Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-17250

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-14784 by Jenny Gilruth on 16 March 2023, whether it will directly address the issue raised in the question regarding when it will fulfil its commitment to reduce train journey times between Inverness and Edinburgh to 2 hours 45 minutes.

I am unable to commit to a date for delivering this journey time. The costs and benefits for delivering this need to be considered against those for delivering alternative rail enhancement projects, notably those that will contribute towards the decarbonisation of Scotland’s railway, within constrained funding.

In the meantime, as set out in our response on 16 March 2023, to PQ S6W-14784, Transport Scotland is, alongside industry partners, exploring options for lengthening passing loops on the Highland Main Line to enable longer and more frequent freight and passenger services.

Transport Scotland will consider these, and further infrastructure enhancements that would enable future journey time savings between Inverness and Edinburgh and Glasgow, within the constraints of available funding and subject to a robust business case.

Question reference: S6W-17199

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13379 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 22 December 2022, when the evaluation report, which was expected in February 2023, will be published.

The Community Land Scotland Gaelic Development Officer post is the result of a partnership between Bòrd na Gidhlig and Community Land Scotland and independent from the Scottish Government. The project is being evaluated externally to the Bòrd and though originally expected to be completed in February there have been in delays experienced by researchers who had difficulty in reaching some consultees. The draft report will now be presented to Bòrd na Gidhlig’s Policy and Resources Committee at its meeting on 9 May 2023.

We understand that the Bòrd have offered to meet with you discuss the project.

Question reference: S6W-16440

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 28 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any positive impact of magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) treatment on a patient’s quality of life.

The Scottish Government recognises the benefits magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) could provide to eligible patients with essential tremor. However, we do not formally assess the impact of clinical interventions.

NHS National Services Division continue to work with NHS Tayside to support an application to designate MRgFUS as a national specialist service. Once received, the application will be considered by the National Specialist Services Committee (NSSC) who will take into account any evidence to support introduction of the service.

Question reference: S6W-16441

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 28 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of clinicians' awareness of magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) treatment.

The Scottish Government recognises the benefits magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) could provide to eligible patients with essential tremor. However, we have not assessed clinicians’ awareness of MRgFUS.

NHS National Services Division continue to work with NHS Tayside to support an application to designate MRgFUS as a national specialist service. Once received, the application will be considered by the National Specialist Services Committee (NSSC) who will take into account any evidence to support introduction of the service.

If approved, appropriate communications will be carried out within the NHS to ensure relevant clinicians are aware of the service availability.

Question reference: S6W-16444

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 28 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered any impact that case-by-case assessments of patients with essential tremor have on any increasing inequity in access to treatment.

Question reference: S6W-16439

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 28 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any benefit of routinely offering magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) treatment to patients with essential tremor.

The Scottish Government does not formally assess the impact of clinical interventions.

NHS National Services Division continue to work with NHS Tayside to support an application to designate MRgFUS as a national specialist service. Once received, the application will be considered by the National Specialist Services Committee (NSSC) who will take into account any evidence to support introduction of the service.

Question reference: S6W-16437

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 28 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that the referral pathway for magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) treatment for patients with essential tremor is clear and easy to understand.

There are currently two referral pathways which are being utilised by clinicians in Scotland to allow patients to access magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) treatment for essential tremor.

Patients who are eligible for magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) for essential tremor can be referred to NHS Tayside in conjunction with the University of Dundee, this is currently not a nationally commissioned specialist service.

Patients can also be referred to London or Liverpool for assessment or treatment. Referrals to services in NHS England are considered through the standard national funding routes for out of area referrals through NSS.

Discussions are ongoing with NHS Tayside to designate MRgFUS as a national specialist service however at present, no new application has been received. NSD will continue to work with the MRgFUS team in NHS Tayside in the meantime.

If a MRgFUS service is designated to NHS Tayside relevant communications will be made to ensure clinicians are aware of the revised referral pathway.

Question reference: S6W-16438

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 28 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to offer funding to the University of Dundee to support timely access to magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) treatment for patients with essential tremor.

The Scottish Government currently has no plans to offer funding to the University of Dundee to support access to magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) treatment for patients with essential tremor.

NHS National Services Division continue to work with NHS Tayside to support an application to designate MRgFUS as a national specialist service. Once received, the application will be considered by the National Specialist Services Committee (NSSC) who will take into account any evidence to support the service introduction as well as any financial implications.

Question reference: S6W-17202

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 28 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding is reserved for a (a) medium- and (b) long-term solution for the Rest and Be Thankful from the Motorways and Trunk Roads Spending Plans budget for 2023-24.

Spend on our trunk road improvement projects is managed within the Capital Land and Works allocation of £121.9 million as part of the Motorway and Trunk Roads Spending Plans set out in the Scottish Budget: 2023-24. This covers preparation and delivery of a range of projects and programmes including A9 Dualling Perth to Inverness, the medium and long term solutions at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful and improvements to the A96 corridor as well as a number of other projects and programmes. Spend on each individual project is managed with the Capital Land and Works allocation budget line which reflects the scope of work anticipated to be taken forward within the financial year.

Question reference: S6W-17200

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 28 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the appointment of the new Minister for Transport, whether the minister will meet with the Rest and Be Thankful action group separately from A83 Task Force meetings.

The Scottish Government is fully committed to improving the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful and to engagement and meaningful dialogue with directly affected communities and other stakeholders. I am grateful for the continuing interest the A83 Rest and Be Thankful Campaign Group has in the scheme development process and I will continue the positive engagement the Scottish Government has had with them to date. Subject to parliamentary business, I would be pleased to meet with the group to discuss the scheme and our commitment to developing an infrastructure solution to address the landslip risks at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful.

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