Parliamentary questions
Carol Mochan
846 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
2 Oct 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it received in Barnett consequential funding as a result of the UK Government committing an additional £70 million to support stop smoking services in England in 2025-26.
Answer · Jenni Minto: At the UK Spending Review the Scottish Government received a Barnett share of the net changes to UK departmental budget allocations, which ultimately fed into our total block grant settlement.Any new or additional spending allocations in 2025-26 associated wi…
2 Oct 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans are in place to support NHS staff during the roll-out of the MyCare.scot app.
Answer · Neil Gray: The MyCare.Scot app is part of a programme of digital transformation for health and social care services. To support this transformation the Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all staff are equipped with the right digital and data skills they r…
2 Oct 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support women with polycystic ovary syndrome, as it develops the next phase of the women’s health plan.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Menstrual health, which includes polycystic ovary syndrome, was a priority in the first phase of the Women’s Health Plan.To support women with symptomspolycystic ovary syndrome of we have;improved access to comprehensive information on menstrual symptom…
2 Oct 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve public awareness of the difference between polycystic ovaries and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), in relation to PCOS being a hormonal disorder that can lead to a number of other health consequences.
Answer · Jenni Minto: NHS Inform helps women to access the information they need on a range of issues relating to their health. The Platform includes comprehensive information on polycystic ovary syndrome This includes an animation produced by the University of Edinburgh which pro…
26 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of any NHS boards that have stopped providing specialist podiatry care for people with diabetes.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government is not aware of any NHS Board that has stopped providing specialist podiatry care for people with diabetes. NHS Scotland’s Podiatry Service assesses and treats patients based on individual healthcare needs rather than specific me…
26 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it provides to people with diabetes on low incomes to afford podiatry treatments.
Answer · Neil Gray: While the Scottish Government’s role is to set the strategic policy for the NHS in Scotland, it is NHS Boards that are responsible for delivering safe, effective, person-centred care at a local level.To do this effectively, NHS Boards provide a tiered p…
23 Sep 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress being made in developing the next phase of the Women’s Health Plan.
16 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the timeline is for the introduction of the next phase of the Women’s Health Plan.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The next phase of the Women’s Health Plan is expected to be published in January 2026.
15 Sep 2025 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Royal College of Nursing’s reported concerns regarding the decline in the number of nursing students, in light of recent UCAS figures showing that the number of accepted places on nursing courses beginning this autumn in Scotland is 5% lower than last ye…
11 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce a protest exclusion zone around properties where asylum seekers are living either temporarily or permanently, in light of the reported increase in violence and intimidation surrounding such sites.
Answer · Kaukab Stewart: I can confirm there are currently no plans to implement protest exclusion zones around asylum accommodation.People have the right of peaceful protest in a democracy, but that must be balanced with safety. The Scottish Government is deeply concerned about some…
11 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to provide additional protection for locations where asylum seekers are living either permanently or temporarily, in light of the reported recent increase in violence and intimidation surrounding such properties.
Answer · Kaukab Stewart: Asylum is reserved to the UK Parliament and handled by the Home Office. This includes provision of asylum accommodation and support to people who would otherwise be destitute while waiting for a decision on their asylum application. Asylum accommodation is th…
10 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish Rugby report, Breaking the silence: why breast health matters in rugby, which was published in September 2025 and highlights research concerning the difference in performance made by having a proper fitting for a sports bra, how it will raise awareness amon…
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government understands the importance of sport and physical activity for women and girls in Scotland and the positive impact that has on their physical, mental, and social health across all stages in life. We recognise the importance of having a …
4 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recently published report, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder; The Welfare State: Recommendations for Reform, how it will (a) act to improve the experiences of people with premenstrual dysphoric disorder applying for a social security benefit and (b) implement the report&rs…
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: In Scotland, we have built a radically different system to change the way disability benefits are delivered. We ensure that the impact of fluctuating health conditions like PMDD have on people’s lives are fully taken into account when someone appl…
4 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-38735 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 1 July 2025, what its response is to the new research on the welfare benefits system and premenstrual dysphoric disorder published in the report, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: The Welfare State: Recommendations…
Answer · Jenni Minto: As the report sets out, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) has a huge impact on the welfare of many in Scotland. We therefore welcome this report and will take its recommendations into account as we develop the next phase of the Scottish Government’…
29 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many times the two-week deadline for urgent cancer referrals in cases involving hormone replacement therapy has been met in each of the last five years.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally.
