Parliamentary questions
Miles Briggs
4,209 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
25 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how (a) many potholes have been reported and (b) much has been spent on repairing potholes in each year since 1999, also broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Graeme Dey: Transport Scotland, through its Trunk Road Operating Companies and Design Build Finance Operate (DBFO) Concessionaires, is responsible for the management and maintenance of the strategic trunk road network, including motorways. Repair of potholes on all other…
25 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the support for bereaved (a) individuals and (b) families.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of ensuring that high quality, person centred bereavement care and support is available for those who need it. It is important to reflect that each individual and family’s experience of bereavement is unique a…
25 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) children and (b) adults have been diagnosed with an eating disorder in each year since 2007, also broken down by NHS board area.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Information is not centrally held on numbers diagnosed with an eating disorder. However, Public Health Scotland (PHS) holds information on inpatients admitted with an eating disorders diagnosis. The number of patients admitted to a mental health or general/a…
25 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the support for bereaved (a) individuals and (b) families who have lost a baby or child, and when it will provide an update to the Parliament on any review.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government is working to support a whole system change in delivering good family support, support that is flexible and sustained for as long as it is needed, and driven by the needs and voice of families. This will include supporting families wit…
25 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions Ministers have had regarding the opening of Winchburgh railway station.
Answer · Graeme Dey: Scottish Ministers and the principal funder of Winchburgh Developments Ltd met twice in 2020 to discuss the proposed Winchburgh station. Transport Scotland and rail industry partners continue to work with West Lothian Council and Winchburgh Developments Ltd t…
25 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many classroom assistants have been employed in each local authority area in each year since 1999.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Information on the number of classroom assistants in the years 2003-2020 is provided in the following tables. Data on the number of classroom assistants or other support staff from 1999-2002 is not held by Scottish Government. The variability in categorisati…
25 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide an update on (a) NHS infrastructure projects and (b) funding for a replacement eye hospital for NHS Lothian.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government provided a progress update on major capital projects, including NHS infrastructure projects, to the Public Audit Committee by letter dated 23 June 2021. In relation to funding for a replacement eye hospital for NHS Lothian, I refer the…
25 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) children and (b) adults have been diagnosed with self-harming issues in each year since 2007, also broken down by NHS board area.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Data from Public Health Scotland shows the number of (a) children and (b) adults presenting with self-harming issues within Scottish NHS acute hospitals in each year from 2007 to 2020, broken down by calendar year of admission (inpatient data only). Figures f…
25 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been referred by their GP to mental health services in each year since 2016, also broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government does not hold data centrally on how many people have been referred by their GP to mental health services. Public Health Scotland have provided the following table information showing the number of mental health inpatients referred by …
25 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions police have responded to a call regarding a person experiencing a mental health crisis in each year since 1999.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government does not hold information on the number of occasions police have responded to a call regarding a person experiencing a mental health crisis.
8 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-03082 by Humza Yousaf on 6 October 2016, whether it will provide an update on its response.
Answer · Graeme Dey: Consideration of potential improvements to all strategic transport infrastructure across the whole of Scotland continues to be undertaken through the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2). Through the STPR2 Regional Transport Working Group coveri…
8 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-33519 by Michael Matheson on 9 December 2020, whether it will provide an update regarding the development of Hillend junction.
