Parliamentary questions
Jackie Baillie
9,379 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
8 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic have been taken into account in the Scottish Ambulance Service's demand and capacity review.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Ambulance Service continues to provide data each year to Operational Research in Health (ORH) to continually update the model. This enables resourcing requirements to be modelled each year to take account of changes in the data and wider health a…
8 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there is a need for additional support, including clinical nursing specialists, for blood cancer patients due to the specific and complex nature of the disease.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Clinical nurse specialists make a valued contribution to delivering services and supporting patients and families who require specialist care. The Scottish Government has invested £2.5 million annually in the Specialist Nursing and Care Fund since 2015. The …
8 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve early diagnosis of blood cancer.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is committed to finding cancer early. That is why we have established Scotland’s first three Early Cancer Diagnostic Centres in NHS Ayrshire & Arran, NHS Fife and NHS Dumfries & Galloway. These Centres provide primary care with a new r…
8 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve public awareness of blood cancer symptoms.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: An overarching Detect Cancer Early social marketing campaign 'Survivors' was launched in 2018. The campaign, developed in close consultation with the Scottish Cancer Coalition, aimed to reduce fear around cancer and empower people to take early action, be it …
7 Feb 2022 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to reduce delayed discharge from hospitals, in light of reports that it is at the highest recorded level since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
7 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of a recent Royal College of Nursing Scotland employment survey, what action it is taking in response to the reported finding that 61% of nursing staff in Scotland are thinking of leaving their jobs.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: In light of the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic, the wellbeing of our health workforce, wherever they work, remains a key priority. The 2021/22 pay uplift saw staff receive an average 4% pay rise, the highest in the UK. The Scottish Government is committed…
3 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the assumption was for Scottish Water's capital spending for new capital works required in the 2021-22 period and funded as part of the 2021-27 regulatory period.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Scottish Water set out in its 2021 Delivery Plan its expectation that it would invest between £570m and £650m (excluding responsive repair activity) in 2021-22. Scottish Water forecasts that it will outturn in the upper half of this range.
3 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05609 by Michael Matheson on 17 January 2022, whether it will provide the information requested regarding what consideration Scottish Water gave to the minimum income expectation set by the Water Industry Commission for Scotland within the 2021-27 f…
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Water Industry Commission for Scotland has responsibility for setting charge caps and otherwise sets out expectations or forecasts including for income as a guide to Scottish Water and stakeholders. Consideration of the economic circumstances of customers…
3 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05610 by Michael Matheson on 17 January 2022, whether Scottish Water is the only shareholder in Scottish Water Business Stream Holdings Ltd; whether Scottish Water Business Stream Holdings Ltd is the only shareholder in Scottish Water Business Strea…
Answer · Michael Matheson: Scottish Water is the only shareholder in Scottish Water Horizons Holdings Ltd, Scottish Water Horizons Holdings Ltd is the only shareholder in Scottish Water Business Stream Holdings Ltd and Scottish Water Business Stream Holdings Ltd is the only shareholder…
3 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05606 by Michael Matheson on 17 January 2022, what commitment it will make to review the Water Charges Reduction Scheme, in light of the potential erosion of its value to the least affluent customers with each year that Scottish Water increases char…
Answer · Michael Matheson: The expansion of the water charges reduction scheme (WCRS) from April 2021 is worth £86m across the 2021-27 period and it will provide support for over 470,000 households. The increase in discount from 25% to 35%, again from 2021, means that customers in rece…
3 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05612 by Michael Matheson on 17 January 2022, how much Scottish Water Horizons Holdings Ltd paid for the PFI company referred to; how much external bank debt funding remains, and whether Scottish Water is the only shareholder in Scottish Water Horiz…
Answer · Michael Matheson: Scottish Water Horizons Holdings limited acquired the PFI companies for £16.2m on 19 December 2018 (see note 11 to the Scottish Water’s financial statements for the year ending 31 March 2019). The value of bank debt as at 31 March 2022 will be c. £31m. Scotti…
3 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05611 by Michael Matheson on 17 January 2022, whether Scottish Water expects to have undertaken all the residual work from the 2015-21 regulatory period by the end of the 2022-23 financial year, as indicated in its 2020-21 annual report.
Answer · Michael Matheson: As set out in Scottish Water’s 2020-21 Annual Report, while thousands of projects were delivered in the 2015- 21 period there were 86 projects due by but not delivering benefits to customers at 31 March 2021. Scottish Water expects customers to be receiving t…
3 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the rising cost of living, what assessment it has made of the affordability of above inflation water charges for people who are not eligible for the Water Charges Reduction Scheme.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Water charges remain linked to the council tax banding of the house occupied. Higher banded houses are usually expected to be occupied by higher income households and so linking water charges to council tax band will frequently reflect ability to pay. But, im…
3 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is possible for Scottish Water Business Stream Holdings Ltd or Scottish Water Horizons Holdings Ltd to pay a dividend or make any other transfer of money to Scottish Water, and, if so, whether such a dividend or money transfer has ever been paid to Scottish Water.
