Parliamentary questions
Annie Wells
659 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
15 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to help ensure that menstruation is not a barrier to women and girls being involved in sports.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government understand the importance of sport and physical activity for women and girls in Scotland and the positive impact that has on their physical, mental, and social health, across all stages in life.We believe there should be no barriers to…
15 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has allocated to research by Scottish universities on alcohol and drug misuse in 2024-25.
Answer · Neil Gray: Funding allocation to research by Scottish Universities in 2024-25 is £54,787. The National Mission is further supported by research undertaken at national and local levels by national boards such as Public Health Scotland and Health Improvement Scotlan…
15 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to help ensure that victims of trauma, either physical or mental, do not turn to illicit substance use.
Answer · Maree Todd: Evidence confirms that substance use can be a potential consequence for those of us who have experienced high levels of trauma and adversity in our lives.The Scottish Government’s ambition, shared with COSLA, is for anyone who has been affected by traum…
15 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with law enforcement agencies to tackle the supply of pipes and other paraphernalia used to consume illicit drugs.
Answer · Neil Gray: We remain committed to reducing harm for individuals from the use of unsafe paraphernalia and will continue collaborating with stakeholders and harm reduction services on this matter.We acknowledge the risks posed by unsafe, makeshift inhalation pipes, often …
15 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to address any infections associated with individuals consuming illicit drugs through injections.
Answer · Neil Gray: We know that people who inject drugs are at higher risk of contracting blood borne viruses (BBVs), bacterial infections and injection site wounds.The Scottish Government has committed to effectively eliminating hepatitis C (HCV) as a public health threat in S…
15 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the projected cost is of the safer drug consumption facility, The Thistle, in Glasgow, over the next three years.
Answer · Neil Gray: Scottish Government has committed to making up to £2.3 million available per annum (from 2024-25 – 2026-27) to Glasgow HSCP for the development, set up and running of the SDCF in Glasgow from 2024-25. A total of £1,277,000 will be provided b…
15 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to address respiratory problems that are associated with smoking illicit drugs.
Answer · Jenni Minto: We know that there are links between smoking illicit drugs and some respiratory conditions. For example, smoking cannabis can lead to chronic bronchitis and clinicians sometimes see destructive emphysema in younger people.To prevent harm in future generations…
9 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what data will be (a) collated and (b) published from the safer drug consumption facility, The Thistle.
Answer · Neil Gray: Data generated from the day-to-day running of the Thistle Service will be recorded and collated by Glasgow HSCP alongside a range of routine data from other Health and Social Care services to enable a comprehensive evaluation. This includes data to assess:1.E…
9 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is to taking address the presence of "drug dens" in Glasgow.
Answer · Neil Gray: We are working in partnership with other stakeholders, including Police Scotland, to reduce the presence of public injecting and other antisocial behaviour (eg drug house or location) across Scotland including Glasgow, by offering safer alternatives, combined…
9 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many children were hospitalised due to illicit drugs being found in their systems in each calendar year since 2020.
Answer · Neil Gray: Public Health Scotland publish information on drug related hospital admissions. Data from 1996-97 to 2022-23 is available at https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/drug-related-hospital-statistics/drug-related-hospital-statistics-scotland-2022-to-2023…
9 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its resonse is to reported concerns that elements of the new Parkhead Hub facilities in Glasgow are not a friendly environment for dementia patients.
Answer · Maree Todd: It is the responsibility of local authorities, health boards and health and social care partnerships to manage and provide appropriate services in their area, and to engage with their communities on how this is provided.The Scottish Government is committed to…
9 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to protect children in environments where illicit drug use is common among adult and/or parental figures.
Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that effective support is in place for all children and families experiencing problems with drugs and alcohol. Our framework to improve holistic whole family support sets out principles of how we will improve s…
9 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is encouraging people to get their vaccinations this current flu season.
Answer · Jenni Minto: As of 5 January, over 2.89 million winter vaccines have been delivered, with more than 1.27 million adult flu and over 523,000 child flu vaccines administered, as well as over 1.09 million Covid-19 vaccines administered.Working with Public Health Scotland (PH…
9 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to improve access to vaccines across all age groups this current flu season.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government has been working with Public Health Scotland and Health Boards to ensure that those who are eligible this winter are easily able to access vaccination.Citizens were appointed to their nearest available clinic, with flexibility to resch…
7 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to address the reportedly high number of babies being born with a drug dependency.
