Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S5W-31787

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 11 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 24 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action it plans to take to engage with homeowners faced with costs arising from the need to replace dangerous cladding on their properties.

The Scottish Government is very conscious that homeowners affected by cladding issues following the terrible events at Grenfell tower are facing difficulties through no fault of their own.

On 30 March 2020, Scottish Ministers agreed to set up a Technical Working Group to develop a Scottish Advice Note to determine the fire risk posed by external wall systems in existing multi-storey residential buildings. The Ministerial Working Group on Building and Fire Safety met on 11 June and it was agreed that a targeted consultation with key stakeholders including residents and tenants will be taken forward.

On the related issues of mortgages and cladding, as I indicated to the Local Government and Communities Committee on 4 September, I have asked that representatives of home owners provide evidence to the next scheduled meeting of the Ministerial Working Group on Mortgages and Cladding at the end of this month, so the group can consider the market and mortgage issues owners have faced as a result of these issues.

Housing officials have also met with a number of homeowners, and I have a personal meeting scheduled with the High Rise Scotland Action Group on 30 September. As I made clear at Committee, I am sympathetic to calls for potential funding support and will work with members of the Working Group to determine a clear picture of those people who are most affected by this issue.

Question reference: S5W-31804

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 14 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 23 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports of a rise in mental health problems among young people since the start of COVID-19 outbreak; what analysis is has carried out of this, and what action it is taking to alleviate the issue.

We recognise the importance of children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing, even more so during the Covid-19 outbreak. That is why we want to make sure anyone who needs support can get access to support which is appropriate to their needs.

Our Programme for Government this year has mental health at its heart. In response to the mental health impacts of Covid-19 we will publish a Transition and Recovery Plan in Autumn 2020. The plan has been developed in partnership with mental health stakeholders and informed by emerging evidence, including a variety of sources that explore the impact on children, young people and families. It will lay out a set of actions to support population mental health, respond to distress and renew mental health services.

Throughout the pandemic, we have taken action to ensure young people can access the right support for their mental health. This includes: the development of ‘Aye Feel’ by Young Scot which provides information about mental health and wellbeing during the Covid-19 pandemic and sign posts to further resources and support; the expansion of the Distress Brief Intervention (DBI) programme to those over the age of 16 and; the development of new community mental health and wellbeing services for 5-25 year olds and their families and carers.

We have also developed the Scottish Government’s ParentClub website, including specific content to support parents to effectively communicate and manage any anxiety that their children may be experiencing due to COVID-19. The ParentClub website includes a wide range of relevant information for families including supporting children’s (and parents’ and carers’) mental health and relationships as well as guidance and tips for learning and play at home. We also provided funding to make available an online resource for parents called Solihull Online. This interactive course supports positive relationships between parents and children and has modules for all ages from ante-natal to 18.

Understanding the mental health effects of this pandemic is crucial to supporting people to remain well and to provide specialist help for those who need it, now and into the future. We established a Mental Health Research Advisory Group to follow research developments to understand the medium and long term impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on mental health and will help us to put evidence-based services and support in place to help meet the mental health needs of the population.

Additionally, we are working with partners and stakeholders to understand the impact of COVID-19 on children and young people. Including the “#LockdownLowdown”, an online survey developed by children and young people, to help identify what support and information they need from the Scottish Government and other organisations.

We will continue to engage with children and young people during this difficult time and adapt our policies to reflect what the research, and the young people themselves, are telling us that they need.

Question reference: S5F-04365

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 07 September 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 September 2020

To ask the First Minister for what reason the Scottish Government is delaying the ban on placing homeless households into unsuitable accommodation, which it announced in May 2020.

Question reference: S5W-31118

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 August 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 24 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether the SQA was aware that the 2020 exam modelling system would result in lower grading of students from certain postcode areas.

Question reference: S5W-31120

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 August 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 24 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will list any concerns that it has raised with the SQA regarding the 2020 exam system.

The Scottish Government had regular discussions with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) with regards to the awarding of results in 2020. I asked the SQA to develop an alternative approach to certification in the absence of the 2020 exam diet and SQA undertook that task in good faith. In light of the issues raised in my statement to Parliament on 11 August 2020, I directed the SQA to award results on the basis of estimates submitted by teachers and lecturers.

Question reference: S5W-31119

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 August 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 24 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it had with the SQA regarding the 2020 exam modelling system.

Question reference: S5W-31177

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 August 2020
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 24 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when housing association offices will reopen.

It is up to individual housing associations to make decisions on the re-opening of their offices, considering local circumstances, which services are essential, the number of staff required to perform essential tasks, and how they can be provided in line with current Public Health Guidance on physical distancing and hygiene. Guidance to landlords on Restarting Services was updated on 6 August on the type of services that could be considered to be essential at this stage of the pandemic, along with advice on the re-opening of housing offices.

Question reference: S5O-04510

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 August 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the COVID-19 restrictions have had on the night-time economy.

Question reference: S5F-04272

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 August 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 August 2020

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to reports of an increased number of evictions predicted for this autumn.

Question reference: S5W-29641

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 26 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what capacity there is for 90-minute COVID-19 testing.