Stuart McMillan

27 Aug 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its COVID-19 guidance states regarding whether hand driers in public places can be used.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government published the Coronavirus (COVID-19): opening public and customer toilets guidance on 27 June 2020. https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-public-and-customer-toilets-guidance/pages/hygiene-measures/ The guidance was…

17 Aug 2020 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what discussions the Scottish Government has had with the SFA and SPFL to allow football clubs to utilise their local COVID-19 testing facilities.

12 Aug 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has given consideration to introducing an official form of ID for people who are exempt from wearing face coverings due to a medical condition.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government is considering an official exemption card for those who are exempt from wearing a face covering. We know this is a very important issues and we are carefully considering this.

1 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work is being carried out with local authorities to support teachers who are in receipt of the job retention payment for supply and temporary contracts into full-time teaching posts.

Answer · John Swinney: For the reopening of schools in August, we will need all possible teaching resources at our disposal to compensate for any loss of learning suffered during lockdown, as well as to bring much needed resilience to the education system at this challenging time. …

24 Jun 2020 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will create a board of directors for Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Ltd.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Six Non-Executive Directors have been appointed to a newly created Board. Members have a range of relevant skills and experience and will pro-actively assist and advise the current Turnaround Director with the restructuring and development of Ferguson Marine …

19 Jun 2020 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress to deliver Scotland’s Census in 2021.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Scotland’s Census provides people, businesses and organisations with high quality data and analysis which is used to inform key decisions in relation to policy making, investment and the planning of services. The census also helps paint an important picture o…

15 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when youth work is expected to be allowed to restart in a face-to-face capacity as part of the COVID-19 route map.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I am pleased to say youth work services have not ceased but have continued throughout lockdown, with the sector finding innovative way to engage young people in leisure and learning. As we ease ourselves out of restrictions, the Scottish Government’s first p…

15 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support will be made available to community groups, particularly those that maintain and operate community halls, if these are to remain closed beyond phase 4 of the COVID-19 route map.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government committed £350 million of funding to support local communities and households in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding was developed using a range of approaches to ensure that resource was quickly mobilised to the people an…

15 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether outdoor and adventure employees, including those who deliver Duke of Edinburgh Awards, John Muir Awards and the Leave No Trace initiatives, are to be called on to help upskill school staff and assist with blended learning and more outdoor learning taking place when schooling resu…

Answer · John Swinney: There is potential for individuals who deliver Duke of Edinburgh Awards, John Muir Awards and the Leave No Trace initiatives to support the reopening of schools by helping to upskill school staff in relevant ways. However, decisions as to whether to utilise i…

15 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support is available to local authorities to enable them to hire outdoor activity centres to assist with blended learning once schooling resumes in August 2020.

Answer · John Swinney: As set out in the answer to S5W-29738 on 19 June 2020, in accordance with the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 the responsibility for the delivery of education rests with individual local authorities. It is the responsibility of individual local authorities to a…

15 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to organisations and charities that run outdoor activity centres, particularly if schools and youth groups cancel residential trips due to take place in 2020-21.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is aware of the current challenges faced by organisations that run outdoor education centres. In response we have committed to a package of support aimed at helping to ensure that visitor numbers return to viable levels more quickly th…

15 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how outdoor centres, including those operated by Scouts Scotland, will be used by schools when classes resume in August 2020.

Answer · John Swinney: There is potential for outdoor settings to be utilised more often as schools reopen. The outdoors provides greater space for education to be delivered if physical distancing remains in place. Visits to outdoor centres can also positively impact the physical a…

11 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to establish a funding stream to assist businesses that will not be able to operate until phase 4 of the COVID-19 route map.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has already provided over £2.3 billion of support to businesses across Scotland and is continuing to keep the needs of business under review as we work to restart the economy safely in line with our Routemap.

9 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether teachers and children returning to schools will be required to wear facemasks, and, if so, whether these will be provided.

Answer · John Swinney: The Coronavirus (COVID-19): re-opening schools guide sets out that the use of PPE by staff within education and childcare facilities should be based on a clear assessment of risk and need for an individual child or young person. In addition, it sets out where…

9 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what communications it has had with COSLA regarding new guidelines being established to help schools return in August 2020.

Answer · John Swinney: The Covid-19 Education Recovery Group was created to make the best decisions possible for Scotland’s children and young people, families and education staff during these uniquely difficult times for the whole of our society. The Group's membership includes re…

9 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether hand lotion will be provided in schools to assist teachers and children when schools return in August 2020.

Answer · John Swinney: As part of the work of the Covid-19 Education Recovery Group, we recently published the Coronavirus (COVID-19): re-opening schools guidance which includes important sections on personal hygiene. The guidance states that adequate facilities should be availabl…

9 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what childcare assistance will be provided to key workers who live in one local authority area but work in another, and where new guidelines reportedly make it difficult for them to return to work.

