Parliamentary questions
Miles Briggs
4,209 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
7 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how much has been spent on agency staff in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools, in each year since 1999, also broken down by local authority.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Data on how much each local authority spends on agency staff is not held or collected by the Scottish Government. It is the responsibility of local authorities to allocate the total financial resources available to them, including setting school budgets, on t…
4 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6O-04726 by Jenny Gilruth on 29 May 2025, whether it will provide an update on its review of the guidance regarding the levying of fees for hospital teaching costs for children who routinely attend independent sc…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-39135 on 31 July 2025. 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/…
4 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to extending the remit of the next HIV Transmission Elimination Delivery Plan to include a (a) goal of ending new HIV transmissions by 2030 and (b) commitment to ensure that people living with HIV in Scotland are supported to remain in care and have a good…
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government remain firmly committed to the goals outlined within the HIV Transmission Elimination Delivery Plan, published in March 2024, which includes a commitment to ending new transmissions of HIV by 2030 and ensuring that people living with H…
4 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure access to HIV support services for groups that reportedly experience worse health outcomes, including (a) migrants, (b) women, (c) older people and (d) those living in rural communities.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is committed to equitable access to HIV support services and we continue to work with NHS Boards who provide targeted community outreach, peer support initiatives and digital health solutions particularly focused on underserved groups.…
4 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made towards meeting the British HIV Association’s standards for psychological support for people living with HIV in Scotland.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is currently undertaking a programme of Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus local area visits to Scottish territorial NHS Boards which provides an opportunity to explore the levels of psychological support available for people living w…
4 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to establishing a national funding framework for HIV testing and prevention services.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government has allocated a budget of around £1.7m per year to support delivery of the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Action Plan 2023-26. This funding includes a range of projects focused on HIV testing and prevention including Terrenc…
2 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what safeguards have been put in place to ensuretransparency in the reform of the school inspection system.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: To ensure transparency in the reform of the school inspection system, HM Inspectors introduced a revised approach to stakeholder engagement in November 2024. This approach is designed to support continuous improvement and ensure that inspection activity remai…
25 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings in the Royal College of Radiologists report, Clinical Oncology: Workforce Census 2024, how it plans to reduce the number of clinical (a) oncologists and (b) radiologists under the age of 50 leaving the NHS workforce.
Answer · Neil Gray: As set out in answer S6W-38507, Scottish Government recognises that throughout their career, employees, including radiologists and oncologists, will face differing demands on their time and energies at home as well as at work which may lead to them leaving th…
25 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any merits of investing in more clinical (a) oncology and (b) radiology speciality training places in order to reduce any reliance on outsourcing to private firms.
Answer · Neil Gray: As set out in answer S6W-38508 on 18 June 2025, whilst Scottish Ministers are responsible for determining the strategic policy of the NHS in Scotland, NHS Boards are responsible for delivering their services, including making decisions to outsource NHS contra…
25 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the reported finding in the Royal College of Radiologists report, Clinical Oncology: Workforce Census 2024, that the age at which clinical (a) oncologists and (b) radiologists are leaving the NHS workforce is decreasing.
Answer · Neil Gray: Data on the average age of a doctor leaving the oncologist or radiologist NHS Scotland workforce is not held centrally.Official Statistics published by NHS Education for Scotland, and available on the Data and reports | Turas Data Intelligence website, show t…
25 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much has been charged in total for education services for children and young people while in hospital in each local authority area in each year since 1999.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. Decisions about the fees for hospital education services are a matter for local authorities and NHS boards to consider as appropriate.
25 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many probationary teachers in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools have not started their placement in each local authority area in each year since 1999.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government does not hold this data. The General Teaching Council of Scotland (GTCS) is best placed to advise on how many newly qualified teachers progress each year to meet the Standard for Full Registration, through the Teacher Induction Scheme …
25 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Royal College of Radiologists report, Clinical Oncology: Workforce Census 2024, how it plans to reduce any reliance by NHS boards on the outsourcing of radiology reporting, in light of the reported forecast that outsourcing spend could reach as much as £30 million …
Answer · Neil Gray: As stated in the answer to question S6W-38508 on 18 June 2025, whilst Scottish Ministers are responsible for determining the strategic policy of the NHS in Scotland, NHS Boards are responsible for delivering their services, including making decisions to outso…
25 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many probationary teachers in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools have not completed their placement in each local authority area in each year since 1999.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government does not hold this data. The General Teaching Council of Scotland (GTCS) is best placed to advise on how many newly qualified teachers progress each year to meet the Standard for Full Registration, through the Teacher Induction Scheme …
25 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the number of families currently being charged for education services for children and young people staying in hospital.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. Decisions about the fees for hospital education services are a matter for local authorities and NHS boards to consider as appropriate.
