Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-33385

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 10 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on routine COVID-19 testing for NHS staff.

As I outlined to Parliament on 25 th November, and in line with clinical and public health priorities identified through the review of our testing strategy, twice weekly testing will be offered to all patient-facing NHS staff in our hospitals, Scottish Ambulance Service, Covid Assessment Centres in the community and to healthcare professionals who visit care homes. Details of the testing strategy review can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-review-of-testing-strategy-october-2020/ .

The scale of this challenge should not be underestimated, NHS Scotland employs more than 170,000 people and although not all are in patient facing roles, a considerable number are. We know that front-line NHS staff are at highest risk of being exposed to COVID-19 and as community transmission rises so, too does the risk of hospital outbreaks. A phased roll out will therefore start at the beginning of December, to be completed by the end of December.

Testing is only one measure of protection against COVID-19, alongside a strong emphasis on robust infection prevention and control measures, including the use of PPE, the extended use of face masks, physical distancing and good hygiene.

Question reference: S5W-33505

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 10 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many Hospedia contracts that had been agreed by each NHS board for the provision of bedside communication and entertainment for patients have been taken on directly by it since January 2020, and for what reasons, broken down by date, and what the average (a) length and (b) cost is of each of these contracts.

Question reference: S5W-33679

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 10 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason casinos are included on the list of businesses required to close in areas within Level 2 of COVID-19 restrictions, and whether it will provide the scientific advice that informed its decision.

Within the Strategic Framework approach Casinos are treated as leisure and entertainment. This is because the settings and circumstances of engagement in leisure and entertainment activities are different to those for the broader hospitality sector.

The overall package of measures within each level is designed to supress the virus as far as possible whilst minimising broader harms. The Scottish Government will keep the protective measures in all levels under review to ensure that they remain necessary and proportionate to address the ongoing public health emergency.

The evidence of virus transmission risks in indoor settings has been included in the published regulatory impact assessment for casinos which is available here https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2020/344/pdfs/ssifia_20200344_en_003.pdf .

Question reference: S5O-04857

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 December 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on promoting Fair Trade awareness across the public sector.

Question reference: S5W-33519

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 9 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-32165 by Michael Matheson on 20 October 2020, whether a decision has been made on the development of Hillend junction, and, if not, when a decision is expected to be made.

We are continuing to analyse a number of options around signalisation and prohibition of movements in order to understand the wider impacts of this on the surrounding local and trunk road network. This is a complex task, which aims to balance the need to reduce conflict at this location along with minimising any reduction in operational performance of the A702 corridor. It is expected that this work will be concluded in summer 2021.

Question reference: S5W-33502

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 9 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-33160 by Ben Macpherson on 23 November 2020, how many (a) short- and (b) long-term car parking businesses in Edinburgh have received 100% rates relief.

Retail, Hospitality, and Leisure Relief provides 100% relief for properties , used wholly or mainly for the qualifying purposes set out in Schedule 1 of the Non-Domestic Rates (Coronavirus Reliefs) (Scotland) Regulations 2020. It is for local authorities to determine eligibility of properties based on the legislation.

All non-domestic properties including car parks will benefit from a 1.6% universal rates relief in 2020-21, which will apply automatically to their non-domestic rates bills. As with any other rated property, car parks may be eligible for other reliefs such as the Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBBS) and the Empty Property Relief (EPR).

As at 01 July 2020, there were 390 separate entries for car parks or parking spaces on the Valuation Roll in the City of Edinburgh that were receiving 100% rates relief.

Of those 390 car parks, 270 were in receipt of SBBS, 80 are in receipt of EPR, 30 are in receipt of Charitable Rates Relief, and 10 are in receipt of other reliefs. The Scottish Government is unable to distinguish whether these are short or long-term car parks. Some car parks form the same entry in the roll as the building they serve, rather than being listed on the Valuation Roll separately and are not therefore included in figures here.

Question reference: S5W-33501

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 9 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-33159 by Ben Macpherson on 23 November 2020, what plans it has to extend 100% rates relief to (a) short- and (b) long-term stay airport car parking businesses not captured by the Non-Domestic Rates (Coronavirus Reliefs) (Scotland) Regulations 2020.

Further to my answer to your question S5W-33159, on 23 November 2020, in designing the relief system we aimed to help as may business as possible. Like all governments we were constrained by affordability and consequently it was necessary for difficult decisions to be taken, and for lines to be drawn. These decisions prioritised specific uses in the retail, hospitality, leisure, and airport sectors as set out in The Non-Domestic Rates (Coronavirus Reliefs) (Scotland) Regulations 2020, over more generic uses of lands and heritages such as huts, sites, bare ground, and car parks.

All non-domestic properties including car parks will benefit from a 1.6% universal rates relief in 2020-21, which will apply automatically to their non-domestic rates bills. As with any other rated property, car parks may be eligible for other reliefs such as the Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBBS) and the Empty Property Relief (EPR).

The Scottish Government does not intend to further amend The Non-Domestic Rates (Coronavirus Reliefs) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 in 2020-21.

Question reference: S5W-33511

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 9 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of a reported shortage of school crossing patrol staff in Edinburgh; what discussions it has had with the City of Edinburgh Council about this, and what support it can provide to help the council address any shortage.

Local authorities have a statutory duty to promote road safety and take steps to both reduce and prevent accidents and safeguard children on the way to school. We have grant funded Sustrans to run its Safer Routes To Schools programme which builds safer infrastructure to and around schools to encourage more cycling to schools by both teachers and pupils. Deciding what funding is made available for school crossing patrol staff is a matter for the City of Edinburgh Council.

Question reference: S5W-33503

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 9 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-33160 by Ben Macpherson on 23 November 2020, how it defines “other aviation related industries” in terms of the 100% rates relief.

Under Regulation 4 of The Non-Domestic Rates (Coronavirus Reliefs) (Scotland) Regulations 2020, 100% relief is available in 2020-21 for properties that are:

used as an airport, prescribed in schedule 2 of the regulations (Aberdeen International, Barra, Benbecula, Campbeltown, Cumbernauld, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Glasgow Prestwick, Inverness, Islay, Kirkwall, Oban, Stornoway, Sumburgh, Tiree, Wick John O’Groats)
situated at such an airport and wholly or mainly used to provide one or more handling services for scheduled passenger flights, or
occupied by Loganair Limited.

Handling services are defined in regulation 4(7) of The Non-Domestic Rates (Coronavirus Reliefs) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 as any of the following activities—

(a)in relation to aircraft—

(i)de-icing,

(ii)re-fuelling,

(iii)moving aircraft,

(iv)waste servicing, and

(b)in relation to aircraft passengers—

(i)allocation of seating,

(ii)handling of baggage,

(iii)supervision of boarding.

The administration of non-domestic rates reliefs, and the interpretation of the relevant legislation, is a matter for local authorities.

Question reference: S5W-33490

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 8 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider funding the business degree programme at West Lothian College, in light of the support from Napier University being withdrawn.

The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) allocates funding announced in the SG Scottish Budget to each institution on an annual basis. With the exception of any controlled subjects, it is then the responsibility of each institution to determine how best to utilise their funding allocation and determine their own curriculum offer and course provision in line with the economic needs of their region.

Ministers recognise that the withdrawal of funding from the business degree programme at West Lothian has caused concerns for students and have brought these to the attention of the SFC. Edinburgh Napier University has stated that it remains committed to delivering and growing its articulation routes and partnership working including with West Lothian College in line with previous Outcome Agreements with the Scottish Funding Council.

Chamber and committees