Meeting of the Parliament

Portfolio Questions Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands Carol Mochan 1. [Not Lodged] Jamie Halcro Johnston S6O-02197 2. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding how the Scottish Government analyses the impact on island communities of disruption to ferry services. Bill Kidd S6O-02198 3. To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to help ensure that quality Scotch Beef is available in supermarkets in Scotland. Alexander Stewart S6O-02199 4. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding actions to tackle mental health problems amongst farmers and crofters. Mark Ruskell S6O-02200 5. To ask the Scottish Government what it has learnt from the fisheries no-take zone at Lamlash Bay. Clare Haughey S6O-02201 6. To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of the welfare of animals used in greyhound racing in Scotland. Emma Harper S6O-02202 7. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the delivery of the Rural Crime Strategy. Kaukab Stewart S6O-02203 8. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the role of the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022 in promoting a healthier diet. NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care Liam Kerr S6O-02204 1. To ask the Scottish Government whether it tracks how many GP practices are currently being run directly by NHS boards. Pam Duncan-Glancy S6O-02205 2. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set out its proposed timetable for implementing the new musculoskeletal pathway, including how it will ensure that the views of third sector organisations are reflected in the process. Jeremy Balfour S6O-02206 3. To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has put in place to support the palliative care sector, in light of reports that the number of people needing these services is estimated to rise by an additional 10,000 by 2040. Martin Whitfield S6O-02207 4. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Lothian, and local groups, since March 2023 regarding the reopening of the Edington Hospital in North Berwick. Jamie Greene S6O-02208 5. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to recent research from the British Dental Association, which shows that 83% of dentists in Scotland expect to reduce the amount of NHS work they do in the year ahead. Ruth Maguire S6O-02209 6. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the GP workforce. Murdo Fraser S6O-02210 7. To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to reduce waiting times for NHS Scotland’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. Alex Rowley S6O-02211 8. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure the long-term sustainability of general practice. followed by Stage 1 Debate: Patient Safety Commissioner for Scotland Bill Jenni Minto S6M-08869 That the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Patient Safety Commissioner for Scotland Bill. followed by Financial Resolution: Patient Safety Commissioner for Scotland Bill John Swinney S6M-06897 That the Parliament, for the purposes of any Act of the Scottish Parliament resulting from the Patient Safety Commissioner for Scotland Bill, agrees to any expenditure of a kind referred to in Rule 9.12.3A of the Parliament’s Standing Orders arising in consequence of the Act. followed by Decision Time followed by Members' Business — S6M-08317 Fiona Hyslop: The Future of St Michael’s Hospital in Linlithgow, West Lothian That the Parliament understands that the land for the St Michael's Hospital facility in Linlithgow was originally gifted by St Michael's Church in the 19th century for the purpose of providing a hospital and garden for the community, and that, due to temporary demands to move staff elsewhere in the NHS due to illness absences, it is currently closed; recognises what it sees as the long history of St Michael's in providing hospital services to the people of West Lothian, the Friends of St Michael's Group’s hard work and dedication in supporting families with loved ones cared for at St Michael’s Hospital, and the invaluable local support and spirit of solidarity that the local community provides to all who use the hospital; notes the view that there will be an ongoing need for a health facility providing end-of-life and step-down intermediary care and, potentially, new support services to match increasing home-based care in the north of West Lothian; recognises what it sees as the strong community support for the retention of the hospital and the campaign to maintain hospital and health services there, including, it understands, the large number of people who attended the information evening on 7 February 2023 organised by the Friends of St Michael's Group and addressed by West Lothian Health and Care Partnership, which, it considers, saw a willingness from all to identify the best future needs for patients and families and the role that the hospital could play; understands that West Lothian has a growing population that is already well in excess of that of the City of Dundee, and also has one of the highest proportions of older populations; acknowledges what it considers the continuing challenges in securing and resourcing staffing for any expansion of care at home, and the ongoing pressure on caring families; notes the West Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership’s consultation on the current closure of St Michael’s Hospital and its community bed review, and further notes the calls on the partnership to take a strategic view in favour of using the physical, social and community assets of St Michael's for the benefit of the growing population in the north of the county.