Questions and answers

Question reference: S5F-04848

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 22 February 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 February 2021

To ask the First Minister how the risk of COVID-19 transmission within Scottish courts is being mitigated, in light of the increase in prisoners testing positive within the prison estate.

Question reference: S5W-34874

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 01 February 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 11 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government which prisons have access to lateral flow testing technology, and what plans it has to use this to allow in-person visiting to resume.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

The responsibility for prisoner healthcare, including COVID testing, lies with individual health boards and since May 2020, all relevant NHS Health Boards have tested individuals in custody who are showing signs of Covid-19.

Lateral flow testing is not used in prisons.

The safety and wellbeing of all those living and working in our establishments remains our priority and, as such, individual establishments may put measures in place to restrict visits in line with public health advice.

At the moment, in person visits can take place, particularly where there are compassionate grounds. These can include;

if you have any concerns about the wellbeing of an individual in our care;
where the visit involves a child under 18 who is visiting a parent, grandparent or sibling; or
where the visit involves an individual in our care who is under 18

Virtual visits continue to be available in all establishments.

Question reference: S5W-34647

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 January 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 3 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the letter of 15 January 2021 from the Chair of the Scottish Human Rights Commission to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice regarding the response to COVID-19 in prisons, how it is addressing the issues raised, and what (a) advice it has considered regarding and (b) plans it has to carry out another early release programme.

We take seriously the concerns raised by The Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC) and the treatment, safety and human rights of those who live and work in our prisons in response to COVID-19 remains a priority. The Scottish Government has regular engagement with the Scottish Prison Service to discuss prison conditions.

I responded to SHRC on 29 January 2021 and we will continue to closely monitor these matters. With thanks to the work of prison service and NHS staff, they have remained settings of low infection rates, with independent inspection reports showing prisons have remained safe and stable during the Covid-19 Pandemic.

The position in our prisons remains dynamic and while there are no current plans for further emergency release the need for further use of those powers is kept under continual review.

Question reference: S5W-34743

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 22 January 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 1 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether people over 70 should be called for jury duty during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is recognised that it may be particularly difficult for some to carry out their civic duty on a jury during the Covid-19 pandemic. That is why the Scottish Government fully supports the approach adopted by The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service whereby the Clerks of Courts will be as sympathetic as they can to requests for excusal, while at the same time balancing the need to have sufficient numbers of prospective jurors from which to ballot a jury. This is considered a better way of dealing with genuine difficulties rather than by taking substantial categories of people out of those eligible for jury service.

Question reference: S5W-34700

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 January 2021
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 29 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-32106 by Fergus Ewing on 26 October 2020, whether the public agencies group reported back in November 2020 and, if so, what actions are being taken by the cabinet secretary regarding (a) camping, (b) pressure on rural communities and (c) the environment, particularly in the Highlands and Islands.

The group has made positive progress. A Visitor Management Strategy for the 2021 season has been agreed and focuses on 3 areas: Education and Marketing, Investment and Infrastructure, and Prevention, Regulation & Reassurance.

An announcement will be made ahead of the 2021 season outlining steps taken.

It should be noted though that although some progress has been made by the Scottish Government and its partners, this will not resolve all the issues. This will require an ongoing partnership approach from relevant authorities and communities. Littering, roadside dumping and antisocial behaviour should continue to be tackled through enforcement. The ultimate responsibility for adequate service provision also remains the responsibility of local and national park authorities.

The group has made positive progress. A Visitor Management Strategy for the 2021 season has been agreed and focuses on 3 areas: Education and Marketing, Investment and Infrastructure, and Prevention, Regulation & Reassurance.

An announcement will be made ahead of the 2021 season outlining steps taken.

It should be noted though that although some progress has been made by the Scottish Government and its partners, this will not resolve all the issues. This will require an ongoing partnership approach from relevant authorities and communities. Littering, roadside dumping and antisocial behaviour should continue to be tackled through enforcement. The ultimate responsibility for adequate service provision also remains the responsibility of local and national park authorities.

Question reference: S5O-04983

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 January 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met The Highland Council and what was discussed.

Question reference: S5W-34229

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 20 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what instructions it has given to hospitals in the Highlands and Islands with regard to undertaking (a) routine and (b) priority operations.

In view of the emergence of the new and more virulent variant of the virus and increasing pressures on NHS services as we move through the busy winter period, we have advised Health Boards that they can pause, where necessary, non-urgent elective and routine activity during January and February to help free up capacity to manage these pressures. It has also been made clear to Health Boards that they must maintain urgent elective and vital cancer services including national cancer screening programmes.

However, the expectation remains that Health Boards should continue to provide planned services where these can be delivered safely and effectively, on the basis that these are in compliance with the Framework for Clinical Prioritisation of Elective Care which was published on 16 November 2020.

It is remains of the utmost importance that all Health Boards are fully prepared to respond to Covid cases and that emergency, urgent, maternity and vital cancer services are protected and prioritised.

Question reference: S5F-04740

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 18 January 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 January 2021

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to ensure that there is adequate protection for victims of domestic abuse.

Question reference: S5F-04716

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 11 January 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 January 2021

To ask the First Minister what analysis the Scottish Government has undertaken regarding whether the level of police enforcement of emergency COVID-19 regulations is appropriate and the impact this is having on compliance with the restrictions.

Question reference: S5O-04909

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 January 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how much it will allocate to support businesses experiencing difficulties due to COVID-19 that do not qualify for current schemes, or for which the assistance is inadequate to meet their needs.

Chamber and committees