Pam Duncan-Glancy

24 May 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to Glasgow City, on what date it was informed that the B.1.617 strain of COVID-19 was (a) a variant of interest or (b) under investigation, and on what date it was informed that it was a variant of concern.

Answer · John Swinney: The B.1.617.2 variant (subtype of the B.1.617 variant) of SARS-CoV-2, cases of which have been identified in Glasgow, was classified as a variant under investigation (VUI-21APR-02) on 28 April 2021. It was escalated to a variant of concern on 6 May 2021 (VOC-…

24 May 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what proportion of staff who work in schools have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Currently 63% of teachers have had 1 dose of the vaccine. How reflective of the wider workforce the teacher figures will be will depend on the difference in age profile and underlying health conditions between these populations. Those working in the Early Lea…

24 May 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to accelerate the rate at which staff working in schools will be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: We continue to keep our vaccination programme under review in accordance with JCVI advice. By adhering to JCVI guidance we ensure that we are vaccinating as efficiently as is possible. The Chief Medical Officer issued a letter to all health boards and public …

21 May 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the funding it provided to (a) Glasgow City Council and (b) all local authorities in its Budget for the current financial year was sufficient to protect community facilities, and whether it plans to increase the amount of funding it provides to local autho…

Answer · Tom Arthur: The 2021-22 local government finance settlement of almost £11.7 billion includes an additional £375.6 million. or 3.5 per cent for day-to-day revenue spending and represents a fair settlement. In addition, the value of the overall COVID-19 support package for…

21 May 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to ensure the long-term sustainability of community facilities such as swimming pools and libraries.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government places great importance on public libraries and leisure facilities and believes everyone should have access to these services. The Scottish Government has produced safer workplace guidance for public libraries and sport and leisure fac…

21 May 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to increase the funding it allocates to Glasgow City Council for local community facilities, and what action it will take to support any Glasgow communities that experience uncertainty each year in relation to the continuation of local facilities.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government will continue to work in partnership with COSLA and Local Authorities to ensure our communities receive the support and services that they expect and deserve. It is, however, the responsibility of individual local authorities to manage…

20 May 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it anticipates that Disability Assistance will commence by early 2022, and whether it will update the Parliament on any reasons for a delay to its implementation in the event there is one.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: As the Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People set out to Parliament in the previous term, we will introduce the first Scottish Disability Assistance this year. As set out in regulations, we will commence new applications for Child Disability P…

20 May 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether incremental increases to the Scottish Child Payment over the current parliamentary session will be sufficient to support families, and by what date the payment will have doubled from its current value.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: The Scottish Government has committed to doubling Scottish Child Payment to £20 per week, per child, over the course of this Parliamentary term. We are currently considering the timetable for doing so, taking into account the impact on child poverty and legis…

20 May 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it removed the role of cabinet secretary for social security, and how it will ensure that the policy area continues to receive sufficient and appropriate protection and attention.

Answer · Shona Robison: Social Security is integral to my Social Justice, Housing and Local Government portfolio . It’s importance is reflected in the fact there is both a Cabinet Secretary and a Minister with responsibilities for it.