- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 June 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 17 June 2020
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-28170 by Jeane Freeman on 1 June 2020, and in light of its COVID-19 Advisory Group being established after it made the decision on or around 12 March 2020 to end its test, trace and isolate approach, whether it will publish the scientific evidence on which it based its decision to not roll out community testing for COVID-19, and for what reason it did not provide this information in its answer.
Answer
As set out in a paper from 10 March 2020, the Scottish Government was clear that if a point of sustained community transmission for COVID-19 was reached, we would rely less on contact tracing and focus instead on providing the best care to those who had developed the disease, on delaying and reducing the spread and protecting those who are most vulnerable: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-how-contact-tracing-works/
On the advice of senior clinicians and public health experts, Scotland's testing capacity was initially prioritised where it would have the greatest effect; for the seriously ill and to allow key workers to return to work. Testing capacity has increased significantly and testing is now available to anyone age 5 and over with symptoms.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 June 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 17 June 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will record, analyse and publish disaggregated data on the number of deaths of black and minority ethnic (BAME) people as a consequence of COVID-19.
Answer
The Scottish Government will continue to monitor the information available on the number of deaths of black and minority ethnic (BAME) people as a consequence of COVID-19.
On 4 May, National Records of Scotland released a technical note describing the ethnicity data, and its limitations, held on COVID-19 deaths
https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/files/statistics/covid19/ethnicity-deceased-covid-19-may20.pdf
- Ethnicity data is missing for nine per cent (203 records) of the 2,272 COVID-19 deaths recorded up to Sunday 26th April.
- 2,046 deaths (90%) were of people whose ethnic group was registered as White
- Registered deaths where a Black, Asian or minority ethnic group (BAME) was provided accounted for 1% of deaths (23 people).
NRS are currently testing whether ethnicity data from the 2011 Census can be used to improve the quality of the death registration data. If this is successful, NRS will carry out analysis which will aim to answer the question of whether there is a variation in the relative risk of mortality related to COVID-19 by ethnicity.
On 20 May, Public Health Scotland (PHS) published preliminary analysis which appears to show that there is not a higher level of Covid-19 cases than would be expected, given the size of our black, Asian and minority ethnic population. However, the data is very limited and additional analysis will need done as more data becomes available.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 08 June 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 16 June 2020
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported concerns with safety in such facilities because of the COVID-19 outbreak, what its position is on whether the risk from the virus that is faced directly by staff working in contact/call centres, and that the danger that they might pass on the infection to others, should be treated as a devolved public health issue not only a matter of occupational health and safety.
Answer
We have been clear that the risk from the virus is both a public health and health & safety issue and we are addressing that by being consistently clear that it is vital that all businesses act responsibly and align fully with the physical distancing measures introduced to protect the nation’s heath, well-being and economic future. Advice from the Chief Medical Officer is that all non-essential business premises, sites and attractions should close unless and until we can all be clear how operations can be undertaken safely and in a way that is fully compliant with physical distancing. To support this we have published guidance for businesses in Scotland on physical distancing and closures due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 08 June 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 16 June 2020
To ask the Scottish Government how much (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) its other agencies have paid in each of the last five years to companies that make, supply or provide components for the (i) armed forces and (ii) police and security forces of other countries, broken down by country.
Answer
Information regarding funding to companies provided by our enterprise agencies is an operational matter for those agencies and is not held by the Scottish Government. I have asked the relevant Chief Executives to respond to you directly.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 01 June 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 15 June 2020
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason its senior managers have reportedly been awarded pay rises of up to 12%; how this compares with the salary increases that have been offered to its other employees, and what its position is on the fairness of this.
Answer
Public Sector Pay Policy was agreed as part of the Scottish Budget 2020-21 and includes a basic increase of £750 or 3%. Pay progression is at the discretion of individual employers. The pay awards for all Scottish Government staff are entirely consistent with the Policy. Following representation and discussion with the civil service unions I directed public bodies, including the Scottish Government, to implement the basic elements of Pay Policy as an interim pay award. Given other pressures and priorities public bodies may not have been able to engage with the unions in the normal way to discuss pay and the interim award provides certainty to public sector workers and their families.
Pay progression, which is not automatic and reflects continued development in the grade, is an important factor in allowing us to continue to meet equal pay requirements and reduce any pay gap, and is consistent with pay arrangements in place in other parts of the public sector. These pay progression increases are therefore designed to deliver equity and fairness by ensuring equal pay for work of equal value and have been agreed with the recognised trade unions.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 June 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Christina McKelvie on 12 June 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to publish an action plan on health, social and economic inequalities experienced by black and minority ethnic (BAME) people, which have been highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer
On 20 March 2020 we published the Year 2 progress update on our Race Equality Action Plan. A final year report of this Plan will be published in 2021, which will include consideration of activity across all relevant portfolios, including particular attention to the issues which have been highlighted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Furthermore, the Race Equality Action Plan Programme Board met on 5 May to discuss the specific impact of Covid-19. A new Expert Reference Group on the impact of Covid-19 on Minority Ethnic communities has also been established to advise and support the Programme Board in this important agenda.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 June 2020
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 18 June 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to encourage employers and unions across major economic sectors to engage in national collective bargaining.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 18 June 2020
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 May 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 10 June 2020
To ask the Scottish Government who signed off the revised guidance to care homes regarding COVID-19 testing before it was published on the Scottish Government website on the weekend of 9-10 May 2020.
Answer
The National Clinical and Practice Guidance for Adult Care Homes during COVID was first published on 13 March 2020 and updated on 26 and 15 May. It is based on Health Protection Scotland (HPS) infection control guidance for care homes but provides more detailed practical advice around adoption of measures to protect staff and residents. It has been updated each time to reflect the extent of the outbreak, emerging evidence on ways to protect staff and residents and subsequent announcements, for example on testing. The guidance was updated by the Care Homes Clinical and Professional Advisory Group (CPAG), a multidisciplinary group of stakeholders established to provide clinical and professional advice for the care home sector during COVID. This group had approved the guidance, however it had not had final sign off from the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and the Health Secretary so was published in error on 8 May. The guidance was therefore withdrawn from the website on 10 May. It was updated to take account of HPS advice on testing outbreaks and following approval from the Health Secretary and CMO, was published on 15 May. The guidance will continue to be kept under constant review by the CPAG.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 15 May 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 10 June 2020
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Gartnavel COVID-19 testing centre was closed at a time when concerns were reportedly being raised by care home staff that they were passing on the virus to residents, some of whom subsequently died.
Answer
The Gartnavel centre has been closed temporarily as the number of health and social care staff who are self-isolating and referred for testing has reduced. The testing staff have been moved into an additional mobile testing team as there are a number of staff without transport unable to attend the drive-thru centres.
The situation at the Gartnavel centre is reviewed on a daily basis and it can be stood up quickly if the number of symptomatic health or social care staff requiring tests increases again. Symptomatic care home staff are still being tested through the staff testing programme either at the other sites or by the home testing teams.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 May 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 10 June 2020
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it did not support the testing of asymptomatic NHS, care home and home care staff, given that this policy was adopted prior to the establishment of its COVID-19 advisory committee, and on whose advice its policy was based.
Answer
Since 1 May, Scottish Government policy has been to test residents and staff in care homes with a confirmed case of Covid-19, and in linked homes where staff work between homes run by the same operator following an outbreak in one. Sample testing should also take place in care homes where there are no cases.
From the week commencing 25 May Scottish Government policy has been to offer all care home staff weekly testing regardless of symptoms or whether there is an ongoing outbreak in their care home.
