James Kelly

16 Mar 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to reduce hospital waiting times.

10 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has given further consideration to ensuring that the fitness and exercise industry will re-open at the earliest opportunity as lockdown restrictions ease. 

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of being physically active and we want to see the sector to open when deemed safe to do so. From Friday 12 March, outdoor exercise classes can take place of groups up to 15 people, so a fitness coach can lead…

3 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether social housing staff will be considered as a priority group for the COVID-19 vaccine, given their frequent interaction with older and vulnerable people.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Currently there is no sectoral prioritisation of any workers other than frontline health and social care workers. Individual social housing workers will be called forward for vaccination according to their position on the prioritisation list, if they are elig…

3 Mar 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the process will commence to appoint a new operator for the ScotRail franchise.

26 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported increase in retail crime during the COVID-19 pandemic, whether it will establish a fund to support retailers seeking to improve their CCTV and security systems.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government is committed to supporting retailers in tackling any form of retail crime. A new criminal offence of assaulting, threatening and/or abusing a retail worker is expected to commence at the end of Summer 2021. Whilst there are currently …

26 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will support the recovery of deprived areas from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Fairness is at the heart of the Scottish Governments approach to the recovery from Covid-19. The impact on our economy and labour market has been significant and we are committed to work towards a better future for our communities and businesses. We must ensu…

26 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to target COVID-19 vaccinations in deprived areas following the completion of vaccination roll-out for medically-vulnerable groups.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The JCVI group has considered evidence and all factors including age, ethnicity, occupation and additional vulnerabilities and concluded that rapid vaccine deployment is the most important means to maximise public health benefits against severe outcomes from …

23 Feb 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the needs of local government.

16 Feb 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to promote fair pay practices.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Workers must be paid – and paid fairly – for the work they do. Fair pay is fundamental to Fair Work and we are committed to promoting payment of the real Living Wage and employer accreditation. We have included payment of the real Living Wage in the criteria …

2 Feb 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the action it is taking to meet its carbon emissions targets.

22 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates applications will reopen for the 2021-22 First Home Fund.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The First Home Fund will reopen on 1 April for applications due to complete in financial year 2021-22.

8 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when all care homes will have access to COVID-19 visitor testing.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government has rolled out rapid testing in care homes to support essential visits, supplying all adult care homes in Scotland with Lateral Flow Devices. Currently all of mainland Scotland and the islands of Barra and Vatersay are in COVID protec…

22 Dec 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect older people in Glasgow from the impact of COVID-19.

21 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent report on forgivable loan support that was published by the Edinburgh Business School.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The study highlights what may be an important gap in the employment support schemes offered by the UK Government. We will consider the report's findings carefully and, if appropriate, will raise these issues in our regular engagement with the UK Government.  

16 Dec 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to ensure that school pupils in areas of social deprivation will not be unfairly affected by the cancellation of exams.

8 Dec 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support businesses that are struggling to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic.

23 Nov 2020 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to address concerns that COVID-19 rates are higher in areas with greater poverty and deprivation.

20 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will confirm at what time on 11 December 2020 the Level 4 COVID-19 restrictions will end.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The First Minister confirmed in her statement to the Scottish Parliament of 8 December that the restrictions introduced under level 4 would be lifted at 6pm on 11 December, with one exception. Retail premises that have been closed under the restrictions will …

19 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government under what circumstances door-to-door sales will be permitted under Level 4 COVID-19 restrictions.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Any retail business with a shop or store which has been required to close due to level four restrictions is not able to sell goods door-to-door. A retailer that does not operate from a shop or store can sell items door-to-door provided the transaction takes p…

18 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what evidence it considered when making the decision to close gym facilities in Level 4 areas.

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…

17 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has implemented the necessary changes to legislation to delay the introduction of new fire safety standards to 2022.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Yes. Draft regulations to amend the commencement date of the new fire safety standards to February 2022 were laid in the Scottish Parliament on 20 November 2020. These regulations are subject to approval by Parliament and will be considered by the Local Gover…

17 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to begin the roll-out of COVID-19 testing for care home staff across all NHS board areas.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Routine weekly testing has been offered to all care home staff across all NHS health board areas since the 25 th of May.

5 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government to what extent special advisers are involved in its decision making regarding COVID-19 restrictions.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The role of Special Advisers within the Scottish Government can be found in the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers at https://www.gov.scot/publications/special-advisers-code-of-conduct-and-model-contract/ and the Scottish Ministerial Code https://www.gov…

28 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will update the COVID-19 Strategic Framework to make it explicit that children are allowed to move between the homes of separated parents.

Answer · Ash Denham: The revised version of the Strategic Framework now lists one of the exemptions for travel as where this is for shared parenting. The revised Strategic Framework is available at the link below: https://www.gov.scot/publications/covid-19-scotlands-strategic-fra…

26 Oct 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will revisit its decision to suspend outdoor amateur sports such as football across the Central Belt, in light of the benefits that sport offers for participants' physical and mental wellbeing.

13 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, it light of the potential benefits of outdoor team sports on mental and physical health and the positive impact that sports clubs can bring to communities, whether it will reconsider the COVID-19 restrictions on such activities.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: We recognise the benefits that all sport and physical activity brings to physical and mental health as well as the key role sports clubs play in local communities. From 2 November 2020, a strategic approach to outbreak management based on five levels of prot…

9 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it introduced COVID-19 restrictions on group exercise, and what evidence it considered when making this decision.

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…

9 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will continue to communicate with the hospitality industry in relation to Test and Protect while businesses are closed.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Local authorities will utilise their contacts systems to ensure any hospitality businesses that are closed can be reached in the event Test and Protect services need to engage.

9 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what alternatives it considered prior to the announcement of the revised COVID-19 restrictions on 7 October 2020, and for what reason each of these options was rejected.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government considered a range of options around social gathering, hospitality, wider areas of economy and transport in relation to restrictions required to suppress the virus. In doing so the Scottish Government took into account a range of consi…

18 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to promote new fire safety standards among home owners ahead of them being introduced in February 2021.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: An announcement was made on 28 March 2018 of our intention to strengthen the current standards we have in place for fire alarms. This announcement was widely reported in press, television and social media as well as housing and electrical related publications…