Answer · Michael Matheson: It is possible for Scottish Water Business Stream Holdings Ltd to pay dividends to Scottish Water Horizons Holdings Ltd and this has been done in the past. It is not possible for Scottish Water Business Stream Holdings Ltd to pay a dividend to Scottish Water …
3 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to open mobile operating theatres across all of Scotland, in light of the introduction of such facilities in Orkney and Shetland.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The mobile theatre unit, which opened at Gilbert Bain Hospital in Shetland in January 2022, is supporting access to treatment for cataract and orthopaedic patients, who have faced delays in receiving care due to the pandemic and may have otherwise had to trav…
3 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the current average time taken is to administer anti-viral medication to people with COVID-19 who are on the Highest Risk List.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The information requested is not held centrally. However, patients are asked to contact their local Health Board single point of contact telephone number if they believe they are eligible for treatment. The phone lines are open seven days a week, including pu…
3 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether people with neuromuscular conditions are eligible for anti-viral medication if they contract COVID-19.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: People with certain neuromuscular conditions, such as motor neurone disease and multiple sclerosis, are eligible for antiviral medication The eligibility criteria for direct access to new COVID-19 treatments were developed by an independent expert working gro…
3 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the availability of anti-viral medication for people with COVID-19 who are on the Highest Risk List.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-06307 on 28 February 2022. 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…
2 Feb 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it anticipates that the lifting of the eviction ban, in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, will result in increased homelessness.
1 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05156 by Maree Todd on 10 January 2022, whether patient representatives of the NACCP were given the opportunity to propose changes to the draft version of the Framework in November 2021 before its publication in December 2021.
Answer · Maree Todd: The draft Framework was shaped throughout 2020 and 2021 by a range of stakeholders, including the patient representatives of the National Advisory Committee on Chronic Pain (NACCP). All members of the NACCP were informed of the proposed approach in advance, w…
1 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether any private marketing companies have been paid for work relating to the Draft Framework for Pain Management Service Delivery, and, if so, which companies, and how much have they each received.
Answer · Maree Todd: No private marketing company has been used for work relating to the Draft Framework for Pain Management Service Delivery .
31 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, as part of the implementation of its Oral Health Improvement Plan, when it will recommence its “design groups” to develop a new model of care for adult dentistry, including a long-term replacement for the Statement of Dental Remuneration.
Answer · Maree Todd: The pandemic paused the Oral Health Improvement Programme, which was developing, through Design Groups, preventive and patient focused care through the New Model of Care. The clear focus for Scottish Government is to recover and stabilise NHS dental services…
31 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the timescale is for the review of minimum unit pricing for alcohol.
Answer · Maree Todd: When minimum unit pricing for alcohol was introduced on 1 May 2018, we said we would review the level two years after its introduction, so from May 2020. With the arrival of COVID-19, this work was paused as responding to the pandemic became the Scottish Gove…
31 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce a bill to restrict the promotion of food and drink high in fat, sugar or salt.
Answer · Maree Todd: As set out in our 2021-22 Programme for Government , the Scottish Government will introduce a Public Health Bill that includes restrictions on unhealthier food and drink promotions in this Parliament. We will consult again on our proposals to restrict unhe…
31 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will launch its consultation on the domestic advertising of e-cigarettes.
Answer · Maree Todd: A full public consultation into proposed restrictions on the advertising and promotion of vaping products was launched on February 3. The consultation will run for 12 weeks and all responses will be independently analysed.
31 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it did not meet its previous commitment to launch a consultation on the domestic advertising of e-cigarettes in November 2021.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government acted on requests by retail organisations not to launch the consultation in the run-up to Christmas which is the busiest trading period and may not have allowed retailers the full opportunity to share their views. We took the opportuni…
31 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has suspended the contract that was awarded to KPMG to construct the business case for the National Care Service, which is reportedly worth in excess of £500,000.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The contract with KPMG to construct the business case for the National Care Service has not been suspended.
31 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the contract was awarded to KPMG for it to construct the business case for the National Care Service.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Following the procurement exercise the award decision was communicated to all bidders on 7 December 2021, with the contract being signed on 13 December 2021. It was subsequently published on the Public Contracts Scotland website on 10 January 2022.
31 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it became aware that KPMG had withdrawn from bidding for UK Government contracts.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Officials were informed that KPMG had withdrawn from bidding for UK government contracts on 17 December 2021.
31 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there is any conflict of interest in the Head of Social Care and NCS Finance reportedly being a former employee of KPMG, in light of the contract with KPMG to construct the business case for the National Care Service.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: There is no conflict of interest between existing Scottish Government Civil Servants and the specialist consultancy services procured from KPMG in a fair and open procurement exercise. The Scottish Government has a clear contract award and management processe…