuss long-term planning and funding for the commissioning of hospice care as part of an agreed visit.I am also meetin…

30 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made towards implementing the goals set out in the publication, Transforming Nursing Roles: Advanced Nursing Practice - Phase II.

Answer · Neil Gray: Since the publication of the 'Transforming Nursing Roles: Advanced Nursing Practice - Phase II' paper in 2021, NHS Education for Scotland (NES) has taken the lead for this work.The minimum qualification of a PG Dip Advanced Practice is required by NHS Scotlan…

30 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the cost was of the previous winter vaccination programme, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government welcomes the innovation, continuous improvement and efficiency that Health Board delivery teams have demonstrated to make best use of resources and funding throughout our national vaccination programmes, which remain a key public healt…

30 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the success of the previous winter vaccination programme.

Answer · Jenni Minto: As part of the 2023-24 COVID-19 and flu winter vaccination programme NHS Scotland delivered over 3.57 million winter vaccines, including 1,387,766 COVID-19 vaccines, 1,647,596 adult flu vaccines and 538,580 child flu vaccines. Uptake dropped across almost all…

23 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with sports governing bodies that may be affected by the decision of sportscotland to dispose of its headquarters at Caledonia House, Edinburgh.

Answer · Maree Todd: In 2009, sportscotland’s headquarters moved to Doges, Templeton on the Green, Glasgow and Caledonian House was retained as a “House of Sport”. A full cost-benefit analysis of Caledonian House was conducted in March 2023, and it was concluded…

23 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports of an increase in NHS Ayrshire and Arran's accident and emergency waiting times with reported figures for June 2024 showing its lowest monthly performance on record over the past eight years.

Answer · Neil Gray: As with Health Services across Scotland and the rest of the UK, NHS Ayrshire & Arran are experiencing sustained pressure on their Urgent Care Services with some patients waiting longer than we would wish. I recognize that NHS Ayrshire & Arran’s …

23 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will support NHS boards to deliver reductions in A&E waiting times.

Answer · Neil Gray: We are supporting NHS Boards through our Urgent and Unscheduled Care Collaborative Programme to improve patient flow through our acute sites and reduce A&E delays. Key actions include: strengthening arrangements to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions su…

8 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the development of more battery energy sites is crucial to the future energy mix of Scotland.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Battery storage will play a role in the future energy mix of Scotland. As set out in our draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan, battery storage offers fast responding, dispatchable power when required. They also provide a number of ancillary services…

8 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact that battery energy sites have on the health and wellbeing of those living nearby.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Where new development proposals come forward, Scotland’s Fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) ensures that the impacts of proposals on communities and nature, including cumulative impacts, are important considerations in the decision-making process…

30 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to (a) increase intergenerational funding opportunities and (b) find ways to encourage funding bodies to invest more in intergenerational projects.

Answer · Kaukab Stewart: The Scottish Government recognises the positive contribution older people make to their communities and recognises the value in bringing generations together. We aim to enable better access to a range of services for older people as and when they need them. W…

24 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any future discussions planned with NHS Dumfries and Galloway regarding the future of Galloway Community Hospital.

Answer · Neil Gray: My officials are aware of the review of Galloway Community Hospital as part of NHS Dumfries and Galloway’s long-term sustainability planning and the Right Care, Right Place programme. Officials have engaged Dumfries and Galloway on these proposals over the co…