Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-11586

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 10 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its progress regarding the (a) research into and (b) diagnosis and care of Long COVID.

( A)Within the Scottish Government funding of health and care research falls under the remit of the Chief Scientist Office (CSO).

As part of the Scottish Government response to the pandemic, in October 2020 CSO launched a funding call seeking applications which aimed to investigate the longer-term effects of COVID-19. Following an independent expert review process, 9 projects were funded with a total funding commitment of £2.5 million. The funding outcome was announced in December 2020.

https://www.cso.scot.nhs.uk/funded-research/long-covid-call/

All of the above 9 projects have completed their 6 month and 1 year progress reports. On 31st March 2022 CSO hosted a virtual symposium where the lead investigators for each of the 9 projects presented the results obtained to date to an audience of researchers, policymakers and patient groups.

(B)Currently, there is no single diagnostic test that health professionals can use to identify long COVID. In the first instance, clinicians will try to rule out any other possible causes for symptoms as part of a thorough clinical assessment, tailoring tests and investigations in line with the person’s presenting signs and symptoms.

All NHS Scotland Boards are providing assessment and support for people with long COVID, delivered across the full range of services provided by our NHS. This includes local primary care teams, community based rehabilitation services and referrals for further investigation delivered in secondary care settings where needed.

We are providing NHS Boards and partners with additional resource to deliver the best local models of care for assessment, diagnostic tests, and support for the treatment or management of symptoms.

Question reference: S6O-01502

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 October 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to help GPs manage their workloads.

Question reference: S6W-11325

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 26 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the conclusion of its consultation on tightening the rules on advertising and promoting vaping products on 29 April 2022, what progress it has made to date on the matter.

Our recent consultation proposed restrictions on vaping products that strike a balance between protecting all non-smokers from the potential harms of vaping, while still providing existing adult smokers with the information they need to make an informed choice on cessation. The responses from this consultation together with the analysis report and responses from the consultation as part of the 2016 Act are informing and shaping the final vaping restriction regulations. In addition findings from the consultation will be used to inform the refreshed Tobacco Action Plan, which is due to be published in 2023. In the meantime we will be working to ensure people better understand the risks around vaping. We will also continue to work with the UKG over joint approaches such as further regulation of flavourings.

Question reference: S6W-11326

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 25 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to tackle any advertising and promoting of vaping products which may be seen as attractive to under-18s, following the conclusion of its consultation on tightening the rules on advertising and promoting vaping products on 29 April 2022.

The Scottish Government sees the only place for vaping is as a possible aid to help existing smokers from using tobacco, they are not a lifestyle accessory for children or adult non-smokers. We recently published our consultation analysis on proposed restrictions on vaping products and are aiming to bring forward new regulations in the New Year. Any action we seek to take will build on the regulations already in place to restrict the marketing, promotion and sale of vaping products to under 18s.

Question reference: S6W-11370

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 19 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to ensure that Ukrainian guests who are currently housed in hotel accommodation in Scotland will be appropriately housed when the current contractual arrangements that they have with the Scottish Government end, and how this will be achieved without adding to any existing housing pressures faced by the communities in which these hotels are located.

The Scottish Government is working with partners to identifying suitable long term sustainable accommodation so we can continue to support displaced people whilst they are in Scotland.

On 22 September, we introduced a new fund with up to £50m to bring void council and Registered Social Landlord properties into use and to increase available housing supply. We are working closely with Local Government resettlement teams across the country to support those currently in hotel and ship accommodation transition into longer term accommodation and host offers.

Question reference: S6W-11054

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 3 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what recommendations listed in the Equality and Human Rights Commission report, Housing and Disabled People: Scotland’s Hidden Crisis, which was published in May 2018, have been taken forward.

The recommendations for the Scottish Government included within the Equality and Human Rights Commission report, Housing and Disabled People: Scotland’s Hidden Crisis are being taken forward as part of the implementation of our Housing to 2040 strategy published in 2021. The specific recommendations regarding Relevant Adjustments to Common Parts (Disabled Persons) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 and guidance to local authorities on setting targets for wheelchair accessible housing were completed in advance of the publication of Housing to 2040.

Question reference: S6W-11055

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 3 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will monitor and review the effectiveness of accessible housing registers, as recommended in the Equality and Human Rights Commission report, Housing and Disabled People: Scotland’s Hidden Crisis, which was published in May 2018.

Question reference: S6O-01422

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 September 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its target to eliminate two-year waits for outpatient appointments in NHS Scotland.

Question reference: S6O-01365

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 September 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what work has been done to close the attainment gap.

Question reference: S6O-01336

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 August 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the opening of its new Nordic office in Copenhagen.

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