Miles Briggs

1 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report by Healthcare Improvement Scotland on elderly care wards in Astley Ainslie Hospital, Ferryfield House, Findlay House and Ellens Glen, which suggest that care was under pressure due to staff shortages and that inspectors themselves had to intervene to he…

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to questions S5W-00378 on 14 June 2016 and S5W-00380 on 13 June 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliame…

26 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with stakeholders in Scotland and in developing countries regarding issues related to menstrual hygiene and health.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government meets regularly with the organisations we fund to deliver international development projects, many of which are health based. In Scotland, health and wellbeing, including menstrual health, is one of the eight curricular areas in the cu…

26 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its international development programme and other work can raise awareness of menstrual hygiene and health in developing countries, including Menstrual Hygiene Day on 28 May 2016.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: Many of the organisations that the Scottish Government supports through its International Development Fund are helping to raise awareness of menstrual hygiene and health in developing countries, and supported Menstrual Hygiene Day on 28 May 2016.

26 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its international development programme can help girls and young women in the developing world access the information and products that they need to effectively manage their periods.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government's £9 million per annum International Development Fund currently supports projects in our seven priority countries of Malawi, Zambia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the three poorest states in India. These projects cover a r…

26 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it can support and promote the not-for-profit website, firstperiod.org.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government is supportive of efforts by organisations in Scotland to educate and promote women and girls' health, including menstrual health both domestically and internationally. The Scottish Government makes available funding opportunities to or…

25 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that each GP surgery has access to an adequate (i) mobile phone signal and (ii) broadband service.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00215 on 8 June 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusi…

25 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the report in the Scottish Daily Mail on 25 May 2016 regarding concerns among GPs in rural and remote areas that not being able to access adequate mobile phone signals or broadband services could put at risk the lives of people who need an ambulance, and what disc…

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Telecommunications, including mobile telephony, is a reserved matter for which the UK Government has responsibility to ensure adequate coverage and to fund improvements and developments. Given the vital importance of mobile phone coverage to the health and we…

25 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it is carrying out with the UK Government to ensure that all (a) remote and (b) rural communities in Scotland have access to an adequate (i) mobile phone signal and (ii) broadband service.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is committed to delivering superfast broadband to 100% premises in Scotland by 2021 and we will work with the UK Government as we develop our proposals. Our £410 million Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband Programme is extending fibre…

19 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the number of specialist inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) nurses in the NHS Lothian area.

Answer · Shona Robison: Information on how many specialist inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) nurses there are, broken down by NHS board and hospital, is not centrally held or published by National Services Scotland (Information Services Division). The Scottish Government has inves…