Answer · Maree Todd: Scottish Government, COSLA and local government partners have agreed that it is vital that decisions about key workers and the childcare places allocated are taken locally. Local authorities are responsible for providing critical childcare for key workers an…

9 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it will give to 2020-21 probationary teachers who will be starting their probationary year in classrooms from 11 August.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is working closely with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) to ensure that all probationary teachers, who start their probationary year in August, will receive the support and guidance they require in these unprecedented t…

9 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To as the Scottish Government what support it will provide to 2019-20 probationary teachers who missed out on approximately three months of classroom teaching experience as a result of COVID-19.

Answer · John Swinney: We are working closely with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) to ensure that the necessary support and guidance is available for all probationers and their mentors in these unprecedented times. The GTCS has reduced the in-school element of the …

9 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether people contacted through the Test and Protect programme will be informed of the location or suspected type of interaction that may have led them to come into contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19, particularly when the positive COVID-19 case has asked to rema…

Answer · Jeane Freeman: As part of the Test and Protect system, to protect patient confidentiality, close contacts are informed that they may have been exposed, so that they can be given relevant health information and told to self-isolate in order to interrupt chains of transmissio…

5 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that public information on social distancing includes advice on recognising the specific challenges for people with visual impairment and helping them maintain a distance of two metres from other people.

Answer · Clare Haughey: Physical distancing measures are steps everyone should take to reduce social interaction between people. This will help reduce the spread of coronavirus. Guidance on physical distancing is available on the Scottish Government website physical (social) distan…

5 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to develop and offer guidance to retailers, service providers, public and private transport providers and public services, including schools and hospitals, to support people with visual impairment to maintain social distancing when using their services and accessing the…

Answer · Clare Haughey: The Scottish Government has produced a suite of guidance documents which are reviewed in line with the regular three-weekly review of the lockdown requirements and will be read alongside the legal restrictions and prohibitions contained in the Health Protecti…

13 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it is giving to prioritising the reopening of stores that specialise in selling items for babies, in light of expectant parents seeking to purchase essential items such as car seats, prams and cots, which cannot be tested when purchased online.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: We recognise that this is a difficult time for parents and expectant parents. On 21 May, the First Minister set out the steps and phases by which the Scottish Government will aim to ease current lockdown measures. As detailed in the route map published, our …

5 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether stricter guidelines are required to help reduce the number of COVID-19-related deaths.  

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government is keeping lockdown restrictions under constant review. Our priority will always be to save lives and reduce the number of people who might die unnecessarily. Our ‘Framework for Decision-Making’ papers set out the Scottish Government’…

5 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what additional COVID-19 testing will be carried out in Inverclyde, in light of it recording the highest level of COVID-19-related deaths among local authority areas.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government continues to focus on three objectives for testing: to support those seriously ill, to support essential workers to get back to work, and for the purposes of surveillance. Testing capacity in Scotland has been significantly increased …

5 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) Police Scotland, (b) the Inverclyde Health and Social Care Partnership and (c) the retail sector regarding people's adherence in Inverclyde to the social distancing guidelines, in light of it recording the highest average level of COVID-19-related dea…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Myself and the Chief Constable have regular discussions on a range of issues. Additionally, Police Scotland provides daily updates on the Covid-19 response and impact which have included reports about enforcement activity in respect of the emergency regulatio…

5 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what additional messaging it plans to help reduce the level of COVID-19-related deaths among the older population, in light of reports that 74% of such deaths are among people over 75.

Answer · Clare Haughey: People who are at increased risk of severe illness, which includes people over 70, have been advised to strictly follow physical distancing measures. Where individuals are over 70 and have a health condition that puts them at the highest risk of severe illnes…

5 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it is providing to the care home sector in Inverclyde to reduce the number of COVID-19-related deaths.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government is supporting the care home sector across Scotland and my officials are in regular contact with Health and Social Care Partnerships (HSCPs) in Scotland, including Inverclyde HSCP, to support them to manage and deal with the impacts of …

5 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the reasons why Inverclyde is recording the highest average level of COVID-19-related deaths among local authority areas.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) analyses and categorises the nearly 7,000 'data zones' of Scotland by deprivation. https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-index-multiple-deprivation-2020/pages/5/ The 2020 SIMD report shows that Invercl…

5 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what additional funding it is providing to (a) public bodies, (b) third sector organisations and (c) volunteer groups in the Inverclyde to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak, in light of it recording the highest average level of COVID-19-related deaths among local authority areas.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: As advised by the First Minister on 6 May, following the outbreak of Coronavirus in Scotland the Scottish Government allocated Inverclyde Council £749,000 in hardship funding and £500,000 from the food fund. An additional £447,000 has been allocated in respec…