Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-31487

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 31 August 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Humza Yousaf on 31 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome is of its latest review into border health measures, and whether there will be any changes to the regulations.

We have continued to review the health measures closely over the last three weeks and have assessed that there remains a requirement for them to remain in place to reduce the risk of transmission and safeguard health. There will be no changes to the regulations at this stage, but we will continue to review both the country and sector exemptions on an ongoing basis and make any future adjustments as necessary.

Question reference: S5O-04534

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what further support local authorities can provide to communities and community organisations to continue to protect the most vulnerable and older people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Question reference: S5W-31109

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 August 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Humza Yousaf on 10 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome was of its latest review into border health measures, and whether there will be any changes to the regulations.

Question reference: S5W-30882

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 July 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by John Swinney on 22 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, given that critical childcare was put in place as an emergency measure to provide childcare for keyworkers and vulnerable children while schools and childcare settings were closed, for how long this will continue to be provided.

As I set out on 16 July, the provision of critical childcare was at the heart of keeping Scotland going during lockdown. Without it, Scotland could not have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic in the way we did. I am enormously grateful for the national effort to care for these children.

As formal and informal childcare options have opened up and schools prepare to re-open, we can now wind down this critical childcare provision.

On the assumption that schools re-open as currently planned, we have agreed with COSLA officials that local authorities will no longer be required to provide critical childcare from the week commencing 3 August. They can set their own end date from 3 August. I anticipate there will be period of time where local authorities will transition to accommodate the start of school.

I will write to the Education and Skills Committee to provide more detail.

Question reference: S5W-30843

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 July 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Humza Yousaf on 21 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome is of its latest review into border health measures, and whether there will be changes to the regulations.

We have continued to review the health measures closely over the last three weeks and have assessed that there remains a requirement for them to remain in place to reduce the risk of transmission and safeguard health.

Following this latest review, and having carefully considered the potential public health impact of changing the country exemptions for quarantine, we are able to lift that requirement for those travelling from Spain. We are continuously keeping other countries under review and where there is clear evidence that it is safe to do so, we will add further countries. Changes to these regulations will come into force on 23 July and guidance on these measures is available at the Scottish Government Coronavirus website here; https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-public-health-checks-at-borders/ .

Question reference: S5W-30299

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 June 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Humza Yousaf on 29 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome was of its review into the border health measures that were introduced on 8 June 2020, and whether there will be any changes to the regulations.

We have reviewed the border health measures closely over the last three weeks and have assessed that there remains a requirement for them to remain in place to reduce the risk of transmission and safeguard health.

Discussions around changes to the regulations, including any further exemptions, continue. We have welcomed a four nation public health approach since the outset of these regulations and were disappointed to learn of the UK Government’s proposed change to their exemptions list via the media on Friday evening. Decisions on the review of the health measures at the border for travellers to Scotland will be made by Scottish Ministers.

Question reference: S5O-04436

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 June 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when chronic pain patients will be able to resume receiving treatment that has been suspended because of the COVID-19 lockdown.

Question reference: S5W-29233

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 May 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by John Swinney on 21 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on implementing the conclusions of the Independent Care Review.

The Scottish Government is fully committed to deliver on its pledge to care experienced people in Scotland by accepting and responding to the Care Review conclusions and by putting in place the infrastructure to implement the outcomes reached and ‘#KeepThePromise’.

The COVID-19 emergency response has undoubtedly impacted upon the ability of the Scottish Government and key partners’ to make as much progress as we would have wished to in our response in the short term.

However, the Scottish Government has been working hard to ensure that the principles of the Care Review’s “Promise” are reflected in our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including in practice guidance and policies underpinning emergency legislation.

I am pleased to advise Parliament that Fiona Duncan has agreed to Chair the oversight of implementation which will ensure the ethos, approach and commitments of the Care Review can be at the heart of this process. We will work with Fiona Duncan to put in place the necessary arrangements to ensure that the Promise is implemented in the way that the Review, care experienced people and the wider sector envisaged.

Question reference: S5T-02172

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 May 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it had with the UK Government regarding the change of guidance being issued to the public in England.

Question reference: S5W-28060

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 March 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jeane Freeman on 25 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress made by the Short Life Working Group on Management of Mesh Complications.

The Short Life Working Group’s Report has today been published on the Scottish Government’s website, and can be viewed here .

The report contains key recommendations in relation to care pathways, the multi-disciplinary team process, patient information and decision aids, patient follow-up procedures, and clinician training. The Report has been presented to NHS Chief Executives and all Health Boards are expected to act on its recommendations.

In addition, the Group last year recommended the establishment of a National Complex Pelvic Mesh Removal Service. That recommendation is being progressed.

As stated in its report, the Group will continue to exist until the Scottish National Pelvic Mesh Removal Service has been established. Thereafter, it is important that a new group is established with appropriate representation, from both clinicians and those with lived experience, and with authority to both provide oversight of the delivery of improvements in services and to review implications for Scotland of external reports.

More generally, we continue to progress work including the establishment of a Case Note Review; we have invited Dr Veronikis to Scotland and await his response; and we are creating a £1 million fund for women affected by mesh complications. I hope to announce details of that fund in late spring.

Despite the foregoing, we must be mindful of the ongoing situation with COVID-19. This means, for example, that we may have to delay the commencement of the Case Note Review until official advice allows face-to-face meetings of the kind this would require, and delay referrals to the new Complex Pelvic Mesh Removal Service until appropriate. However we are continuing with our work to ensure that, where there is any delay to our plans, we will be ready as soon as it is safe and practicable to proceed.

Chamber and committees