Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

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Question reference: S6W-24560

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 25 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of its Scottish Cancer Strategy for Scotland 2023-2026, how much funding has been committed specifically to prehabilitation, and when it will be allocated to NHS boards.

Up to £1 million was allocated in 2023 for prehabilitation to NHS boards via the Transforming Cancer Care programme. This has been distributed via the Regional Cancer Networks through regionally agreed prioritisation processes.

£80,000 was allocated to Maggie’s in 2023 to embed their pilot of universal prehabilitation at all eight Maggie’s Centres in Scotland, building on our previous investment to develop this programme of £270,000 in 2021.

Question reference: S6W-24556

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 25 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to urgently provide equitable access to prehabilitation, especially for patients with a less survivable cancer.

The Cancer Action Plan 2023-2026 sets out our ambitious programme of work to ensure access to cancer prehabilitation.

The Scottish Government is working with experts across health and social care to ensure timely access to all services providing the multi-modal, tiered and personalised interventions that make up prehabilitation. This includes developing the frameworks to screen, assess and signpost people affected by cancer to the relevant services as soon as possible. A national website has been created in partnership with those with lived experience to provide universal and accessible information and advice. A new primary care cancer education platform for NHS Scotland that will feature prehabilitation advice will also go live early 2024 to enable effective decision-making and support earlier diagnosis efforts.

Prehabilitation is a key part of the Optimal Cancer Diagnostic Pathways and Clinical Management Pathways (CMPs) that have been developed for Lung Cancer and the CMP for Adult Brain Cancers, also in development. The Scottish Government has also provided £350,000 to develop and implement universal prehabilitation workshops for the Maggie’s Centres. Further funding has been allocated to support each board area to adopt the nationally provided tools to reinforce care pathways, directly benefiting those affected by cancer, including less survivable cancers.

Question reference: S6W-24562

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 25 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made regarding whether prehabilitation improves oncological outcomes for patients, in light of its Cancer Action Plan for Scotland 2023-2026, which emphasises the benefits of prehabilitation.

The evidence for prehabilitation across several areas of oncological care has grown and demonstrates that a multi-modal tired intervention can lead to better functional outcomes and improve other important outcomes associated with cancer treatment including quality of life.

Focus groups with people affected by cancer, evaluations of prehabilitation activities, and evidence collated by others working with people with lived experience of cancer, also tells us that prehabilitation is welcomed by the Scottish population and provides an opportunity for them to engage in their care.

Question reference: S6W-24559

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 25 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what is being done to improve access to prehabilitation for less survivable cancers, especially in areas of deprivation.

Cancer remains a national priority for the NHS and Scottish Government which is why we published a ten year strategy in June 2023, focused on improving cancer survival and providing equitable access to treatment. The strategy and plan take a comprehensive approach to improving patient pathways in cancer from prevention and diagnosis through to treatment and post-treatment care.

The evidence base for prehabilitation specifically for each of the less survivable cancers is currently limited. Work is underway to improve this, particularly with respect to upper gastrointestinal and lung cancers. Learnings from the prehabilitation currently being delivered under the Transforming Cancer Care Programme in association with our findings from the Single Point of Contact and Improving the Cancer Journey initiatives will provide opportunities to target areas of deprivation with early interventions. As such, efforts are being made to exploit these opportunities and progress screening, assessment and timely prehabilitation interventions across Scotland.

Question reference: S6O-02996

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 January 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support will be made available to farmers in 2024-25.

Question reference: S6W-23717

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 19 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to address the gaps in service provision for people with ME, as identified in the report, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Services in Scotland: Findings from an analysis of surveys issued to NHS Boards in Autumn 2022, published in May 2023.

Our published analysis of health board data on ME/CFS care has established a clearer picture of the variation in service provision around Scotland.

We are considering these findings in identifying areas where there is the potential to further explore or support aspects of service development, and the resource required to do this.

In doing so, we are seeking to ensure that learning from the introduction of models of care for Long COVID is used to benefit the management of other long-term and complex conditions, including ME/CFS, where appropriate.

Question reference: S6W-23718

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 19 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to address the lack of services for children and young people with ME, as highlighted in the report, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Services in Scotland: Findings from an analysis of surveys issued to NHS Boards in Autumn 2022, published in May 2023, in which no services for children and young people were identified in Scotland.

Question reference: S6O-02864

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 December 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 December 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is planning any new infrastructure investments in the next financial year in connection with City and Regional Growth Deals.

Question reference: S6F-02562

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 November 2023

To ask the First Minister what work is being done to support the expanding role of the GP surgery.

Question reference: S6W-22738

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 14 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether its guidance for people with weakened immune systems regarding the COVID-19 winter booster vaccination has been adapted from previous vaccine programmes to reflect any benefit of repeat vaccines for at-risk groups.

Information and resources on vaccination are regularly updated to reflect the most recent scientific data and evidence.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advice for those at risk, including those with a weakened immune system, is that protection from the COVID-19 vaccines is best during the first three months after vaccination. Protection from the COVID-19 vaccines does not stop after three months, but slowly begins to fade. This is why those at risk are invited forward for their booster vaccinations during seasonal programmes. These messages are reflected in our winter vaccine resources. The “Don’t let your protection fade” public marketing campaign also focuses on the importance of revaccination.

Individuals who develop severe immunosuppression may be at high risk of COVID-19 and less able to sustain any protection from previous vaccination or exposure. These individuals can be considered for additional doses of vaccination, outside of seasonal campaigns, based on clinical judgement.

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