Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-09443

Asked by: Siobhian Brown, MSP for Ayr, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with South Ayrshire Council regarding the Station Hotel, and whether it has been informed when South Ayrshire Council will publish an options report.

Question reference: S6O-01310

Asked by: Siobhian Brown, MSP for Ayr, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 June 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with South Ayrshire Council regarding the current situation at Ayr Cemetery.

Question reference: S6W-08434

Asked by: Siobhian Brown, MSP for Ayr, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 23 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to mitigate the reported shortage of (a) the product, Estradot, and (b) other hormone replacement therapy (HRT) products, and what specific measures are in place to help women in the (i) short and (ii) long term.

Supply issues with Estradot® patches in the UK are now resolved, with all strengths available.

Any disruption in the availability of HRT products will be concerning to those who have been prescribed them. We recommend anyone who is affected by the disruption and experiencing difficulties in obtaining their prescribed medication to discuss alternative treatment options with their doctor in the first instance. Shortages of medicines are not an uncommon occurrence and the NHS has robust systems in place to manage them when they arise. The supply and pricing of medicines is reserved to the UK Government and we continue to press them to seek a lasting resolution to HRT supply issues as quickly as possible.

Shortages of medicines are not an uncommon occurrence and the NHS has robust systems in place to manage them when they arise. There is regular monitoring of supply issues, escalating when necessary to a UK Medicine Shortages Response Group, which is clinically-led and provides advice to clinicians on alternative therapeutic options. The Scottish Government issued three UK wide Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) effective from Friday 29 April 2022 and due to expire on 29 July 2022. The SSPs will enable community pharmacists to supply patients with no more than three months’ supply of medicine helping preserve stock holdings and ensure more patients have access to their prescribed medicines. Three products covered by the SSPs are Oestrogel® pump pack; Ovestin® cream; Premique®.

In response to the recent disruptions in the supply of some HRT medicines and the creation of a new HRT Taskforce, The Minister for Public Health, Woman’s Health and Sport wrote to the Maria Caulfield MP, Minister for Patient Safety and Primary Care on 12 May 2022, seeking assurances that the UKG are taking all necessary action to resolve current supply issues and the HRT Task Force formed by DHSC will work constructively with the Scottish Government and other Devolved Administrations.

Question reference: S6W-07897

Asked by: Siobhian Brown, MSP for Ayr, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 26 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether hospital patients are able to get free or reduced cost television to watch during their stay, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Question reference: S6W-07507

Asked by: Siobhian Brown, MSP for Ayr, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 21 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is possible for hospital patients to access free or reduced cost TV to watch during their stay.

It is recognised that television provides respite to many patients, and that technology plays a critical role in enabling patients to remain connected with the outside world. NHS Scotland’s patient entertainment services currently vary, dependant on location and specialities of the hospital sites and all Boards are expected to assess and adopt a patient-centred approach when considering local provision.

Free-of-charge entertainment services may include television on wards, in day rooms and at the bedside and Wi-Fi to enable access to free, non-subscription media services linked to the terrestrial television channels. Loan devices, such as tablets, may also be available where patients do not have an appropriate device of their own.

Question reference: S6W-07238

Asked by: Siobhian Brown, MSP for Ayr, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 11 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 25 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendation by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Microplastics in September 2021 for all new domestic and commercial washing machines to be fitted with a microfibre filter to catch microplastics, and a Private Members' Bill being introduced in the House of Commons to give effect to this recommendation in England and Wales, what the Scottish Government's position is on introducing similar legislation in Scotland, and what action it is taking to stop microplastics from polluting the environment.

Microfibre shedding from synthetic textiles is a complex problem which adds to microplastic pollution in our environment. Fibres are shed at every stage of the product’s lifespan, from manufacture, through use, laundering and end of life.

Considerable research is being undertaken by industry to better understand this problem. Filters on washing machines will not necessarily reduce this form of pollution as it requires users to clean the filters. As a result the collected material ends up in landfill or washed down sinks, as evidenced through people emptying tumble dryer filters.

We will take an evidence-based approach on this issue, and are taking action on other forms of microplastic pollution, with a ban on microbeads in rinse-off personal care products, and significant ongoing work with the plastics industry to tackle plastic pellet pollution. We are able to take action on matters relating to environmental protection, and while trade and industry are reserved to the UK Government we continue to work for progress in these areas.

Question reference: S6O-00947

Asked by: Siobhian Brown, MSP for Ayr, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 March 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what support Ukrainian refugees will receive after arriving at a welcome hub in Scotland.

Question reference: S6O-00911

Asked by: Siobhian Brown, MSP for Ayr, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 March 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to regional food groups.

Question reference: S6W-06202

Asked by: Siobhian Brown, MSP for Ayr, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 04 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 3 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether free bus travel for under-22s will be extended to include school buses for children attending education.

Many school children use public bus services to get to and from school and will benefit from the u22s scheme. Other pupils who are eligible for free school transport and use dedicated school transport or public bus services will continue to travel to school for free. We are working closely with local authorities to understand impact of the scheme on school transport and this will inform our planned review of the scheme after its first full year of operation.

Question reference: S6W-06386

Asked by: Siobhian Brown, MSP for Ayr, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 3 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for a replacement scheme for Erasmus, following the UK's exit from the EU.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of educational mobility. While we remain committed to Erasmus plus, in the interim we are creating a Scottish Education Exchange Programme to support participants from across Scotland’s education system.

This is a Programme for Government commitment and will help maintain Scotland’s place as an outward looking, internationally connected destination for work and study.

Tell us your views

Seòmar agus comataidhean