Parliamentary questions

Alexander Burnett

1,406 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

31 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available for those aged over 65 who are no longer eligible for non-physical disability allowance under the Personal Independence Payment system, when they are transferred onto Social Security Scotland's Adult Disability Payment.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: The Scottish Government is committed to establishing and maintaining a dignified and accessible disability and carer benefits system. This includes support for those aged over 65 whose awards are transferring to Adult Disability Payment. “Non-physical activi…

31 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of energy price rises, what additional financial support is available for people who require medical machines in their homes.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Management of reimbursement for energy costs associated with medical machines in individuals homes are decisions made by NHS Boards. The Scottish Government continues to work with NHS Boards to address financial pressures across the healthcare system, includi…

31 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set out its reasoning for its reported decision not to reopen the Scottish Clans & Historical Figures Events Fund.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government works closely with the tourism sector to identify priorities to support the growth of the sector. These priorities, agreed with the sector, are articulated through Scotland Outlook 2030, Scotland’s national tourism strategy, and the To…

16 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported progress of the Lyme disease vaccine candidate VLA15 being developed by Pfizer and Valneva, what support it is giving to the development of this vaccine.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Lyme disease vaccine candidate VLA15 was developed in Austria and, as such, is not directly supported by Scottish funding. The Scottish Government is however regarded as preferred customers for Valneva, and should the decision be taken to procure Lyme Dis…

12 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many appeals to the R100 programme have been received from people who live in the North East Scotland region and how this number compares to any received from other areas of Scotland.

Answer · Ivan McKee: For the purpose of this question, we have defined ‘appeals’ as data disputes in which either members of the public or suppliers registered to the Reaching 100% Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (R100 SBVS) have contacted us to raise a data dispute – when they…

12 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the first results and reports will be available from the adult neurodevelopmental pathway pilot involving four Health and Social Care Partnership areas.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government is piloting Adult Neurodevelopmental Pathways to support Boards to implement a single diagnostic pathway that will include ADHD and Autism. The pilot started in January and will last for 12 months. The results of this work, including a…

12 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of any funding it has provided to charities for autism post-diagnostic support across Scotland.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: A new National Post Diagnostic Support Service pilot was launched on 1 December 2020. This has now been extended until end of March 2023. Post Diagnostic support is provided by seven organisations, where, following a diagnosis of autism, individuals, parents…

12 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when its Autism and Learning Disabilities team last met with each of the Health and Social Care Partnership leads.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Learning Disability and Autism team meets Health and Social Care Partnership leads on a regular basis and since October last year, has met individually with 21 of the 31 HSCPs to discuss their local work on learning disabilities and autism. In addition t…

12 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce legislation to appoint a commissioner for autism, learning disabilities and people with neurodivergence.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government wants to improve opportunities, outcomes and support for autistic people, people with learning disabilities, and neurodivergent people. To this end, we have committed to introducing a Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity Bill…

11 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-09767 by Mairi Gougeon on 26 July 2022, whether it will confirm the timetable for publishing the report on bird stomach contents.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The report of the study on goosander and cormorant diet on four Scottish rivers will be published imminently.

11 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to establishing a regulatory body in Scotland that provides guidelines to the operators and/or owners of retirement villages.

Answer · Shona Robison: We have no plans to introduce a regulatory body to provide guidelines to the operators and/or owners of retirement villages. Existing regulatory frameworks for property factors, planning, building standards already exist. Providers of housing and housing serv…

11 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what data it holds on the length of time it has taken for applications to Redress Scotland to receive an outcome.

Answer · John Swinney: Since Scotland’s Redress Scheme was launched in December 2021, 1468 survivor applications and 88 next of kin applications have been received. All applications are reviewed within six weeks of receipt and this review identifies those requiring further informat…

5 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the 4.5% pay increase for NHS staff will be implemented, and whether it will be backdated to 1 April 2022.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Circulars to enact the 4.5% pay uplift for NHS Medical and Dental staff were published on 5 August 2022. This pay uplift will be backdated to 1 April 2022.

5 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether every state school currently has a defibrillator, and, if this is not the case, whether there are plans to ensure that all state schools have one.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government does not hold the information you request regarding defibrillators in schools. Decisions on whether to install defibrillators in schools are a matter for local authorities, in light of local circumstances and priorities. The Out-of-Ho…

4 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any COVID-19 vaccine wastage.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government works closely with the NHS to minimise vaccine wastage and reviews wastage statistics regularly. COVID-19 vaccine wastage data for Scotland is published by Public Health Scotland via both the COVID-19 Statistical Report and online d…

28 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will support the Scottish Children’s Reporter in ensuring that all autistic young people undergoing referral are adequately supported, and what its position is on whether a disaggregation of Scottish Children's Reporter Administration data by individual disability, as opposed to "…

Answer · Clare Haughey: The Scottish Government fully supports the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA) in its efforts to meet the needs of children and young people with additional support needs. Every child’s individual needs are considered by SCRA, based on informat…

28 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that local authorities will continue to implement the content of their respective local strategies on autism, as was set out in its recently concluded 10-year Scottish Strategy for Autism.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Autism and Learning Disability Team engages regularly with HSCP leads across Scotland on their strategic approaches and why it is so important for them to increase capacity for autism diagnostic services and to redesign services which are sustainable. We …

27 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of an NHS pilot scheme in England that gives high street pharmacies the power to refer patients for cancer scans and tests, whether it will consider trialling a similar scheme in Scotland.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is committed to early diagnosis which is why we continue to invest in our £44 million Detect Cancer Early (DCE) Programme. In 2021-22, DCE funded the North Cancer Alliance to support community pharmacy in the identification of patients…

26 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported increasing number of cases of COVID-19, what consideration it has given to making additional support available for people who are clinically vulnerable with neurological conditions.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Whilst prevalence of COVID remains high this is not translating into severe illness and deaths in the same way as earlier in the pandemic due largely to vaccination. So we would encourage everyone who is eligible to take up their boosters as soon as these are…

26 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the number of people who are clinically vulnerable and are (a) continuing to shield and (b) restricting their activities due to COVID-19.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Public Health Scotland COVID-19 Shielding Programme impact and experience survey which was published in March 2022 reported that 81% of respondents still make decisions that are mainly influenced by fear of COVID-19 infection, and 36% still try to minimis…

26 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to people in Scotland affected by the forthcoming transition from Personal Independence Payment or Disability Living Allowance to Adult Disability Payment and whether they understand what the change means to them.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: Our case transfer processes have been developed in line with our case transfer principles, which were developed with input from our experience panels, others with lived experience and wider stakeholders. We have worked and continue to work with existing benef…

26 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many adults in Scotland currently receive Disability Living Allowance.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: The Scottish Fiscal Commission published its latest set of benefit forecasts in May 2022 where they estimated, based on outturn information, that in 2020-21 there were around 103,000 people in receipt of Adult Disability Living Allowance in Scotland, forecast…