Jackie Baillie

4 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government under what circumstances eight-year-olds are required to wear face coverings, broken down by the environments in which these requirements exist.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-33027 on 20 November 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…

4 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether eight-year-olds are required to wear face coverings when entering and exiting buildings, including sports centres.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: In recognition that there are times when a person might be unable, or it would be inappropriate for them to wear a face covering, there are exemptions in the regulations and guidance. This includes an exemption for babies, toddlers and children under 5 years…

2 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will temporarily re-categorise museums to allow them to be classified as public buildings and remain open in areas under tier 3 restrictions.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The published Coronavirus (COVID-19): local protection levels guidance indicates that for level 3, visitor attractions, such as museums , can remain open with protective measures. This is the same status as that for public buildings for level 3. The protecti…

27 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether scheduled surgeries within private hospitals will still be allowed to go ahead under its COVID-19 Strategic Framework, and, if so, how this will be applied in each of the five tiers.    

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Urgent scheduled care will continue to be carried out within private hospitals where agreed under the COVID-19 Strategic Framework, unless it is deemed unsafe to do so. The only circumstance where this will be the case is if infection prevention and control m…

26 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the evidence it received on which it based its decision to the close group classes in gyms and other exercise facilities.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Decisions on what sectors and activities to re-open on our route out of lockdown are guided by the principles set out in our Framework for Decision Making. Proposals are technically assessed using the best available evidence and analysis of their potential be…

26 Oct 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when NHS boards will be in a position to provide clinics that will specifically treat the long-term effects of COVID-19.

26 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what was discussed at the reported meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture and representatives of BiFab on 19 September 2020, and whether it will publish a minute of the meeting.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The purpose was to raise our concerns about the financial state of the company (about which we needed further information) and the risk to securing the NNG contract because of that. We made it clear that the majority shareholder had responsibilities and we ha…

26 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has contributed to BiFab in financial support.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: In order to save BiFab from closure in 2017, and to support delivery of SSE’s Beatrice Offshore Wind project, the Scottish Government invested £37.4 million through a combination of equity and loan facilities and converted this to a 32.4% equity stake in BiFa…

26 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it sought advice from the EU regarding the application of state aid rules in relation to BiFab.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government does not approach the EU directly for State aid advice. The Government has a State aid team supported by legal advice, which ensures all public interventions are compliant within State aid rules. Furthermore, Section 57(2) of the Scot…

26 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish all correspondence it has had with BiFab in the last six months.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I am concerned that the cost of locating, retrieving and providing the information would exceed the upper cost limits associated with such requests. This would also consume valuable Scottish Government time and resource, at a time when we rightly focused on w…

26 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-32297 by Jeane Freeman on 23 October 2020, whether there are specific plans to open dedicated clinics that treat the long-term symptoms of COVID-19; if so, what timeframe it has for the opening of such clinics, and where these will be situated.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to my answer to question S5O-04711, provided in the Chamber on 4 November 2020. The answer can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12916 .

26 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-32297 by Jeane Freeman on 23 October 2020, whether it will request that NHS boards accelerate plans to open dedicated clinics that treat the long-term symptoms of COVID-19.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to my answer to question S5O-04711, provided in the Chamber on 4 November 2020. The answer can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12916 .

26 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what legal advice was commissioned in relation to the recent decision to withdraw guarantees from BiFab; who commissioned the advice, and whether it will be published.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: In accordance with the Scottish Ministerial code paragraph 2.38, Ministers may acknowledge publicly that they have received legal advice on a particular topic, but must not divulge either who provided the advice or its contents.  

20 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will publish Scottish Water’s 2019-20 annual accounts, and for what reason ministers have reportedly delayed publication. 

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Water's Annual Accounts will be published and laid in Parliament as soon as possible. The delay in publication this year, in common with many other businesses and organisations, is a necessary consequence of action to address impacts of the ongoing C…

19 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to commence its consultation on the provision of short-term mobility aids with health and social care partnerships; when it expects this consultation to conclude; when it aims to issue final guidance on provision to partnerships, and from what date it expects this guidanc…

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Officials are currently working towards relaunching the consultation on the implementation of the proposed guidance on the provision of wheelchairs on short term loan this month. It is expected that the consultation will last for approximately three weeks, an…

19 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of the draft determination for the strategic review of water charges for 2021-27 by the Water Industry Commission for Scotland, what specific power or duty the Commission has beyond its statutory requirement to determine any maximum water charges to set a mini…