28 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights’ (CESCR) Concluding Observations on the seventh periodic report of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, what assessment it has made of the disproportionate impacts on marginalised w…
Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-38163 on 17 June 2025. 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/…
28 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that its forthcoming high-level action plan, to respond to the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights’ (CESCR) Concluding Observations on the seventh periodic report of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, mainstream…
Answer · Kaukab Stewart: We continue to take forward work to protect, promote and improve gender equality in Scotland, working with the First Minister’s National Advisory Council on Women and Girls (NACWG). The Scottish Government accepted the NACWG’s 21 recommendations f…
28 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to fully decriminalise abortion, in light of the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) Concluding Observations on the seventh periodic report of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the recommendation to…
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government committed in the 23-24 Programme for Government to undertake a review of abortion law to identify potential proposals for reforms to ensure that abortion services are first and foremost a healthcare matter.To take this forward, the Sco…
20 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the article in The Lancet, The potential role of Mifepristone in breast cancer prevention: beyond medical abortion.
Answer · Jenni Minto: There are studies that show a developing evidence base for the use of mifepristone in breast cancer prevention as outlined in the opinion piece in The Lancet.The regulation for the licensing, safety and efficacy of medicines is currently reserved to the UK Go…
20 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the article in The Lancet, The potential role of mifepristone in breast cancer prevention: beyond medical abortion, whether it would support research into the use of mifepristone as a drug to help prevent women at high risk of breast cancer from developing the disease.
Answer · Neil Gray: Within the Scottish Government, the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) is responsible for supporting Health and Care research.CSO runs a number of project and fellowship funding schemes for Scottish-led research and this role is well known across the Health and Car…
20 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to reduce the number of deaths from breast cancer, in light of it being the most common cancer affecting women in Scotland.
Answer · Jenni Minto: All cancers, including breast, remain a national priority, within the Scottish Government and across NHS Scotland. That is why we published our Cancer strategy 2023 to 2033 - gov.scot along with an initial three year Cancer action plan 2023 to 2026 - gov.scot…
14 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that the Scottish Ambulance Service is able to reach patients within its response time targets, especially in rural locations.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government is clear that there should be no unnecessary delays in responding to patients, regardless of their location. The Scottish Ambulance Service’s 2025-26 budget is £437.2 million. This represents increased investment of £…
14 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it tracks the Scottish Ambulance Service’s response time targets nationally to ensure that people are receiving the lifesaving care that they need.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government meets with the Scottish Ambulance Service regularly in the form of Operational Meetings, Mid Year and Annual Reviews where performance is discussed. The Scottish Government also receives weekly performance reports which are analysed an…
11 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to concerns raised in the report by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights regarding human rights and access to maternity services, and what lessons can be learned in relation to Wigtownshire maternity services.
Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-38163 on 17 June 2025, on the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights report as regards to the provision of maternity services in rural areas.The Scottish Government expects all NHS Boards to provi…
11 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a six-month update regarding how many priority now actions of the miscarriage delivery framework shorter-term actions have been achieved.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government will issue a monitoring template to NHS Boards shortly asking them to report on their progress towards implementation of the priority now actions set out in the Delivery Framework for Miscarriage Care in Scotland.Once the NHS Board res…
11 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it supports charities like Nurture the Borders, based in Selkirk, which provides a variety of services for pregnant women who would not be able to access them otherwise.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring equitable coordinated access to mental health provision for women, infants and their families throughout pregnancy and during the postnatal period. Between October 2024 and March 2025 the Perinatal and Infant M…
11 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing for women to access antenatal classes in remote areas like the Scottish Borders.
Answer · Jenni Minto: We expect all NHS Boards to provide high quality prenatal and antenatal education for all pregnant women and their families and to continue to promote and improve early access to antenatal education, tailored to their local populations. Recommendation 9 of Th…
11 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what feedback it has received from NHS boards regarding implementation of the priority now actions from the miscarriage delivery framework.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government has not yet received feedback from NHS Boards. We will issue a monitoring template to Boards shortly asking them to report on their progress towards implementation of the priority now actions set out in the Delivery Framework for Misca…
11 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it supports local authorities in their efforts to reduce isolation and improve access to services for refugees in rural communities.
Answer · Kaukab Stewart: Scotland’s approach to supporting the integration of refugees and people seeking asylum within our communities is set out in the New Scots refugee integration strategy. The strategy is led jointly by the Scottish Government, COSLA (representing Scottish…
11 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what induction is available specifically to African workers coming to work within the NHS and social care sector.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Code of Practice for the International Recruitment of Health and Social Care Personnel in Scotland promotes high standards of practice in the ethical recruitment of all international staff and all health and social employers must adhere to the Code.It pro…