Answer · Jenni Minto: We are committed to giving every child in Scotland the best start in life. Women affected by substance use should be able to get the help they need, free from judgement and stigma, throughout the perinatal period.All Health Boards have guidance for health pro…
19 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported statistics from Cancer Research UK showing that only one in two people in Scotland know that alcohol causes cancer, whether it plans to raise public awareness of the link between alcohol consumption and cancer.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of highlighting the link between alcohol and non-communicable disease. Evidence is clear that alcohol consumption increases the risk of developing non-communicable diseases, including some cancers.A refreshed …
19 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide update on progress against the action in its Cancer Action Plan for Scotland 2023-26 to give consumers useful information on alcohol product labels by March 2026.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government remains committed to improved health messaging on alcohol in Scotland, including on labels and packaging. The Scottish Government will continue to engage constructively with the UK Government, along with our colleagues in Wales and Nor…
18 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the most common way to consume illicit drugs, such as smoking or injection, has been in each year from 2020 to 2024.
Answer · Neil Gray: Information is not held centrally on the most common way to consume illicit drugs.In 2023, 14% of all adults had used any of the drugs listed in the Scottish Health Survey in the previous 12 months. The drug most commonly used in the 12 months prior to being …
18 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with the UK Government to tackle the illicit drugs trade in Scotland.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government continues to work closely with the UK Government to disrupt organised crime groups involved in the illicit drugs trade and the misery it causes to individuals and communities. As I explained in my answer to Parliamentary Question S6W-3…
18 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many under-18-year-olds have received medical treatment after being accidentally stuck by improperly disposed hypodermic needles in the Glasgow region in each year from 2020 to 2024.
Answer · Neil Gray: Information is not available centrally on the number of under-18-year-olds who have received medical treatment after being accidentally stuck by improperly disposed hypodermic needles.Injecting equipment provision (IEP) is a key harm reduction intervention. P…
18 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to address the improper disposal of used hypodermic needles.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government does not have responsibility for addressing the improper disposal of used hypodermic needles. We expect that NHS Boards, drug and alcohol treatment services, and third sector organisations will have their own plans in place to address …
18 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many hospitalisations have been attributed to non-fatal drug misuse in (a) Scotland and (b) the Glasgow region, in each year between 2020 and 2024.
Answer · Neil Gray: Public Health Scotland publish information on drug-related hospital admissions. Data from 1996-97 to 2022-23 is available at https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/drug-related-hospital-statistics/drug-related-hospital-statistics-scotland-2022-to-2023…
18 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it has been working with Police Scotland to tackle the modification of vehicles for the concealment of illicit drugs.
Answer · Angela Constance: We had previously promoted a Legislative Consent Memorandum in the Scottish Parliament in relation to the provisions in the previous UK Government’s Criminal Justice Bill creating an offence for importing, making, adapting, supplying or offering to supp…
18 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to prevent young people from becoming involved in the illicit drug trade.
Answer · Angela Constance: The criminal exploitation of young people through involvement in the illicit drug trade is a significant concern for the Scottish Government. Partners on the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce (SOCT), which I chair, continue to use every means at their disposa…
18 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have received hospital treatment after being accidentally stuck by improperly disposed hypodermic needles in (a) Scotland and (b) the Glasgow region, in each year from 2020 to 2024.
Answer · Neil Gray: Information is not available centrally on the number of people who have received hospital treatment after being accidentally stuck by improperly disposed hypodermic needles.Injecting equipment provision (IEP) is a key harm reduction intervention. Public Healt…
13 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a detailed breakdown of what any funding that it allocated to its national mission to reduce drug-related deaths and harms between 2022 to 2024 has been spent on.
Answer · Neil Gray: The National Mission annual report is structured to relate to the six outcomes and six cross-cutting priorities in the National Mission Plan. Outcomes and cross-cutting priorities chapters have the following format: an overview provides context, including dat…
13 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of spending allocated to the national mission to reduce drug-related deaths and harms was allocated to rehabilitation services between 2022 and 2024.
Answer · Neil Gray: The National Mission annual report finance sections aim to provide greater transparency of National Mission funding, including rehabilitation services. The reports for financial years 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24 are available at:National Mission on Drugs: an…
13 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that it has frozen the funding for the national mission to reduce drug-related deaths and harms at £60 million in its draft Budget 2025-26, and that this represents a real-terms reduction, which rehabilitation services in the Glasgow region will be impacted by …
Answer · Neil Gray: The funding for Drugs and Alcohol in the 2025-26 draft budget is £80.9m. This includes £60m as part of our commitment to provide £250m in additional funding over 5 years to reduce drug deaths and improve the lives of people who use drugs and…
13 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has reportedly decided to freeze the funding for the national mission to reduce drug-related deaths and harms at £60 million in its draft Budget 2025-26.
Answer · Neil Gray: The funding for Drugs and Alcohol in the 2025-26 draft budget is £80.9m. This includes £60m as part of our commitment to provide £250m in additional funding over 5 years to reduce drug deaths and improve the lives of people who use drugs and…
5 Dec 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which specific local services in Glasgow that make decisions on commissioning and planning services for people impacted by drugs it funds.
Answer · Neil Gray: Integration Authorities have delegated responsibility in Scotland for providing local alcohol and drug services. This activity is coordinated by Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) and funded by the Scottish Government. In line with the Verity House Agreemen…