- Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 24 January 2022
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 27 January 2022
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the findings of a recent report by the Virtual Trials National Project Board, which states that specialist online courts should be set up to deal with domestic abuse cases.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 27 January 2022
- Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 January 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 24 January 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what financial support is available to self-catering businesses that have seen their business disrupted by COVID-19.
Answer
The funding package to deal with the Omicron crisis has been targeted at those businesses most severely impacted by the cancellations due to public health advice and re-introduction of restrictions on some businesses. For this tranche of funding this has meant support for the hostel sector, and hotels with bars and restaurants.
We recognise that the self-catering sector, alongside many other businesses across Scotland has also been adversely affected by COVID-19 and we strongly sympathise with them in light of the challenges this has presented. Limited funding available has necessitated our focus on targeting those most impacted by restrictions. We will continue to monitor the impacts of COVID on businesses and to engage in dialogue with the UK Government on the case for support.
- Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 January 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 24 January 2022
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason self-catering, bed and breakfast accommodation and guest houses have reportedly been excluded from COVID-19 business funding delivered through VisitScotland, while hotels and hostels have been eligible for support.
Answer
The funding package to deal with the Omicron crisis was focused on those businesses most severely impacted by the cancellations due to public health advice and re-introduction of regulations on some businesses. The hostel sector whose business model is reliant on accommodating large numbers of (often unrelated) households mixing at one time, was particularly impacted during this period. Similarly hotels with bars and restaurants were particularly affected and therefore made eligible for hospitality top-up payments.
We sympathise with businesses such as self-catering, B&Bs and Guesthouses and others which have also been impacted by COVID-19. However, with limited funds available we have had to focus support on those most severely affected by restrictions. We will continue to consider the impacts of COVID and make the case with the UK Government for more comprehensive support.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 07 January 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 24 January 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to appropriately preserve information across government for the public inquiry into the handling of COVID-19 in Scotland.
Answer
Our approach to information governance underpins all government business, including our ongoing response to the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Scottish Government Information Management Strategy and Records Management Plan clearly set out the Scottish Governments approach to the preservation of information, in line with the requirements set out in the Public Records (Scotland) Act 2011.
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 December 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 January 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what data protection guidelines are currently in place for the NHS Scotland Covid Status app, and from what legislation any guidelines are derived.
Answer
The NHS Scotland Covid Status app meets the requirements of relevant legislation which includes the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR. A Data Protection Impact assessment (DPIA) is in place for the Covid Status app and the Privacy Notice sets out the main points from the DPIA in a user-friendly way. The Covid Status app supports the legislation that covers the Covid Certification Scheme.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 December 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 January 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to invest in the introduction of an electronic single patient record across Scotland, in order to save time and improve patient safety.
Answer
It is our intention to make it easier for health & care professionals to access relevant information about the person being cared for, regardless of organisational boundaries. We also intend on providing patient access to their health & care information, as set out in our Digital Health & Care Strategy and in the Programme for Government. The ambition is to enhance and improve existing investments in technology to provide digital views on patient records for both clinicians and citizens to access relevant information when and where they need it. This will support urgent care, decision making and improve patient safety.
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 January 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 24 January 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether UNESCO biospheres, and specifically the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biospheres, as initiatives of significance, will be highlighted within the new National Planning Framework 4.
Answer
The Draft Fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) was laid in Parliament on 10 November 2021. The draft sets out that ‘Local development plans should identify and protect locally, regionally, nationally and internationally valued natural assets, landscapes, species and habitats’. In addition to the parliamentary scrutiny of the draft, a public consultation runs until 31 March 2022 and the Scottish Government welcomes responses and comments being provided to support the production of a finalised NPF4. Further information is available from: www.transformingplanning.scot .
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 December 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 January 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what issues it has experienced matching the functionality of the NHS Scotland Covid Status app with international and EU travel guidelines and restrictions.
Answer
The data held in the international section of the NHS Scotland Covid Status app is a statement of fact, representing a person’s vaccination status and/or test and recovery status. Both the content and presentation fully aligns with the standards set by the EU.
Scotland, along with the rest of the UK, has full legal equivalence with the EU Digital Covid Certificate, meaning Scotland’s Covid certificates are accepted throughout the EU. For more information, see EU Digital COVID Certificate | European Commission and for full details on travel guidelines see Foreign travel advice .
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 January 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 24 January 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what it defines as (a) "where technically feasible" and (b) "cost effective" as set out on page 23 of Tackling Fuel Poverty Strategy in Scotland: Strategic Approach.
Answer
The Heat in Buildings Strategy confirms our intention to introduce – subject to consultation later this year – regulations requiring Scotland’s homes and other buildings to meet EPC Band C equivalent by 2033, where that is technically feasible and cost effective. This key proposal from the Heat in Buildings Strategy aligns with our commitment in Tackling Fuel Poverty Strategy in Scotland: Strategic Approach, of addressing poor energy efficiency and fuel poverty in homes.
We have previously consulted in December 2019 on proposals for introducing minimum energy efficiency standards in owner occupied housing, which included potential options for defining cost effectiveness and technical feasibility. We are further developing these definitions ahead of the planned consultation later this year.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 24 December 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 24 January 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what advice it has received on the legal compatibility of its plans to introduce licensing for short-term lets with plans, under discussion by the European Commission, to introduce a registration system for short-term lets across the EU.
Answer
Before the licensing legislation, or any other Government legislation, is laid at the Scottish Parliament, government lawyers carry out robust analysis to ensure that it is competent. For the licensing legislation, that means ensuring that the SSI is made within the parameters and powers of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.
The licensing SSI also makes modifications to the 1982 Act itself, in order to give effect to the licensing scheme. This too was carefully considered in terms of whether the changes proposed were legally competent.
The tourist services – short-term rental initiative consulted on by the European Commission between September and October 2021 is still at an early stage and further details have not been confirmed. The consultation notes that the general proposal is for regulation, which would be in line with the approach we have set out in our legislation.