Answer · Graeme Dey: We continue to analyse a number of options around signalisation and prohibition of movements in order to understand the wider impacts of this on the surrounding local and trunk road network. This is a complex task, which aims to balance the need to reduce con…
18 May 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of cases of the so-called Indian variant of COVID-19 increasing, when it plans to offer vaccinations to under-16s, and whether it plans to prioritise young people who (a) have (i) cystic fibrosis and (ii) other serious lung conditions and (b) are otherwise clinically…
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government continues to be guided by the science and independent advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The Scottish Government vaccination programme adheres to strict medical guidance and JCVI advice and at pres…
17 May 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-27605 by John Swinney on 10 March 2020, whether it will provide the same information for 2019-20.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Spending data on additional support for learning (ASL) is provided below. This data is collected from local authorities via the Local Financial Returns (LFR). In addition to 2019-20 expenditure data, figures for 2018-19 have also been provided due to revision…
10 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its response to calls for specialist long-COVID clinics to be established in each NHS board area.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-35846 on? 19 March 2021. 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/parliamentarybusines…
10 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the support it is providing the NHS to assist (a) children and young people and (b) all people who have been diagnosed with long-COVID.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government is aware that there are a small number of children experiencing symptoms of Long COVID. The NHS in Scotland is delivering care for children with Long COVID, ensuring support is tailored to the individual needs of the child through rele…
10 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that some parents are having difficulties and experiencing delays with accessing appropriate treatment pathways for children who have been diagnosed with long-COVID.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government is aware that there are a small number of children experiencing symptoms of Long COVID. The NHS in Scotland is delivering care for children with Long COVID, ensuring support is tailored to the individual needs of the child through rele…
10 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring that all (a) parts of the NHS and (b) medical specialisms are aware of the (i) symptoms of long COVID in and (ii) appropriate treatment pathways for (A) children and young people and (B) all people.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government is aware that there are a small number of children experiencing symptoms of Long COVID. The NHS in Scotland is delivering care for children with Long COVID, ensuring support is tailored to the individual needs of the child through rele…
9 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what additional funding for a replacement Eye Hospital will NHS Lothian receive following the Budget deal secured with the Scottish Liberal Democrats.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: We have asked NHS Lothian to carry out a review of its eye care services. We remain committed to working with NHS Lothian to support this and protect specialised eye services for the city and the wider region. Health Boards do not receive the funding for …
9 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS building projects have had funding withdrawn, similar to the replacement of the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion, in each year since 1999, also broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government has never approved funding for the relocation of the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion and self-evidently has not therefore withdrawn funding. In February 2018, the Scottish Government invited NHS Lothian to submit an Outline Business Ca…
2 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish its respiratory care action plan before 25 March 2021.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: We intend to publish our Respiratory Care Action Plan for Scotland before the 25 March 2021.
1 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason data continues to show that the COVID-19 vaccination rate in NHS Lothian is lower than in many other NHS boards, and what action is being taken to increase the vaccination rate in NHS Lothian.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Population estimates of Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) priority groups at national level were published in the COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment Plan on 14 January drawing on the latest available data at that point. The current published dat…
26 Feb 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Respiratory Care Action Plan for Scotland will include measurable targets and commitments regarding (a) asthma, (b) bronchiectasis, (c) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), (d) idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and (e) obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that those living with respiratory conditions can access clinically appropriate, safe and effective person-centred healthcare treatment and support. The Respiratory Care Action Plan will set out the priorities …
26 Feb 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what governance arrangements will be in place to monitor progress with the revised Respiratory Care Action Plan for Scotland.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Clear governance arrangements will be put in place, following the publication of the Respiratory Care Action Plan for Scotland. This will include a National Advisory Committee with representation from key delivery partners to inform and develop the implementa…
25 Feb 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much has been allocated to the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland for work related to chronic pain patients in each of the last three years, and how much has been paid to date.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-29587 17 June 2020. 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/2887…
25 Feb 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on corroboration in relation to criminal offences, and whether it is still considering abolishing the requirement following Lord Bonomy’s Review of post-corroboration safeguards.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government proposed abolishing the requirement for corroboration in criminal cases during the passage of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016. At that time however there was no parliamentary consensus. The Scottish Government therefore asked …
24 Feb 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to questions S5W-26493 and S5W-34944 by Claire Haughey on 9 December 2020 and 11 February 2021 respectively, whether it will provide the same information for 2019-20.
Answer · Clare Haughey: The relevant information available at national level is shown in the following table. The data is sourced from the Costs Book which is the national data collection covering annual expenditure by NHS Boards in Scotland. The figures shown cover expenditure that…
24 Feb 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when a thrombectomy pilot scheme will be launched by NHS Lothian.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: A pilot thrombectomy programme began in the North of Scotland at NHS Tayside on 9 November. A fully operational thrombectomy 24/7 service is anticipated in Tayside by 2023, and will form part of a national network in line with the Scottish Government’s Progra…
24 Feb 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether referral to treatment waiting times for NHS Lothian are publicly available; if not, when they will be available, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: NHS Lothian’s Referral to Treatment data is not currently available for the period July to December 2020 due to significant pressure on the local information and intelligence resources in light of the current COVID19 pressure. This information will be publish…
23 Feb 2021 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will provide information about the rationale for reaching its decisions in relation to the publication of evidence submitted to the Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints.
Answer · David Stewart MSP (on behalf of the SPCB): The Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints wrote to the Corporate Body on the evening of 17 February 2021 seeking an urgent decision by the SPCB, as the publisher of parliamentary material, on whether the submission on the Mini…