Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-15223

Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 17 February 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by John Swinney on 20 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide an update on Ana Stewart’s independent review on women in entrepreneurship.

A report on the findings and recommendations of Ana Stewart’s review will be published on the Scottish Government website on 20 February 2022.

The report “Pathways: A New Approach for Women in Entrepreneurship” sets out a series of recommendations aimed at closing the gender gap in entrepreneurial participation.

The Scottish Government will respond to the review’s recommendations in due course.

Question reference: S6W-15011

Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Humza Yousaf on 10 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what progress NHS Lothian has made against the recommendations included in the British Academy of Audiology report to improve the Paediatric Audiology Service to ensure it is both safe and fit for purpose.

Question reference: S6W-14501

Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 27 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 6 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration has been given to the needs of adults with undiagnosed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as part of its proposed Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity Bill.

Scoping work on the Bill took place between May and July 2022. As part of this, the Scottish Government ran a series of events to consider how people with lived experience view the Bill and to discuss potential key elements. We carried out 30 events with 18 different organisations. Adults with ADHD contributed to several of these events.

We are now preparing to publish analysis of the scoping work. Amongst other things, this highlights that there was consensus amongst participants that the Bill should cover people without a formal diagnosis of any of the conditions that the Bill might cover. This includes ADHD, meaning that the needs of adults with diagnosed and undiagnosed ADHD will continue to be considered as work on the Bill progresses.

We will work to develop a consultation paper over the next few months in collaboration with our Lived Experience, Professional, and Stakeholder Advisory Panels. We are seeking people with experience of a range of conditions, including ADHD, for the Lived Experience Panel.

Question reference: S6W-14502

Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 27 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 6 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with adults with undiagnosed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as part of its proposed Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity Bill, and when the findings of any engagement will be available.

Scoping work on the Bill took place between May and July 2022. As part of this, the Scottish Government ran a series of events to consider how people with lived experience view the Bill and to discuss potential key elements. We carried out 30 events with 18 different organisations.

Adults with undiagnosed ADHD, many of whom were in the process of undergoing the assessment process to confirm their diagnoses, contributed during several of these events.

We are in the process of establishing 3 panels to assist us in developing proposals for a public consultation in the second half of 2023. We are seeking people with lived experience of many conditions including ADHD for our lived experience panel.

The consultation will provide an opportunity for people across Scotland, including those with diagnosed and undiagnosed ADHD, to express their views on policy options that could be included in the draft Bill, as well as on whether the Bill should establish a Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity Commissioner.

Question reference: S6W-14503

Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 27 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 6 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to produce an equivalent for adults aged over 25 to its document, National Neurodevelopmental Specification for Children and Young People: Principles and Standards of Care, published in 2021, which sets out the standards and availability of services that people aged up to 25 can expect.

The Scottish Government has been working with the National Autism Implementation Team (NAIT) regarding diagnosis and support, providing funding of £650,000 for adult neurodevelopmental pathway pilots with four Health Boards - Fife, Borders, Lanarkshire and Highland.

The pilots ran for 12 months, starting in January 2022. The formal aspect of the pilots has now concluded but the work locally continues. The results of this work, including a final report, will be available early this year.

The Scottish Government will consider the report and explore what steps are required to ensure that everyone with a Neurodevelopmental difference, including ADHD, can access the diagnosis and support they require.

Question reference: S6W-14350

Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 6 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in increasing the number of patients accessing NHS dental care in West Lothian, following the reintroduction of a system of fee per item payments in an attempt to incentivise NHS dental teams to see patients.

Information on dental activity is not held at a West Lothian level. Public Health Scotland presently publish information on activity at a national level and this shows that over 1.6 million NHS examination appointment were completed between April and October 2022, with an average of more than 300,000 course of treatment per month.

However, the most recent participation statistics, which measure the number of registered patients who have had contact with a NHS dentist over a two year period, are available at a Lothian level and show that we are on the road to recovery. Participation statistics for Lothian shows that as at 30 September 2022, 432,249 people in Lothian had contact with a NHS dentist, compared to 372,513 as at 31 March 2022. This means there has been an increase of 59,736 people accessing NHS dental services in Lothian between March and September 2022.

Question reference: S6W-14770

Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 February 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 3 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the High Level Output Specification and Statement of Funds Available for Control Period 7, and how these align with the wider objectives for Scotland’s Railway.

Transport Scotland has published both the Scottish Ministers’ High Level Output Specification (HLOS) and the Statement of Funds Available (SoFA).

The HLOS, funded by the SoFA, continues the Scottish Government’s record investment in Scotland’s Railway. This investment is focused on Scottish priorities for Scotland’s Railway and will fund delivery of a safe, efficient and high performing railway.

To make best use of the £4.2 billion SoFA funding, the successful delivery of the requirements in the HLOS will require Network Rail to cooperate with a whole rail industry approach, aligned with and focussed upon the delivery of the strategic priorities of Scotland’s Ministers to take climate action and to connect communities sustainably. In particular this investment will attract more passengers and freight customers to Scotland’s Railway as an essential part of decarbonisation plans, and will increase expenditure on the weather resilience of Scotland’s railway infrastructure.

Copies of the HLOS and SoFA are available on the Transport Scotland website here:

Transport Scotland's Rail Policy and Strategy

Question reference: S6W-14243

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6O-01804

Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 January 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any impact on Scottish agriculture, what its most recent assessment is of the UK–New Zealand free trade agreement.

Question reference: S6W-13916

Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 January 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Ivan McKee on 13 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the appointment of Business Advisers to the First Minister.

Ellis Watson has been appointed as a Business Advisor to the First Minister. He will work directly with the First Minister to identify the priorities of the business community and help shape the government’s support and response. The creation of the role demonstrates the Scottish Government’s ongoing commitment to work in partnership with the business community and build on the progress already made in delivering the National Strategy for Economic Transformation, for a wealthier, greener and fairer economy.

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