Lewis Macdonald

2 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it proposes to include the North Sea oil and gas sector within its economic recovery plans.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The oil and gas industry remains a critical component of the Scottish economy, with oil and gas extraction alone worth £8.8 billion in GVA (5% of GDP) to the Scottish economy in 2019. The industry estimate that in total it supported employment of 101,400 in S…

2 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it plans to provide to the North Sea oil and gas workforce during the COVID-19 crisis.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The oil and gas sector continues to be significantly affected by the impact of COVID-19 and the fall in oil price and this has unfortunately led to a number of redundancies across the sector. Skills Development Scotland is continuing to offer PACE support ser…

1 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to calls by the Music Venues Alliance and by owners and operators of grassroots music venues for immediate support of £3.4 million to cover the losses venues will face between July and September 2020 because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: On 10 July the Scottish Government announced a £2.2m fund to help grassroots music venues with fixed costs while venues remain closed. This fund, including its £2.2m value, has been agreed with the Music Venue Trust. We will continue to discuss with the Mus…

28 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when learner drivers will be able to resume (a) formal driving lessons and (b) informal driving practice with family or friends.

Answer · Michael Matheson: An update on the resumption of driving lessons will be made by the First Minister on 30 July 2020. Any decision on the resumption of driving lessons will be on the basis of an analysis of risk. This will include the prevalence of the virus and the specific ci…

28 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the British Neuroscience Association’s recent survey into the challenges facing researchers as a result of COVID-19, what efforts it is making to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on the neuroscience research sector.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government has established strategic and operational groups focussed on enabling health research studies which were paused due to Covid-19 to reopen as quickly and safely as possible. In respect to funding of research staff in NHS Scotland, as we…

26 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many pandemic management exercises have been run in Scotland relating to (a) influenza, (b) coronaviruses and (c) other diseases, and whether it has published the reports and recommendations from each of these.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Since the H1N1 pandemic in 2009-10, Exercise Silver Swan was organised by the Scottish Government in 2015 and related to an influenza pandemic. The exercise report and recommendations are available on the Scottish Government website https://www.gov.scot/publ…

26 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-28973 by Clare Haughey on 19 May 2020, what information it has now received from the National Records of Scotland and the Scottish Learning Disability Observatory regarding the number of people with (a) autism and (b) learning disabilities who have …

Answer · Clare Haughey: A diagnosis of autism is not recorded on either census or death certificate data, it is therefore not possible to identify the number of people with autism who have died from COVID. In answer to (b), the Scottish Learning Disability Observatory have begun a …

26 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the rates of (a) vacancies and (b) sickness absence for care home staff have been in each of the last six months in the (i) private, (ii) voluntary and (iii) public sector.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: (a) The Scottish Government does not hold this level of information. The Care Inspectorate and Scottish Social Services Council jointly publish an annual report on staff vacancies in registered care services which uses information provided by services in thei…

26 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of care home staff is currently paid the Living Wage in the (a) private, (b) voluntary and (c) public sector.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Scottish Government does not hold data on levels of pay for care home workers. Since October 2016, the Scottish Government has provided funding to enable adult social care workers to be paid the Real Living Wage for waking hours. During 2018-19, this commitm…

26 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what level of sick pay is provided in the event of sickness absence to care home staff in the (a) private, (b) voluntary and (c) public sector.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Scottish Government does not hold this data. Social care workers are employed by local authorities, third and independent sector providers or by the people they support directly. We are aware that, while some employers offer employment contracts closer to the…

26 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received any thematic reports from the Care Inspectorate dealing with pandemic preparedness in care homes, and if so, whether it will publish such reports.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Care Inspectorate has not undertaken thematic inspections dealing with pandemic preparedness in care homes. However, to support inspections being undertaken during this pandemic, the Care Inspectorate recently introduced a new key question to its quality …

26 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any of its pandemic management exercises tested the pandemic preparedness of care homes, and, if so, whether it will (a) list all the aspects that were tested as part of each exercise and (b) publish the assessment reports and recommendations from each.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: In 2015, the Scottish Government and other keys partners participated in Exercise Silver Swan. The aim of the exercise was to assess the preparedness and response of Scotland’s local and national arrangements for an influenza pandemic over a prolonged period.…

26 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether assessing the pandemic preparedness of care homes is part of the Care Inspectorate’s remit, and, if so, how many care homes it has inspected for pandemic preparedness in each of the last five years.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Assessing a care home’s pandemic preparedness is not part of the Care Inspectorate’s remit. However, the Care Inspectorate assess the ability of a care home service to provide high quality care and support to residents. The Care Inspectorate recently introduc…

17 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has taken scientific advice on sampling wastewater as a means of identifying the presence or tracking the spread of SARS-Cov-2.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Government is directly supporting research to develop the scientific techniques which are needed to sample wastewater as a way to track the spread of SARS-CoV-2. The project has been commissioned at the request of Scottish Water through Scotland’s Ce…

17 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-29605 by Kate Forbes on 16 June 2020, whether it will publish the costs per council included in the cost collection exercise submitted by COSLA on 19 May.

