- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 March 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 22 April 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what the current waiting time is for a complaint to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) to be allocated to a complaints reviewer, and what the average length of time is for the conclusion of such a review.
Answer
All cases the SPSO receive are currently subject to an initial review within 5 working days. Cases are triaged and priority cases (categorised for example by a complainant’s vulnerability or immediate health issues) which are considered to require further investigation are allocated as soon as possible. SPSO are committed to ensuring no priority cases remains unallocated for more than 4 weeks. Cases which require further investigation but are not deemed high priority are currently being allocated within 4 months. The SPSO aims to let people know their decision within 80 working days and in 2023-24 this was achieved in 61% of cases. At 2023-24 year-end, the number of open cases (cases allocated but not yet having a full decision issued) reduced from 141 to 52 when compared to the previous year, a 63% reduction.
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 March 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 22 April 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what the size is of any backlog of cases that the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) has, and what the SPSO is doing to reduce any such backlog.
Answer
As of 18 April 2024, the SPSO had a backlog of 286 non-priority cases awaiting allocation and 0 priority cases awaiting allocation. Over the past two years, the timescales for cases requiring further investigation being allocated has reduced from 11 months to 4 months. This is despite a 33% increase in the number of complaints being received in 2023-24 when compared to 2022-23. The SPSO have received funding from the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body to recruit more staff to assist with continuing to reduce timescales. In addition, the SPSO continues to monitor resources and service delivery to make best use of their resources.
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 March 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 16 April 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, in each of the last five years, how many domestic abuse case trials that went ahead had been delayed by (a) between one and two years, (b) between two and three years and (c) three years or longer.
Answer
This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who reply in writing within 20 days.
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 March 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 16 April 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) discussions it has had regarding and (b) consideration it has given to the use of integrated cognitive behaviour treatment (I-CBTE) for patients with eating disorders and anorexia.
Answer
The Scottish Government is supporting the NHS to offer the best evidence-based care and treatment to anyone who needs it. Decisions on what the best, and most appropriate, treatment options are for patients are informed by official guidelines, and clinical and professional involvement in someone’s care.
In 2022, the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), produced for the first time Scottish specific eating disorder treatment guidelines. These guidelines cover referrals, management of medical and mental health risks, choice of treatments and management of transitions. In addition NHS Education Scotland have recently published the updated evidence summary for the treatment of Anorexia Nervosa.
We recognise that anyone who might be suffering with an eating disorder needs to get the help they need, when they need it. We therefore expect mental health services across Scotland to respond rapidly and decisively to the needs of our vulnerable people, particularly those with eating disorders.
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 March 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 16 April 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been carried out of the number of eating disorder patients who are neurodivergent.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not collect this data. Individual NHS boards may hold this data locally and are best placed to advise.
We do know that eating disorders can co-occur with neurodevelopmental conditions including autism and ADHD. The draft National Specification for Treatment and Care of Eating Disorders outlines that we would expect services to work jointly with other services to care for anyone with co-occurring considerations.
The Scottish Government also partners with and provides funding to a number of organisations that can support neurodivergent people who are living with an eating disorder. These include the National Autistic Society Scotland, which has published useful guidance and information that can help autistic people who struggle with eating in different ways.
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 March 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 16 April 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what pathways of support and treatment are available to eating disorder patients who may require non-standardised care.
Answer
We are committed to supporting people to access the right care at the right time and having support in place to respond to the whole person needs of those who suffer from an eating disorder. That is why in 2023-24 we allocated £55.5 million to Health Boards to improve the quality and delivery of mental health and psychological services for all, including eating disorder services.
The Scottish Government has recently developed a draft National Specification for the Care and Treatment of Eating Disorders in Scotland which will be finalised later this year. It clearly outlines that we would expect services to have specialist pathways and work jointly with other services to care for anyone with co-occurring considerations such as neurodiversity, pregnancy, diabetes etc.
The vast majority of people with eating disorders will be treated in the community, with support provided by primary care or community mental health teams, and with support links to specialist hospital or voluntary sector care where appropriate.
We have also provided Beat, the UK’s largest Eating Disorder charity, with over £600,000 to provide a range of support services for those impacted by an eating disorder.
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 March 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 15 April 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the Energy Consents Unit should submit planning applications under sections 36 and 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 to be considered at a public local inquiry, where the relevant local authority has objected to the planning application.
Answer
The Electricity Act 1989 preserves the requirement for local planning authorities to be consulted and for a public inquiry to be required in particular circumstances. The Scottish Government is clear that the views of local planning authorities are an important consideration in the decision making process.
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 March 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 15 April 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the views of north east Scotland communities and campaign groups are fully considered by the Energy Consents Unit when assessing planning applications under sections 36 and 37 of the Electricity Act 1989.
Answer
It is vital that everyone has the opportunity to engage in decisions about future development. We are clear that this engagement must begin as early as possible by developers, at the pre-application stage. It should be effective, collaborative and meaningful, in order to truly influence the final application.
Once a section 36 or 37 application has been submitted to the Energy Consents Unit, members of the general public or groups may make direct representations and comment to the Scottish Ministers.
Scottish Ministers take these views into account, alongside all other application documentation in making their decision.
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 March 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 15 April 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-25728 by
Angela Constance on 4 March 2024, whether it can provide a detailed breakdown
of the £91.23 hourly cost; what its position is on whether this cost represents
value for money, and what details it can provide regarding the procurement
contract for the audio transcription service, including any consideration that
it has given to seeking alternative providers.
Answer
The Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service (SCTS) record solemn criminal proceedings using a Digital Audio Recording System. While the record of proceedings will be retained by SCTS, they are not routinely transcribed.
Transcription is done by an external agency and the details of the procurement contract are entirely a matter for SCTS. I can advise that SCTS has utilised a Crown Commercial Services (CCS) Framework RM1557 contract, available to all Government organisations. The benefits of this contract are, scalable services enabling pay for what you use, and the ability to increase or reduce what you need easily alongside a quick and easy route to market.
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 March 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 15 April 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-25727 by Angela Constance on 4 March 2024, whether it will provide details of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service's work to minimise the cost of producing transcripts of court cases, and what the timescales are for the completion of this work.
Answer
The SCTS is committed to exploring new technologies, including the potential for Artificial Intelligence, to help improve its services. During the 2024-25 financial year the SCTS will assess the potential to use AI-supported natural language processing in support of transcription services.