Stephen Kerr

3 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the impact of the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccination programme, what plans it has to review the social distancing limit in places of worship and reduce this to one metre.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-00514 on 16 June 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…

3 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many planned NHS operations took place in the Central Scotland parliamentary region in each (a) of the last three years and (b) month since April 2021, and how many were cancelled, also broken down by reason for cancellation.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Information on cancelled planned operations are published by Public Health Scotland on a monthly basis. These details can be found at Cancelled planned operations 1 June 2021 - Data & intelligence from PHS (isdscotland.org) This information shows the numbe…

3 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date the independent public inquiry on care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic will (a) be launched, (b) conclude and (c) publish its findings.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: We are committed to learning lessons on every aspect of the response to Covid-19 and are currently exploring the interplay between the UK inquiry and any Scottish inquiry. We will update Parliament on plans as soon as possible.

3 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many apprenticeships schemes have (a) been started and (b) completed in the Central Scotland parliamentary region in each year since 2019.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Skills Development Scotland does not report apprenticeship starts by parliamentary constituency or region, but by Local Authority. Published apprenticeship starts from 2019 in the local authorities within the Central Scotland Parliamentary Region are: Local …

3 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance is available for students in further and higher education who are experiencing difficulties in affording their rent.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: We know the pandemic has had a significant impact on students with many facing resulting financial difficulties. That’s why, since the onset of the pandemic we have committed over £96 million, which includes the additional £20 million we announced on 13 June …

3 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what exemptions from the £1,750 COVID-19 hotel quarantine charge it (a) is currently considering and (b) has considered and ruled out.

Answer · Michael Matheson: There are arrangements in place to allow travellers to travel without pre-payment of the Managed Quarantine Hotel/Testing Package who are claiming Hardship. The Scottish Government have agreed to accept the costs of Scottish residents on Low Income benefits. …

3 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much money it has invested in the Central Scotland parliamentary region in each year since 2019 to directly support businesses in creating jobs.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government works with a wide range of partners, particularly our enterprise agencies and local authorities, who have lead responsibility for local economic development in the area, to deliver investment and support job creation across Scotland, i…

3 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS patients in the Central Scotland parliamentary region have waited over 12 weeks for treatment in each year since 2018-19.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Information on the number of NHS patients waiting for treatment is published quarterly by Public Health Scotland and can be found at NHS waiting times - stage of treatment 25 May 2021 - Data & intelligence from PHS (isdscotland.org) This data shows the num…

2 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide updated funding figures on its website for the national public bodies directory.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The national public bodies directory has been updated to reflect the most up to date funding information for individual public bodies. I refer the member to the website: https://www.gov.scot/publications/national-public-bodies-directory/pages/executive-non-d…

1 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has allocated to business support for the purpose of COVID-19 recovery and how much of that total has been allocated directly to businesses.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Since the start of the pandemic supporting the recovery of Scotland’s businesses is a key focus for the Government with businesses directly benefitting from £3.6 billion in support overall, with £434.6 million paid out through restart grants and transitional …

1 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether an economic impact assessment has been conducted in respect to the lockdown restrictions in the Falkirk Council area, and, if so, whether it will publish this assessment.

Answer · John Swinney: The virus continues to have severe direct impacts on people’s health, and the potential to put significant pressures on NHS capacity. For this reason, and to tackle the new, faster-spreading Delta variant, we have made the difficult decision to delay a move t…

1 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of any meetings held between (a) the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care or (b) its officials and ServiceNow of Santa Clara, California, regarding the performance of the vaccination appointment service that it is delivering as a partner to the Sco…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Neither the Cabinet Secretary for Health & Social Care, nor Scottish Government officials have engaged with ServiceNow. NHS National Services Scotland are responsible for the development and operational performance of the Service Now platform which is used as…

1 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many cancer referrals there have been in the Central Scotland parliamentary region in the last two years, broken down by month.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: In the period October to December 2020:There were 3,502 eligible referrals for the 62-day standard, an increase of 14.9%.There were 5,697 eligible referrals within the 31-day standard, an increase of 14.7% from the previous quarter. The below tables outline …

27 May 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses in each local authority area have received support from each of the COVID-19 emergency funds that it has created.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Since the start of the pandemic, businesses have directly benefitted from £3.6 billion in support. The Scottish Government publishes statistics and management information relating to its Covid-19 business grants on its website at Coronavirus (COVID-19): busi…

27 May 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is issued to Ministers on the use of social media in relation to government announcements made on personal social media accounts that block some people from seeing them.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Ministerial Code outlines a code of conduct for members of the Scottish Government (the First Minister, Cabinet Secretaries and Law Officers) and junior Scottish Ministers, including on the use of personal social media accounts. No other Scottish…