Parliamentary questions
Carol Mochan
846 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
7 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures the public's respiratory safety in relation to the indoor air quality in people's homes.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government undertake a range of regulatory and advisory activities to support the delivery of good indoor air quality in our homes. This includes:All new homes and new building work are subject to building regulations which include provisions on …
7 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider creating a joint health and justice working group for national leadership and to undertake a review and assessment of any need for clearer standards for alcohol interventions at appropriate stages in the justice system.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government is engaging widely on the creation of a new approach to care and support for people impacted by alcohol. That new approach will include plans for a national specification setting out the interventions required to reduce harm as well as…
7 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the Glasgow Alcohol Court, and whether it will consider rolling this out to other cities.
Answer · Maree Todd: Specialist courts such as the Glasgow Alcohol Court are the responsibility of Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, rather than the responsibility of the Scottish Government.There are other good practice examples of problem solving courts, including the Pan-…
7 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there is national training and guidance for justice settings regarding Alcohol Brief Interventions (ABIs).
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government’s national guidance on Alcohol Brief Interventions (ABI) was last published in 2018. It includes advice on training as well as advice for carrying out and recording ABI in justice settings.In response to the national review of AB…
7 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact it anticipates its preventative healthcare priorities will have on the 14% increase in circulatory hospital admissions that is reportedly projected in the next 10 years.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Both the Health and Social Care Service Renewal Framework (SRF) and the Population Health Framework (PHF) place prevention and early intervention at their core. The actions in the PHF – promoting healthy eating, investing in sport and active living, and…
7 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider introducing legislation to entitle people to paid leave when experiencing severe and disabling pain caused by endometriosis or other chronic menstrual pain conditions, similar to legislation in other countries such as Law 32/2025 in Portugal.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Workplace support via income replacement benefits such as Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit, which provide financial support to people of working age who are unable to work due to illness, are reserved to the UK Government. However, our Ad…
3 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact of the delay in the delivery of a treatment centre at Carrick Glen Hospital.
Answer · Neil Gray: We are working with all health boards to develop a whole-system NHS infrastructure plan. This will reflect on needs across Scotland and support the continued safe operation of existing facilities, as well as the determination of longer term investment priorit…
3 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with NHS Ayrshire and Arran regarding the delay in the delivery of a treatment centre at Carrick Glen Hospital.
Answer · Neil Gray: We are working with all health boards to develop a whole-system NHS infrastructure plan and we meet regularly with NHS Ayrshire and Arran and other NHS Boards, to discuss the development of the plan. The infrastructure plan will reflect on needs across Scotla…
30 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-36002 by Jenni Minto on 1 April 2025, whether it or Public Health Scotland can provide an update on the timeline for the introduction and delivery of the Fracture Liaison Service audit.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Public Health Scotland (PHS), is responsible for implementing and delivering the Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) audit. While they identified some initial recruitment-related delays, these have been addressed and completed.Scottish Government is satisfied that…
30 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what interim mechanisms are being used to monitor the performance of fracture liaison services while work on the national audit is ongoing.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Public Health Scotland (PHS) is responsible for implementing and delivering the Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) audit. They are working with NHS Boards across Scotland, to provide the necessary support as they develop the audit in line with Scottish National A…
30 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact of the reported delay in delivering the national Fracture Liaison Service audit on its ability to monitor any inequalities in access to early osteoporosis diagnosis.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The FLS audit has been commissioned to drive improvements and support clinical decision-making in effectively evaluating gaps in osteoporosis care. This will reduce health inequalities for the people of Scotland, especially for those most at risk of fractures…
30 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-36795 by Jenni Minto on 7 May 2025, whether it can provide any figures on the proportion of fragility fractures in patients currently identified by fracture liaison services.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Scottish Government do not hold this data. Health Boards who have a Fracture Liaison Service in place will be able to provide this information.
30 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s South Sector Fracture Liaison Service, which provides services for patients across the country, has significantly reduced the time taken to identify fragility fractures in patients, and the Scottish Parliament motio…
Answer · Jenni Minto: Scottish Government commissioned Public Health Scotland (PHS) to implement and deliver the national Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) audit.As part of the implementation, PHS is consulting with all NHS Boards to review services currently in place across Scotland…
23 Jun 2025 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the use of Scottish Government-owned infrastructure by the United States military, in light of US air strikes on Iran.
