Parliamentary questions
Jackie Baillie
9,393 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
30 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether identity checks using credit agencies of people seeking to access COVID-19 tests are routinely carried out by health and social care partnerships and, if so, for what reason.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Health and Social Care Partnerships have a limited role in the provision of testing for the general public. They have formal responsibility for Covid-19 Community Assessment centres, and for decisions on where to station Mobile Testing Units. Community Assess…
30 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is recruiting retired health service staff to help with the administration of the COVID-19 vaccination programme.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Information for individuals that want to offer their support to the vaccination programme is available at: Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on offering support - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) . Publication of the National Protocols for COVID-19 Vaccines on 21st …
29 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether international travel is allowed under Level 4 of the COVID-19 restrictions, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer · Michael Matheson: As of Boxing Day all non-essential travel abroad has been prohibited by law to and from all areas of Scotland, including those that are currently under the Level 4 Stay At Home order. The reason this decision was taken was to guard against further avoidable …
23 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that people who might not be included in official unemployment figures, including recent graduates, receive support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government is ensuring that a wide range of employability support is available to all those who need it during the Covid-19 pandemic. The No-One Left Behind approach ensures that quality support based on individual need continues to be available…
22 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many contacts have been traced by Test and Protect (a) overall and (b) using only SMS messages in each week since 1 September 2020.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: a) Test and Protect information is published weekly as part of the Public Health Scotland COVID-19 statistical report. The latest data (published 13 January) shows that between 28 May to 10 January 2021:130,719 individuals were recorded in the contact tracing…
22 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many frontline NHS workers have been tested using lateral flow testing in each week of December 2020, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: It is expected that all Boards across Scotland will have fully implemented twice weekly lateral flow testing to eligible patient facing staff by the end of January 2021.
22 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many care homes have carried out lateral flow testing for visitors in each week of December 2020, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: We began rolling out lateral flow testing for care home visitors on 7 December to 14 early adopter care homes across 5 local authority areas. Two of our three new NHS regional lab hubs went live on a phased basis last week with the West and the North hub are…
22 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-33868 by Fiona Hyslop on 14 December 2020, on what date the current exclusivity agreement between Scottish Enterprise and Flamingoland was renewed.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Heads of terms for a new agreement between Scottish Enterprise and Flamingo Land Ltd were agreed on 18 December 2020.
21 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to extend the compulsory wearing of face coverings to outdoor public settings.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: There are no current plans to make face coverings mandatory in outdoor public settings however, the Scottish Government will continue to review what measures can be used, in line with the emerging scientific and clinical advice, to reduce the transmission of …
21 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-33864 by Kevin Stewart on 17 December 2020, what analysis it has carried out of the potential impact of asbestos on public health in Scotland; when it last met the UK Government to discuss the eradication of the substance, and how frequently such me…
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government has no responsibilities in relation to asbestos. The management of asbestos in buildings is a reserved matter for the UK Government and is the responsibility of the Health and Safety Executive. I have written to Sarah Albon, Chief Ex…
21 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on extending the COVID-19 vaccination priority group, “adults with Downs Syndrome”, to include adults with other severe and complex learning disabilities.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: All of our decision making in the approach to responding to Covid-19 is guided by the latest scientific evidence from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) , advice from Health Protection Scotland and our Interim Chief Medical Officer. The Jo…
21 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-33789 by John Swinney on 14 December 2020, on what dates since December 2017 it has met Police Scotland to discuss the policy on harassment complaints, and who attended.
Answer · John Swinney: There was one meeting held on 6 December 2017. This was a generic meeting about addressing sexual harassment using a person centred approach and did not include reference to any specific concerns, complaints or individuals. The meeting was attended by Judith …
21 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-33789 by John Swinney on 14 December 2020, what the job title was of the person it made contact with in the Public Protection Specialist Crime Division of Police Scotland.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the written and oral evidence provided to the Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints and related correspondence. Following Ms Mackinnon’s appearance at the Committee on 27 October she followed up a number …
17 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support the manufacturing sector.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to the answer to S5W-33749 on 4 December 2020 which highlights the publication of Making Scotland’s Future: A Recovery Plan For Manufacturing for consultation on 4th December 2020. The consultation on the Recovery Plan has be…
16 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of Financial Transactions money will be in the 2021-22 Budget, and where it will be deployed.
Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government received £620m in Financial Transactions (FTs) from HM Treasury in 2020-21. In the UK Spending Review on 25 November Scotland was allocated £208m in FTs for 2021-22, a fall of 66.5%. The detail of the deployment of FTs in 2021-22 will…
16 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of Financial Transactions money is in the 2020-21 Budget.
