Questions · Rhoda Grant

5 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07780 by Kate Forbes on 4 May 2022, whether it (a) believes, (b) knows or (c) suspects that a cabinet secretary, minister or civil servant destroyed the relevant documentation.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The document confirming which Scottish minister agreed to proceed with offering Ferguson Marine Engineering Limited a contract for the building of new ferries in October 2015 has been located. Suggestions that records had been deliberately destroyed are compl…

3 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the feasibility of achieving the 2024 target for the elimination of hepatitis C.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government remains committed to achieving the 2024 elimination of hepatitis C target; however, we must acknowledge the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on all our health services. We are working closely with the Scottish Health Protecti…

3 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when in 2022 the next iteration of the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework will be published.

Answer · Maree Todd: Work on the refresh of the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework is underway. It is anticipated that it will be published in Autumn 2022.

27 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of a study in the medical journal, Health Affairs, stating that, in the United States, there were 10% fewer COVID-19-related deaths in unionised, compared with non-unionised, care homes, whether there are similar comparative figures available for Scotland, and, if not, whether …

Answer · Kevin Stewart: We do not have similar figures in Scotland because we do not hold data on whether a care home has unionised staff. There are no plans to collect that information, however in May 2021, the Care Inspectorate published a report analysing different factors affec…

19 Apr 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07775 by Humza Yousaf on 19 April 2022, for what reason it is reportedly taking a different approach to NHS England.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: In line with JCVI advice, adults aged 75 years and over, and residents in a care home for older adults, as well as individuals aged 12 years and over who are immunosuppressed, will be offered an additional booster dose in spring 2022, at least 24 weeks after …

29 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any documents recording any communications regarding events leading up to and including the award of the contract for the production of Hulls 801 and 802 have been destroyed, and, if so, whether the destruction of any such records complies with the standing arrangements for the r…

Answer · Kate Forbes: We welcome the scrutiny into the procurement, award and regrettable delays associated with Hulls 801 and 802. We have engaged fully with both the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee (RECC) inquiry, and with Audit Scotland’s recent review and have endeavo…

29 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its officials were formally directed by any of its ministers to undertake the arrangements necessary for the contract for the production of Hulls 801 and 802 following the advice from officials on the advisability of proceeding with the arrangements for the award of this contract.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Ministers did not direct officials or CMAL to enter into the contract; nor did officials or CMAL seek such a direction or “written authority” from Ministers. Transport Scotland and CMAL ensured that Ministers were informed of, and accepting of, the risks asso…

29 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the current (a) Deputy First Minister and (b) Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans was asked for and gave his formal approval to the contract arrangements for the production of Hulls 801 and 802 during their ministerial roles at the time.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The current Deputy First Minister approved the financial implications of the contract award prior to the announcement by the First Minister on 31 August 2015 that Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd (FMEL) were the preferred bidder. The current Cabinet Secretary…

29 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason people in Scotland have to wait until at least 24 weeks after their first COVID-19 booster before having their second booster, in light of people in England reportedly being able to have their second booster after 12 weeks.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: On 21 February 2022, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advised that a Spring booster dose be offered in Scotland for the following groups.adults aged 75 years and over;residents in care homes for older adults;individuals aged 12 years…

15 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will continue to monitor COVID-19 vaccinations nationally.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Vaccinations have played an important role in the fight against COVID-19. The COVID-19 Vaccination Programme will continue to be monitored in Scotland, with data accessible on the vaccinations tab of the Public Health Scotland COVID-19 Daily Dashboard, and in…

15 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how future variants of COVID-19 will be tracked in Scotland.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The monitoring of new and potentially dangerous variants is absolutely critical as we move into a new phase of the pandemic. For this reason, the Scottish Government is working with Public Health Scotland (PHS) to develop a comprehensive Respiratory Surveilla…

15 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will retain the facility to track and trace future variants of COVID-19.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: We will continue the use of existing and new and emerging testing and surveillance procedures to support early identification of future variants, including whole genome sequencing, wastewater surveillance.