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: There is no direct legal power or duty for the Water Industry Commission for Scotland to set a minimum income requirement for Scottish Water. Water Industry Commission for Scotland has a duty to promote the interests of current customers and have due regard t…

14 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will meet representatives from the housebuilding, construction and renewable energy sectors regarding their reported concerns about the impact that the proposals set out in its technical consultation on amendments to housing planning policy could have on jobs in housebuilding …

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Planning officials have met with a cross-section of representative bodies regarding the consultation on amendments to housing planning policy, including representatives of the housebuilding, construction and renewables sectors. This is a formal written consu…

13 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government were there any meetings between the former Chief of Staff to Alex Salmond, Geoff Aberdein, and the (a) First Minister or (b) current Chief of Staff to the First Minister prior to the meeting on 29 March 2018 and, if so, what was discussed.

Answer · Graeme Dey: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-32527 on 11 November 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…

13 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the meeting between the First Minister and the former Chief of Staff to Alex Salmond, Geoff Aberdein, scheduled for 29 March 2018 was removed from the ministerial diary; by whom, and on whose instruction.

Answer · Graeme Dey: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-32527 on 11 November 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…

13 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the meeting between the First Minister and the former Chief of Staff to Alex Salmond, Geoff Aberdein, scheduled for 29 March 2018 was first placed in the ministerial diary; by whom, and on whose instruction.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government holds no information.

13 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government where the meeting between the First Minister and the former Chief of Staff to Alex Salmond, Geoff Aberdein, on 29 March 2018 took place.

Answer · Graeme Dey: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-32527 on 11 November 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…

13 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the purpose was of the meeting between the First Minister and the former Chief of Staff to Alex Salmond, Geoff Aberdein, on 29 March 2018, and who arranged it.

Answer · Graeme Dey: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-32527 on 11 November 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…

5 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to open clinics for people who are experiencing long-term effects from COVID-19.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: We are closely monitoring the emerging evidence about the longer-term physical and mental health impacts of COVID-19 and recognise that rehabilitation, clinical input and research are all critical to understanding and supporting recovery. That is why on 5 Oc…

5 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recommendation in the Glasgow Disability Alliance report, Supercharged: A Human Catastrophe - Inequalities, Participation and Human Rights before, during and beyond COVID-19, that the Independent Living Fund (ILF) in Scotland should be reopened to new applican…

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Following the closure of ILF UK scheme in 2015, Scottish Ministers have protected the independent living fund in Scotland. In contrast this resource was transferred to local authorities in England and Wales whilst the public body ILF Scotland was created to a…

5 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it monitors productivity in its directorates and agencies and, if so, what approach it takes to doing so.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government continuously assesses the value for money of its operations and programmes of delivery. This is done through the monitoring of the allocation of resources (both human and financial) and the delivery of its core functions and services. …

2 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what portfolios in the Scottish Budget have been impacted by the reprioritisation of £142 million in the Autumn Budget Revision.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The portfolios shown in the following table released budget for reprioritisation in the Autumn Budget Revision This budget was transferred to central resources where it was added to the Barnett consequentials and deployed to COVID-19 priority areas as detaile…

2 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been delivered by the Scottish National Investment Bank this year to support economic recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic, and whether it will provide a breakdown of how this has been allocated.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer given to question S5W-32195 on 20 October 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/parliamentaryb…

29 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-30017 by Roseanna Cunningham on 6 May 2020, whether it will provide an update regarding how much capital expenditure Scottish Water plans for 2020-21.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Water currently estimates its capital investment expenditure to be some £590m in 2020-21. This will be kept under review as Scottish Water develops its understanding of the impact of new ways of safe working following COVID-19, and based on any furth…

24 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to provide financial assistance to the Independent Food Aid Network.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government engages with the Independent Food Aid Network on a regular basis, including through a fortnightly meeting of delivery stakeholders. Questions of risk and pressure are discussed across the network and a collaborative approach taken to p…

24 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it will provide to food banks in each local authority in 2020-21; how much has been allocated in the financial year to date, and how much it plans to provide in 2021-22, also broken down by the amount for each food bank receiving direct assistance.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government provides assistance to food banks in a number of ways, including through the provision of funding and wider advice and support. The Scottish Government takes a cash-first approach to tackling food insecurity. Our investment helps to ge…