Douglas Ross

28 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to switch to electronic cattle tagging ahead of the scheduled date of 1 January 2024, and whether it can provide clarification on the status of paper passports past this date.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The introduction of mandatory Bovine EID is a substantial project and all applicable legislation is being reviewed. The Scottish Government have undertaken scoping work to determine the main changes to legislation that will be necessary. Once the necessary wo…

28 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any discussions ministers have had with industry regarding the progress of systematic software upgrades to assist with the new ScotEID database ahead of 1 January 2024.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government works closely with partners to ensure the ScotEID multispecies database system is fit for purpose and meets the requirements of Industry stakeholders. The system is driven by innovation and continuous improvement, to ensure future chal…

22 Jun 2023 · First Minister's Question

Question to be taken in Chamber.

21 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the timescale is for the research study being carried out for Public Health Scotland, by Figure 8 Consultancy, Glyndwr University and King's College London, into the demand for residential rehabilitation amongst people who use drugs in Scotland.

Answer · Elena Whitham: This research study is being completed externally by Public Health Scotland and so the timeline may be subject to change, however, we have been informed by Public Health Scotland that under current timescales the project is due to be complete in November 2023.

21 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there are any plans for a research study into the demand for residential rehabilitation amongst those who are alcohol dependent.

Answer · Elena Whitham: There are currently no plans for a research study into the demand for residential rehabilitation amongst those who are alcohol dependent. Scottish Government welcomes robust and reliable research, considering how it relates to ongoing policy or can inform ne…

21 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding has been put in place for the Public Health Scotland research study, being carried out by Figure 8 Consultancy, Glyndwr University and King's College London, into the demand for residential rehabilitation amongst people who use drugs in Scotland.

Answer · Elena Whitham: The Scottish Government has commissioned Public Health Scotland to undertake the evaluation of the overall National Mission, within this wider evaluation there is a specific programme of work to design and deliver a monitoring and evaluation programme for the…

21 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the research study, being carried out for Public Health Scotland by Figure 8 Consultancy, Glyndwr University and King's College London, into the demand for residential rehabilitation amongst those who use drugs in Scotland, does not also include in its scope those who are…

Answer · Elena Whitham: Public Health Scotland have been commissioned to conduct a monitoring and evaluation programme for residential rehabilitation policy, as a part of the wider National Mission evaluation, on behalf of the Scottish Government. We recognise that residential rehab…

15 Jun 2023 · First Minister's Question

Question to be taken in Chamber.

8 Jun 2023 · First Minister's Question

Question to be taken in Chamber.

6 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of some areas of Community Health Index (CHI) capture reportedly remaining below the agree threshold of reliability for individual-level analysis, for what reason the Scottish Public Health Observatory continues to publish estimated figures for people prescribed opioid substitu…

Answer · Elena Whitham: Estimates of the number of people prescribed opioid substitution therapy (OST) in Scotland are published on the Scottish Public Health Observatory website as, in spite of some data quality issues, Public Health Scotland (PHS) deem there to be a public intere…

6 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Scottish Public Health Observatory update, Estimated numbers of people prescribed opioid substitution therapy in Scotland, published on 30 May 2023, what measures are being taken to address any issues associated with Community Health Index (CHI) capture for opioid substitu…

Answer · Elena Whitham: Following initial discussions, a small number of NHS boards have approached the Pharmacy Service Improvement Team in Practitioner Services Directorate within Public Health Scotland over the past 2 years to obtain data from the Prescribing Information Store (P…

2 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been allocated to the Digital Prescribing and Dispensing Pathways programme to date.

Answer · Michael Matheson: To date, the Scottish Government has allocated £2.132 million in support of the Digital Prescribing and Dispensing Pathways programme. The proposed allocation for this current financial year is £2 million.

2 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much central and core funding has been allocated to Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs in each year since 2014. 

Answer · Elena Whitham: Central and core funding are the same funding category, therefore, the funding provided below excludes funding related to specific projects. Core funding allocated to Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs is presented in the table below. Information…

2 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the £800,000 media campaign spend on the use of naloxone between 2021 and 2022, whether it will provide a breakdown of how much funding has been allocated to (a) social media, (b) bus stops, (c) billboards, (d) print media and (e) radio.

