Parliamentary questions
Jackie Baillie
9,393 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
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 there is any flexibility in the expectation of the level of income to be raised in 2026-27, and whether any expectation is a formal part of the regulatory settlement for the period.
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 the actual split between domestic and business customers of Scottish Water’s income has been in each of the last 10 years.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The figures are in the following table. Domestic (£m) Non-domestic wholesale charges (£m) 2010-11 743.493 302.404 2011-12 745.563 294.706 2012-13 750.885 296.663 2013-14 778.809 293.633 2014-15 800.774 289.206 2015-16 820.677 291.502 201…
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 will publish the assumptions and calculations that give rise to the minimum annual revenue expectation of £1,392 million in 2026-27, and, using the modelling assumptions for the…
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.
15 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential anxiety that might be caused, what support is available for people who have learning disabilities if they encounter people who are not following the guidance regarding the COVID-19 restriction level for their area.
Answer · Clare Haughey: The Scottish Government recognises that people with learning disabilities will feel anxious about people not following COVID -19 guidance. That is why the Scottish Government has been working with partners including The University of Glasgow and The Scottish …
15 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support is being made available during the COVID-19 pandemic for people who have learning disabilities and who have to attend regular NHS appointments at which they would normally be supported by a family member or personal assistant.
Answer · Clare Haughey: NHS Scotland Guidance on ‘outpatient and primary care consultations during community circulation of COVID-19’ was issued to all Health Boards in September 2020. The full guidance is available at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-outpat…
15 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what easy-read format information is being made available to support people who have learning disabilities regarding the COVID-19 guidance and travel rules when local authority restriction levels change.
Answer · Clare Haughey: Scottish Government have been working with partners including People First (Scotland) and Scottish Commission for Learning Disabilities (SCLD) to produce easy-read information on Coronavirus (COVID-19.) Easy-read guidance on the Local Protection levels is av…
11 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport on 7 August 2020 that over 55s would receive an NHS winter flu vaccination by now, for what reason this has reportedly not happened, and when they will receive one.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Jeane Freeman, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport, on 4 February, announced details on the continuation of the seasonal flu vaccination programme and provided information in regard to Phase 3 (55-59 year olds) receiving their flu vaccination. This can be…
9 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether personal assistants in the social care sector who have worked during the COVID-19 pandemic will be eligible for the £500 "thank you" payment for NHS and social care staff.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Personal assistants in the social care sector will be in scope of the pro rata £500 payment being made to those NHS and social care staff who have been employed since 17 March 2020. Full details of the categories of workers who are eligible for the payment ar…
9 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what advice it is giving to cancer patients and other people with immunosuppressed conditions in relation to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The clinical advice is that Individuals with immunosuppression may not make a full immune response to vaccination. As there is no evidence on response in immunosuppressed individuals there is also no evidence upon which to base advice on the optimal timing of…
9 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the unpaid family care givers of vulnerable individuals, including cancer patients, will receive the COVID-19 vaccine and, if so, when.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: It is essential that vaccination be given to the first priority groups as set by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), and unpaid carers are included.Adult unpaid carers aged under 65 and young carers aged 16 and 17 will be offered vacci…
7 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the exclusivity agreement between Scottish Enterprise and Flamingo Land Ltd will be renewed and, if so, for what reason.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The existing exclusivity agreement is in place until 31 December 2020. Discussions between Flamingo Land Ltd and Scottish Enterprise are continuing and it is not yet possible to confirm what, if any, agreement may be in place after that time.
