Portfolio Questions

Rural Affairs and Islands Michelle Thomson S6O-01900 1. To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the final details of its proposed Agriculture Bill. Graham Simpson S6O-01901 2. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues and councils regarding improving connectivity for Scotland’s islands. Sharon Dowey S6O-01902 3. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the potential impact on the drink industry supply chain of the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme. Kenneth Gibson S6O-01903 4. To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to its cross-government co-ordination on islands policies, what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding any impact on rural and island communities of the closure of outdoor education centres. Gillian Mackay S6O-01904 5. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the steps that it is taking to improve the management of inshore fisheries, in light of the reported increasing pressures on fishers and fish stocks in Scotland's coastal regions. Alexander Burnett S6O-01905 6. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on avian flu in Scotland. Jamie Greene S6O-01906 7. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the potential impact of the Deposit Return Scheme on small-scale drinks producers. Daniel Johnson S6O-01907 8. To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support local, independent food and drink businesses in rural areas. Health and Social Care Sue Webber S6O-01908 1. To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase the number of student nurses. Monica Lennon S6O-01909 2. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to trade unions and charities forming a "coalition of concern" to request that the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill is paused to allow further co-design and consultation. Colin Beattie S6O-01910 3. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that the number of applicants applying to study nursing in Scotland does not drop further in the future, in light of UCAS data reportedly showing that the number of applicants has fallen by 24% compared to the same point last year. David Torrance S6O-01911 4. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the "waiting well" agenda, in light of the recent roundtable event on supporting patients that was hosted by Scotland Versus Arthritis. Roz McCall S6O-01912 5. To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to eliminate long waits in A&E departments within NHS Fife. Neil Bibby S6O-01913 6. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in light of January's Prostate Cancer UK data on regional inequalities in prostate cancer diagnoses. Natalie Don S6O-01914 7. To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the recommendations in the 2023 series on breastfeeding by The Lancet , which include calls for governments to provide more accurate and timely information about breastfeeding and infant behaviours, an end to any exploitative marketing used by the baby formula milk industry, and more recognition of any economic contribution that breastfeeding makes to society. Alasdair Allan S6O-01915 8. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on NHS Western Isles’ recruitment of a new permanent GP and hospital doctor for the islands of Barra and Vatersay.