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-04680

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 21 December 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 December 2020

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S5W-33733

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 21 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) NHS staff, (b) social care staff and (c) non-medical personnel will be required for the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccine.

We will continue to use the c.900 WTE experienced vaccinators involved in the extended seasonal flu programme to deliver the initial phase of the Covid-19 vaccination programme. In addition, training and recruitment is already underway to expand the vaccination workforce in anticipation of delivery to larger cohorts.

While workforce requirements are subject to a number of variables including vaccine supply and delivery channel, we estimate a daily workforce requirement of c. 1300 WTE vaccinators and c. 750 WTE support staff by the end of January, as we progress through vaccination to priority groups.

Capacity will be supplemented by further expansion of the workforce as required to support vaccination of the remaining members of Scotland’s adult population

In addition, off-site support services are being deployed to ensure that the necessary logistical support and communications are available to deliver an effective programme.

Question reference: S5W-33732

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 17 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the current level of uptake is of the flu vaccination in 2020, and what the uptake was in each of the three previous years.

The Scottish Government has procured vaccine to meet our aim of vaccinating 2.4 million people and if demand for the vaccine is a lot higher than we predicted, then we will prioritise those at the greatest clinical risk.

The data has been placed in the Parliament’s information Centre (bib number 62071).

The uptake level in all three years between 2017-2020 has been categorised in each cohort. The follow data has been accessed from the Public Health Scotland.

Please note: Public Health Scotland has confirmed the current data is from 2019-2020 and the flu uptake for 2020-2021 will be published on 13 January, 2021.

Question reference: S5W-33735

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 16 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what investment it has made in the infrastructure required to implement the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Scottish Government began its roll out of the COVID-19 vaccine on 8 December, following approval of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine by the MHRA. Initial doses will be administered within existing estate and therefore there have been no additional costs to infrastructure.

Officials are currently working with NHS Boards to understand anticipated costs of the vaccination programme, including costs as further vaccines are approved.

Question reference: S5W-33730

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 16 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to lowering the age that a person becomes eligible to receive a flu vaccination from 55 to 50.