Parliamentary questions
Alison Johnstone
905 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
24 Aug 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the increase in respiratory infections and illness in the winter, how it will ensure that adequate COVID-19 testing is available in the coming months.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Demand for testing will fluctuate for a range of reasons. With winter pressures on the testing system in mind, we have been taking forward plans to expand existing capacity by:Deploying additional mobile testing unitsIncreasing the number of tests that can be…
24 Aug 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that dental practices have access to sufficient and appropriate PPE.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: We’ve worked with NHS Scotland procurement teams to ensure a robust and sustainable supply of PPE is available to NHS dental practices including the supply of 15 million pieces of PPE and 850,000 FFP3 respirators to support Scotland’s dental community. Each …
21 Aug 2020 · First Minister's Question
Question to be taken in Chamber.
14 Aug 2020 · First Minister's Question
Question to be taken in Chamber.
12 Aug 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when indoor youth activities such as dance classes will be able to resume and what scientific advice underpins any ongoing restrictions.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: As the First Minister outlined in her statement on 20 August 2020 the date for the reopening of indoor sport and leisure facilities is 31 August with physical distancing and enhanced hygiene measures in place. This will allow children under 12 to take part in…
12 Aug 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the scientific basis is for maintaining the restrictions on access to mobile complementary therapies that were imposed in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, and by what date it expects these services will be able to resume.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The clinical Professional Advisory Group advised that where close contact services are provided in a fixed premises it is possible for the service provider to maintain control of the environment, ensuring appropriate cleaning and other measures are in place t…
28 Jul 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on establishing COVID-19 testing centres at all airports.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Testing at airports is something we continue to consider very carefully. Covid-19 has an incubation period of up to 14 days and the quarantining of travellers from high risk countries is the safest way to reduce transmission of the disease. We are necessari…
16 Jul 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS staff working with cancer patients have been tested for COVID-19 since 8 July 2020, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Health Boards have commenced routine testing of healthcare workers in key areas (oncology, long stay elderly care and mental health wards where the length of stay is over three months). This includes staff working on Specialist Cancer Wards and Treatment Area…
16 Jul 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of required staff working with cancer patients were tested in the first week of COVID-19 testing, which commenced on 8 July 2020.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-30742 on 26 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…
13 Jul 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it will put in place to prevent further mass culling of mountain hares when the mountain hare closed season ends on 1 August 2020.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government has always been clear that any large-scale culling that threatens the conservation status of mountain hares is not acceptable. However, as I stated during the stage 3 debate in Parliament there are a number of issues that must be full…
13 Jul 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to commence section 10F of The Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government will set out its timetable for commencing all sections of the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020, including Section 10F, in due course.
8 Jul 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications have been made to the (a) Creative, Tourism and Hospitality Enterprises Hardship Fund and (b) Creative Scotland Bridging Bursary Fund by organisations in the music sector, and how many were successful.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government continues to support Scotland’s businesses by passing on every penny we receive from the UK Government for this purpose, and more, directly to businesses. Our approach to supporting businesses is tailored to Scotland’s economic needs a…
8 Jul 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the National Partnership for Culture will report to it on how to respond to challenges facing the culture sector arising from COVID-19.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The National Partnership for Culture, chaired by Joanna Baker CBE, had its inaugural meeting on 24 June 2020. It had its second meeting on 23 July, at which it confirmed its terms of reference, which have now been published on the Scottish Government website.…
8 Jul 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives from the music sector to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on it.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government last met representatives of the music sector to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on 22 July. During the COVID-19 pandemic the Scottish Government has been in continued contact with the music sector and will continue to do s…
8 Jul 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support orchestras, choirs and other musical organisations to meet the challenges that the music sector faces from COVID-19.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: We are determined to do all we can to help the culture sector recover so that it continues to make a vibrant and rich contribution to Scotland, recognising that it is likely to be amongst the last to return to sustainable operations. In addition to the measu…
8 Jul 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether after-school clubs will be allowed to re-open on 11 August 2020.
Answer · Maree Todd: All childcare settings including regulated school age childcare have been able to open from 15 July, subject to public health guidance. We would expect that providers who follow a school term-time model may choose not to open until 11 August, when schools res…
6 Jul 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Scotland-specific COVID-19 statistics are being provided to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Health Protection Scotland provide weekly data to ECDC on the number confirmed cases and COVID-19 confirmed deaths.
1 Jul 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the effectiveness of the provisions regarding the use of sexual history and character evidence in sexual offence trials.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government has established the Victims Taskforce to improve support, advice and information for victims of crime and their families as they interact with the Scottish criminal justice system. The Victims Taskforce includes a work stream which is …
24 Jun 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address the backlog of both routine and urgent dental work that has accumulated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The remobilisation of NHS dental practices is an extremely complex process in which the health and safety of all dental patients and staff is the main consideration. From 22 June, all dental practices will be able to open and treat patients in need of urgent …
22 Jun 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers root canal procedures to be classed as urgent dental care.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Root canal procedures, including the opening of the root canal, removal of pulp, and the application of an appropriate temporary filling, can currently be carried out within an Urgent Dental Care Centre (UDCC). Root canal treatments rely on the use of dental…
22 Jun 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the reduction of dental services during the COVID-19 outbreak on oral cancer detection and survival rates.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Despite a reduction in dental services during the COVID-19 outbreak ensuring that people have access to cancer services remains a priority. Dental practices have continued to triage patients during this period and, following the Scottish Dental Clinical Effec…
18 Jun 2020 · First Minister's Question
Question to be taken in Chamber.
17 Jun 2020 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of BAME health and social care workers have been risk-assessed for COVID-19.
4 Jun 2020 · First Minister's Question
Question to be taken in Chamber.
26 May 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when urgent cancer operations and treatment that were cancelled or postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic will resume, and when cancer screening programmes will recommence in (a) Lothian and (b) across Scotland.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The majority of cancer treatments have continued through the pandemic including by using private sector capacity in Scotland is to support urgent cancer surgery. Some cancer treatment plans have been altered to minimise patients’ individual risk of COVID-19. …
22 May 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to promote disabled people's participation in traditional music.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government is committed to working with disabled people to develop policies and the approaches required to solve problems and dismantle barriers. The ability to fully participate in cultural life, including traditional music, is central to this. …
22 May 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to widen disabled people's access to careers in the performing arts.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Fair access to the arts for all is central to the purpose of Scottish Government funding for culture bodies. Those organisations all share a desire and aim to include and employ as diverse an audience and workforce as possible. All public bodies responsible f…
22 May 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recent international research on the links between low vitamin D levels and COVID-19 severity, what consideration it has given to testing vitamin D levels in (a) hospital patients and (b) care home residents.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-29308 on 11 June 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/2…
22 May 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what research it is (a) carrying out and (b) supporting on the impact of low levels of vitamin D on high-risk COVID-19 groups, including (i) black and minority ethnic people, (ii) obese people and (iii) older people (A) in and (B) outwith care homes.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-29308 on 11 June 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/2…
22 May 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what research it is (a) carrying out and (b) supporting on vitamin D deficiency and its impact on COVID-19 severity and mortality.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government through the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) and NHS Research Scotland (NRS) is providing support for research studies taking place in Scotland that have been prioritised through the Urgent Public Health Research into COVID-19 process mana…