Carol Mochan

25 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many doctors have qualified through the Scottish Graduate Entry Medicine (ScotGEM) programme to date.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Academic year 2021-22 represented the first graduating year of the ScotGEM course with 52 students qualifying at this time. The second cohort of students will graduate later this summer.

25 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many doctors, who qualified through the Scottish Graduate Entry Medicine (ScotGEM) programme, have taken up posts within NHS Dumfries and Galloway since the programme was established.

Answer · Michael Matheson: From the cohort of ScotGEM students who graduated in academic year 2021-22, 10 accepted a Foundation Priority Place post within NHS Dumfries and Galloway. Of those expected to graduate later this summer one ScotGEM student, subject to qualification, has so fa…

25 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many participants in the Scottish Graduate Entry Medicine (ScotGEM) programme, who accepted a "return of service" bursary, have had to repay the bursary for not satisfying the return of service period, in each year since the programme was established.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Academic year (AY) 2021/22 represented the first graduating year for ScotGEM, of those who graduated there were four students who took up a bursary but did not take up a place within Scotland for foundation training. Of these four students:One is on a repayme…

17 May 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has allocated in its Budget 2023-24 for the roll-out of free school meals to all primary school pupils.

16 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the national child measurement programme in Scotland only measures the height and weight of children in P1, and not also in P7, as is routinely done in other parts of the UK.

Answer · Jenni Minto: In Scotland, as part of the wider child health programme , height and weight measurements have always been carried out in Primary 1 only. We are aware that this differs in other parts of the UK. The purpose and key components of the Scottish programme are …

16 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made against the actions outlined in its A Healthier Future – Scotland’s Diet & Healthy Weight Delivery Plan, now that it is five years since its publication.

Answer · Jenni Minto: In our 2018 Diet and Healthy Weight Delivery Plan we set out ambitious and wide-ranging action to deliver our vision for a Scotland where everyone eats well and has a healthy weight. We are taking forward a range of action across five key outcomes: giving …

16 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Public Health (Restriction of Promotions) Bill will be introduced.

Answer · Jenni Minto: In my statement to Parliament on 30 May 2023, I announced that the Public Health (Restriction of Promotions) Bill will not be introduced. We instead plan to consult on the detail of proposed regulations to restrict promotions of food and drink high in fat, su…

16 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action is planned to deliver on its ambition to halve childhood obesity by 2030, in light of reports that childhood obesity rates are continuing to rise.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Ensuring Scotland is a place where children eat well, have a healthy weight and are physically active is a public health priority. We continue to implement the ambitious and wide-ranging action set out in our 2018 Diet and Healthy Weight Delivery Plan to su…

16 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will report on progress towards its ambition to halve childhood obesity by 2030, now that it is five years since the announcement of this ambition.

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 Report. The latest data available is from the 2021 Scottish Health Survey, published in November 2022, which …

2 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to reduce any barriers to community land buyouts.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: There are several ways that the Scottish Government assist communities to take ownership of assets. The Scottish Land Fund, which will be doubled to £20m by 2026, allows groups to purchase assets, often through negotiated sales, from both public and private o…

11 Apr 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it is supporting NHS boards, including NHS Ayrshire and Arran, which have outsourced Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in order to reduce waiting times, to bring such services back in-house.

22 Mar 2023 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will provide an update on pay negotiations with trade unions representing Scottish Parliament staff.

22 Mar 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on investment in research and coordinated care services to support those living with long Covid.

21 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its proposed new cancer strategy will address the findings of the Cancer Research UK report, Cancer in the UK: Deprivation and cancer inequalities in Scotland, including the finding that more deprived populations (a) are less likely to take up cancer screening invitations, (b) are le…

Answer · Michael Matheson: We know that those from areas of deprivation are less likely to take part in screening and more likely to delay presenting with possible symptoms. This is why we launched, and continue to invest in, our Detect Cancer Earlier (DCE) Programme with a focus on re…

17 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what its position is regarding the impact in Scotland of the UK's agreement to the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), including whether ECT membership is consistent with achieving climate change targets, and what recent discussions it has had with the UK Go…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government share many of the concerns raised by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and others regarding the Energy Charter Treaty. As our Vision for Trade makes clear, no part of a trade or investment agreement should limit the …

14 Mar 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to increasing the income threshold for free school meal eligibility for families not currently covered by any free school meal entitlement.

