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-30122

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 19 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 16 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance has been sent to local authorities regarding reopening the public conveniences that have been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and how it will ensure that there is adequate public provision of these services as the country moves out of lockdown.

The Scottish Government has released guidance on how public and customer toilets can open safely. This guidance has been sent directly to local authorities to assist in planning the safe reopening of public toilets. We are reviewing current policy on an on-going basis taken into account the latest scientific and medical evidence. You can view a copy of the guidance on the Scottish Government website here .

Question reference: S5W-30046

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 15 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many radiology vacancies have been unfilled in each NHS board in the last 12 months.

Information on Clinical Radiology vacancies in the last 12 months, broken down by NHS Board, can be found on the TURAS NHS Education for Scotland workforce statistics site at:

https://turasdata.nes.nhs.scot/workforce-official-statistics/nhsscotland
-workforce/publications/02-june-2020/data-tables/

Due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on collation of more detailed data by Boards, reduced vacancy data is being reported for this quarter - March 2020.

Scotland-level data on vacancies for Consultants, Nursing & Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals for March 2020 is not available.

Question reference: S5W-30047

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 15 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many psychiatry vacancies have been unfilled in each NHS board in the last 12 months.

Information on Psychiatry specialty vacancies in the last 12 months, broken down by NHS Board, can be found on the TURAS NHS Education for Scotland workforce statistics site at:

https://turasdata.nes.nhs.scot/workforce-official-statistics/nhsscotland
-workforce/publications/02-june-2020/data-tables/

Due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on collation of more detailed data by Boards, reduced vacancy data is being reported for this quarter - March 2020.

Scotland-level data on vacancies for Consultants, Nursing & Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals for March 2020 is not available.

Question reference: S5W-30199

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 13 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the education secretary's announcement on 23 June 2020 on the proposed full-time return to school in August 2020, what plans it has for the learning of those children who are shielding due to medical conditions or who live with a family member who is shielding.

At the moment the guidance on the return to school for those shielding is provided within the re-opening of schools guide, which is available from https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-re-opening-schools-guide/ It provides a range of guidance in relation to the circumstances where a pupil themselves is shielding, or is living with someone who is shielding. For children who are themselves shielding it says “People with serious underlying health conditions are strongly advised to follow shielding measures to keep themselves safe and not to attend school in person.”

In my statement to Parliament, I stated that “we still need to protect those in our society who might not be able to attend school for health reasons. and to the continued need for blended learning as a contingency." Attached is a link to the official report which will confirm this http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12713&i=114985 .

In her statement to Parliament the First Minister said “In addition, before the end of July we will provide further advice to those who are shielding. If we can, we want to move away from the current position of blanket guidance for all shielding people to much more tailored advice about risk and how to mitigate it.”

Question reference: S5W-30208

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 13 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of National 5 students not sitting exams in 2020, what consideration it has given to whether this will mean they are less prepared for the pressure of sitting Higher level exams in 2021, and what action it proposes to better prepare them for that experience.

The Education Recovery Group, which I chair, is considering the recovery phase of the education system, including delivery of the assessment of National Qualifications in 2020-2021. Our priority continues to be to ensure fairness for all learners.

Each year, schools prepare young people for exam conditions using a range of approaches which are a regular part of the curriculum. This will continue to be an area of work that will be important for schools to give consideration to.

It will continue to be the responsibility of individual schools and local authorities to develop and deliver a tailored approach that supports the needs of young people in the next academic session, in consultation with parents and carers.

Question reference: S5W-29689

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 05 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 10 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have died where COVID-19 is the sole cause of death recorded on the death certificate.

Question reference: S5W-29948

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 15 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 9 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish a list of the businesses that have been awarded a grant through the Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund during the COVID-19 emergency.

Yes, we will publish a list of all awards through the Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund. Our Enterprise Agencies will be publishing a short report on the performance of the funds they have managed and a list of all successful applicants in the coming weeks. The Agencies are currently processing appeals and we will publish the details following this stage of the process.

Through the Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund, we are providing support unavailable elsewhere in the UK. Due to significant demand, we doubled the Fund to £90m and have since further increased it to £120m.

Question reference: S5W-30247

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 9 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when (a) domestic cleaning companies and (b) self-employed cleaners can resume working under the COVID-19 guidelines.

The Business and Physical Distancing guidance states that work carried out in people's homes is now permitted. This advises that it should only take place provided that the tradesperson, irrespective of profession, is well and is not showing coronavirus symptoms and neither they nor any of their household are self-isolating.

In all settings; physical distancing, good ventilation and hygiene measures should be adhered to. Consideration should also be given as to whether any of the occupants are shielding.

In addition; our return to work safely platform https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-returning-to-work/ makes reference to support available from Healthy Working Lives, part of Public Health Scotland) and the Health and Safety Executive.

Finally, Health Protection Scotland have published guidance for non-healthcare settings on measures that should be taken to minimise the spread of COVID-19 https://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/a-to-z-of-topics/covid-19/

Question reference: S5W-30203

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 8 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when personal trainers will be allowed to recommence offering one-to-one training to clients in studios on a socially-distanced basis.

We are currently working on the development of guidance for gyms and other indoor leisure facilities in accordance with the timescales as set out in the Scottish Government route map, however, at present there is no specific dates for the reopening of any indoor sport facilities. The First Minister has confirmed that the next review of restrictions will take place on the 9 July and potentially move to Phase 3. All changes will be announced by Scottish Government in line with an assessment of available evidence and public health advice and as such indoor sport facilities will open no earlier than 23 July.

Question reference: S5W-30271

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 26 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 3 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects respite and day care services for adults with learning disabilities to open again.

Respite and day care encompasses a wide variety of types of support. Some day care and respite support for people with learning disabilities has remained in place with appropriate physical distancing and hygiene measures, whilst other services have re-opened, or started to provide support in a different way.

For those services which had had to adapt during or after lockdown, design and development of support should be co-produced with people who use social care.

We recognise that communication will be an important factor in helping people understand why support may look different from before; and to be confident that it is safe.