Parliamentary questions
Annie Wells
659 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
22 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on opening an inhalation room in The Thistle safer drug consumption facility, and how much it estimates this would cost.
Answer · Maree Todd: The position of the Scottish Government is that any intervention proven to save lives and reduce harms, such as an inhalation room, should be considered on its merits.We would support a proposal from The Thistle facility to the Lord Advocate for the introduct…
22 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it estimates it would cost, per vehicle, to introduce mobile safer drug consumption units in Scotland.
Answer · Maree Todd: The only existing Statement of Prosecution Policy from the Lord Advocate in relation to a safer drug consumption facility applies only to the operation of a fixed facility, mobile units are not currently within scope.The Scottish Government has not received a…
22 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce mobile safer drug consumption units in Scotland.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government remains open to considering well-developed proposals for Safer Drug Consumption Facilities (SDCF). However, a mobile facility would be difficult to deliver while still being able to meet the criteria previously set out by the Lord Advo…
17 Sep 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to improve night-time public transport connections between city centres and suburban areas, including support for late-night bus and rail services to improve affordability, safety and service reliability.
9 Sep 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to address gang-related violence.
2 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a transport service, including taxi provision, available to support individuals with addictions in travelling to and from the drug consumption facility in Glasgow, and, if so, how many individuals currently have access to or make use of this service.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government can confirm there is no transport service, including taxi provision, available to support individuals who use drugs, in travelling to and from the Glasgow Safer Drug Consumption Facility (The Thistle).No provision has been made for fun…
2 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-35424 by Jenni Minto on 17 March 2025, regarding referrals to secondary services from the Thistle drug consumption facility, whether it will provide a breakdown of any such referrals by service type, including (a) housing, (b) addiction recovery and…
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government does not hold a breakdown of referrals from the Thistle drug consumption facility by service type, nor does it hold data on the number of referrals made to addiction recovery services from 17 March 2025 to current date. Such informatio…
2 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-35424 by Jenni Minto on 17 March 2025, regarding referrals to secondary services from the Thistle drug consumption facility, whether it will provide a breakdown of these referrals by service type, including (a) housing, (b) addiction recovery and (c…
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government does not hold a breakdown of referrals from the Thistle drug consumption facility by service type, nor does it hold data on the number of referrals made to addiction recovery services from 17 March 2025 to current date. Such informatio…
2 Sep 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to its policies on land reform and land use, what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding any action that can be taken to address concerns about derelict land and vacant buildings in urban areas, including Glasgow.
10 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-31484 by Neil Gray on 21 November 2024, when it plans to publish the national specification on treatment and recovery services for drugs and alcohol, as was originally planned for the first quarter of 2025.
Answer · Maree Todd: The National Specification is intended to be published by the end of 2025,
7 May 2025 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the latest Public Health Scotland statistics on delayed discharges in NHS Scotland, which show that the average length of delay for March 2025 was 27 days.
6 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported absence of published waiting list data for gynaecology inpatient procedures and consultant-led outpatient appointments, and when up-to-date data will next be made available, in light of the most recent figures reportedly only covering up to the end of…
Answer · Neil Gray: This is not correct.Public Health Scotland (PHS) publish data relating to the length of time patients wait to be seen as a new outpatient or admitted for treatment as an inpatient or day case on a quarterly basis. The latest Stage of Treatment publication, pu…
16 Apr 2025 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported concerns regarding the decision to end the freeze on the MSP component of Scottish Ministers’ salaries and the potential impact on the Scottish Government’s budget, during a period of serious public sector budget pressures.
