Parliamentary questions
Pauline McNeill
2,364 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
7 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) encouragement and (b) support it offers local authorities to repurpose gap/brownfield sites for environmentally-sustainable housing.
Answer · Shona Robison: Scottish Planning Policy makes clear that local and planning authorities should consider the re-use or re-development of brownfield land before new development takes place on greenfield sites. In November 2020 the Scottish Government issued a Position Stateme…
6 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will respond to the end of the furlough scheme, and what its position is on whether there is an ongoing need for such a scheme in order to protect jobs in Scotland.
Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government has consistently called for the furlough scheme to remain in place for as long as it is needed to support businesses as we move through recovery. The UK Government should make it clear to businesses and workers, well in advance of the …
6 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the future costs of COVID-19-related health problems.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: It is not possible to accurately quantify the future associated with COVID-19 related health problems at this time, as we are still in the midst of the pandemic. Some of these impacts may not be tangible immediately but are likely to become more evident over …
6 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the scale of health complications likely to be experienced by people in the next five years as a result of them having had COVID-19.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the question S6W-01283 which is available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx
6 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the risk of new COVID-19 variants emerging from the reported current high number of cases.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: All viruses naturally mutate over time and therefore it is important that we spot any changes quickly to understand the potential risk any variant may pose. We already have a comprehensive surveillance infrastructure in place, harnessing genomic sequencing an…
6 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the likely cost of providing support for people with long COVID.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-01283 on ? 16 August 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-commit…
6 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there should be a judicial inquiry into the investigation of the murder of Emma Caldwell.
Answer · Keith Brown: My sympathies are with the family of Emma Caldwell. The criminal investigation into Emma Caldwell's death is still on-going. Any decision regarding whether it would be appropriate to undertake a judicial inquiry into any aspect of the investigation can only …
6 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve and increase the infrastructure necessary to support more electric cars.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government continues to support the national development of the ChargePlace Scotland electric vehicle charging network. We have invested over £45 million since 2011 in the ChargePlace Scotland network, which now has over 1800 publicly available c…
6 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many electric cars can be supported by the current available charge points.
Answer · Graeme Dey: Since 2013 the Scottish Government has invested over £45 million to develop the ChargePlace Scotland network, which now has 1,845 publicly available chargers. UK Government’s Department for Transport statistics show that, with 43 chargers per 100,000 of popul…
1 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to allowing universal access to nursery placements for all two-year olds who have been identified as having additional learning needs.
Answer · Clare Haughey: We know that high quality early learning and childcare (ELC) can make a huge difference to children’s lives, particularly those experiencing the most disadvantage. That is why we target funded ELC to two year olds who are most likely to benefit from early acc…
25 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the gender gap in the number of reported COVID-19 cases is an indication of its approach to allowing the Glasgow Euro fan zone to be opened.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The safety of fans attending the fan zone is paramount, that is why we have worked closely with Glasgow City Council and a range of partners to deploy a range of interventions to reduce the risk of transmission at the fan zone. Whilst we have seen an increas…
25 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-00515 by Jenny Gilruth on 21 June 2021, for what reasons it decided not to follow the same procedures set out in the UK Government Events Research Programme.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The response provided to S6W-00515 confirmed the Scottish Government’s position with the UK Government's Events Research Programme. In common with the Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive, the Scottish Government did not hold events as part of the …
25 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the reported link between the Glasgow Euro fan zone and an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases could justify greater testing for future events of this scale, to provide public reassurance.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government has worked closely with Glasgow City Council on operational plans for Fan Zone to ensure public safety. While clinical advice has cautioned against mandatory testing and checking on arrival, which may impact attendee flow and risk incr…
23 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, other than marital breakdown, what criteria are used under the New Supply Shared Equity (NSSE) scheme to determine a significant change of circumstances.
Answer · Shona Robison: The New Supply Shared Equity (NSSE) scheme aims to assist first time buyers and priority access groups to purchase a new build home from a local authority or housing association. There are no set criteria for determining a “significant change of circumstances…
23 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Scottish Water regarding water charges being applied to commercial properties that have been closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Throughout the pandemic, the Scottish Government has maintained close contact with Scottish Water and the Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS) around charging policy and was supportive of the WICS action introduce a package worth £60 million to provi…
21 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to secure the future of Glasgow Airport and ensure it remains a national airport and large employer in the west of Scotland.
