Parliamentary questions
Alex Cole-Hamilton
2,700 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
22 May 2017 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take in response to the reported increase in the number of GP practices being run directly by NHS boards.
16 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £150 million that it announced for mental health in 2015 (a) remains unallocated and (b) has been allocated, broken down by (i) initiative and (ii) how long it will apply for.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The £150 million commitment for innovation and improvement was first made to begin in the calendar year 2016, running to the end of 2020. This was subsequently updated and built upon following the most recent Programme for Government (PFG) to be at least £150…
27 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-01277 by Jamie Hepburn on 1 August 2016, what assessment it has made of Individual Placement and Support, and whether it will be made routinely available across the country to people with mental health problems as part of Fair Start Scotland.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: During the design and development of Fair Start Scotland, we consulted with experts in mental health as well as carrying out research into what works in helping people with mental health conditions into work. We held several meetings of a Mental Health Adviso…
24 Apr 2017 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to claims that staff at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital are “incredibly stressed” and that the hospital is “very short staffed”.
21 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-03289 by Aileen Campbell on 28 October 2016, what progress it is making with the development of the child and adolescent health and wellbeing strategy; by what date it will be published; how it will align with the mental health strategy, and how it …
Answer · Mark McDonald: Work around the child and adolescent health and wellbeing strategy is continuing to develop and will be published to coincide with the Year of the Young Person in 2018. The Scottish Government is ensuring there is a joined up approach to this work involving m…
21 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to establish no-parking zones around schools.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Local authorities currently have duties under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to provide secure expeditious, convenient and safe movement of traffic, including the parking matters. Under the 1984 Act, local authorities can decide to restrict or prohibit …
13 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding is available to ensure mental health multidisciplinary teams have routine access to dieticians to prevent people with mental health problems developing physical health conditions, and to support them to manage the impact of medications on physical health.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all patients have appropriate and timely access to the services they need in NHS Scotland. The management of local actions in implementing national policy, and decisions on local spending priorities, are t…
13 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what role community level schemes play in providing access to affordable nutritious food play as outlined in the 2017-2027 Mental Health Strategy, particularly in communities at higher risk of developing mental health problems.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: Improving food access is an important part of the Scottish Government’s work to tackle health inequalities and close the opportunity gap. Community food initiatives are a key route through which we are working to improve food access in communities across Scot…
13 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has taken to support the promotion of healthy food to children and to protect them from the marketing of unhealthy foods, and how is any success being measured.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government has taken a broad range of measures to support the promotion of healthy food to children including: Eat Better Feel Better, our social marketing campaign run for the past three years which builds on previous campaigns; Big Breakfast…
11 Apr 2017 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the number of older people who access the internet.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government’s digital participation campaign “Let’s Get Online” encourages older people to take those first steps to getting online by offering support and promoting the benefits of using digital devices. Since 2014 the campaign has carried out 13…
7 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to encourage (a) Transport Scotland and (b) local authorities to scan cats that have been killed in road traffic accidents for microchips.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The trunk road operating companies are contractually required to examine all domestic animals found dead on the trunk road and motorway network for any identifying features, including scanning for microchips. The Police are then notified of any identifying fe…
5 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-07621 by Aileen Campbell on 31 March 2017, for what reason this figure is lower than the figures for England and Wales, which were given in response to House of Lords parliamentary question QWA HL5369 on 21 February 2017.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: In Scotland, almost all abortions are carried out in NHS hospitals, but for women in England and Wales, a majority take place in the independent sector. The independent sector in England and Wales has well established arrangements in place to provide privatel…
5 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase the number of people with autism (a) taking up a modern apprenticeship and (b) accessing full-time employment.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: In response to Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) recommendations, Skills Development Scotland (SDS) published its Equalities Action Plan for Modern Apprenticeships in Scotland on 2 December 2015. The plan has a focus to increase the number of young disab…
3 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to make careers in mental health more attractive.
Answer · Maureen Watt: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-08581 on 24 April 2017. 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/parliamentarybusiness/2…
3 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the work on the potential mental health inpatient needs of children and young people with a learning disability and/or an autism spectrum disorder will be complete, and when it will act on the findings.
Answer · Maureen Watt: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-08581 on 24 April 2017. 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/parliamentarybusiness/2…
3 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what mental health training is given to (a) local authority housing and (b) housing association staff.
Answer · Maureen Watt: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-08581 on 24 April 2017. 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/parliamentarybusiness/2…
3 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, other than promoting fair work and the real living wage, what steps it is taking to tackle in-work poverty.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Fairer Scotland Action Plan, published in October 2016, set out 50 concrete actions the Scottish Government will take over this parliamentary term to reduce poverty and tackle inequality. Many of these are expected to have a positive impact for those who…
3 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the completion of the pilot programme, when the distress brief intervention programme, which was set out in the 2017-2027 Mental Health Strategy, will commence.
Answer · Maureen Watt: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-08581 on 24 April 2017. 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/parliamentarybusiness/2…
3 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase the uptake of cancer screening by people with mental health problems.
Answer · Maureen Watt: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-08581 on 24 April 2017. 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/parliamentarybusiness/2…
3 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps Healthcare Improvement Scotland is taking to implement the 2017-2027 Mental Health Strategy.
Answer · Maureen Watt: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-08581 on 24 April 2017. 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/parliamentarybusiness/2…
3 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update regarding how it helps to meet the needs of veterans with mental health problems and their families.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The needs of veterans with mental health problems and their families are met by NHSScotland working together with its partners in the statutory and third sectors to plan and provide fit for purpose services which meet the assessed needs of their populations. …
3 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to alleviate the pressures faced by mental health officers.
Answer · Maureen Watt: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-08581 on 24 April 2017. 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/parliamentarybusiness/2…
3 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which NHS boards offer liaison psychiatry.
Answer · Maureen Watt: 13 out of 14 territorial Health boards said, in a Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland 2015 census of liaison psychiatry provision, that they provided it. NHS Orkney did not. Scottish Government will work with NHS Boards on their liaison psychiatry prov…
3 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the aims of the Strategic Framework for Action on Palliative and End of Life Care are applied.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is working with a wide range of stakeholders to take forward a £3.5million programme of work to achieve the ten commitments set out in the Strategic Framework for Action on Palliative and End of Life Care (SFA). The National Implemen…
3 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase the uptake of smoking cessation programmes by people with mental health problems.
Answer · Maureen Watt: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-08581 on 24 April 2017. 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/parliamentarybusiness/2…
3 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that the side effects of psychiatric medications are appropriately monitored.
Answer · Maureen Watt: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-08581 on 24 April 2017. 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/parliamentarybusiness/2…
3 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-06583 by Maureen Watt on 6 February 2017, whether the updated national dementia strategy has been published and, if not, (a) what the reason is for the delay and (b) by what date it will be published.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government now plans to publish the 2017-2020 National Dementia Strategy in June. We have taken some additional time to ensure that all aspects of the strategy and its commitments are designed to provide maximum national support to local dementi…
3 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve the availability of fast and effective treatment for first episode psychosis.
Answer · Maureen Watt: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-08581 on 24 April 2017. 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/parliamentarybusiness/2…
3 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that there is no variation in waiting times accross the country for access to psychological therapies.
Answer · Maureen Watt: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-08581 on 24 April 2017. 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/parliamentarybusiness/2…
3 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the digital tool to support young people with disorders will be launched.
Answer · Maureen Watt: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-08581 on 24 April 2017. 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/parliamentarybusiness/2…