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: S6F-00860

Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 February 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 March 2022

To ask the First Minister, in light of the steps being taken to return to normality after the COVID-19 pandemic, what extra help is being provided to support people’s mental health.

Question reference: S6F-00854

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 28 February 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 March 2022

To ask the First Minister what urgent steps will be taken to address lung disease in Scotland, in light of the reported comments of Asthma + Lung UK Scotland that “the state of lung health in Scotland is shameful, with over 7,000 people dying a year".

Question reference: S6F-00849

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 February 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 March 2022

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the Information Commissioner’s Office recently issuing a reprimand to it and NHS National Services Scotland in relation to the COVID-19 status app.

Question reference: S6F-00844

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 28 February 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 March 2022

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-00843

Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 February 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 March 2022

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6W-07008

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 25 February 2022
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Angus Robertson on 28 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when Scotland’s next census will be held.

Scotland’s next census will be held on Sunday 20 March 2022, with letters arriving in households across Scotland from today (28 February), providing instructions on how to take part.

Scotland’s census is the official count of every person and household in the country and the only questionnaire of its kind to ask everyone the same questions at the same time.

It is the responsibility of National Records of Scotland (NRS) to put in place a census that enables everyone across Scotland to participate so that information collected can be used to produce high quality outputs and deliver the benefits required by the people of Scotland. For the first time, Scotland’s Census 2022 will ask a question about previous service in the UK Armed Forces and voluntary questions on trans status or history and sexual orientation, for those over 16.

Scotland’s Census provides people, businesses and organisations with high quality data and analysis which is used to inform key decisions in relation to policy making, investment decisions and the planning and delivery of key services. The census also helps paint a rich picture of the of the population, helping us to better understand the similarities and differences in the population’s characteristics locally and nationally, now and over time. The census also becomes part of our history. In the future our descendants will be able to find out about us and how we lived.

This will be the first census to take place since the Scottish Government pledged to make public services “digital first”, recognising that this is now a favoured channel for many. This approach will also deliver a number of benefits in terms of ease of completion and accessibility for respondents. It is important however that all households are able to complete their census return, with paper questionnaires available upon request. Help and support will also be available for those who need it via a dedicated contact centre and the Scotland’s Census website.

I urge members to help ensure a successful census by encouraging maximum participation amongst all communities across Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-06657

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 18 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 28 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason nightclubs are reportedly being refused grants from the Nightclub Closure Fund on the basis that their music is not louder than 85 decibels.

The Nightclub Closure Fund was available to nightclubs for support with meeting staffing costs for the period during which they were required to close between the 27 December and 24 January 2022. In order to qualify for this funding, businesses were required to meet eligibility as set out in guidance. This included the requirement to be trading as a nightclub as of the 20 December. In order to prove this, businesses were asked to confirm that they met five conditions including that their licence confirmed that the music exceeded 85DB after 1am. Where this was not the case businesses have been asked to provide further evidence of this.

Following notification of a decision on their applications, businesses were able to ask for this decision to be reviewed, including where this has been due to out of date information contained on licensing details.

There have been 25 reviews requested; 14 decisions overturned, 6 of these where the reason for rejection was noise levels and upon receipt of further information have been overturned. In addition 11 decision have been reviewed and upheld.

Question reference: S6W-06465

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 14 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 28 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether the current National Infection Prevention and Control Manual guidance on the PPE that should be worn, when providing direct care for patients on the respiratory pathway, should be interpreted to include COVID-19 as a known or suspected pathogen transmitted by the airborne route that requires an FFP3 respirator to be worn when treating a patient with the virus.

PPE guidance is developed by infection prevention and control (IPC) experts on a four-nation basis and they maintain that current evidence does not support a change to the current IPC guidance on respiratory protective equipment (RPE). WHO has not changed its position on the route of transmission of COVID-19. It is still transmitted predominantly via droplets and contact with contaminated hands or environment.

Question reference: S6W-06464

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 14 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 28 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will update the National Infection Prevention and Control Manual to advise that respiratory protective equipment should be required by healthcare workers treating patients with COVID-19 based on a risk assessment, rather than only being reserved for those performing aerosol generating procedures, in light of the reported findings of a core study on COVID-19 that there was proof beyond reasonable doubt that COVID-19 was an airborne pathogen.

Question reference: S6W-06485

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 11 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 28 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what the current percentage is of children and young people who are starting treatment from child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) within 18 weeks of referral.