Miles Briggs

21 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what actions it is taking to improve the administration of medicines by NHS boards.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government is committed to working with Health Boards to improve the administration of medicines by ensure that Hospital Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (HEPMA) is implemented across Scotland.

21 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-25487 by Jeane Freeman on 25 September 2019, what further announcements it plans to make on the roll-out of HEPMA (Hospital Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration).  

Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to the question S5W-26471 on 3 December 2019. 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/parliamentarybusi…

18 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-26177 by Michael Matheson on 18 November 2019, what processes have been developed to ensure continued driver safety in the intervening period.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The safety of road users is our number one priority. Until the sensors to detect whether there is a risk of ice forming are installed, specialist weather forecasting and close observation of the structure will indicate whether physical measures will need to …

15 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on who researched, wrote and presented the study, “Findings of Scottish Specialist Pain Workforce Study”, which was contained in the minutes of the National Advisory Committee on Chronic Pain meeting on 26 June 2019, but not published until 31 October 2019; what t…

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: On behalf of the National Advisory Committee for Chronic Pain (NACCP), the Deputy Chief Medical Officer commissioned Scottish NHS Boards to provide information about the quantity of different healthcare professionals working within specialist pain services ac…

15 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the study "Findings of Scottish Specialist Pain Workforce Study”, which was contained in the minutes of the National Advisory Committee on Chronic Pain meeting on 26 June 2019, how many whole-time equivalent (WTE) staff work in pain clinics, also broken down by discipline.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the member to the answer to the question S5W-26424 on 27 November 2019. 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/parliamentarybu…

15 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish all returns made by NHS boards to the study, “Findings of Scottish Specialist Pain Workforce Study", which is included in the minutes of the National Advisory Committee for Chronic Pain meeting on 26 June 2019.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-26424 on 27 November 2019. 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/parliamentarybusine…

13 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-25953 by Joe FitzPatrick on 6 November 2019, what the timeline is for (a) it to report on the outcome of the discussions regarding potential pilot programmes and (b) the UK National Screening Committee's (UK NSC) next evidence review for lung cancer…

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Following discussions between Scottish Government officials, academics and the Scottish Screening Committee, a pilot proposal for a feasibility study on lung cancer screening has been submitted for funding and a decision is expected in December 2019. We are …

13 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-25953 by Joe FitzPatrick on 6 November 2019, what decisions were taken following the meetings with academics, the Chair of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) and the Scottish Screening Committee.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the member to my answer to question S5W-26377 on 27 November 2019. 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…

12 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its submission of 15 October 2019 to the Public Petitions Committee in response to PE01710, whether it will confirm which care homes provide specialist care for people with neurological conditions.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: As at 31 December 2018, there were ten care homes stating in their annual returns to the Care Inspectorate that their main provision of care was for people with neurological conditions (other than dementia). The ten care homes are listed below along with thei…

12 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the comments by the President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh that Scotland's tax rates and the scrapping of bonuses for doctors have had a negative impact on attracting medical students.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Scotland continues to enjoy a world-class reputation as a place to work and train for doctors. The progressive approach we have taken to the Scottish Income Tax helps to provide a wider and better-funded set of free-to-access public services than in the rest …

12 Nov 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Cross Party Group on Cancer’s recent report on the priorities for the future of cancer care, which highlighted concerns regarding gaps in the diagnostic workforce.

11 Nov 2019 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what plans it has to make provision in future years to offer the flu vaccination to its contractor staff.

8 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of NHS England's commitment to rolling out a new national programme of eye care in all special schools from 2020, whether NHS Scotland will make the same commitment.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Scotland is the only country in the UK to provide additional funding to optometrists to enable them to spend longer during an eye examination with patients with complex needs, including children who may attend a special school. Officials are preparing advice …

8 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to encourage a reduction in the purchase of (a) bottled water and (b) single-use plastic cups across its directorates in each of the last three years, and what analysis it has carried out of the effectiveness of this approach.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Since 2015 the Scottish Government has worked towards the removal of single use plastic cups in the work place by promoting the use of reusable and ceramic cups in staff restaurants. In June 2018 all single use plastic cups for hot drinks were removed from st…

8 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been convicted for falsely acting as a medical professional in each year since 2007.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The available information is provided in the following table, which has been produced from the Scottish Government’s criminal proceedings database . 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 MEDICAL ACT 1983 S4…

8 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of progress with the development of stem cell therapy for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). 

