Parliamentary questions
Jackie Baillie
9,379 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
31 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the contract with KPMG to construct the business case for the National Care Service was awarded under the Crown Commercial Service Management Consultancy Framework Three.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The contract was awarded under the Crown Commercial Service Management Consultancy Framework Three following a fair and open procurement exercise in line with Scottish Government guidance.
28 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether a three-week notice period is a suitable length of time for creel fishers and other fisherman, in light of the planned removal of customary exemptions to a seasonal ban on white fish catches, which is expected to come into force on 14 February 2022.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Although we carried out a consultation on this issue in autumn 2021, we acknowledged the strong reaction from the fishing industry around this change of policy in January 2022 and engaged further with them and other stakeholders to refine the policy. We have …
28 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what scientific evidence was considered, prior to its decision to remove the customary exemptions to a seasonal ban on white fish catches, which is expected to come into force on 14 February 2022, and whether it will publish any such evidence.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The area of the revised closure is based on sediment distribution in the Firth of Clyde, with greater protection for those sediment types known to be favoured by spawning cod. Full details and coordinates are available at: Fishing closures: Firth of Clyde - …
28 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons it plans to remove customary exemptions to a seasonal ban on white fish catches, which is expected to come into force on 14 February 2022.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: A seasonal spawning closure in the Firth of Clyde has been in place for over 20 years to provide an area to protect cod during their spawning season (14 February – 30 April). Since its introduction in 2001, the closure has included exemptions to allow Nephrop…
28 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can guarantee that the planned three-month removal of customary exemptions to a seasonal ban on white fish catches, which is expected to come into force on 14 February 2022, will not be extended further.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Sea Fish (Prohibition on Fishing) (Firth of Clyde) (No. 2) Order 2022 introduces a closure for 11 weeks from 14 February in both 2022 and 2023. Both the timing of the closure and the statutory approach are consistent with the approach the Scottish Governm…
28 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving to creel fishermen, in light of the planned removal of customary exemptions to a seasonal ban on white fish catches, which is expected to come into force on 14 February 2022.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: In line with Scottish Government policy, we will not provide financial compensation to fishermen for areas closed in order to protect fish spawning, such as those in the Firth of Clyde. This approach is consistent with that take in respect of similar manageme…
27 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what work is being done to reduce the waiting time for patients who require a colposcopy following a routine cervical cancer screening exam.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Colposcopy capacity has been impacted by Covid-19, regrettably resulting in longer than usual waiting times in some Health Boards. In recognition of this, last year we provided over £660,000 additional funding to NHS Ayrshire & Arran, NHS Greater Glasgow & C…
27 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) average and (b) longest waiting time has been for patients requiring a colposcopy, following a routine cervical cancer screening exam, in each year since 2018 to date, also broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government or by Public Health Scotland, however confirmed cervical cancer patients being treated on the 31 day or 62 day pathway, with their waiting times, can be found at: Cancer waiting times…
27 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-02085 by Maree Todd on 23 August 2021, whether a date has been set for the resumption of over-70s breast cancer screening, and, if not, (a) for what reason and (b) whether it will commit to this service restarting in any form in 2022.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government is committed to resuming the pause to self-referrals for those aged 71 and over as soon as it is feasible. The Breast Screening Programme Board (BSPB) agreed that the option for women over 70 to self-refer into the breast screening pro…
27 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) average and (b) longest current waiting time is for breast cancer screening for women aged 50 to 70.
Answer · Maree Todd: a) There are six breast screening centres across Scotland. For women aged 53-70 years who were screened between 1st April 2020 and 31st January 2021, the average interval between screening episodes was 41 months across Scotland. The average interval between …
27 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many women aged 50 to 70 are currently waiting to be invited for breast cancer screening.
Answer · Maree Todd: As of 31st January 2022, 54,726 women in Scotland have waited more than 36 months since their last breast screen. Data presented in relation to S6W-06127 on 28 February 2022 sets out the average length of time between screening appointments by screening centr…
27 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many diagnostic procedures were carried out annually on average in the five years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and how many procedures it anticipates will be carried out in total in each year of the NHS Recovery Plan.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Information on the number of diagnostic procedures performed in NHS Scotland is available on the Public Health Scotland website and can be found in the Acute Hospitals and Finance Cost Books . However, the activity data published for radiology in the Fina…
25 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether women who need transvaginal mesh removal surgery will still be eligible for surgery cost reimbursement if their surgery is booked prior to the Transvaginal Mesh Removal (Cost Reimbursement) (Scotland) Bill receiving Royal Assent, but with the surgery taking place after Royal Asse…
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Following the successful conclusion of stage 3 of Parliament’s consideration of the Bill, the Government will now take steps to put in place a scheme in which it will specify a cut-off date. There is no requirement under the Bill, however, for surgery to have…
24 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the flu vaccination programme in (a) general and (b) NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and what the latest guidance is on when eligible members of the public can book appointments.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Flu vaccinations were paused in December 2021 to allow the NHS to address the immediate challenge of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Local health boards are now offering flu vaccinations to those who are eligible, with uptake of flu vaccines among over 65s a…
24 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will recommence the annual flu vaccination programme.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-05961 on 8 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-committ…
24 Jan 2022 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister how much has been spent on private sector contracts in the preparation of the proposed national care service.
