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: S6W-04577

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 6 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether the NHS Scotland Covid Status App is available through the Apple Store and Google Play only, and, if so, whether it will consider making it available on alternative platforms, including the NHS website.

Full details of how to access your Covid Status can be found on NHS Inform. This includes downloading the NHS Scotland Covid Status App or accessing your status on the existing online portal. From this portal, you can generate a downloadable PDF or request a printed copy to be posted out to you. See https://www.nhsinform.scot/covid-19-vaccine/after-your-vaccine/get-a-record-of-your-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-status/ .

Question reference: S6W-04210

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 08 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 23 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there has reportedly been a delay in the roll-out of the COVID-19 booster vaccination programme.

We remain on track with the autumn/winter vaccination programme, which has been prioritising the most vulnerable by either inviting them to come forward for vaccination or by vaccinating people in settings such as care homes.

We are enabling boards to make use of healthcare students and primary care staff - including GPs, GP practice staff, dentists and pharmacists – to help boards meet demand.

COVID-19 booster vaccines are being offered to the same groups who were prioritised at the beginning of the COVID-19 vaccination programme, and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) have advised that at least 6 months should have passed since a second dose before a booster is administered, however there is some flexibility to offer a booster vaccination to the most vulnerable groups after five months.

As of 17 November, 1,237,376 individuals, which is 25.9% of the Scottish population aged 12 and over, have received a third dose or booster vaccination. This shows Scotland has vaccinated more of their 12+ population than the other three nations at this stage of the vaccine programme rollout.

Question reference: S6W-04209

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 08 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 17 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of people aged 50 and over have received their COVID-19 booster vaccine.

We are making significant progress with 43% of people aged 50 and over having received the COVID-19 booster vaccine as at 11 November 21.

Booster vaccinations in Scotland started as soon as possible once the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) provided their advice on boosters, which advised that at least 6 months should have passed since a second dose before a booster is administered, however there is some flexibility to offer a booster vaccination to the most vulnerable groups after five months.

The online self-booking portal for COVID-19 booster vaccinations opened on 15 November 2021.

The online self-booking portal is open to adults aged 50-59, unpaid carers who are aged 16 or over, and people aged 16 or over who are household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals. This will allow people in those groups to book online for appointments from early December onwards.

Question reference: S6O-00377

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 November 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether regular and last-minute changes to parliamentary business impact on the effective scrutiny that recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic requires.

Question reference: S6O-00356

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 November 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to incorporate the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into Scots law.

Question reference: S6W-03313

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 24 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 11 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the European Commission regarding the creation of the Civil Society Forum required by Article 14 of the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

The Scottish Government has been using our contact with the UK Government to strongly make the case that Scottish civil society groups should have their voice heard in the Civil Society Forum, including through adequate representation of all four nations in its membership. We are also currently engaging with civil society groups to understand what further support they would find helpful to achieve this aim.

Question reference: S6W-03312

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 24 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 8 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the (a) UK Government and (b) other devolved administrations regarding the creation of the Domestic Advisory Group required by Article 13 of the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

As mentioned in the previous answer S6W-03311 on 8 October 2021, we are in contact with the Cabinet Office on this matter, and have emphasised to them the need to involve representative Scottish stakeholders. We will consult the other Devolved Administrations on their approach to these institutions once we have further details from the Cabinet Office on the consultation responses and of the process to be followed in determining membership of the Civil Society Forum and Domestic Advisory Group.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Question reference: S6W-03311

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 24 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 8 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to ensure that stakeholders in Scotland are represented on the Domestic Advisory Group and Civil Society Forum that were created as a result of the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

The Cabinet Secretary for External Affairs wrote to Lord Frost on 10 September stressing the necessity of representation of Scottish stakeholders on the Domestic Advisory Group and Civil Society Forum, including the representation of remote communities, disadvantaged groups and all sectors of society and business. Prior to the Cabinet Office consultation closing, the Cabinet Secretary met with representatives of the third sector to discuss their participation in the groups and officials have encouraged stakeholders to respond to the consultation. Plans are in place for follow up discussions with stakeholders in the autumn to help ensure that they are adequately represented.

Question reference: S6O-00256

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 September 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many additional Qualified Teachers of Children and Young People with Vision Impairment will be recruited as part of its commitment to recruit 1,000 new teachers and 500 pupil support assistants in the next academic year.

Question reference: S6W-02127

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 09 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 24 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the economic impact on communities of the closure of local historic buildings.

Historic Environment Scotland has undertaken surveys of Scotland’s historic environment sector to evaluate the ongoing economic impact of the pandemic on heritage businesses and community groups and is working on further plans to empower and enable a resilient and robust recovery for the sector.

Historic Environment Scotland has also been conducting targeted and direct engagement with communities around its Properties in Care closed either by the pandemic or by recent health & safety precautions.