Parliamentary questions

Miles Briggs

4,209 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

25 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress NHS Lothian is making toward meeting its A&E waiting times target and by what date this will be achieved.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-08980 on 10 May 2017. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/288…

25 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report in The Scotsman on 25 April 2017 that a senior director at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh issued an email to staff on 21 April stating that the hospital was "in extremis [with] 36 patients waiting in our Emergency Department for up to 17 hours waiting…

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government was aware of the issues impacting on performance at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (RIE) on Thursday 20 April, which was due to a surge in demand following the Easter holidays. In terms of planning for peak periods and holiday weeken…

21 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-06880 by Shona Robison on 1 March 2017, whether it will provide an update on the future of the Inverleith Medical Practice in Edinburgh and what discussions it has had with NHS Lothian regarding this.

Answer · Shona Robison: With reference to my previous response to question S5W-06880, the Inverleith Medical Practice team are to provide a full service to patients up to 30 June 2017. Following this patients are to be shared with surrounding Practices following analysis of the spre…

6 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by the Minister for Mental Health on 30 March 2017 (Official Report, c. 44), when the first annual report on the Mental Health Strategy will be available.

Answer · Maureen Watt: We intend to publish the first annual report on the Mental Health Strategy 2017 – 2027 in Summer 2018.

3 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has beenspent (a) overall and (b) on average per pupil on additional support for learning education in each of the last five years, and what percentage of the overall education budget this represents, also broken down by local authority.

Answer · John Swinney: Data detailing spending on additional support for learning is collected from local authorities via the Local Financial Returns (LFR). There are four years of data available on spending for additional support for learning, from 2012-13 to 2015-16. There are i…

3 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports people who cannot access innovative treatments for ultra-rare conditions as these are being considered by the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC), in light of concerns that the SMC process might be inappropriate and is due to be replaced.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-08617 on 25 April 2017. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/…

3 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in implementing the new assessment process for ultra-orphan treatments, which was recommended by the Review of Access to New Medicines.

Answer · Shona Robison: Dr Montgomery’s independent review on access to new medicines recognised that the Scottish Government has made significant reforms and investment to improve access to newly licensed medicines in recent years. I announced in December that we will be taking fo…

3 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to tackle (a) Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy and (b) other forms of avoidable blindness.

Answer · Shona Robison: (a) The Scottish Government is committed to providing high quality eye care throughout Scotland. The eye examination, introduced in 2006, is free to all UK residents and assesses not only whether or not a patient requires glasses/contact lenses, but provides …

30 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-07759 by Aileen Campbell on 30 March 2017, whether it will confirm that the ISD data shows new patient referrals and not all chronic pain patient referrals, in light of concerns that return chronic pain patients are not counted by NHS boards.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The data published by NHS ISD relates to new patient referrals. I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-07758 on 30 March 2017 with regards to return appointments. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s we…

30 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-07759 by Aileen Campbell on 30 March 2017, whether it will clarify the reference to "the percentage of patients receiving treatment at a pain clinic within 18 weeks has risen from 60.4% to 64.5%", in light of the ISD figures provided, which appear t…

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The data collected shows the numbers of patients who have been seen at a pain clinic following initial referral. The nature of the appointment will be dependent on clinical assessment in discussion with the individual.

30 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many children with additional support needs there have been in (a) Scotland and (b) each local authority in each of the last five years, also broken down by reason for support.

Answer · John Swinney: The information requested is published as part of the Pupil Census Supplementary Data each year. These publications are available from: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/dspupcensus

29 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on introducing a price cap for fees of agency staff working in the NHS.

Answer · Shona Robison: A price cap is in place through the national framework contract. On 5 May 2017 a new medical framework will be in place which means that the majority of locums supplied to NHSScotland will receive NHS rates of pay. This is ultimately better value for money th…

28 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance there is on the recording of emergency contacts for residents in sheltered housing accommodation regarding the minimum and maximum number of family members or friends of a resident that can be held.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: There is no guidance from Scottish Government on the number of emergency contacts that can be held for residents in sheltered housing accommodation.

28 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the finding by Information Services Division (ISD) that 83.8% of NHS Lothian cancer patients were treated within the 62-day standard; what action it is taking to ensure that the board meets the 95% target, and when it expects this target to be met.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Lothian’s performance of 83.8% is below what we would expect and while the median wait for treatment was 44 days we must continue to do more to ensure timely access to diagnostics and treatment for those patients who did not receive their treatment within…

28 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-04415 by Maureen Watt on 16 November 2016, how it plans to increase awareness and usage by GPs of the ALISS system.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government funds the ALISS Programme at the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE). The ALLIANCE works to increase awareness of ALISS with GPs through a range of engagement mechanisms. This includes embedding ALISS in the practic…

24 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent Which? report, Food law enforcement – putting consumers first, regarding how food hygiene standards are enforced by local authorities, and how it is working with councils to improve these standards, including learning from best practice.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government expects food law enforcement bodies to protect consumers, support responsible businesses and take enforcement action where that is necessary. I have been advised by Food Standards Scotland (FSS) that they do not use Which?’s approach …

23 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to (a) sustain existing and (b) attract new manufacturing jobs in Livingston and West Lothian.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: This Scottish Government continues to work closely with its partners in the region to deliver the West Lothian Economic Growth Plan, which was agreed following the announcement in 2012 that the Halls of Broxburn plant would close with the loss of 1,700 jobs. …

23 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the planned closure by Jabil of its plant in Livingston; how it will support the 260 employees who face redundancy, and whether it will consider setting up a jobs task force for Livingston in light of this announcement.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government was very concerned to learn of the proposed closure of the manufacturing operations at the Jabil Livingston site. We understand that this will be a very difficult time for the company’s employees and their families affected by the anno…

21 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people in each NHS board area it estimates have Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy, and what (a) support and (b) treatment options are available.

Answer · Shona Robison: (a) NHS boards are responsible for the design, delivery and management of services to their population. The support they provide will differ depending on their population’s needs. (b) Decisions concerning the diagnosis, care and treatment of patients are ind…