Parliamentary questions
Murdo Fraser
2,062 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
8 Sep 2020 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving to businesses that have been impacted the most by COVID-19 restrictions.
7 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce details of the 2020-21 flu vaccination programme, including the vaccinations to be provided at GP surgeries.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Responsibility for delivering the Seasonal Flu Vaccine in 2020-21 rests with Health Boards and Integration Authorities with support from GP practices. The administration of vaccinations provided in General Practices will depend on each Health Board’s individu…
1 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-27864 by Kate Forbes on 19 March 2020, what the current total level of its borrowing is, and what this represents as a percentage of its borrowing capacity.
Answer · Kate Forbes: The current level of Scottish Government capital borrowing is £1.58 billion, 53% of the £3 billion capital borrowing capacity. The reduction in debt level reflects repayments of existing borrowing in August 2020. The Scottish Government intends to drawdown a…
1 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on its various COVID-19 health-related advertising campaigns across all media channels since 23 March 2020.
Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government has spent £5.8 million on various Covid-health related campaigns across all media channels since 23 March 2020.
20 Aug 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what criteria will be in place for holiday clubs that plan to open during the October 2020 school holidays.
Answer · Maree Todd: Holiday clubs may be delivered by either regulated childcare providers or by sports or activity providers. If the club is providing regulated childcare, they will require to follow the guidance published for reopening school age childcare or early learnin…
19 Aug 2020 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consultation it had with assistive technology companies and others prior to the publication of its paper, Framework for Supporting People through Recovery and Rehabilitation during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic, and how these stakeholders will be involved with the National Advisor…
Answer · Jeane Freeman: We have published the list of organisations who informed the consultation and this can be found in the Framework for supporting people through Recovery and Rehabilitation during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic, which is available to read on the Scottish Gover…
14 Aug 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S5O-04462 and S5O-04463 by Kate Forbes on 13 August 2020 (Official Report, c. 5), whether it will provide a breakdown of all additional funding that it has received from the UK Government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has allocated t…
Answer · Kate Forbes: The UK Government confirmed on 24 July that the Scottish Government will receive a minimum of £6.5 billion of Covid-19 Barnett consequentials in 2020-21. This represented an increase of £800m more than previous estimates which had been provided by Treasury ba…
5 Aug 2020 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason source emissions rose by 1.5% from 2017 to 2018.
20 Jul 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects professional providers of complementary, natural and alternative medicines to be permitted to reopen their practices.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Following a clinical assessment, personal retail services, including Complementary and Alternative Medicine services (CAMs) and massage therapy, were advised that they could resume services as of 22 July 2020, where the service is carried out in a therapist’s…
17 Jul 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates outdoor holiday clubs for school-aged children will be able to resume activities.
Answer · Maree Todd: There are two circumstances in which outdoor holiday clubs can be provided over the summer period. Firstly, if the provider is a service registered with the Care Inspectorate to provide childcare and is able to operate within the current guidance for fully o…
17 Jul 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates providers of acupuncture treatment will be permitted to return to work.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Following a clinical assessment, personal retail services, including Complementary and Alternative Medicine services (CAMs) and massage therapy, were advised that they could resume services as of 22 July 2020, where the service is carried out in a therapist’s…
17 Jul 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason acupuncturists and providers of other health services have not been permitted to return to work, in light of hairdressers being permitted to do so on 15 July 2020.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Following a clinical assessment, personal retail services, including Complementary and Alternative Medicine services (CAMs) and massage therapy, were advised that they could resume services as of 22 July 2020, where the service is carried out in a therapist’s…
17 Jul 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates equestrian competitions will be permitted to resume.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government and sport scotland have been working with partners on a range of sports and activities on the way they can resume in a safe way. All sports and activities pose different challenges, which can impact on the timing of resumption of certa…
17 Jul 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason equestrian competitions have not been permitted to resume, in light of other outdoor-based sports being able to.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-30787 on 11 August 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…
15 Jul 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what date it expects motor caravanner rallies to be able to resume meetings.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: An organised event, such as a motor caravan rally, will be covered by the dates for reopening of the events sector. The First Minister published an update to the Routemap on 30 July, which proposed an indicative date of 24 August for live outdoor events and 1…
26 Jun 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason hospitality venues will be permitted to open to the public in July 2020, but not places of worship.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: We recognise how difficult it has been for Scotland’s faith communities to be unable to come together in places of worship at this challenging time. This was of course necessary due to the pandemic and I appreciate the understanding and patience our faith com…
12 Jun 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects self-employed driving instructors to be able to resume driving lessons with the general public.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Having clear guidance in order for businesses to restart safely is vital, particularly as there is a heightened risk of transmission of the virus between instructors and learner drivers due to their proximity during lessons, so we are developing guidance for …
12 Jun 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects driving test centres to be able to reopen for driving tests.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency is responsible for driver testing and test centres. Whilst the timing of the reopening of test centres and the resumption of driving tests is reserved to the UK Government, that decision would have to be in line with the …
2 Jun 2020 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason prisoners are not routinely tested for COVID-19 before release.
27 May 2020 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the reported increase in incidents of flytipping in the countryside.
20 May 2020 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how social distancing might be maintained should schools be reopened.
19 Feb 2020 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average waiting times are for an urology appointment at NHS Tayside.
13 Feb 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what in-year underspends in the Scottish Budget have accumulated for the financial year 2019-20.
Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government forecast underspend as at 31 March 2020 will be included in the Brief Guide to the Spring Budget Revision that will be provided to the members of the Finance Committee by 4 March 2020.
4 Feb 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what clinical basis children are being prescribed puberty blockers.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: As indicated in answers to PQ 27279 and 27280 on 20 February 2020 the term “Puberty Blockers” is non-specific and could be applied to a range of medicines used for a variety of conditions. For example in children whose puberty started abnormally early; to pr…
4 Feb 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many children have been prescribed puberty blockers in each of the last five years.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The information requested is not held centrally. The term “Puberty Blockers” is non-specific and could be applied to a range of medicines used for a variety of conditions. For example in children whose puberty started abnormally early, to promote the developm…
4 Feb 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the cost to the NHS has been of prescribing puberty blockers in each of the last five years.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The information requested is not held centrally. The term “Puberty Blockers” is non-specific and could be applied to a range of medicines used for a variety of conditions. For example in children whose puberty started abnormally early, to promote the developm…
4 Feb 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans, like NHS England, to establish an independent expert group to consider the use of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Given the intention of NHS England to establish the expert group we will not duplicate that work but will consider its findings and any related changes to policy that may be required.
4 Feb 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what provision the NHS has made for future damages claims from adults who were inappropriately prescribed puberty blockers as children.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: As indicted in the answers to S5W-27279 and S5W-27280 on 20 February 2020 and S5W-27281 on 9 March 2020 and S5W-27282 on 14 April 2020 the term “Puberty Blockers” is non-specific and could be applied to a range of medicines used for a variety of conditions. F…
4 Feb 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the long-term health impacts, both physical and mental, of prescribing puberty blockers to children.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: As indicted in the answers to S5W-27279 and S5W-27280 on 20 February 2020 and S5W-27281 on 9 March 2020 the term “Puberty Blockers” is non-specific and could be applied to a range of medicines used for a variety of conditions. For example in children whose pu…
3 Feb 2020 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact there will be on the economy and public finances of the downwards revision of estimated GDP from £180 to £175 billion.