15 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what will happen to staff currently working in Test and Protect as it is phased out.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is grateful for the dedication and professionalism of the workforce across the entirety of the Test and Protect system for all they have done to manage the impacts of the pandemic. As stated in the Test and Protect Transition Plan pub…

6 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in situations where the £150 council tax rebate is made by crediting council tax bills, and that payment is credited towards arrears, what further help will be made available to any such people who are already having difficulty paying their bills.

Answer · Tom Arthur: Our guidance to local authorities is clear that the £150 cost of living payment should not be applied to historic council tax debt or arrears. Households who have difficulty in meeting their council tax liability should contact their council to establish if t…

6 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what options are available to local authorities to provide the £150 council tax rebate to people who do not have a bank account or do not pay by direct debit.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The £150 cost of living payments are administered by local authorities. Councils have indicated that they are using the discretion we allowed to make payments as a credit to council tax accounts in the majority of circumstances to ensure delivery before the e…

6 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what options are available to local authorities to complete the £150 council tax rebate within the required timeframe.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The £150 cost of living payments are administered by local authorities who have discretion over whether to make them as a credit to council tax accounts or as direct payments in order to ensure delivery by the end of April 2022. Local authorities have indic…

4 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings of the Drug Deaths Taskforce have taken place since September 2019; what the key outcomes of these meetings were, and how many of these key outcomes have been implemented.

Answer · Angela Constance: Since the Drug Deaths Taskforce was established in July 2019, there have been 20 meetings of the core Taskforce, with the next meeting taking place on 13 April. There have also been a significant number of working groups, sub-group and deep dive sessions. Th…

4 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the share of the £5 million, which was allocated before the end of the 2020-21 financial year for residential drug rehabilitation services in the Highlands and Islands region, was distributed.

Answer · Angela Constance: In January 2021, the First Minister announced an additional investment of £250 million to tackle drug deaths, £100 million of which was allocated to develop residential rehabilitation services and associated aftercare over the next five years. Alongside this,…

4 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many residential drug rehabilitation spaces will be provided in the Highlands and Islands region from the £100 million that is to be allocated over the next five years.

Answer · Angela Constance: Over the course of this parliament, we are working to increase overall residential rehabilitation capacity by 50%, which is an increase from 425 beds to 650 beds. We aim to increase the number of publicly funded residential rehabilitation placements by more t…

4 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many residential drug rehabilitation spaces were provided in the Highlands and Islands region from the £5 million that was allocated before the end of the 2020-21 financial year.

Answer · Angela Constance: In January 2021, the First Minister announced an additional investment of £250 million to tackle drug deaths, £100 million of which was allocated to develop residential rehabilitation services and associated aftercare over the next five years. Alongside this,…

23 Feb 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what cross-government strategies have been identified, as part of its work on COVID-19 recovery, to support any communities and businesses in the Highlands and Islands that have not received any or substantial help throughout the pandemic.

18 Feb 2022 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is addressing the disruption to ferry services in the West of Scotland that has reportedly resulted in significant supply issues and interruptions to the lifeline service.

7 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date in 2022 the review of the strategy, The best start: five-year plan for maternity and neonatal care, will be published.

Answer · Maree Todd: The original timeframe for the Best Start Implementation Programme Board envisaged a five year implementation timeline, ending in 2022. However the programme has been effectively paused for nearly two years as NHS Boards prioritised the response to COVID-19. …

4 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) local authorities and (b) any of its agencies that have compulsory purchase powers can use such powers to purchase land for the purpose of the land being used for carbon sequestration, and what (i) legislation and (ii) guidance exists on this matter.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government has produced a range of guidance and advice notes on the use of compulsory purchase powers, which are available on our compulsory purchase webpage . Scottish Government policy and guidance on compulsory purchase orders is contained i…

1 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses' applications to the Young Company Capital Investment Grant being administered by Highlands and Islands did not progress beyond the expression of interest stage on the basis of displacement criteria.