Answer · Kate Forbes: A budget of £620 million was allocated to financial transactions, which can only be used for loans or equity investment in entities outside of the public sector, at the start of the year in the 2020-21 Scottish Government Budget. This comprised the full £606 …
16 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason drive-in film viewings are not allowed under Level 3 of the COVID-19 restrictions, and whether it will consider relaxing this rule.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has undertaken a review of the status of drive-in events, including drive-in cinemas and drive-thru events, in light of representations that these should be permitted in level 3 areas. Following the review, the Scottish Government has …
16 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the terms of any loan and repayment requirements given to Business Stream by its parent company, Scottish Water, in respect of support through difficult trading arrangements arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Any loan provided to Business Stream will be made by Scottish Water Business Stream Holdings (SWBSH) on arms-length commercial terms, consistent with the Market Economy Investor Principle (“MEIP”) test, based on independent expert advice and benchmarking. The…
16 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the role of the Water Industry Commission is in monitoring and regulating any anti-competitive arrangements within the competitive water market in Scotland.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Commission does not have concurrent competition law powers. The Commission’s remit extends to securing the participation of licensed providers in an orderly manner and in a manner that is not detrimental to Scottish Water’s core business.
16 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether any loan offered to Business Stream by Scottish Water to assist it to trade as a result of lost business from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, constitutes a State Aid or could otherwise be regarded as an anti-competitive practice by a state-owned company, with a monopoly, op…
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Independent expert legal advice was received confirming that the proposed funding facility to Business Stream complies with relevant legal and regulatory duties, including applicable EU State aid and EU/UK competition laws. Any funding facility is consistent …
16 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-31954 by Roseanna Cunningham on 30 October 2020, whether Scottish business customers are insulated from the costs of any trading losses incurred by Business Stream from its trading activities in England.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The performance of Business Stream in England will have no impact on the wholesale charges levied on Licensed Providers in the Scottish retail market. It is for Licensed Providers to determine the charges that should be levied on their customers but within th…
16 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of the final determination of charges by the Water Industry Commission, what its position is on whether 11 responses to the consultation on the draft determination can be considered a success.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: This is a matter for the Water Industry Commission for Scotland, and I have asked them to respond directly in writing to your question.
16 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of the final determination of charges by the Water Industry Commission and its indication that it plans to continue with international work, what its position is on whether it is appropriate that the commission permits the use of air travel rewards from such b…
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-30852 on 10 August 2020. 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…
16 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-30856 by Roseanna Cunningham on 13 August 2020 and the publication of the final determination of water charges by the Water Industry Commission, how the figure of £1.5 million quoted as a benefit from international work was calculated.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: This is a matter for the Water Industry Commission for Scotland, and I have asked them to respond directly in writing to your question.
16 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of the final determination of charges by the Water Industry Commission, what assumptions have been made about cash balances held by Scottish Water at the end of 2020-21, and how those assumptions compare with the outcome set in the 2015-21 final determination.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Water set out in their 2020 Delivery Plan update that they expected the outturn cash level to be within a range of £120 million to £200 million on conclusion of the SR15 investment delivery. During 2020 their costs and revenues have been significantl…
16 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much Scottish Water, as the owners of Business Stream, has had to make available to it to meet trading challenges during the pandemic; under what terms, and whether any assistance with liquidity is in respect of Business Stream’s trading activities in England.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: No funding has been made available to date. No funding is expected to be required during 2020-21. The funding arrangements have been put in place based on forecasts of the potential future impact of Covid-19 on Business Stream’s financial situation.
16 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of the final determination of charges by the Water Industry Commission, whether the interpretation of the duty to set charge caps at the lowest overall reasonable cost interprets cost as being of investment, or to customers.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: This is a matter for the Water Industry Commission for Scotland, and I have asked them to respond directly in writing to your question.
16 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of the final determination of charges by the Water Industry Commission, where customers can find the performance measures that Scottish Water is expected to meet over the 2021-27 period that have been previously set out in a final determination.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: This is a matter for the Water Industry Commission for Scotland, and I have asked them to respond directly in writing to your question.
16 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of the final determination of charges by the Water Industry Commission, whether the general function it has of promoting the interests of persons who might become connected to Scottish Water’s services, is a function that has been given subsequent to the final…
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Commission’s functions are detailed in the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002, as amended by the Water Services etc. (Scotland) Act 2005.
16 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of the final determination of charges by the Water Industry Commission, whether it can confirm that the water charge cap envisaged will need to rise by more than 2% annually above the rate of inflation if any flexibility in charges to reflect the economic circ…
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: This is a matter for the Water Industry Commission for Scotland, and I have asked them to respond directly in writing to your question.