Answer · Graeme Dey: Now more than ever it is essential that we are well connected to the rest of Europe and the rest of the World and our ambition is to help airports restore 2019 levels of connectivity as quickly as possible. We are working with airports, including Glasgow Airp…
21 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the reduction in personal car use that is needed to achieve its carbon reduction targets within the next decade.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The emissions pathways for Transport are set out in the Climate Change Plan update and, as with all sectors, have been determined by the TIMES model alongside other evidence and assessments. The CCPu, published in December 2020 includes a commitment to a 20…
21 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic will have on unemployment levels if furlough ends as currently planned.
Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government publishes summaries of the latest key economic statistics and analysis on the Scottish Economy in its Monthly Economic Brief, available at: https://www.gov.scot/collections/monthly-economic-briefs/ The Scottish Government’s last out…
21 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what options it is considering to facilitate the reopening of night clubs and a return of live music events.
Answer · Kate Forbes: To ensure that they remain necessary and proportionate to the health harms of Covid-19, a review was undertaken ahead of the publication of the Strategic Framework Update and the Physical Distancing Review on 22 June 2021 to consider whether an earlier re-ope…
21 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the cost to businesses of changes at short notice to COVID-19 restrictions and regulations.
Answer · Ivan McKee: In responding to the pandemic, The Scottish Government have been guided by the principles outlined in our Framework for Decision Making. Here we set out the direct and indirect harms of the pandemic, which we consider in our "four harms" approach: one of thos…
21 Jun 2021 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce the number of female prisoners on remand, following reports that one-in-four women in custody are awaiting trial.
21 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on allowing admission to (a) weddings, and (b) music events for people who can provide evidence that they have had (i) both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, or (ii) a negative COVID-19 test.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S6T-00019 on? 26 May 2021. The answer is available on the Parliament's website at: Official Report - Parliamentary Business : Scottish Parliament
21 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which scientific evidence states that allowing a band to sing will cause the audience to sing.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Performing arts activities and venues bring people together, sometimes from across a wide geographical area, in close proximity, often for an extended time period. These provide opportunities for transmission of COVID-19 as we know from, for example, SAGE evi…
21 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason, unlike in England, it has included suppliers as part of the total number of people who can attend weddings that are taking place in areas at COVID-19 protection level 1 or 0.
Answer · Ash Denham: On 22 June, the First Minister announced changes which will help benefit weddings. In particular, suppliers employed by the couple marrying or registering their civil partnership, such as a photographer, will no longer count towards the numerical caps. This c…
21 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding reducing journey times to and from Glasgow Central station on the West Coast Main Line.
Answer · Graeme Dey: I held discussions with the Minister of State for Transport on 28 June 2021 to discuss progress with the High Speed (Crewe to Manchester) Rail Bill. This proposed phase will build on the benefits of HS2 phase 1 and 2a, bringing further reductions in journey t…
21 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on HS2.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government has consistently supported high-speed rail, but not just northwards to Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds. To realise its full benefit for all of the UK high-speed rail infrastructure needs to be extended ‘further and faster’ to reach Sc…
21 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered allowing socially-distanced dancing to take place at weddings and other live music events.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Yes. This was considered for weddings, but is not supported, on the basis that ensuring that dancing is socially distanced would be very hard to control in practice and risks non-compliance with the current physical distancing requirements. Feedback from th…
21 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-35185 by Michael Matheson on 26 February 2021, whether it will provide an update on what discussions it has had with the UK Government on the benefits of HS2 to Scotland.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport has held a number of discussions with the UK Government about the benefits of HS2 to Scotland. The most recent discussions have focussed on the potential for a train manufacturing facility in Longannet …
20 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether people in critically (a) vulnerable and (b) extremely vulnerable groups will be called for the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in a shorter timescale than those in other, non-vulnerable, groups.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: 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 C…
17 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it plans to take to reverse the reported trend of missed carbon emissions targets.
Answer · Michael Matheson: It is clearly disappointing that the annual emissions target for 2019 has not been met, however the statistics in the report published by the UK Government Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy date back to 2019, and do not reflect the recen…