Questions · Jackie Baillie

15 Nov 2021 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will allocate funding in its 2022-23 budget to enable social care workers to be paid at least £15 per hour.

10 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that there is a shortage of (a) COVID-19 booster and (b) seasonal flu vaccines in NHS Lothian.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: There are no shortages of the COVID-19 booster or seasonal flu vaccines. Scottish Government officials are working closely with Health Boards and Integration Authorities to deliver the current autumn/winter vaccination programme, with NHS Boards using a deli…

9 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03608 by Humza Yousaf on 8 November 2021, whether it will provide the information requested regarding how many NHS boards have currently suspended elective surgery, and, for each NHS board, (a) for how long has the surgery been suspended and (b) whe…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: As the member is aware, mainland Health Boards have postponed some of their non-urgent elective activity to ensure they can continue to protect urgent activity, including vital cancer treatments, and to cope with staffing and other pressures they are currentl…

9 Nov 2021 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body when it will make a decision regarding the level of MSP allowances for staff for 2022-23.

9 Nov 2021 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what consultation it is undertaking regarding the 2022-23 uprating of the Staff Cost Provision, and what review of any increase in the provision it has planned.

Answer · Jackson Carlaw MSP (on behalf of the SPCB) : The SPCB is responsible for funding the Members’ Expenses Scheme and for determining which indices are used to uprate the overall provisions, which include staff cost provision. At the SPCB meeting on 5 March 2020, the SPCB agreed to index SCP annually usin…

9 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consultation it is undertaking regarding the 2022-23 uprating of the Staff Cost Provision, and what review of any increase in the provision it has planned.

4 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any pharmacy has breached their NHS contract in the last 12 months and, if so, how many have done, and for what reason.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government does not hold information on the number of pharmacies that have closed over the past 12 months nor reasons for closures. The provision of community pharmacy pharmaceutical care services are the responsibility of territorial Health Boar…

4 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many pharmacy closures there have been in each of the last 12 months, and what information it has on the reason for each closure.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government does not hold information on the number of pharmacies that have closed over the past 12 months nor reasons for closures. The provision of community pharmacy pharmaceutical care services are the responsibility of territorial Health Boar…

4 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of any pharmacy that has failed to notify the relevant NHS board of its closure in the last year.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government does not hold information on any community pharmacy that has failed to notify the NHS Board of a closure in the last 12 months. The provision of community pharmacy pharmaceutical care services are the responsibility of territorial Heal…

4 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the infrastructure required to meet the reported goal that three fifths of all new cars built by 2030 should be electric vehicles.

Answer · Graeme Dey: Transport Scotland is working closely with Scottish Futures Trust to consider the most appropriate structures and approach to growing and developing Scotland’s public electric vehicle charging infrastructure and recently published a report on future developme…

4 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its plans are to address reported concerns about the accessibility for disabled people of existing electric car charging points.

Answer · Graeme Dey: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-04198 on 25 November 2021. 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…

4 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will embed accessible design standards into the future provision of electric car charging points.

Answer · Graeme Dey: Ensuring electric charge points are accessible and user friendly for all is a core part of the Scottish Government’s approach to building out Scotland’s charging infrastructure. All chargers supported by Scottish Government funding must meet the requirements …

3 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is increasing awareness in the medical community about ME, including its symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.

Answer · Maree Todd: We are investing £4.5 million of funding to implement the Neurological Care and Support Framework. Through the framework, we have funded Action for ME to produce an online CPD learning module on ME/CFS for GPs and health professionals in Scotland, which aims …

3 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to ME/chronic fatigue syndrome, what it is doing to develop effective mechanisms for bringing together researchers, practising clinicians and people with the conditions in order to drive forward the care, development and research agenda in these areas.

Answer · Maree Todd: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-04189 on 22 November 2021. 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…

3 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that people with severe cases of ME do not face barriers to accessing care and treatment.

Answer · Maree Todd: NHS Boards are expected to ensure that patients, including those living with severe Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) have access to a range of professionals to provide the appropriate management of their condition. We would further …

3 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to establish centres with specialist services for people with ME.

Answer · Maree Todd: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-04189 on 22 November 2021. 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…

3 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what welfare support is available to people with ME.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: The Scottish Government recognises that Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) is a debilitating condition which can have a huge impact on people’s lives. We are committed to ensuring those affected by it are supported through the NHS and our social security system. …

2 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-02621 by Humza Yousaf on 14 September 2021, whether a date has been agreed for the introduction of e-prescribing.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-03940 on 2 November 2021. NHS Scotland already utilises an electronic prescription message between GP practices and community pharmacies which runs in parallel with paper prescriptions. However, the use of pap…

2 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03890 by John Swinney on 2 November 2021, whether it will publish (a) any modelling of a potential spike in COVID-19 cases following COP26, including the number of cases anticipated and (b) the details of any contingency plans that are in place for …

Answer · Humza Yousaf: We continue to monitor and assess the pandemic closely and carefully. The Scottish Government develops a range of epidemic scenarios to provide the best public health advice to Ministers. These are presented in the Modelling the Epidemic report published by S…

1 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people with a registered learning disability are currently in prison, broken down by (a) institution and (b) sex.

Answer · Keith Brown: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: The SPS does not hold the requested data. Since 2013, SPS has asked all persons on admission to custody to self-declare any kn…

1 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people with a registered learning disability are currently on remand, broken down by (a) institution and (b) sex.

Answer · Keith Brown: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: The SPS does not hold the requested data. Since 2013, SPS has asked all persons on admission to custody to self-declare any kn…

1 Nov 2021 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what immediate steps the Scottish Government is taking to address the reported continuing inequalities in cancer mortality rates across Scotland.

28 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date (a) COVID-19 guidance for NHS dentists will be revised and (b) dental practices will be able to return to normal capacity.

Answer · Maree Todd: The infection, prevention, and control (IPC) guidance for dentistry is currently being reviewed by Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infection (ARHAI) Scotland are responsible for the Scottish Guidance. This Guidance has a provisional publica…

26 Oct 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether special public transport arrangements are being made to ensure that key workers, such as nurses, are still able to get to their workplaces in the event that rail workers take industrial action during COP26.

Answer · Graeme Dey: Transport Scotland worked closely with ScotRail to develop contingency measures to mitigate the impact that strike action would bring. COP26 Delegates, business as usual and key workers were considered in the development of mitigation measures. I am delighted…