2 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) Transport Scotland and (b) East Ayrshire Council regarding any potential risks on the A76 at Mauchline that may have been heightened by recent housing developments.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Transport Scotland, acting on behalf of the Scottish Ministers, is a statutory consultee in the planning process for all planning applications that have the potential to impact the performance and safety of the Trunk Road Network. East Ayrshire Council consu…

2 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether adequate road traffic impact assessments are conducted prior to the construction of large developments, such as housing developments, commencing.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The adopted National Planning Framework (NPF4) (2023) is clear that transport assessments (TAs) are required for development proposals that will generate a significant increase in the number of person trips. These should consider transport requirements in lin…

2 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of Scotland's preparedness for any future pandemics.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Pandemics and infectious disease threats feature in both Scottish and UK risk assessments which are used to inform our response to these risks.

2 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its work to prepare Scotland for any future pandemics is conducted (a) across Scottish Government portfolios and (b) alongside the work of other governments in the rest of the UK.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Preparation for outbreaks of infectious disease is an ongoing part of health protection. That work is led by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care but the breadth of response required to respond to pandemic events is laid out in the 2022 Strategic …

2 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to prepare Scotland for any future pandemics.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government continues to work with its partners and key stakeholders, including Public Health Scotland, health boards, and across the Four Nations to prepare Scotland to identify and respond to future infectious disease and pandemic threats. This …

2 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is assisting NHS boards in their action to tackle any staff shortages in the South Scotland region.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: While NHS Boards hold the direct responsibility for staffing, we are providing direct investment to assist boards, including those in the South Scotland region, in growing and retaining their workforce. This has included funding to support the recruitment of …

2 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to increase the number of acute care beds for people who require short-stay specialised beds.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: There has been a significant, long term move towards procedures carried out as day-cases and reducing lengths of stay, to the benefit of patients meaning less time spent in hospital. This includes significant progress in the delivery of same-day discharge ar…

2 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the current average waiting time is for a gynaecological consultation in (a) Scotland and (b) each NHS board, and how it plans to reduce these waiting times.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Statistics relating to the waits patients experience for a new outpatient attendance and inpatient or day case appointment at NHS Board and specialty level are published by Public Health Scotland (PHS) up to 31 st December 2022 and can be found using the foll…

1 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will (a) set out the (i) remit of and (ii) reporting mechanisms available to the newly-appointed Women’s Health Champion, and (b) provide the contact details for the role, to enable MSPs and other relevant bodies to arrange meetings with and ask questions of them.  

Answer · Maree Todd: The remit of the Women’s Health Champion is to drive change and share best practice and innovation in the improvement of health services and health outcomes for women. Professor Glasier will work with partners in the NHS and across the public and third sector…

21 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will support NHS boards that have outsourced Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and other services to bring any such services back in-house.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Patient care and service delivery are the statutory responsibility of local healthcare providers. NHS Boards are responsible for working with their partners to plan and provide health services which meet the needs of their populations. Use of the independent …

21 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the outsourcing of mental health services to private companies.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Patient care and service delivery are the statutory responsibility of local healthcare providers. NHS Boards are responsible for working with their partners to plan and provide health services which meet the needs of their populations. Use of the independent …

21 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS boards currently outsource services to the private provider, Healios, and which services are outsourced.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-15310 on 2 March 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-committees…

21 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether NHS boards moving from paper-based appointment and diagnostic evidence gathering systems to online systems is a helpful and deliverable step towards reducing backlogs in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), particularly in instances where b…

Answer · Kevin Stewart: This is an operational decision for Boards. We continue to work closely with them to ensure delivery of the CAMHS waiting times standard and implementation of the CAMHS Specification.

14 Feb 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact on its ongoing targets to tackle child poverty of any reduction in local government funding.