Answer · Kate Forbes: As the Scottish Government only received a high level summary of the position at the all Scotland level for the cost collection exercise submitted by COSLA on 19 May, we are unable to provide the cost for individual local authorities.

15 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will reconsider the two-metre social distance rule, in light of World Health Organization (WHO) guidance, and, if so, when.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government has reviewed the 2 metre physical distancing rule and has decided that it will remain in place as a key measure in the prevention and mitigation of the transmission of Covid. We have agreed that from the 15 July there can be conditiona…

15 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when regular blood donors aged over 70 will be able to resume making blood donations.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The safety and wellbeing of donors is paramount to the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service. At this time, individuals aged 70 or over are unable to donate due to their increased risk if they become infected with the SARS CoV-2 virus. This restrictio…

15 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what initiatives it is undertaking to promote healthier lifestyles in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Our efforts over the past three months have been focussed on limiting the spread of the coronavirus and protecting people from the impacts of COVID-19. We know that healthy lifestyles can, in many instances, be a protective factor against the virus and the se…

15 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when owners of self-catering businesses will be able to visit their properties to conduct essential maintenance and to prepare for re-opening.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: From 29 June 2020 owners of self-catering businesses have been able to travel to their second homes to ensure that it is secure and in good condition. This guidance was published on 22 June, which outlined how Scotland’s route map for easing out of lockdown r…

14 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that major retail operators in Scotland are following the timetable and requirements on easing the lockdown and safe reopening that apply to their type of business in Scotland, rather than following those that apply elsewhere.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: As public health is a devolved matter, our approach is tailored to Scotland’s public health needs. As a consequence, our approach may not mirror other parts of the UK. Ministers and officials continue to engage with employers and industry representatives to …

11 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will fulfil its commitment in its COVID-19 framework for decision making to support Scotland's partner countries of Malawi, Zambia and Rwanda to build resilience to, and tackle the impact of, COVID-19.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: We are monitoring the situation particularly closely in our African international development partner countries – Malawi, Zambia and Rwanda – including through contact with partners and others on the ground. We are continuing through this unprecedented time …

8 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment was made of the ability of (a) care home services for adults and (b) other care services, which had an unsatisfactory or weak grading to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: All care home services and their staff have been working under extremely challenging circumstances, with outbreaks of Covid-19 being reported in services regardless of their most recent inspection grading. Inspection is just one element of the rigorous scrut…

8 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many inspections were carried out by the Care Inspectorate of care home for adults in each year since 2014, and how many of these were return inspections.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The relevant data is provided in the following table.    Inspection year 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 Total number of inspections completed in Care Homes for adults 1676 1505 1372 1286 1250 1129 'Return inspections' in Care …

8 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-26399 by Jeane Freeman on 22 November 2019, how many care homes for adults have been graded as (a) unsatisfactory and (b) weak for “Quality of staffing/How good is our staff team?” since 1 August 2019.

Answer · Jeane Freeman:  a) 3 care home services for adults were evaluated as ‘Unsatisfactory’ for the “How good is our staff team?” key question between 1 August 2019 and 9 June 2020. b) 13 care home services for adults were evaluated as ‘Weak’ for the “How good is our staff team?…

8 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many patients who were discharged from hospital in each month of 2020 were transferred into care homes that had either an (a) unsatisfactory or (b) weak grading from the Care Inspectorate.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Information on the specific care home patients are discharged to is not held centrally. I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-29530 on 17 June 2020 for further information on the number of delayed patients discharged to care homes. All answers to w…

8 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for the number of patients discharged from hospital, in each month of 2020, who were transferred to care homes that had reported a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-29039 on 2 July 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/parliamentarybusiness/28…

8 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times in (a) 2018, (b) 2019 and (c) each month of 2020, ministers requested the inspection of a care home for adults under section 55 of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Scottish Ministers have made no requests for inspections of care homes for adults under section 55 of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 in 2018, 2019, or 2020. I meet with the Care Inspectorate regularly to discuss a number of matters including …

8 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions in (a) 2018, (b) 2019 and (c) 2020 the Care Inspectorate has imposed emergency conditions, under section 67 of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010, on providers in respect of (i) care homes for adult and (ii) other care services.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Only one emergency condition notice (under section 67) has been issued by the Care Inspectorate since 2018. This was to a childminding service in May 2018. 2018 (i) 0, (ii) 1 2019 (i) 0, (ii) 0 2020 (i) 0, (ii) 0 *up to 31 May 2020.

3 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5T-02130 by Kate Forbes on 5 May 2020 (Official Report, c.14), in light of the cabinet secretary's comment that "it would be highly irresponsible to allocate money without carrying out the analysis that is necessary to understanding and determining whe…

Answer · Kate Forbes: The cost collection exercise was submitted by COSLA on 19 May, however COSLA have confirmed that further iterations of this document will be required due to the pace and nature of changes during the pandemic. The Scottish Government have already committed ov…

1 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide guidance to local authorities to specify that taxi drivers should be permitted to install protective screening in their vehicles, and what conditions, if any, should apply.

Answer · Ash Denham: The Scottish Government is clear that measures should be in place to ensure safe workplaces across a whole range of sectors, including for private hire car drivers. We are actively working with local authorities and Health Protection Scotland to ensure guidan…