Emma Harper

10 Nov 2022 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the supply and distribution of naloxone.

Answer · Angela Constance: Today the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has issued a Caution in Use Notice alert, reporting that a number of injectable naloxone kits have been supplied across the UK, including Scotland, which may have missing needles. The product, Pre…

26 Oct 2022 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its discussions with the UK Government regarding any impact in Scotland of a potential veterinary agreement between the UK and the European Union to enable regulatory alignment of sanitary and phytosanitary products moving between the UK and the EU.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: To date, there has been no constructive engagement from the UK Government on a Veterinary Agreement based on regulatory alignment. It is Scottish Government policy to continue to align with EU standards. If the UK Government were to engage and agree to this, …

18 Oct 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the provision of community policing, including community safety patrols, in the South Scotland region.

30 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has plans to introduce a statutory obligation on Scottish public sector bodies to procure, where possible, from Scottish manufacturers and suppliers.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 places a Sustainable Procurement Duty on public bodies to consider how procurement processes can improve the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of their area, and facilitate the involvement of SMEs, third s…

30 Sep 2022 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the further investigations into the increase of neonatal deaths in March 2022.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government has commissioned Healthcare Improvement Scotland to lead a national review to understand any contributing factors to the increase in neonatal mortality during 2021-22. The review will cover reported neonatal deaths across Scotland betw…

27 Sep 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle rural isolation and loneliness, particularly in the approach to the winter period.

7 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Transport Scotland has reportedly exceeded its projected timescale of six months to carry out the roadworks between Cairnryan and Glenapp on the A77 by over four years, and whether it will provide (a) an urgent update on the status of these roadworks and (b) a timescale f…

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I understand the frustration of local communities and users of the A77 and the difficulties and delays they cause, but these works are essential to maintain the safety and resilience of this section of the A77. Work at Carlock Wall commenced in February 2020 …

26 Aug 2022 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on plans to recommence breast screening self-referrals for over-71s.

Answer · Maree Todd: From 29 August 2022, eligible groups of women over the age of 71 will be able to register for self-referral appointments by contacting their local breast screening service. Invitations will begin issuing to the eligible groups from 26 September, with appoint…

25 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact fishery management networks, including the Galloway Fisheries Trust, have on its biodiversity enhancement objectives.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The Galloway Fisheries Trust, along with other fishery and river trusts, fishery boards and angling associations, play an important role in helping Scotland meet its nature recovery ambitions. The Trust was successful in securing £100,000 through the Nature R…

22 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its meeting with the Galloway Community Hospital Action Group and members of the Wigtownshire community regarding maternity service provision in the Wigtownshire locality, whether it will provide an update on its discussions with NHS Dumfries and Galloway regarding the establ…

Answer · Maree Todd: NHS Dumfries and Galloway are undertaking work locally to consider and explore possible options for the service, in response to a request from the Integration Joint Board who have responsibility for planning and delivery of the majority of health care in the …

16 Aug 2022 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action NHS Scotland is taking to help tackle the climate emergency.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government and NHS Scotland Assure have prepared the NHS Scotland Climate Emergency and Sustainability Strategy 2022 to 2026 setting out actions for NHS Scotland to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to climate change and improve its envi…

12 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the joint £10 million of funding from the Scottish and UK governments, as committed to in the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, will be released for the borders rail extension feasibility study.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Through the Borderlands Inclusive Deal the Scottish Government have allocated up to £5 million to assess the benefits and challenges of extending the Borders Railway. That funding will be released on the achievement of agreed milestones, in line with the usua…

11 Jul 2022 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the final recruitment figures under Action 15 of the Mental Health Strategy 2017-2027, which ended in March 2022, will be published.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The final recruitment figures under Action 15 of the Mental Health Strategy 2017-27 will be published today, 12 July, at 10:30am, at Mental health workers: quarterly performance reports - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) . A total of 958.9 whole time equivalent ment…

30 Jun 2022 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its further consultation paper on restricting promotions of food and drink high in fat, sugar or salt.

Answer · Maree Todd: The consultation paper on restricting promotions of food and drink high in fat, sugar or salt will be published on the Scottish Government website at http://www.gov.scot/ISBN/9781804356241 and on the Citizen Space portal at https://consult.gov.scot/populat…

27 Jun 2022 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will review the level of minimum unit pricing of alcohol.