7 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what work it is carrying out with the UK Government regarding asbestos-related issues.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-33864 on 17 December 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/parliamentarybusine…
7 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the number of buildings that contain asbestos.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-33864 on 17 December 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/parliamentarybusine…
7 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding it provides for research into a cure for mesothelioma.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist Office (CSO) operates open competitive grant and fellowship schemes providing opportunities for funding for applied research across the wide range of health conditions and public health and care challenges in Scotland…
7 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to eradicate asbestos in all buildings.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The management of asbestos in buildings is a reserved matter for the UK Government rather than the Scottish Government. It is the responsibility of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Further enquiries can be made by contacting Archie Mitchell, Head of Asb…
4 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support is available for third sector organisations whose fundraising has been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: In March, in response to coronavirus, the Scottish Government announced a £350 million emergency package for communities. Before opening the current £40 million Community and Third Sector Recovery Programme (CTSRP), the Scottish Government had already awarded…
4 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what date applications will open for the discretionary fund to provide support to taxi drivers impacted by COVID-19.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Unlike previous funds which have been targeted towards specific groups or sectors impacted by COVID-19, this fund seeks to empower local authorities to direct additional financial support to specific groups or sectors within the business community where this …
3 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government who in Police Scotland was consulted in the development of the policy on harassment complaints; when the first contact was, and with whom.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the oral evidence provided to the Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints and related correspondence. This sets out that the then Director of Safer Communities, Gillian Russell, provided Judith Mackinnon, H…
2 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it provides to Scottish Enterprise for the Scottish Investment Bank, and how many staff are employed in this area.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: It is for the Scottish Enterprise Board to determine how the budget it receives from the Scottish Government is allocated across its various activities, including the Scottish Investment Bank (SIB) which primarily utilises Financial Transactions. The Governm…
2 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the plan for the transition of the Scottish Investment Bank to the Scottish National Investment Bank, and when that transition will take place.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish National Investment Bank (the Bank) and Scottish Enterprise are working closely together to align their activities and minimise duplication to deliver maximum benefit for businesses and the Scottish economy. As part of this and to avoid confusion…
2 Dec 2020 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it has provided for hotels during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-32799 by Joe Fitzpatrick on 10 November 2020, whether the scientific evidence on transmission mentioned in the answer will be published.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer to my previous answer in S5W-32799 and reiterate that an evidence paper is currently being prepared and will be published as soon as possible.
30 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what resources it will allocate to support people with so-called long-COVID, in light of the £10 million in additional funding in England that is being used towards establishing long-COVID clinics.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: On 29 September, the Scottish Government confirmed additional funding of £1.1 billion across NHS Boards and Health and Social Care Partnerships to help them meet COVID-19 related costs and remobilisation of services. We are working with the National Institut…
30 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce the successful bids that have been made to the Chief Scientist Office's fund into applied research on the longer-term effects of so-called long-COVID.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: We aim to be in a position to announce the funding decisions by late December 2020.
30 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5F-04546 by Nicola Sturgeon on 12 November 2020 (Official Report, c. 16), which of the COVID-19 rapid research projects referred to by the First Minister relate to so-called long-COVID.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Rapid Research in COVID-19 call was launched on 25 March 2020. At that time there was little recognition of the possible longer-term health impacts of COVID-19 infection and the call did not specifically reference long-COVID. Nevertheless, some projects …
30 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of charities now being eligible to apply for a temporary closure grant, whether it will backdate grant payments to cover the weeks when charities were not deemed eligible for this support.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The COVID-19 Restrictions Fund which supported businesses impacted by the temporary restrictions between 9 October and 2 November is now closed. Businesses, including charities and social enterprises, that meet the eligibility criteria can apply to the Strate…
30 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what advice has been issued to local authorities regarding the working arrangements for pregnant teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer · John Swinney: Safety of staff in schools is paramount. Teachers are entitled to feel safe at work and we expect schools and local authorities to make sure appropriate arrangements are in place for them. Our latest guidance on reducing coronavirus (COVID-19) risks in schoo…
30 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its response to the recent UK Spending Review, which announced a public sector pay freeze, whether it plans to increase public sector pay for workers in Scotland in its upcoming Budget.
Answer · Kate Forbes: I have made clear my opposition to the UK Government’s pay freeze, which misjudges the value of frontline efforts throughout this pandemic. The forthcoming Scottish Public Sector Pay Policy for 2021-22 will directly impact 50 public bodies, and act as a bench…
30 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to outline how it will spend the reported £2.2 billion of remaining unallocated Barnett consequentials.
Answer · Kate Forbes: As I previously indicated to the Finance and Constitution Committee, on an exceptional basis, I will provide the Committee with a high level analysis of the allocation of Barnett consequentials since the Autumn Budget Revision in early December. This will be …
30 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide further funding support to businesses in areas currently subject to Level 4 restrictions, in light of reports that the Scottish Retail Consortium estimates that non-food shops will miss out on £270 million in lost revenues over the three weeks of restrictions.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: We have now committed £570 million to support businesses between October 2020 and March 2021 which includes the £185 million announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance on 9 December. This is comprised of the strategic framework business fund, local busine…