Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-32199

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 December 2024
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by John Swinney on 12 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will report on the outcome of the recent Summit of the British-Irish Council, held in Edinburgh.

On 6 December I hosted the 42nd meeting of the British-Irish Council Summit on behalf of the Scottish Government. The Summit marked the 25th anniversary of the first Council meeting which was held in London in December 1999 following the historic Good Friday Agreement. The meeting was attended by the Heads of Government from all eight of the BIC Member Administrations, including the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer.

The theme of the Summit was ‘Financing a Just Transition’.

With global emissions continuing to rise, Council members discussed the importance of working in collaboration and shared the experience of their respective governments in supporting communities in the journey towards net zero – and about how best to attract global finance to maximise the social, economic and environmental benefits of the transition to net zero.

I highlighted Scotland’s leadership in this area by acting to underpin our net zero targets in a legislative commitment to achieving a just transition. I also highlighted the proactive, ‘investor-friendly’ approach that the Scottish Government is taking to attract investment in priority areas of net zero, housing and infrastructure.

The Council also reflected on the latest political developments such as international issues including the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Israel/Gaza as well as domestic issues such as the measures included in the Scottish budget to mitigate the two child benefit cap as an important step towards eradicating child poverty.

In addition to the formal Summit meeting, I had the opportunity to further build the Scottish Government’s relationship with the UK, Irish, Welsh Governments, the Northern Ireland Executive and the Crown Dependencies through bilateral meetings.

Question reference: S6O-04139

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 December 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking, including in discussion with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, to promote electrical safety over the Christmas period.

Question reference: S6O-04059

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 November 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 December 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what impact it anticipates that the UK Government's decision to raise employer national insurance contributions will have on organisations in the culture sector that are in receipt of Scottish Government funding.

Question reference: S6O-04012

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 November 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work of its Food Security Unit.

Question reference: S6O-04626

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 November 2024
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body test

Question reference: S6O-04627

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 November 2024
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Question reference: S6F-03281

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 November 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 November 2024

To ask the First Minister test

Question reference: S6F-03269

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 November 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 November 2024

To ask the First Minister test

Question reference: S6T-02064

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 November 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government test

Question reference: S6W-30963

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 5 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve waiting times for endoscopy appointments.

Significant additional activity is already underway following the allocation of £30 million funding to target reductions to the national backlogs that built up throughout the pandemic. This includes over 40,000 extra diagnostic procedures.

The Scottish Government has also helped develop the Endoscopy and Urology Diagnostic Recovery and Renewal Plan. This plan focuses on key areas such as: Balancing Demand and Capacity; Workforce Training and Development; Infrastructure; and Innovation and Redesign.

This plan has so far delivered four mobile endoscopy units across Scotland, providing 5-6 additional endoscopy rooms, and a Dyce facility to provide additional endoscopy procedures for NHS Grampian. Additionally, the national endoscopy surveillance framework, introduced in February 2022, has been implemented in all Health Boards.

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