27 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it plans to improve endometriosis diagnosis, in light of reports that the number of women waiting over 12 weeks for gynaecology testing has increased by over 43,000.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The 2025-26 Budget will provide a record £21.7 billion for Health and Social Care, including almost £200 million to reduce waiting lists and improve flow through hospitals. Gynaecology will be targeted as a key priority area for additional funding…
27 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the projection set out in the Public Health Scotland report, Future prevalence and burden of chronic liver disease, which was published on 18 March 2025, that chronic liver disease cases will increase by 54% by 2044 due to alcohol misuse, what action it plans to take to…
Answer · Jenni Minto: Scottish Government notes this report with interest and is fully aware that the risk of liver disease is increased by the impact of harmful alcohol use and obesity.This is why we are determined to do all we can to reduce alcohol-related harm, one of the most …
27 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the withdrawal of funding for the Notre Dame Children’s Centre, what steps it can take to prevent other specialist centres that provide children’s mental health services from facing similar funding reductions.
Answer · Maree Todd: In recognition of financial pressures, our 2025-26 budget includes record levels of investment - over £21.7 billion for Health and Social Care and over £15 billion for the Local Government Settlement.While the Scottish Government has overall respo…
27 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of users of the Thistle safer drug consumption facility has been referred solely to rehabilitation services.
Answer · Neil Gray: Glasgow City HSCP is refining its reporting systems and cannot yet provide a precise percentage of users referred solely to rehabilitation services. Given the early stage of the facility’s operation, data validation is ongoing.The service has now record…
11 Mar 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what community safety measures it plans to prevent antisocial behaviour, including improper needle disposal, in the area surrounding the Thistle drug consumption facility.
5 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it plans to take to address and improve fertility and reproduction rates in Glasgow, in light of reports suggesting that the city has the fifth lowest in the UK.
Answer · Jenni Minto: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and Health Boards across Scotland, provide access to fertility services for those within their population who may be unable or finding it difficult to conceive.Falling birth rates are a demographic trend replicated across many h…
4 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many individuals have accessed addiction recovery services through The Thistle drug consumption facility.
Answer · Jenni Minto: To date, there have been 27 referrals to secondary services including housing, addiction recovery and mental health services. In addition to these referrals, the facility continues to support individuals in accessing appropriate recovery pathways and re-engag…
4 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the new iteration of the Women’s Health Plan will include a focus on the gender pain gap and the gender arthritis gap.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Women’s Health is a priority for this government which is why Scotland was the first country in the UK to publish a Women’s Health Plan in August 2021.Women’s health encompasses a wide range of topics and conditions and the areas of focus fo…
4 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the gender arthritis gap, where women are reportedly two to three times more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis and a third more likely to develop osteoarthritis than men.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that anyone living with arthritis is able to access the best possible care and support. We expect health care professionals and NHS Boards to deliver high quality person-centred care to those living with arthri…
4 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the gender pain gap, where chronic pain is reportedly 10% more prevalent in women than in men.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that anyone living with pain is able to access the best possible care and support. Through our commitment to deliver the actions outlined in our Pain Management Service Delivery Framework implementation plan we…
3 Mar 2025 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what plans the Scottish Government has to tackle the reported rising number of cases of drug-driving.
25 Feb 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the feasibility of its target to achieve net-zero emissions by 2045.
19 Feb 2025 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government when Public Health Scotland will produce updated statistics on the screening rates for cervical cancer.
29 Jan 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to maintain infrastructure on key roads.
21 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has implemented to address violence in schools.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Violence towards anyone is unacceptable and the safety of our children, young people and staff at school is paramount.Since May 2023, we have responded to schools’ concerns about relationships and behaviour in a number of ways. This includes the publica…
21 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to address the condition of Scotland's roads, in particular the number of potholes.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: We recognise the challenges in maintaining Scotland’s road network and the vital importance of ensuring roads are safe and well-maintained.Under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, local authorities are responsible for the improvement, maintenance, and repai…
15 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to address the reported possibility of drug gangs attempting to profit from the opening of The Thistle facility, in Glasgow, by selling illicit substances nearby the facility to individuals who are already facing addiction issues.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Thistle facility in Glasgow acknowledges the challenges posed by external factors, such as the potential for organised crime groups to exploit vulnerable individuals. To address this Glasgow HSCP are working closely with Police Scotland who are dedicated …