Questions and answers

Question reference: S5O-04502

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 August 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the contribution that the internal market makes to levels of employment in Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-30783

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 17 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 10 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to take steps to review its procurement tendering practices to ensure that ingredient origin is accounted for in local buying.

The Scottish Government take account of factors including origin, traceability, animal welfare and environmental standards in our catering contract and will continue to do so. We place an emphasis on healthy eating and nutrition and promote fresh and seasonal produce. Typically, 97% of fresh beef, 99% of fresh cream and milk and all bakery goods are Scottish.

More widely, our procurement legislation and guidance encourages other public bodies to be mindful of animal welfare and fresh and seasonal produce in their food procurement. We also support participation in the ‘Food for Life’ programme for a number of local authorities across Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-30793

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 10 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to promote (a) local, (b) Scottish and (c) UK sourcing in (i) central and (ii) local procurement policies.

The Scottish Government recognises small businesses as being critical to the economic health of the country. To promote opportunities for local economic development, the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 requires public bodies to consider and act on opportunities to facilitate access to procurement for SMEs, the third sector and supported businesses. Public contracts must be advertised through the centrally-funded PCS advertising portal and we partner with other public bodies in Scotland to support the Supplier Development Programme whose aim is to help Scottish SME and third sector organisations to win work and grow their business.

The steps we are taking are having an impact. Proportionally, Scotland already spends more with SMEs than any other country in the UK. The usage figures below are the most up-to-date, having been published last year in the PCS Progress report.

Question reference: S5W-30886

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 29 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether the South West Roads Network management contract is set to commence as scheduled, and what impact the COVID-19 pandemic might have on planned maintenance and other works on the routes covered by the contract.

The South West Trunk Road Network Management Contract (NMC) will commence on 16 August 2020 as planned. Amey OW Ltd will replace Scotland Transerv as Transport Scotland’s Operating Company. Amey is already fully committed to the mobilisation process to ensure a robust handover and have been progressing a package of advanced design works to ensure planned maintenance is progressed at the earliest opportunity. All maintenance works are being progressed and planned in accordance with the Covid-19 Construction Sector Recovery Plan. No significant impacts have been identified that will affect operational delivery.

Question reference: S5W-30274

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 26 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 16 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made in the frequency of stethoscope usage during GP visits for people over 65, and what steps it is taking to resume the detection of structural heart diseases among this group in primary care settings.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on the frequency of stethoscope usage during GP visits for people over 65.

We fully expect patients to be treated in line with their clinical priority. In these unprecedented times, NHS Boards are expected to schedule appointments or advise of alternative arrangements as soon as clinically appropriate, which includes arranging telephone or Near Me video consultations in primary care and hospital settings. The NHS continues to provide emergency and urgent care for all patients.

Anyone who feels that their condition is deteriorating and they need to be seen sooner than their scheduled appointment should contact their GP or clinician who will be able to provide further advice, or the NHS 24 111 service out of hours.

On 1 April, the Scottish Government published Coronavirus (COVID-19) tailored advice for those people living with chronic heart disease: . This information is updated regularly.

For patients with chronic heart failure, more comprehensive information is available on the Scottish Heart Failure Hub website: .

Question reference: S5W-30272

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 26 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 16 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of heart valve disease as an underlying cause of a number of COVID-19-related (a) complications and (b) deaths.

Our analytical partners across the Scottish Government - National Records of Scotland, Public Health Scotland and the national health service - are working together to consider how we can better understand the impact of Covid-19 on people in Scotland with heart disease and other health conditions.

Public Health Scotland Statistics on the impact of COVID-19 can be found at: .

Public Health Scotland statistics on heart valve operations is available at: .

Question reference: S5W-30273

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 26 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 16 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the prevalence of heart valve disease, and what action it is taking to provide access to treatment for older people with this condition to (a) support healthy ageing and (b) reduce their vulnerability to (i) COVID-19 and (ii) future epidemics and pandemics.

In 2019, The National Health Services Scotland (NHSS) National Planning Board commissioned a horizon scan for heart disease in Scotland. The purpose of the horizon scan was to develop a long term forward view (5-10 years) and advise on issues that require national planning for NHS Scotland. This included looking into the prevalence of valve disease with considerations of supporting healthy ageing and access to minimally invasive techniques.

The horizon scan recommended a draft review initiation document be prepared to describe a proposed scope and remit for a Scottish Cardiac Intervention and Structural Cardiac Intervention review. This has been prepared and will be considered by the National Planning Executive Group in July and the full NHSS National Planning Board on 21st of August 2020.

Question reference: S5F-04254

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 June 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 June 2020

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government will support community sport restarting as lockdown restrictions are lifted.

Question reference: S5W-29051

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 17 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to provide treatment for people with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The NHS in Scotland is currently dealing with an unprecedented health situation that has meant that some scheduled, non-essential procedures and care has had to be postponed to ensure other, seriously ill patients can be treated and cared for.

We fully expect patients to be treated in line with their clinical priority. In these unprecedented times, NHS Boards are expected to schedule appointments or advise of alternative arrangements as soon as clinically appropriate. The NHS continues to provide emergency and urgent care for all patients.

Where someone is receiving treatment for a pre-existing cardiovascular conditions, it is important that they take extra care of their overall wellbeing, and attending hospital appointments in a different way is part of this. Clinical teams are working to minimise the time people spend in hospital departments, for example arranging telephone or Near Me video consultations and offering blood tests at a different NHS site.

Individual decisions based on the benefits and risks of treatment may have to be made for people with heart disease. Alternative therapy options involving fewer visits to hospital are being offered to individuals where these are considered clinically appropriate.

Anyone who feels that their condition is deteriorating and they need to be seen sooner than their scheduled appointment should contact their GP or clinician who will be able to provide further advice.

On the 8 June 2020 we published an update on the future direction of shielding policy in Scotland, a link to which can be found here . This most recent advice sets out that those who are Shielding should do so until at least 31 July.

On 1 April, the Scottish Government published Coronavirus (COVID-19) tailored advice for those people living with chronic heart disease: . This information is updated regularly.

For patients with chronic heart failure, more comprehensive information is available on the Scottish Heart Failure Hub website:

Question reference: S5W-29052

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 17 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that people with severe heart valve disease have access to minimally-invasive treatment that can reduce time spent in hospitals to help reduce their exposure to COVID-19 and its subsequent potential complications.

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Chamber and committees