25 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported findings in the Royal College of Radiologists report, Clinical Oncology: Workforce Census 2024, that 80% of cancer centre leaders reported that staff shortages have led to delays in patients starting systemic anti-cancer therapy treatment and 100% rep…
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government has established the National Oncology Coordination Group to provide a coordinated and collaborative response to immediate and foreseeable service pressures. This group provides rapid real-time assessment of highest risk services and pr…
19 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the timeline for providing the £5 million of funding allocated to the hospice sector in its Budget 2025-26.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government has already provided reassurances to independent hospices that the funding will be allocated as soon as practically possible, based on the analysis of financial data provided by the hospices.However, it is important to reflect that it …
18 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to draw on already-qualified counsellors and psychotherapists, who are not currently practising, to reduce any long waiting times for psychological therapies.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of timely access to psychological therapies and continues to work with NHS Boards to reduce waiting times. We are taking forward targeted actions to expand the mental health workforce by making better use of q…
18 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Kidney Care UK’s recent report, Left to get on with it: The real impact of inadequate psychosocial support in kidney care, whether it plans to implement measures to train and upskill NHS kidney care teams, general practitioners and talking therapies professio…
Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government does not currently have plans to introduce specific measures to train and upskill NHS kidney care teams in relation to psychosocial support.NHS Boards are expected to follow current guidelines and best practice in delivering safe, effe…
18 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-28109 by Jenni Minto on 25 June 2024, when it plans to next report on progress towards the Mental health and wellbeing strategy: delivery plan 2023-2025, and whether any such progress report will include an analysis of the impact of the strategy on …
Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government published the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy Delivery Plan and Workforce Action Plan: Progress Update and Next Steps on 11 June 2025. This update outlines progress made since publication of the Delivery Plan and includes informat…
18 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what updated guidance it plans to publish in relation to a presumption against children and young people living in temporary accommodation being required to move schools.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: Further to the answer to question S6W-36591 on 22 April 2025, provided by the former Minister for Housing Paul McLennan MSP, on plans to implement a presumption against children moving schools when they are placed in temporary accommodation, I can advise that…
18 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what monitoring is in place to ensure consistency and quality in school-based counselling services across local authority areas.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Our national guidance for local authorities sets out expectations for monitoring and reviewing the service. The guidance also makes clear that the operation of the counselling service within the school should be reviewed annually and any necessary improvement…
18 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many children and young people living in temporary accommodation have been required to move school in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government does not hold information on the number of children and young people in temporary accommodation that have been required to move school. Individual Local Authorities may hold some information on such cases.
18 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to extend access to counselling provision in primary schools, building on its existing commitment to secondary school counselling.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: School counselling services are available to all pupils aged 10 and over, including primary and special school pupils.The Scottish Government engaged with professional counselling bodies prior to establishing counselling services who advised that therapeutic …
18 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many weapons have been seized and recorded as being carried by pupils in schools in each year since 1999.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-33307 on 28 January 2025. 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-committe…
18 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish data on the (a) frequency, (b) type and (c) availability of counselling provision in schools in the last five years, broken down by local authority area, including rural and island areas.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. Local authorities may hold this information.
18 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will explore the introduction of mobile or hybrid counselling models in any under-served areas.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: It is for local authorities to determine how they deliver the counselling service in their area.The school counselling aims and principles, agreed jointly with COSLA, set out that counselling services should be accessible, utilising technology, virtual approa…
11 Jun 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the eligibility criteria for rapid cancer diagnostic services, including the rationale for them usually only being available to those over the age of 18, in light of any unique challenges faced by children and young people being diagnosed with can…
10 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what value of financial penalties on colleges and universities for recruiting above their allocated funded places has been returned to and received by the Scottish Government in each year since 1999, broken down by individual (a) college and (b) university.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government has not identified any funds returned from the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) for penalties. The member may wish to contact the SFC for further details.
10 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to ensure that palliative care becomes a national priority.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that everyone who needs it can access seamless, timely and high quality palliative care.That is why later this summer we will publish our new palliative care strategy, Palliative Care Matters for All. The strat…