Answer · Maree Todd: We are currently in the process of evaluating minimum unit pricing (MUP) as a whole over its first five years of operation. Public Health Scotland will be producing a final report on MUP in 2023, which will inform our evaluation report which will be laid in P…

15 Jun 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last discussed the international transfer of prisoners to Scotland with the UK Government.

13 Jun 2022 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister, in light of summer officially commencing next week on 21 June, what action the Scottish Government is taking to promote responsible access to Scotland’s countryside.

12 May 2022 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to support the health and wellbeing of the NHS workforce.

11 May 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with TransPennine Express, Network Rail and ScotRail regarding the reported frequent cancellation of rail services on the West Coast Main Line, particularly impacting travellers using rail services at Lockerbie Station.

3 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had any discussions with Dumfries and Galloway Council regarding the safety of the derelict Treasure Cave building located at 80 English Street, Dumfries, in light of reports that it has caused part of English Street to be closed to through traffic; whether Dumfries and Ga…

Answer · Patrick Harvie: Scottish Government has not discussed the Treasure Cave building with Dumfries and Galloway Council as enforcement is wholly the responsibility of the local authority. Council officials did not seek support from Scottish Government in relation to addressing t…

27 Apr 2022 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the NHS will continue on the emergency footing that the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care previously extended to the 30 April 2022.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Once again, I want to thank our health and care staff for their magnificent work to date. The last few months have been enormously difficult and our health and care services are continuing to deal with a challenging combination of issues. We are now seeing a…

26 Apr 2022 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what consideration it has given to whether people need to continue to be on Scotland’s Highest Risk List, formerly the Shielding List, as set out in the updated Strategic Framework of February 2022.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: We have considered carefully whether people need to continue to be on the Highest Risk List. A significant body of evidence has been reviewed by clinical advisers related to the impact of vaccination for the approximately 176,000 people who have, for the most…

13 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the supplementary question during First Minister's Questions on 20 January 2022, during which the First Minister commented that the Scottish Government will take appropriate steps to raise awareness of the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Ac…

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government, in November 2021, issued a joint protocol for the examination of dogs suspected of livestock worrying and seized by Police Scotland under the 2021 Act. That offers guidance to veterinarians who may be asked to examine such dogs. The …

13 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that (a) children and (b) adults diagnosed with cystic fibrosis have the clinical psychologist and social worker resourcing available in their multidisciplinary team, as set out in the service specifications for adult and paediatric care.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Both adult and paediatric patients with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) can access a range of appropriate services via their local NHS Boards, Integrated Joint Board and specialist centres. The National Services Division (NSD) of NHS National Services Scotland commissi…

13 Apr 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial resources it has allocated to help those across Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders who are most impacted by the reported cost of living crisis.

28 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding any barriers to the recruitment and relocation of healthcare staff, including GPs, to rural locations in Scotland from countries within the EU.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government has consistently and unequivocally indicated to the UK Government the significant impact Brexit would have across our whole economy, including health and social care. Leaving the EU, and in particular the loss of freedom of movement, h…

24 Mar 2022 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the NHS will continue on the emergency footing that the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care previously extended to 31 March 2022.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Once again, I want to thank our health and care staff for their magnificent work to date. The last few months have been enormously difficult and our health and care services are continuing to deal with a challenging combination of issues. As we are now movin…

23 Mar 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding any barriers to the recruitment and relocation of healthcare staff, including GPs, to rural locations in Scotland from countries within the EU.

23 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the current level of the starting salary for a nurse in Scotland, and how this compares with (a) England and (b) Wales.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: In May 2021 we implemented the most generous pay rise anywhere in the UK (and the largest since devolution) for NHS Agenda for Change Staff. For the year 2021-22, a starting salary for new Nurses in Scotland was £26,104 compared to £25,655 for Nurses in Engl…

23 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the current level of government health spending per person in Scotland, and how this compares with (a) England and (b) Wales.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Per person, frontline health spending in Scotland is £111 (3.6%) higher than in England and £146 (4.8%) higher than in Wales. Proportionately, that’s over £600 million more spending on frontline health services in Scotland compared to England, and almost £80…