Jackie Baillie

8 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce legislation to require developers to contribute to the fund to replace unsafe cladding.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government has been clear that it is right that responsible developers continue to take action to support owners affected by this issue through no fault of their own. I will consider all options available, including those allowed in legislation t…

8 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when special clinics for administering COVID-19 vaccines to those with known allergies will be operational, and (a) how and (b) by whom patients will be invited to attend such clinics.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Vaccinations are taking place differently across Scotland to reflect the needs of local communities. NHS Scotland Heath Boards are responsible for the local delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine. As such, Health Boards are responsible for making decisions regardin…

8 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the partners of people who are shielding, and who have received a COVID-19 vaccine, will also receive a vaccine as a priority.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government follows the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) Guidance in the planning of vaccine delivery. This evidence based guidance advises that the single greatest risk of mortality from COVID-19 is increasing age, and that …

8 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that women who are over 65 are being protected from the HPV virus.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: There is no one definitive way to protect women who are over 65 from the effects of HPV infection. However, evidence shows that measures such as stopping smoking and undertaking good sexual health practices can help reduce the risks associated with it. Educat…

2 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken by Police Scotland to ensure that all COVID-19 travel restrictions are followed, particularly as the weather begins to improve.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Enforcement of the Coronavirus Regulations, including the travel restrictions, is an operational matter for the Chief Constable of Police Scotland. Police Scotland fully recognise the impact the restrictions have on people’s lives. Their approach throughout …

1 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of data on deaths from COVID-19 to assess how many of the people who died were disabled, and whether it will publish any figures it has on this matter.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: It is important that people can access COVID-19 data by equality characteristics, and the Scottish Government aims to make data open and accessible wherever possible. The Scottish Government receives daily figures for all deaths within 28 days of a first pos…

22 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-34776 by John Swinney on 4 February 2021, in light of a recent response by it to a freedom of information request on this matter, which stated that £54,378 was spent on "external assistance" for officials, whether it will provide a breakdown of this…

Answer · John Swinney: In relation to the request for a breakdown of expenditure, the sum £54,378 was spent in its entirety for obtaining individual legal advice for civil servants in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Service Management Code published by the Cabinet Offic…

22 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the decision to stop funding the Autism Network Scotland was reportedly made prior to the evaluation of the Scottish Autism Strategy being completed and in the absence of consultation with any stakeholders, including COSLA.

Answer · Clare Haughey: The decision to withdraw funding from Autism Network Scotland is linked to the role of the organisation and is not directly linked to the evaluation of the Scottish Autism Strategy. Autism Network Scotland has been operating on reduced funding and a reduced r…

22 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Autism Network Scotland was reportedly not given an opportunity to discuss what the organisation could offer to it in the future prior to its funding being stopped.

Answer · Clare Haughey: The decision to withdraw funding from Autism Network Scotland, which does not provide direct support to autistic people or their families, has been taken over a long period of time and spans a wide range of discussions with the previous and current Directors.…

18 Feb 2021 · First Minister's Question

Question to be taken in Chamber.

17 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether state aid limits will apply to the decision to extend the 100% business rates relief to the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors for 2021-22.

Answer · Kate Forbes: All public authorities must have regard for commitments in the, UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (“TCA”), Withdrawal Agreement, Northern Ireland Protocol, WTO rules (including the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures), and Trade Agreements …

16 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what priority is being given in the roll-out of its COVID-19 vaccination programme to people under the age of 50 who have serious asthma conditions.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government follows the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) Guidance in the planning of vaccine delivery. This evidence based guidance advises that the single greatest risk of mortality from COVID-19 is increasing age, and that …

16 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent to date on its #WeAreScotland campaign.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The total cost to develop and run the 'We Are Scotland' activity has been £1.97m to date.

15 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support is being given to help people who have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic pay their energy bills.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: We recognise that due to Covid-19, there will be increased financial pressures on many households. Since the beginning of the pandemic the Scottish Government has made available support for households struggling with their energy bills through a variety of ch…

15 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what plans it has to introduce vaccination cards that indicate whether a person has received a COVID-19 vaccination.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-35171 on 11 March 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/…

11 Feb 2021 · First Minister's Question

Question to be taken in Chamber.

