Parliamentary questions
Jackie Baillie
9,393 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
14 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the mental and physical wellbeing of adults with learning disabilities living in supported accommodation or care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer · Clare Haughey: Scottish Government continues to give consideration to the mental health and wellbeing of everyone in care homes and supported accommodation and recognises that restrictions during the pandemic have impacted on those who have been affected. Assessment of peop…
14 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will produce guidance to allow people with learning disabilities living in supported accommodation or care homes to resume outdoor visits.
Answer · Clare Haughey: On 25 June, the Scottish Government announced that care homes should allow outdoor family and friends visiting with one visitor from 3 July and this guidance was updated on 8 August to recommend outdoor visiting with a maximum of 3 visitors from up to two hou…
14 Sep 2020 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what mitigation measures are being considered to deal with the continuing closure of the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful.
9 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether in disclosing any legal advice to a judicial inquiry it has placed any limitations on the use of that information in the proceedings of the inquiry.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-31683 on 24 September 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/parliamentarybusin…
9 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what distinction it makes between disclosing legal advice that it has received to a judicial inquiry and that disclosed to any other form of official and formal inquiry.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government does not apply any hierarchy of status to inquiries established under the Inquiries Act 2005 and Parliamentary Inquiries. Ministers recognise the value and importance of both, albeit noting that they have a different legal basis. Main…
9 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what status it regards a parliamentary inquiry to have, and whether it considers this to be lesser than that of a judicial inquiry.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-31683 on 24 September 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/parliamentarybusin…
9 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it considers that the disclosure of legal advice to a judicial inquiry does not undermine the ability in future for legal advice to be given to ministers in a full and frank manner in the knowledge it will not be disclosed, when disclosure to another form of official and …
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-31683 on 24 September 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/parliamentarybusin…
9 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it accepts that in disclosing legal advice to a judicial public inquiry that advice will or may be published and therefore be made public.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-31683 on 24 September 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/parliamentarybusin…
9 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it believes that a parliamentary inquiry into matters concerning its actions on any matter can result in improvements to policy and practices in the interests of good government.
Answer · John Swinney: Yes. The Scottish Government welcomes all opportunities to identify ways in which its policies and practices can be continuously improved.
8 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether any PPE supplied to (a) the NHS and (b) local authorities during the COVID-19 outbreak has not met the required standard and, if so, what was done with it.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The responsibility for purchasing PPE and making sure it is fit for purpose and complies with the required standards lies with each public body that procures it. Within the NHS, any issues with PPE products are reported through a central complaints facility …
8 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which companies have supplied PPE to (a) the NHS and (b) local authorities during the COVID-19 outbreak, broken down by (i) volume, (ii) value and (iii) origin of the items.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to SPICe (Bib Number - 61854).
8 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what checks it makes of the standard of PPE supplied to (a) the NHS and (b) local authorities, and whether all PPE provided during the COVID-19 outbreak has been to the required standard.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Products procured by NHS Scotland are checked to ensure compliance to appropriate technical standards: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/913041/essential-technical-specifications-ppe-and-medical-…
8 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the required standard of PPE has been in relation to protecting (a) NHS and (b) local authority staff during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The latest guidance and advice on PPE designed to protect NHS and local authority staff is published by Health Protection Scotland: https://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/guidance/ This includes guidance on the use of PPE in various settings https://www.hps.scot.nhs…
8 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing for mental health services and charities that are required to provide vital assistance to people virtually as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer · Clare Haughey: The Scottish Government is supporting a range of services and charities to provide assistance for those with Mental Health needs during the pandemic. This includes £3.8 million of additional funding to expand NHS 24’s Mental Health Hub and Breathing Space tel…
8 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that there is not a long-term crisis in mental health service provision following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer · Clare Haughey: In engagement with stakeholders we are producing a Mental Health Transition and Recovery Plan which will set out how we and our partners intend to respond to the mental health challenges that the Covid-19 pandemic will create for Scotland. As outlined in the …
8 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to reopen NHS pain clinic services to allow for people with chronic pain to resume treatment.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: We appreciate how difficult it has been for people who have had procedures or treatments postponed due to the pandemic, and in particular, for those living with chronic pain, whose quality of life may have been affected. Health Boards are continuing to remob…
8 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many inpatient beds have been available for mental health patients from 1 January 2020 to date, also broken down by (a) month and (b) NHS board, and how these figures compare to the number of beds available in each month since 1 September 2015.