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: We commissioned the Scottish Health Technologies Group to undertake an assessment on the efficacy of using Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for the treatment of people with highly active relapsing remitting Multiple Sclerosis where other highly effect…

8 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5O-03409 by John Swinney on 19 June 2019 (Official Report, c. 17), what review it has conducted into the extent of multi-level teaching across the country.

Answer · John Swinney: Running bi-level or multi-level course classes is one approach many schools have used for many years to increase the amount of choice available to their pupils. There will be varying levels of prior attainment in any class and Education Scotland has yet to s…

8 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much the NHS has spent on staff (a) training and (b) career development in each year since 2007, also broken down by the number of hours taken up.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: This information is not held centrally. Under the Staff Governance Standard, health boards, as employers, must demonstrate that their staff are appropriately trained and developed. This includes ensuring that resources, including time and funding, are approp…

8 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much each local authority has paid to carry out (a) urgent and (b) essential repair or maintenance work in (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools in each year since 2007.

Answer · John Swinney: This information is not held centrally. Under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, it is the responsibility of all local authorities to maintain the school estate. However, the Scottish Government's school building programmes - the current £1.8 billion Scotlan…

8 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many contracts on the (a) Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and (b) Royal Hospital for Children and Young People construction project were sub-contracted.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: For the construction of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, which was a capital funded project, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde had a contract with Multiplex who were the main contractor. It was the responsibility of Multiplex to manage their sub-contracto…

8 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many child hospital patients have been admitted to adult wards in each year since 2007.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: This information is not routinely collected but individual Health Boards may have information on the position in each hospital in their area.

8 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to establish services to support people who are addicted to online gaming.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Anyone who believes that online gaming is affecting their health, or that of a loved one, should consult their GP in the first instance. Out of hours, health advice and support can be obtained from NHS24 by calling 111, or from Breathing Space by calling 0800…

8 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the age criteria for breast screening.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government is advised on all aspects of screening by the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), an independent expert group who assesses screening programmes against a robust set of criteria, before advising the NHS and Ministers in the UK. Th…

8 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) short-visit, (b) full and (c) other type of school inspections have been carried out in each of the last five years.

Answer · John Swinney: The following table sets out the number of (a) short; (b) full and; (c) other school inspections undertaken in the last five academic years.  2014-15 2 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 3 2018-19 Short 0 9 23 46 125 Full 141 134 138 136 127 Other 1 5…

6 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of how the £139.4 million allocated to it by the UK Government as a consequential of EU exit preparation funding has been spent in (a) 2018-19 and (b) 2019-20.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Of the £98.7 million EU Exit consequentials received between 2017-18 to 2019-20, we have already spent or committed £98.25 million. A full breakdown of money allocated to EU Exit preparation is contained within the Scottish Government’s overview of no deal pr…

6 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the City of Edinburgh Council about the safety of scaffolding at the annual Christmas market.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Scottish Government contacted the building standards section of City of Edinburgh Council and they confirmed that the applicant has sought a building warrant for the structure, and they expect a satisfactory resolution prior to opening.

5 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the provisions in the UEFA European Championship (Scotland) Bill assert or imply the licensing of journalism or journalist products and sales.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: The Bill does not contain provisions relating to the licensing of journalism or journalist products and sales.

5 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the permissions and exceptions in the UEFA European Championship (Scotland) Bill translate from print into digital.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: Both print and digital media are captured by the offences in the Bill and exceptions that will be provided for in the regulations made under it. For example, the Bill will restrict advertising in both printed and digital form on bus stops in the event zones.

5 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the provisions in the UEFA European Championship (Scotland) Bill allow the selling and promotion (a) of editorial products at the sales point, (b) digitally of one-off subscriptions and (c) of editorial supplements within news products or separately under news entity title brandi…

Answer · Ben Macpherson: The Bill prohibits unauthorised advertising and outdoor trading in three event zones in Glasgow during the Championship period. It also bans ticket touting for profit. Exceptions to these offences will be set out in regulations. The provisions in the Bill do …

4 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-25824 by Michael Matheson on 30 October 2019, when the sensors will be fitted.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Incidents like the one on the Queensferry Crossing in March 2019 are extremely rare. Quotations are currently being sought from specialist providers and we hope to be in a position to install these sensors in the coming months. Meanwhile, our contractors hav…