9 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-34615 by Kate Forbes on 29 January 2021, whether it will provide a breakdown of Financial Transactions money allocated in the budget for 2021-22 by portfolio.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The breakdown of Financial Transactions allocated in the Scottish Budget 2021-22 by portfolio is available in table A.05 (page 146) of the Scottish Budget 2021-22 document published on 28 January 2021. The Scottish Budget 2021-22 is still subject to Parliamen…

9 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to meet with employers and trade unions within the whisky sector to agree an industrial strategy for whisky, in light of the ongoing tariffs in relation to Scottish Single Malt whisky.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish Ministers meet regularly with the whisky sector and the Scotch Whisky Association to discuss issues of interest. We share the entire sector's concerns about the impact of US tariffs on Scottish Single Malt whisky. We continue to press the UK Governme…

8 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Mobile Close Contact Services Support Fund will be open for applications.

Answer · Kate Forbes: This fund opened for applications on 16 February. Driving Instructors are also eligible to apply for grants through this fund. The fund will remain open until 16 March 2021.

8 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether older and vulnerable patients at (a) Ayr Hospital and (b) University Hospital Crosshouse are receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Chief Medical Officer has issued a letter to all the Health Boards on 5 February, which sets out the guidance on how Health Boards should seek to vaccinate those within eligible JCVI priority cohorts who are in hospital prior to discharge, where that coho…

8 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what help it is providing to (a) older and (b) disabled people who need transport assistance for COVID-19 vaccinations.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Individuals who are unable to leave their own homes will receive their vaccination at home. All Health Boards have included their housebound patients within their delivery models for each priority group. The Scottish Government is working with the voluntary …

8 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether all adults over the age of 80 with learning disabilities have received the COVID-19 vaccine, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Our top priority is to vaccinate as many people as we can as quickly as possible, starting with those at the highest clinical risk. We do not currently have the number of vaccinated adults over the age of 80 with learning disabilities; however, we can confir…

8 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when (a) adults with learning disabilities who live in care homes and (b) staff who work in care homes for adults with learning disabilities will receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: We understand the anxiety around the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s (JCVI) criteria of only severe and profound learning disabilities being eligible for vaccination during group 6. (a) We have now made the decision to expand group 6 of the…

8 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether frontline retail and supermarket workers will be prioritised in its COVID-19 vaccination programme.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: To save lives it is essential that vaccination be given to the first priority groups as set by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), these being residents in a care home for older adults and their carers, people over the age of 80, and f…

8 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensuring that (a) delivery drivers and (b) other door-to-door workers are following all COVID-19 safety guidance, including the wearing of face coverings.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: The Scottish Government websites contains clear guidance for deliveries and door to door services. This guidance states: Delivery drivers, postal workers, couriers and other similar workers or volunteers should adhere to physical distancing and hygiene requi…

8 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether secondary schools have been advised to not hold preliminary exams in the current academic year.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answers provided to the questions raised by Jamie Greene (reference S5W-34940) on 9 February 2021 and Pauline McNeill (reference S5W-35019) on 11 February 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Par…

8 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the funding announced in the Winter Plan for Social Protection will be made available to people in need of financial support.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The First Minister announced the Scottish Government's Winter Plan for Social Protection on 30 November 2020, comprising a £100 million package of measures to support people and communities over the winter period. This additional funding has now been made av…

8 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to support people with no fixed address to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: We are working to ensure everyone is fully informed regarding COVID-19 vaccinations. Our digital and social media campaigns began in January, alongside an outdoors advertising campaign and a TV and radio campaign. The Scottish COVID-19 Vaccination Helpline (…

8 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many close contacts who have been traced using only an SMS message have (a) contacted by Test and Protect for further advice on self-isolation and (b) agreed for their details to be passed to the local authority for further support in each week since 1 October 2020.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Information on the proportion of contacts traced using the single SMS is not currently published by Public Health Scotland. From 10th October, Test and Protect temporarily moved to a system that defaulted to contacting all close contacts of those who tested …

8 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to communicate essential information about the COVID-19 vaccine to people with no recourse to public funds.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government has been very clear from day one that the pace and rollout of our national vaccine programme is key to tackling the pandemic and we are determined to reach as much of the population, and in order of vulnerability based on clinical advi…