Parliamentary questions
Jackie Baillie
9,379 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
1 Oct 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates that the Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry will (a) complete its evidence taking and (b) publish its final report.
Answer · Shona Robison: We have always been clear that we want the work of the Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry to be delivered at speed, addressing the range of questions that people have, so that we can learn and benefit from lessons as early as possible. It is for the Scottish COVID-19…
20 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much money is allocated to the primary care capital programme in each year from 2019-20 up to and including 2023-24.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The following primary care projects were allocated capital funding by the Scottish Government in the period 2019-20 to 2023-24: 2019.20 2020.21 2021.22 2022.23 2023.24 Total Health Board £m £m £m £m £m Forecast £m NHS Forth Valley 0.0 0.0 0.…
20 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what projects will be proposed as part of the primary care capital programme for the next two financial years.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government will be investing in the North East Glasgow Health and Care Centre over the next two financial years. A number of other proposals are currently being reviewed, however, as a result of very high levels of inflation in the construction …
20 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether any primary care capital projects previously committed to have been cancelled or delayed in 2023-24.
Answer · Michael Matheson: No primary care projects previously committed to by the Scottish Government have been cancelled or delayed in 2023-24.
20 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which projects are earmarked for investment through the primary care capital programme for 2023-24, and whether these remain on (a) time and (b) budget.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is investing £34.2 million in the North East Glasgow Health and Care Centre in 2023-24, which is part of £66.4 million investment in the centre that covers the period 2019-20 to 2024-25. A further £6.0 million is being invested across…
20 Sep 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will carry out a STAG appraisal of the proposed improvements to the A82 between Tarbet and Inverarnan.
18 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many care homes have recorded COVID-19 infections among their (a) staff and (b) residents in each week since 1 January 2023.
Answer · Maree Todd: The following table shows the number of care homes with a confirmed case of COVID-19, by week, for residents and staff since 1 January 2023. This data has been supplied by The Care Inspectorate. Notes: Data submitted to Care Inspectorate by care homes for a…
18 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many care homes have been wholly or partially closed to new admissions since 1 January 2023 due to COVID-19 infections.
Answer · Jenni Minto: This information is not held centrally by Scottish Government.
18 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many cases of hospital-acquired COVID-19 infections have been recorded in each week since 1 January 2023.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Since July 2020 and until 5 February 2023, Antimicrobial Resistance & Healthcare Associated Infection (ARHAI) Scotland (within NSS) published, weekly validated statistics on the number of hospital-onset COVID-19 infections in Scotland via the Public Health Sc…
18 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many hospital wards were closed to new admissions as a result of COVID-19 in the week ending 15 September 2023, and how many have been closed in each week since 1 January 2023.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.
18 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what modelling is taking place to determine the likely impact of the Pirola variant of COVID-19.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is not currently involved in any modelling work relating specifically to BA.2.86 (known in the media as the Pirola variant), but we continue to work closely with Public Health Scotland and other partners to monitor, assess and be ready…
18 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much COVID-19 funding it allocated for the financial year 2023-24, and how much has been spent to date.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The 2023-24 Scottish budget provides over £250 million funding to NHS Boards to support Covid-19 and other services. This funding is used to support the Covid-19 vaccination programme, testing, personal protection equipment and public health measures. Within…
18 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many COVID-19 testing kits that it purchased in 2022-23 remain unused.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The last procurement for Covid Lateral Flow Device tests in March 2022 was aligned to the Test and Protect Transition Plan, taking account of the potential need to continue a range of testing pathways, and for contingency purposes if required Approximately 1…
18 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider extending eligibility for COVID-19 vaccinations to people aged over 50.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Scotland’s vaccination programme continues to focus on protecting those most vulnerable from serious illness from COVID-19 . Our decision-making on vaccine deployment throughout all COVID-19 vaccination programmes has been guided by the expert clinical advic…
18 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on whether it will reintroduce free COVID-19 lateral flow testing for (a) health and social care staff and (b) the general public.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Targeted testing is in place to support clinical decision making and surveillance. We are working closely with Public Health Scotland, our clinical advisors and the other UK nations to routinely review our position and the clinical advice on COVID-19 in light…
18 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether access to PPE is readily available for health and social care staff.
Answer · Michael Matheson: NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) currently have ample PPE stockpiled and approved for medical use and that is supplied to NHS Boards as required. Social care providers operate independently of Scottish Government and we do not, therefore, hold informatio…
18 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings it has had with officials from the other governments of the UK since 1 September 2023 in relation to the latest COVID-19 variants, and what issues were discussed.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government meets regularly with other UK Governments to discuss health security matters, including COVID-19 variants. The Government will continue to work closely with partners across the UK to monitor, assess and be ready to respond to any new …
14 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Institution of Structural Engineers regarding reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-21436 on 9 October 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…
14 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Officials are involved in the UK Government’s Cross-Government Working Group on RAAC. Recent meetings have confirmed that the Institution of Structural Engineers' guidance on RAAC remains a valid approach to the assessment of RAAC. This has also been confirme…
14 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what contingencies it has put in place for the potential relocation of patients and staff in hospitals or health care facilities found to contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Health Boards are responsible for managing the NHS estate and should have business continuity plans in place. The Scottish Government is working closely with Health Boards and will provide support for contingency arrangements where a need is identified. Guid…
14 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to expedite the physical survey of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete within the NHS.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Health Boards are responsible for managing the NHS estate and the issues with RAAC were communicated to them by Health Facilities Scotland at least as early as November 2019. A national survey programme was established to provide additional assurance that all…
14 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it estimates will be the cost of the removal or remedial action required for reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete within the NHS.
Answer · Michael Matheson: At this stage it is not possible to estimate the cost of the removal or remedial action required for reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete within the NHS.
14 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates that the physical survey of the NHS estate for reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete will be complete, and when the results will be published.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Based on progress to date, NHS Scotland Assure has informed the Scottish Government that the surveys of the 254 properties can be completed by November 2023.
14 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a full list of NHS Scotland buildings suspected of containing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, following the desk-based research commissioned by National Services Scotland.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-21462 on 2 October 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-committe…
14 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which health facilities have been confirmed to have reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, following physical inspections of the estate.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19366 on 21 July 2023 in relation to the desktop review and a full list of the 254 properties identified as having two or more characteristics consistent with the presence of RAAC was placed in the Scottish Par…
14 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any hospice or palliative care funding increases.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is facing the most difficult financial situation since devolution. I therefore wrote to the hospice sector on 17 August 2023 to let them know that, unfortunately, their request for funding of £15.5 million is currently unaffordable. Ho…
14 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to encourage the recruitment and retention of people in the social care workforce to deliver palliative care.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government has been working with a number of partners to support the training and recruitment of a social care workforce to deliver integrated healthcare, which can include palliative care. In collaboration with NES, the Scottish Government work…
14 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to alleviate any increasing pressures on hospices across Scotland.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is aware of the pressure that hospices are under. I am meeting with hospices and hospice leaders to better understand the challenges they face and my officials are exploring how the Scottish Government can support Health and Social Car…
14 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason its proposed new national strategy for palliative and end of life care was not referenced in its 2023-24 Programme for Government.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Programme for Government commitment 2021 – 2022 to developing a new Palliative and End of Life Care Strategy is ongoing. We have established the leadership, partnerships and structures to develop and deliver a new strategy, and we have undertaken extensiv…
14 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what strategies are being implemented to support palliative care delivery in rural and remote areas.
Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-20498 on 28 August 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-committe…