Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-35876

Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 March 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 23 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-33642 by Jeane Freeman on 16 December 2020, whether it will provide a breakdown of the reasons given for applications to the mesh fund being declined.

A small number of applications have been declined, either because the operation in question did not involve the implantation of transvaginal mesh, because insufficient evidence was provided, or because implantation of mesh was not carried out by or on behalf of an NHS Scotland Health Board.

We have been clear in our wish to reimburse those women who, in absence of out of Scotland NHS referrals, incurred costs of past mesh removal surgery arranged and paid for privately, along with connected expenses including those for travel. We intend to use the existing mesh fund but in light of legal advice that we do not currently have powers to use public funds in this way, new legislation will be required.

The present administration will, if it is returned to office, introduce a Bill to the Parliament to give Ministers specific power to make payments of this kind. The present administration plans to introduce a Bill with this purpose early in the next session of the Parliament.

A scheme of reimbursement will, like the mesh fund now, require appropriate arrangements in terms of the verification of applications and also new arrangements with respect to the submission of documentary evidence connected to personal expenditure. It will also be necessary to consider appropriate eligibility criteria.

Question reference: S5W-35932

Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 March 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 19 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many claims have been made to Revenue Scotland for a repayment of the Additional Dwelling Supplement in each year since 2016, and how many of the requests have been (a) accepted and (b) declined.

Revenue Scotland publishes statistics on Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) in its role as the tax authority responsible for the collection and management of the fully devolved taxes .

Table 3 of Revenue Scotland’s monthly LBTT official statistics publication shows the number of accepted claims for a repayment of the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax Additional Dwelling Supplement, by month of receipt of the original transaction. The statistics are available at: https://www.revenue.scot/about-us/publications/statistics/lbtt-statistics#overlay-context=about-us/publications/statistics .

Revenue Scotland does not publish data regarding the number of claims which are rejected.

Question reference: S5W-35874

Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 March 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 19 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many requests for face covering exemption cards have been received, broken down by local authority area, and how many (a) have been approved, (b) have been declined and (c) are yet to be processed.

The vast majority of people can wear a face covering, including most people with a lung condition such as asthma, and everyone who can wear a face covering in the mandated spaces is legally required to. However, we recognise that there are certain situations where a person is unable to, or it would be inappropriate, for them to wear a face covering and these exemptions are reflected in the Regulations.

The Scottish Government exemption card is a tool to support people to feel more confident and safe when accessing public spaces and using public services. It is not intended as proof of exemption.

Details on the number of face covering exemption cards that :

(a) have been approved

Between 29 October 2020 and 11 March 2021, 63,268 individuals have received a Scottish Government face covering exemption card, 26 of these requests are for replacement exemption cards where that card has been lost or misplaced. In line with data minimisation principles, local authority breakdown is not requested or collated in order to receive an exemption card.

(b) have been declined

When using the www.exempt.scot website or helpline individuals are asked to confirm that they have read the Scottish Government guidance on exemptions and that one of the exemptions applies to them before they can receive an exemption card. This is an additional requirement in order to minimise misuse of exemption cards. We currently do not record how many individuals have not confirmed these requirements and therefore would not be eligible for an exemption card. To require individuals to seek medical proof that they are exempt would put undue burden on the NHS services at this time.

(c) are yet to be processed

On 11 March, there were zero requests yet to be processed.

Question reference: S5W-35875

Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 March 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 19 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-33642 by Jeane Freeman on 16 December 2020, whether it will provide an update regarding the number of applications that have been made to the mesh fund, broken down by how many (a) have been approved, (b) have been declined and (c) are yet to be processed.

Question reference: S5W-35796

Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 March 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 19 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to amending its COVID-19 guidance to exempt people who have a face covering exemption card from wearing a face covering when they are required to travel in the same vehicle as a carer, who does not reside at the same address, and social distancing cannot be maintained, and what its position is on providing exemptions in situations where both people have received their (a) first and (b) second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

We have produced guidance on car and vehicle sharing during the pandemic, which can be found on the Scottish Government website. When car sharing, occupants, including the driver, are strongly encouraged to wear a face covering provided it does not compromise driver safety in any way.

Currently, there are no exemptions for people who have been vaccinated. We are considering the role a vaccination certificate might have. However, it is too soon to introduce any form of certification.

Question reference: S5W-35740

Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 March 2021
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 18 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many universities and colleges have formally adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism, and what steps it is taking to encourage more higher education providers to endorse this definition.

The Scottish Government, Universities Scotland, College Development Network and Colleges Scotland are clear that there is no place for antisemitism in further and higher education.

Universities, as autonomous institutions, are aware of the IHRA definition of antisemitism. Many are actively and presently consulting within their diverse communities and stakeholder interests on the definition, with two having adopted it to date. Universities and colleges are also addressing antisemitism through their ongoing engagement with the Scottish Funding Council to address discrimination and harassment on the grounds of race.

The SFC, in response to the recommendations of the EHRC report, Universities Challenged, published in October 2019, has developed resources to support challenging conversations on all aspects of racial discrimination, including antisemitism. These were developed with input of staff and students and was launched on 16 March 2021.

Question reference: S5F-04844

Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 February 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 February 2021

To ask the First Minister what the anticipated outcomes and timetable are for the Case Record Review into mesh implant surgeries, which is being led, as moderator, by Professor Alison Britton.

Question reference: S5W-34917

Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 February 2021
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 5 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether families with a child less than a year old, where the parents live together in the same household, are allowed to form an extended household during the current lockdown, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

The Scottish Government continues to acknowledge the fact that on-going restrictions have been challenging for everyone, in particular for parents and new mothers. However, we do not intend to revise the extended household rules to include all parents with a child less than a year old at this time.

“The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020” permit two households of any size to form an extended household. The parameters around this are set out in guidance. Extended households rules in Scotland were developed to reduce isolation and meet social need.

Question reference: S5W-34918

Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 February 2021
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 5 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, in situations where a couple live together in the same household and have a child less than a year old, but where one parent is required to spend periods of time away for essential work-related reasons, whether the parent caring for the child at home by themselves is permitted to form an extended household for the period that their partner is away.

The Scottish Government continues to acknowledge the fact that on-going restrictions have been challenging for everyone, in particular for parents and new mothers. However, we do not intend to revise the extended household rules to include all parents with a child less than a year old at this time.

“The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020” permit two households of any size to form an extended household. The parameters around this are set out in guidance. Extended households rules in Scotland were developed to reduce isolation and meet social need.

Question reference: S5W-34346

Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 January 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 1 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to automatically exempting all people aged over 70 from jury duty.

There has been no consideration around automatically exempting all people aged over 70 from jury duty. There is currently no age limit at which you may cease to be called for jury service, but from the age of 71 you are permitted to be excused. In addition, if any potential juror has any condition that is likely to impair, or make difficult, his or her function as a juror, he or she may also apply to the clerk of court for excusal. The clerk of court has full discretion in this matter.

Received	472
Approved	434
Declined	21
Pending	17

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