Brian Whittle

21 Jan 2019 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government is doing to ensure that partner providers are part of a sustainable solution for the roll-out of 1,140 hours of funded childcare.

19 Dec 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many of the 38,000 people that Fair Start Scotland aims to support it expects to participate in each year to 2020.

19 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether NHS boards' Practical Obstetric Multi-professional Training (PROMPT) for health care professionals in maternity services includes a cardiotocography (CTG) scanning elopement.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: PROMPT and SCOTTIE (Scottie core Obstetric teaching and training) are available for all midwifery and obstetric staff, neither covers CTG as this is covered by the more in-depth K2 or RCOG packages which are available as 8 hour stand-alone packages of trainin…

19 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which NHS boards are meeting its commitment for all neo-natal multi-disciplinary teams to take part in mandatory cardiotocography (CTG) scanning training twice a year.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: CTG is used to monitor fetal heart rate prior to birth and during labour. CTG training is not undertaken by neonatal staff as they do not deal with pregnant women or babies in utero. CTG training is undertaken by midwives and obstetricians however it is not m…

5 Dec 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that sport and physical activity are available to all, irrespective of background or personal circumstances.

29 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the suggestion of building a road and rail bridge between Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government currently has no plans to take forward proposals for a bridge between Scotland and Northern Ireland. However, we are keen to explore opportunities for improving connectivity to and within Scotland and this forms part of our review of t…

21 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) VisitScotland and (b) Transport Scotland regarding the potential for cycle tourism at the proposed Maybole bypass.

Answer · Michael Matheson: In developing the scheme, consultation on active travel was undertaken with stakeholders including South Ayrshire Council, Cycling Touring Club Scotland, Sustrans, British Horse Society (BHS); and Scotways. As an Agency of the Scottish Government, there are …

21 Nov 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to boost tourism in rural areas through the promotion of industrial heritage sites.

7 Nov 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that farmers have access to public procurement contracts for food.

5 Nov 2018 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister, in light of the study, Defying Arthritis at Every Age, what the Scottish Government is doing to reduce loneliness and isolation among people with the condition.

31 Oct 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the findings of the South West Transport Study will be published.

25 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering giving the cystic fibrosis drug, Orkambi, ultra orphan status, and, if so, when it will publish its findings.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-19167 on? 29 October 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusin…

25 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports from clinicians that accessing the drug, Orkambi, by people with cystic fibrosis, is time consuming, and leads to inequitable access for patients, and what action it can take to simplify the process.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government has undertaken to review the Peer Approved Clinical System (PACS) Tier Two six and twelve months after it commenced on 1 June 2018. As part of those reviews we will expect to receive feedback from Health Boards and clinicians. PACS Ti…

25 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S5W-18944 and S5W-19151 by Jeane Freeman on 27 September and 4 October 2018 respectively, how many people have accessed the cystic fibrosis drug, Orkambi, through the Peer Approved Clinical System (PACS) Tier Two Panel.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: There were six requests for Orkambi through the Peer Approved Clinical System (PACS) Tier Two process between 1 June 2018 and 31 September 2018. Four of these were accepted and two decisions were deferred by the relevant Health Boards for further consideratio…

17 Oct 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the latest position is on its roll-out of 1,140 hours of free childcare by 2020.

Answer · Maree Todd: We remain on track to deliver the 1140 hours expansion. This programme is ambitious and challenging, but we are working hard with local authorities and delivery partners to create the workforce and physical capacity required. We reached a landmark agreement w…

1 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to ensure that NHS boards give appropriate consideration to the suitability of transport infrastructure, including public transport provision and hospital parking, when planning major changes to the delivery of services.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Scottish Government identifies transport infrastructure as a key element in the development of a NHS investment along with factors such as land availability, energy infrastructure, clinical adjacencies, demographics and geography. The Scottish Capital Investm…

1 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date NHS Ayrshire and Arran will finalise its proposed changes to the delivery of cancer treatment services.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: NHS Ayrshire and Arran are currently reviewing their cancer services in relation to the West of Scotland Model of Care. They will continue to engage with staff and patients and anticipate that this engagement process will be completed in Autumn 2019.  

24 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to ensuring that dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanning is available to everyone as a means of early fracture diagnosis and prevention of further fractures in people at risk of osteoporosis.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Dexa scanning is available where clinically appropriate to everyone to help prevent and reduce the number of further fractures in people at risk.

24 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14416 by Shona Robison on 22 February 2018, what consideration it has given to ensuring equitable access to fracture liaison services across the country.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Programme for Government 2018-19 includes a commitment to develop a National Falls and Fracture Prevention Strategy which will provide an opportunity to present an achievable vision of a joined up, whole system approach to falls and fracture prevention an…

24 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14416 by Shona Robison on 22 February 2018, and the subsequent commitment in its Programme for Government, when it will publish a national falls and fracture prevention strategy.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government's National Falls and Fracture Prevention strategy is due to be published by the end of March 2019.

24 Sep 2018 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the report that obesity is set to overtake smoking as the biggest cause of preventable cancers in women.

12 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made by the South West Transport Study, and by what date the findings will be published.

Answer · Michael Matheson: As part of the study, data has been collected over the summer from bus and rail passengers in South West Scotland to supplement similar information already collected from road users. This information, together with that gathered from the stakeholder engagemen…

4 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the commitment by the former Minister for Transport and the Islands in Maybole in November 2017 that construction of the Maybole Bypass was expected to commence in 2018, when construction will commence.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Procurement commenced with the publication of a Contract Notice on 31 August 2017. Three companies are currently participating in the tender process for this project and the award of the contract is anticipated in December 2018. Construction works should comm…

13 Aug 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on corroboration in relation to child sex abuse cases, given that abusers often isolate victims.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government proposed abolishing the requirement for corroboration in criminal cases during the passage of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016. At that time however there was no legal or parliamentary consensus for the abolition. The Scottish …

9 Aug 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the commitment in its Programme for Government 2015-16, what action it has taken to support rural hospitals in recruiting and retaining medical staff.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government recognises that health boards in remote and rural areas face particular recruitment and retention challenges. There are a range of actions that are already being taken to support NHS Boards to recruit in remote and rural areas:We are …

9 Aug 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to develop networks between rural and urban hospitals.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government has asked NHS boards to work collaboratively with each other and with partners to develop regional delivery plans. The plans will strengthen how services can best be planned and delivered, particularly at a regional level, and support …

9 Aug 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the average waiting time has been for (a) routine and (b) urgent outpatient appointments for rheumatology patients in (i) 2016, (ii) 2017 and (iii) 2018.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The information requested is provided in the following table. Please note that due to ongoing technical issues information from NHS Ayrshire and Arran and NHS Tayside are not included in the figures below. NHS SCOTLAND: MEDIAN WAITING TIMES FOR URGENT AND RO…

9 Aug 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what significance is placed on rheumatic musculoskeletal diseases in GP training programmes as part of FY1 and FY2 (foundation) posts.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-18145 on ?28 August 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusines…

9 Aug 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease specific training for medical students at (a) undergraduate and (b) postgraduate level.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government is funding record numbers of undergraduate medical places and postgraduate training posts in Scotland, as well as providing the resources that NHS Education for Scotland(NES), Health Boards and GP practices require to deliver medical e…

26 Jun 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-16949 by Humza Yousaf on 14 June 2018, on what date it will consider the A70 and the A77 Bellfield Interchange as part of its second Strategic Transport Projects Review.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) will be an examination of the strategic transport infrastructure interventions required to support the delivery of the Scotland’s Economic Strategy and deliver a transport network which is fit for the 21s…