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: S5W-35320

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 February 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ash Denham on 25 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether legislation could be introduced that would move the power of approving the budget of the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission from the Commission to the Scottish Ministers.

As I advised the Justice Committee when I wrote to them in December, a consultation seeking views on a new framework of legal services regulation, and associated complaints system, initially planned for 2020, was delayed due to the combined pressures of Covid-19 and EU exit. It is now anticipated to follow in the next parliamentary session. I can assure Mr Carson that the consultation will seek views around Parliamentary scrutiny of the legal complaints budget.

Question reference: S5W-35310

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 February 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 25 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason garden centres have been closed under the current COVID-19 restrictions when other larger retailers that sell garden products and equipment are permitted to remain open.

In order to the reduce the opportunities for transmission of Covid-19, people should only be leaving their homes for an essential purpose which includes for essential shopping.

For those stores that are considered essential retailers and able to remain open, it is for them to determine what goods are on offer in their stores.

Garden centres are currently able to fulfil orders online, by telephone and through a permitted collection service.

Question reference: S5W-35309

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 February 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 25 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to reopen garden centres that meet the social distancing guidelines and other requirements to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Question reference: S5W-35180

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 February 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 25 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce a national allowance for kinship and foster carers.

Question reference: S5O-05075

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 February 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what the most recent estimate is of the cost of establishing Social Security Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-35308

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 February 2021
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 22 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what role it believes gardening can play during the COVID-19 pandemic in helping people maintain good mental health and wellbeing.

The Scottish Government recognises the benefits of connecting with nature and exercising outdoors for physical and mental health and wellbeing. We appreciate the value of gardening as one of the many ways that people can be more active. Doing exercise and other physical activity can have a positive impact on your mood, improve your sleep, and reduce stress and anxiety.

The joint UK Chief Medical Officer Guidelines on Physical Activity specifically notes the role that heavy gardening can play in helping adults to do activities to develop or maintain strength in the major muscle groups and, for older adults, light activity such as easy gardening can help break up prolonged periods of being sedentary.

Reflecting the importance of the fundamental relationship between physical and mental health, the Scottish Government has committed to build on positive physical activity behaviour changes observed during the pandemic as part of the Mental Health Transition and Recovery plan.

In April 2020, we launched the Clear Your Head campaign, to help the population look after their own mental health and wellbeing. The campaign highlights the practical things people can do to help them feel better and cope with the restrictions during the coronavirus outbreak. The campaign encourages people to keep active and embrace nature, suggesting that this can be achieved through a variety of physical activities including gardening, or taking part in a virtual class when it is hard to get out.

Question reference: S5O-05062

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 February 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many new staff will be required to meet the mental health needs of people following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Question reference: S5W-34821

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 January 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 11 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce a medical exemption card to those who cannot wear a face covering.

A Scottish Government face covering exemption card came into operation at the end of October 2020.

The card is a tool to support people to feel more confident and safe when accessing public spaces and using public services but is not intended as proof of exemption. To require individuals to seek medical proof that they are exempt would put undue burden on the NHS services at this critical time in the pandemic.

The card was developed to support people to feel more comfortable showing something that says they do not have to wear a face covering without having to explain they are exempt.

The exemption card is branded with the NHS Scotland and Healthier Scotland logo and produced under the FACTS for a safer Scotland campaign.

The Scottish Government is committed to promoting equality; and hate crimes against those who are exempt from wearing a face covering are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

The service is delivered by Disability Equality Scotland (DES) and a physical or digital exemption card can be requested at www.exempt.scot or via a helpline on 0800 121 6240.

Question reference: S5O-05027

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 February 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting court services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Question reference: S5O-04987

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 January 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it supports older people.