Answer · Elena Whitham: The breakdown of funding across the How to Save a Life campaign costs is as follows:social media – £9,989bus stops advertising including billboards and print media* - £178,847radio – £243,152 *this figure also includes digital displays and print media on bus…

2 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) the evaluation process is and (b) tools are used to assess the value for money for funding allocated to Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs, which is a centrally funded organisation.

Answer · Elena Whitham: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-18899 on 21 June 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-committees…

2 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been allocated from its 2023-24 Budget to the Technology Enabled Care programme to date.  

Answer · Michael Matheson: The draft budget for this year is still under consideration while we respond to wider Health and Social Care budget pressures. The proposed allocation for the Technology Enabled Care programme in 2023-24 is circa £8m.

2 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the £800,000, which was allocated for media campaigns in 2021 and 2022 on the use of naloxone, has been fully spent. 

Answer · Elena Whitham: The £800,000, which was allocated for media campaigns in 2021 and 2022 on the use of naloxone, was fully spent on the “How to Save a Life” campaign commissioned by the Scottish Government working in collaboration with the Scottish Drugs Forum.

2 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) the evaluation process is and (b) tools are used to assess the efficacy of funding allocated to the Scottish Drugs Forum, which is a centrally funded organisation. 

Answer · Elena Whitham: All grant funding allocated from the drugs policy division is subject to Scottish Government’s robust grant management process, outlined in the Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM).The Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM) provides guidance on the proper h…

2 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been allocated to the Scottish Drugs Forum in each year since 2014.

Answer · Elena Whitham: Funding allocated to Scottish Drugs Forum for both core and specific project is presented in the following table. Information prior to 2017-18 is unavailable as it was deleted in accordance with our standard records management practice, before the date of you…

2 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the budget allocated to the Technology Enabled Care programme was used to fund the Overdose Alert and Response Technologies: State-of-the-art Review by the University of Stirling.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The total funding provided to the University of Stirling to fund the Overdose Alert and Response Technologies: State-of-the-art Review is £59,978.

2 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been allocated to the Scottish Drug Deaths Task Force in each year since 2019.

Answer · Elena Whitham: The Drug Deaths Taskforce had an allocation of £9 million to invest in 2020-21 and £5 million in 2021-22.  

2 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) the evaluation process is and (b) tools are used to assess the value for money of funding allocated to the Scottish Drug Deaths Task Force, which is a centrally funded organisation.

Answer · Elena Whitham: The majority of funding allocated to the Drug Deaths Taskforce was dispersed via Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) and The Corra Foundation. The Taskforce also funded the Digital Inclusion Project. Alcohol and Drug Partnerships received additional funding…

2 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) the evaluation process is and (b) tools are used to assess the efficacy of Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs, which is a centrally funded organisation.

Answer · Elena Whitham: All grant funding allocated from the drugs policy division is subject to Scottish Government’s robust grant management process, outlined in the Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM). The Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM) provides guidance on the proper …

2 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) the evaluation process is and (b) tools are used to assess the efficacy of the Scottish Drug Deaths Task Force, which is a centrally funded organisation.

Answer · Elena Whitham: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-18902 on 22 June 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-committees…

2 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been allocated to the Technology Enabled Care programme in each year since 2015.

Answer · Michael Matheson: TEC Funding - Total £70.3 Mil 22-23 - £7.3 Mil 21-22 - £15 Mil 20-21 - £ 9 Mil 19-20 - £7 Mil 18-19 - £7 Mil 17-18 - £7.5 Mil 16-17 - £7.5 Mil 15-16 - £10 Mil

2 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) the evaluation process is and (b) tools are used to assess the value for money of funding allocated to the Scottish Drugs Forum, which is a centrally funded organisation.

Answer · Elena Whitham: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-18901 on 21 June 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-committees…

1 Jun 2023 · First Minister's Question

Question to be taken in Chamber.

25 May 2023 · First Minister's Question

Question to be taken in Chamber.

18 May 2023 · First Minister's Question

Question to be taken in Chamber.

11 May 2023 · First Minister's Question

Question to be taken in Chamber.