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: S5F-04836

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 February 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 February 2021

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S5W-33757

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by James Wolffe QC on 17 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many incidents involving snaring have been reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in Scotland in each calendar year since 2017, also broken down by how many subsequent (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there were.

On receipt of a case from a reporting agency, the Procurator Fiscal will decide what action may be taken in the public interest with reference to the published Prosecution Code. Prosecutorial action may only be taken where there is sufficient evidence in law. Prosecutorial action in the public interest includes Direct Measures as alternatives to prosecution.

All reports of wildlife crime, including snaring related offences, are considered by specialist prosecutors in the Wildlife and Environmental Crime Unit (WECU). Each case is carefully considered on its own merits taking into account the full facts and circumstances and available evidence, including the outcome of any further investigations that may have been instructed. Prosecutorial action will be taken where there is sufficient admissible evidence and it is in the public interest to do so. The full range of direct measures is available to specialist prosecutors in WECU for use in appropriate cases.

The outcomes of relevant charges reported to COPFS are provided in the following table:

Charges Reported to COPFS - Calendar Year 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2020 (to 30 November 2020) under:-
WILDLIFE COUNTRYSIDE ACT 1981 Section 11 A, B, C, D & E (Snaring)

				Calendar Year Reported
Action taken re Accused	Action taken re Charge	Outcome	2017	2018	2019	2020
Total Charges Reported			8	9	20	3
No Action Total			3	0	7	0
Direct Measure	Direct Measure		4	1	13	0
Direct Measure	Not Separately Actioned		1	1	0	2
Direct Measure Total			5	2	13	2
Summary	Court	Convicted	0	3	0	0
		Not Convicted	0	2	0	0
		Ongoing	0	0	0	1
	Not Separately Actioned		0	2	0	0
Summary Total			0	7	0	1

The majority of the charges marked “No Action”, were due to insufficient admissible evidence.

Notes and definitions

The total number of charges reported will also include charges where action was taken in relation to other charges reported in the case, for example, because the prosecutor took the view that an alternative charge was more appropriate or because details of the charge were included within the body of another charge for evidential reasons. These are shown as “Not Separately Actioned” on the table.

COPFS uses a live operational database and the information contained within it is structured accordingly.

Information provided may therefore be subject to change as our systems are updated for operational reasons.

Question reference: S5W-33874

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 16 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what COVID-19-related business support is available to cattery and kennel businesses, in light of reports that some have been advised that their business does not fall into a category where such support is available.

We recognise the economic impact that the necessary restrictions are having on businesses of all kinds across Scotland. Through the £30 million Discretionary Fund we are empowering local authorities to support businesses and self-employed people in their area who require additional financial support, including supply chain businesses impacted by restrictions.

This fund is specifically designed to target businesses who have not received direct financial support through other Scottish Government schemes, and recognises the insight that councils have on the business community in their area and where funding would be most effectively deployed in supporting local economies.

Question reference: S5W-33875

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 14 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to businesses that are not required to close by the COVID-19 restrictions but are experiencing financial difficulties because of the impact of the pandemic and the restrictions that are in place elsewhere on the amount of business that they can carry out.

The Strategic Framework details funding available for businesses that can remain open but are specifically required to modify operations by law, for example having to close earlier than normal. These Business Restrictions Grants are payable very four weeks and are set at £1,400 or £2,100 (depending on rateable value). In addition we have allocated £30m to Local Authorities for a Discretionary Fund to give them the flexibility to use their local knowledge to the support businesses and recently announced a further £185m of new and additional support for business sectors.

Question reference: S5W-33494

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 9 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many people in each NHS board area have been provided with hotel accommodation in which to self-isolate since 23 March 2020.

The Scottish Government is working closely with COSLA and Public Health Scotland to provide help to people who may need additional support to self-isolate, including the provision of accommodation, where it is needed.
‎

The pathway to accessing this support is through local health protection teams identifying an urgent need and working with local authorities to provide suitable accommodation in line with national guidance.

Local Authorities lead on the provision of isolation accommodation and the Scottish Government does not collect this data.

Question reference: S5W-33684

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 9 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that (a) people on low incomes, (b) older people and (c) vulnerable people are supported to (i) acquire, (ii) install and (iii) maintain in working order the smoke and heat alarm equipment specified in the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 (Tolerable Standard) (Extension of Criteria) Order 2019.

The Scottish Government has provided information on its website and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) have been providing information and leaflets during their Home Fire Safety Visits (HFSVs) on the types of alarms that will meet the required standard. It will be the responsibility of the homeowner to meet the new fire and carbon monoxide alarm standard. However, local authorities have broad discretionary powers to provide advice and assistance to home owners with work needed to look after their homes, as they are best placed to determine what assistance should be provided in their area.

Help for vulnerable people who are at a higher risk of fire, as determined by the SFRS, is available. The Scottish Government has, so far, provided the SFRS with over £1m of funding for this purpose.

Homeowners can contact their local Care and Repair service who provide independent advice and assistance to help homeowners (aged over 60 or who have a disability) repair, improve or adapt their homes so that they can live in comfort and safety in their own community.

The type of alarms permitted under the standard are intended to last for 10 years without maintenance, at which point they should be replaced.

Question reference: S5W-33175

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 2 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what studies it (a) has undertaken and (b) is undertaking on vitamin D blood levels.

Question reference: S5W-33173

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 2 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of international evidence linking vitamin D deficiency to COVID-19 severity, what studies it (a) has undertaken and (b) is undertaking to monitor the effect of vitamin D levels on COVID-19 severity.

The Scottish Government has not and is not currently undertaking any research studies relating to vitamin D and Covid-19. Recent open calls inviting research proposals on Covid-19 generated significant interest however none of the studies involved vitamin D. However there is such research active elsewhere in the UK. The UK is working as a whole to ensure NHS resources are used effectively during the Covid-19 pandemic. Should such a study wish to open sites in Scotland support would be prioritised through NHS Research Scotland. Information on prioritised studies can be found at https://www.nihr.ac.uk/covid-studies/

Question reference: S5W-33189

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 2 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that positive COVID-19 test results reach relevant health professionals, such as general practitioners, promptly.

Question reference: S5W-33190

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 2 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that positive COVID-19 test results reach contact-tracing teams immediately.

Test results from NHS Scotland laboratories feed directly through to the Electronic Communication of Surveillance in Scotland (ECOSS) system from which data is polled by NHS NSS throughout the day and passed into the contact tracing service’s Case Management System (CMS) via the NHS Scotland Integration Hub. New datasets are added from ECOSS to the Integration Hub approximately six times per 24 hour period (at 06:00, and then every 3 hours between 08:00 and 20:00).

For test result data captured as part of the UK Government Lighthouse Laboratory system, data is regularly transferred from an English NHS Digital system to NHS Scotland’s Integration Hub using the Message Exchange for Social Care and Health (MESH), the main secure large file transfer service used across health and social care organisations. NHS Scotland poll the MESH system for new files every 10 minutes. The Integration Hub then separate outputs for the various NHS Scotland systems, incl. ECOSS and CMS.

This process is part of what is enabling Test and Protect to work well. Over the latest week – 09 Nov to 15 Nov – 95.3% of positive cases had their contact tracing interview completed within 72 hours of their test. More than two thirds (71.9%) had their contact tracing interview completed with 48 hours of their test.