17 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what catch-up initiatives it is introducing to ensure that all diabetes patients receive their annual health check.
Answer · Maree Todd: We recognise that the Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on our NHS including diabetes services. We took the opportunity to reflect on these challenges as we determined the priorities for our Diabetes Improvement Plan refresh, which was publishe…
17 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to reduce the reported inequality gap in diabetes-related health outcomes.
Answer · Maree Todd: We are committed to reducing the impact of inequalities on health outcomes for people living with diabetes, and equity of access is highlighted as a key priority in our Diabetes Improvement Plan refresh, published in February 2021. We are working with key …
17 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to address the reported increase in cases of people with diabetes.
Answer · Maree Todd: We welcome the publication of the Scottish Diabetes Survey which provides an annual summary of key issues and trends in diabetes care and treatment in Scotland. As in previous years, the number of people living with diabetes in Scotland is increasing. Howev…
17 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many cases of diabetic ketoacidosis have been diagnosed and, of these, how many resulted in the death of the patient, in each year since 2017-18, and what its position is on whether there are any disparities in these data between disadvantaged and more affluent geographical areas.
Answer · Maree Todd: The table below from Public Health Scotland shows the numbers of inpatient and day case hospital admissions with a primary diagnosis of diabetic ketoacidosis and the number of these admissions where the patient died in hospital. Due to the way that complicat…
12 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what mechanisms are in place to embed core human rights principles into the use of COVID-19 emergency powers.
Answer · John Swinney: All decisions made in the development of measures under the Covid-19 emergency powers have included careful assessment of the necessity and potential impacts of the powers and their compatibility with the Convention rights set out in the Human Rights Act 1998…
12 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to address digital inequalities, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer · Kate Forbes: Since May 2020, the Scottish Government has invested over £48 million in our Connecting Scotland programme, which provides people on low incomes with a device, connection with unlimited data for two years, as well as training and support. Since programme laun…
12 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to publish information that outlines the decision-making framework for using emergency COVID-19 powers.
Answer · John Swinney: Our approach to managing the Covid-19 pandemic has been underpinned by our Framework for Decision Making since its publication in April 2020. The Framework set out the key principles that guide our decision-making in responding to and managing the four key ha…
12 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether impact assessments were undertaken to inform decision making when using emergency COVID-19 powers.
Answer · John Swinney: Impact Assessments have been part of the decision making process in our use of emergency Covid-19 powers. Policy continues to be developed with regard to the need to protect human rights, equality considerations, the impact on business and the particular need…
12 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the monitoring process is for the use of COVID-19 emergency legislation.
Answer · John Swinney: Regulations made using Covid-19 legislation must be reviewed at least every 21 days by Scottish Ministers. This review process ensures that the measures they provide continue to be necessary and proportionate. Any new or revised regulations are set out to t…
12 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to undertake a review of COVID-19 working practices in social care settings.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: On 3 November 2020 the Scottish Government published a rapid review of outbreaks to learn lessons for practices within care homes Coronavirus (COVID-19): care home outbreaks - root cause analysis - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) In doing so, the report collated a…
12 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to undertake a review of financial decision-making within the social care sector since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, including (a) how public finances were used for social care, (b) the decision-making processes for resource allocation and (c) the impact that decis…
Answer · Humza Yousaf: A statutory public inquiry has been established to examine the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland. The inquiry will undertake scrutiny of the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland as a whole and identify lessons and implications for the fut…
12 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support is in place for people who live independently but who do not have the capacity to administer COVID-19 lateral flow tests themselves.
Answer · Maree Todd: Those who experience difficulties carrying out a LFD test can ask someone they trust to assist them with the swabbing and testing process. Walk-in asymptomatic test sites (ATS) can advise people how to use an LFD test. After self-swabbing, the person hands th…
11 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress on the implementation of a Once for Scotland care model and improved care services for people who require stoma care.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all people who require stoma care services are able to receive the best possible care and support wherever possible and benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put the patient at the …
11 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many full-time equivalent stoma care clinical specialist nurses are currently employed by NHS Scotland.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Information on the number of full-time equivalent stoma care clinical specialist nurses currently employed by NHS Scotland is not centrally held. Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) data by NHS Board from 2009 to the most recent data published in September 2018,…