16 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to support any social care workers on low pay, in light of reported evidence stating that there is a link between the level of pay for people working in social care and child poverty.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government has a long-standing commitment to support social care workers rates of pay. For the 2025-26 financial year, the Scottish Government are investing £125 million to enable adult social care workers, delivering direct care in the thi…
16 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it has measured any impact of the women’s health plan’s targeted training for key professionals on women and girls with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government does not hold data on the impact of training for healthcare professionals on women and girls with a diagnosis of PMDD.NHS Education for Scotland (NES) published an eLearning module for healthcare professionals on Menstrual Health in Se…
16 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding welfare benefits assessments, how it plans to support those affected by premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), which can often result in debilitating pain for two to three weeks in a month.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: We want everyone eligible for disability benefits to access their entitlements. Child Disability Payment and Adult Disability Payment provide financial support to help mitigate the additional costs of being disabled or living with a long-term health condition…
16 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that women and girls who experience premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) are supported, in light of the reportedly unique and severe symptoms associated with this disorder.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Through the actions in our Women’s Health Plan there is now a Women’s Health Platform on NHS Inform, to help women find the information they need on a range of issues relating to their health, including conditions like PMDD.The Health and Social C…
16 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to improve the levels of recruitment and retention in social care, in light of reports that demand for services is increasing and that entry-level jobs in supermarkets can pay more than roles in social care.
Answer · Tom Arthur: Whilst the Scottish Government has overall responsibility for national social care policy in Scotland, it is for Local Authorities and Integrated Joint Boards to ensure that social care support services are in place to provide people with the appropriate supp…
9 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Royal College of Radiologists workforce survey 2024, how it plans to address the regional variation in the recruitment of radiology doctors in relation to diagnostic treatment and cancer services.
Answer · Neil Gray: Scottish Government sets the strategic direction for the NHS in Scotland, operational matters including staffing and the recruitment is the responsibility of health boards as autonomous institutions.Decisions will depend on the service needs of each board tak…
9 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Royal College of Radiologists workforce census 2024, which shows that there has been 0.2% growth in the WTE consultant radiologist workforce in 2024, and the 2023 Diagnostic Imaging Workforce Plan for Scotland, which projected a yearly increase in CT and MRI demand of be…
Answer · Neil Gray: Official NHS Workforce Statistics are published by NHS Education for Scotland. This data shows the NHS Scotland Consultant Radiologist workforce grew by 2.3% over the last year. Over the last decade the NHS Scotland Consultant Radiologist workforce has grown …
9 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to not placing any NHS board or hospital, which does not meet diagnostic and cancer waiting times, under a recruitment freeze.
Answer · Neil Gray: Whilst the Scottish Government sets the strategic direction for the NHS in Scotland, operational matters including staffing and the recruitment is the responsibility of health boards as autonomous institutions.Decisions will depend on the service needs of eac…
9 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last asked the UK Government when the results of the UK National Screening Committee consultation on offering HPV self-sampling will be released.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is represented on the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) and receives updates regarding significant developments in the Committee’s work. It is expected that the UK NSC will be issuing an official update later this month on…
9 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to reduce the reported delays that patients are facing as a result of a shortage of doctors responsible for diagnostic and cancer care across Scotland.
Answer · Neil Gray: We know that cancer services are treating more patients on time, within both standards, compared to the same quarter five years ago – 4.5% more within the 31 day standard & 1.6% more within the 62 day standard.Over £106 million has been alloca…
9 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Royal College of Radiologists workforce census 2024, how it plans to reduce the number of clinical (a) radiologists and (b) oncologists leaving the workforce below the age of 50.
Answer · Neil Gray: Scottish Government recognises that throughout their career, employees, including radiologists and oncologists, will face differing demands on their time and energies at home as well as at work which may lead to them leaving the workforce below the age of 50.…
9 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will support (a) NHS boards and (b) cancer alliances to develop local and regional long-term workforce plans to meet the radiology and oncology demands that they face.
Answer · Neil Gray: We have established the National Oncology Coordination Group to provide a coordinated and collaborative response to immediate and foreseeable service pressures. This group provides rapid real-time assessment of highest risk services and proactively develops r…
9 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting radiologists in Scotland, in light of the figures from the Royal College of Radiologists recent workforce census showing that there is a 25% shortfall in the profession.
Answer · Neil Gray: Over the last ten years we have increased the Consultant Radiologist workforce by 27.7% (from 304.5 WTE as of March 2015 to 388.9 WTE as of March 2025).Scottish Government is committed to supporting NHS staff, including radiologists, through the provision of …
9 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to encourage an increase in the uptake and provision of the number of specialty training places for radiology, in light of the figures from the Royal College of Radiologists recent workforce census showing that there is a 25% shortfall in the profession.
Answer · Neil Gray: Clinical radiology specialty training programmes have been filled at 100% in Scotland from 2014 to 2024, with 230 resident doctors successfully completing the training in this period.The Scottish Government continues to invest heavily in radiology training. W…
9 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of investing in more NHS-based clinical radiology and oncology specialty training places compared with the outsourcing of NHS contracts to the independent sector.
Answer · Neil Gray: Whilst Scottish Ministers are responsible for determining the strategic policy of the NHS in Scotland, NHS Boards are responsible for delivering their services, including making decisions to outsource NHS contracts to the independent sector where appropriate …
2 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that any services and grants that it provides are not indirectly leading to the purchase and manufacture of weapons.
Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government does not support the manufacture of munitions - nor do our public agencies. The support provided is focused on helping firms to diversify and develop civilian applications for their technology and ensure Scotland continues to benefit f…