Answer · Clare Haughey: The data on the number of inpatients beds available for mental health patients for the period 1 January to date is not yet available. Public Health Scotland will publish data from the 1st January 2020 to 31st March 2020 on the 29th September. I will write to …
4 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the COVID-19 mobile testing units will test young people under the age of 18.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Under 18s can present to the MTU for self testing if able or younger children can be tested by their parent or guardian. The teams on site have instruction leaflets for parents testing their children if required.
4 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many COVID-19 mobile testing units have closed during advertised operational hours because of a lack of booked appointments, broken down by (a) date and (b) location.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government is not aware of any mobile testing units (MTUs) closing due to lack of booked appointments. The only occasions where MTUs have had to close have been due to adverse weather conditions or other site issues such as unplanned building wo…
4 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-31447 by Jeane Freeman on 3 September 2020, what steps it is taking to provide permanent COVID-19 testing facilities in the Dumbarton constituency.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: As mentioned within the answer to question S5W-31447 we continue to keep locations under review. In terms of access for Dumbarton residents, along with the regional testing site at Glasgow Airport that offers drive through testing, we have Mobile Test Units …
4 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-31447 by Jeane Freeman on 3 September 2020, on how many occasions a COVID-19 mobile testing unit has visited (a) Helensburgh, (b) Dumbarton and (c) Vale of Leven, broken down by (i) date and (ii) the number of people seen.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Please find list of dates attended each site and the number of tests conducted as of 15 September 2020. Helensburgh 20 July – 0 tests 21 July - 13 tests 27 July - 18 tests 28 July – 19 tests 3 August – 22 tests 4 August – 33 tests 10 August – 30 tests…
31 Aug 2020 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to ensure that the Test and Protect system is functioning effectively.
28 Aug 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of annual average investment spending of Scottish Water in the 2035-36 and 2039-40 periods it expects will be met through government borrowing.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The average annual investment for 2035-36 and 2039-40 and the level of borrowing at that time will be determined in future Strategic Review of Charges processes. In the long-term modelling carried out by WICS for their Decision Paper “Prospects for Prices”, t…
28 Aug 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S5W-30854, S5W-30856 and S5W-30857 by Roseanna Cunningham on 13 August 2020, what the daily rate is at which the Chief Executive of the Water Industry Commission for Scotland's time is being charged out on contracts undertaken.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The daily rate varies depending on the nature of the project. To date, this has ranged from £800 to £1,500.
28 Aug 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-30850 by Roseanna Cunningham on 13 August 2020, how much the Water Industry Commission has paid toward forest planting in offsetting carbon emissions in each of the last five years, and to whom these payments have been made.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Commission began to make payments to offset its carbon emissions in 2018-19. The Commission made a contribution to Carbon Footprint Ltd totalling £1,780.20, which was equivalent to 138 trees being planted in Scotland, and balanced all the emissions from f…
28 Aug 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-30852 by Kate Forbes on 10 August 2020, whether it expects each of its agencies to have policies on the personal use of frequent flyer schemes and, if so, whether these schemes should be consistent with its policy that they should not be used for pe…
Answer · Kate Forbes: Accountable Officers in Scottish Government agencies have responsibility to determine operational guidance to meet business requirements, taking account of Scottish Government guidance which reflects best practice and aligns with the values of the Civil Servi…
28 Aug 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of the annual average investment spending of Scottish Water that has been planned will have been met through (a) government borrowing during the 2015-16 to 2020-21 period and (b) the modelled logarithm that underlies the approach to future water charges created by the Wat…
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to S5W-23180 on 22 May 2019 for previous information on borrowing and investment and can confirm that (a) The Final Determination for the period 2015-21 was based on an investment programme of £3.036million in 2012-13 prices, …
28 Aug 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there is any funding remaining from the (a) Small Business Grant and (b) Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant scheme since its closure to new applications on 10 July 2020 and, if so, where it plans to spend any remaining funding.
Answer · Kate Forbes: As at 4 August 2020, over 106,500 applications had been made for the Small Business Grant Scheme and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Scheme across Scotland. Of these applications, over 89,000 grants valuing over £998 million have been awarded. Loca…
27 Aug 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many COVID-19 tests were carried out at the mobile testing units that were stationed in (a) Helensburgh on 27-28 July 2020 and (b) Dumbarton on 28 July to 2 August 2020.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The number of tests carried out at Helensburgh on 27-28 July 2020 = 37 (18 on 27 July and 19 on 28 July) The mobile testing unit in Dumbarton was set up on 3 September and no information exists for the period 28 July - 2 August.
27 Aug 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide permanent local COVID-19 testing facilities in the Dumbarton constituency.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: We deploy mobile test units to sites in agreement with local and regional resilience partnerships who work closely with local public health teams and local authorities to identify locations either where there is specific need for testing to manage outbreaks a…