- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 07 October 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 9 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how much each group funded under the new Equalities and Human Rights Fund for 2021-24 received, and what work each group has been funded to undertake.
Answer
The organisations funded under the Equality and Human Rights Fund are taking forward work that meet the aims and objectives of the fund, which are:
To fund, support, develop and learn from civil society organisations and partnerships that:
1. Develop and deliver work that is grounded in the progression, protection and realisation of human rights.
2. Deliver support to address the needs of people facing structural inequality and develop and deliver work to increase participation and empowerment.
3. Support delivery of commitments within relevant Scottish Government equality and human right strategies, action plans and documents.
4. Generate data, learning and insight into the experience of people to support analysis and challenge on equality and human rights issues, across a wide range of policy areas.
A list of the successful applicants is available on the Scottish Government website Equality and Human Rights Fund: projects funded - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .
- Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 November 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 9 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how many social enterprises have been supported by the Cultural and Creative Social Enterprise Network since it began operating.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-04069 on 9 November 2021 asking the Scottish Government how many social enterprises have made use of the cultural and creative Social Enterprise Network since it began operating.
All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 October 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 9 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government by what means people who cannot receive the COVID-19 vaccine for medical reasons can demonstrate their exemption from vaccine certification.
Answer
Vaccination is the best way to keep you, your friends, family, and community safe and we encourage everyone to consider getting the vaccine. In the vast majority of cases a successful route to safe vaccination can be found.
If vaccination is not straightforward, support is available to help people achieve the benefits of protection from the Covid-19 vaccines. Local vaccination centre can help answer questions about the vaccine and can advise what arrangements may be put in place to enable safe vaccination. In the rare cases where that support does not lead to vaccination, the offer of an exemption will be a part of the process.
A person who is identified as clinically unable to safely receive the vaccine will receive a secure paper exemption certificate in the post.
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 October 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 9 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set out its initial plans for achieving a fairer Scotland for disabled people, as set out in its Covid Recovery Strategy.
Answer
Working alongside Disabled Peoples Organisations, the STUC, and representatives from the third, public and private sectors, the Scottish Government is currently developing a refresh of ‘A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People: Employment Action Plan’.
The refreshed action plan will set out how we will build on the progress we have made in tackling inequalities as we recover from the pandemic. We expect the plan to be published in Spring 2022.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 October 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 9 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether, under its proposed short-term let licensing regime, some types of tourist accommodation, such as hotels, serviced accommodation, mobile accommodation and licensed caravans, will be exempt from licensing in respect of health and safety, but with this being mandatory for bed and breakfast and self-catering businesses, and, if so, for what reasons.
Answer
The proposed licensing legislation will establish a licensing scheme: to ensure short-term lets are safe and address issues faced by neighbours; and facilitate local authorities in knowing and understanding what is happening in their area, as well as to assist with handling complaints effectively. In broad terms, the licensing scheme applies to the use of dwellinghouses and unconventional accommodation, such as yurts or pods, for short-term lets.
The licensing scheme was never intended to regulate all forms of tourist or other accommodation. It is important that all forms of accommodation are safe and there are a number of regulatory mechanisms and safeguards across different accommodation types to help to ensure this is the case.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 October 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 9 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how much has been awarded in compensation for medical errors in each NHS board in each year since 1999.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02957 on 12 October 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 October 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 9 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its announcement that it will end overseas trade support focused on purely fossil fuel goods and services from 1 November 2021, what measures it will use to assess which goods and services “align with the energy transition” in order to continue receiving support.
Answer
From 1 November 2021, the way in which the Scottish Government provides overseas trade support will be aligned with our energy transition, as highlighted in our policy announcement on 15 October 2021. We will also co-design our energy transition with industry stakeholders as promised in the Just Transition Commissions Report Response
Scottish Development International (SDI), will implement this policy through the assessment of potential projects and their suitability for support in line with the published guidance and exemptions. Our exemptions are deliberately aligned with the UK Government’s guidance . This decision was made following wide stakeholder engagement and responds to strong feedback from stakeholders on the importance of technical alignment in order to avoid any unintended confusion for our agencies and the industry in the practical implementation of this policy.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 22 October 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Dorothy Bain on 9 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the findings in the report, Nothing to See Here?, regarding the suggestion that, since the 2016 change in law regarding fatal accident inquiries, the average length of time for completion of such an inquiry has increased by 100 days.
Answer
COPFS has noted the findings of the study. The statistics quoted in that study indicate that the average time taken to complete an FAI in 2017-19 was at its lowest figure since the period 2005-07. That figure – 603 days – was more than one third lower than the figure (990) from the previous period which predated the introduction of the 2016 Act.
COPFS is committed to reducing the timescale for commencing FAIs, including those arising from deaths in custody, whilst ensuring that the circumstances surrounding each death are thoroughly investigated. COPFS has introduced a number of measures since the implementation of the Inquiries into Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc. (Scotland) Act 2016 to reduce the average time taken to complete FAIs. Funding for the overall COPFS budget has been increased in recent years to help support the progress of these and other investigations. Dedicated teams were set up within the Scottish Fatalities Investigation Unit of Crown Office to specifically investigate deaths where an FAI requires to be held. A Case Management Panel ensures there is regular oversight of all deaths in custody investigations by senior managers on a regular basis. These reforms have already resulted in reductions in the duration of death investigations and it is expected that they will continue to do so.
In addition, a dedicated Crown Office team is to be established to investigate all deaths in legal custody. It is anticipated that such a team will allow for accelerated processes for particular categories of death and greater scope for conjoining FAIs and will reduce the time taken to conclude these investigations.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 October 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 9 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on free dyslexia tests for adults.
Answer
There has been no change in the Scottish Government’s position and we are not currently able to offer support in the funding of adult Dyslexia assessments. However, wider support is provided for people with Dyslexia – including funding for Dyslexia Scotland through our Children, Young People and Families Early Intervention & Adult Learning and Empowering Communities (CYPFEI & ALEC) fund, to provide information, advice and support.
In addition, dyslexia may be considered a disability under the Equality Act 2010 and, as such, employers have a legal duty to ensure employees are not discriminated against. Employers must make reasonable adjustments to the workplace to enable a disabled member of staff to carry out their role to a satisfactory standard. There is no requirement to have had a dyslexia diagnostic assessment in order for reasonable adjustments to be put in place in the workplace.
- Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 08 November 2021
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 9 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the reported use of kettling during recent protests in Glasgow.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 9 November 2021
