Alison Johnstone

22 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recent research, including in connection with the COVID-19 outbreak, what action it is taking to update public health guidance on vitamin D supplementation, and how it will promote this as widely as possible.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government published guidance on 2 April 2020 on Vitamin D for all ages in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was updated on 3 June 2020 and is available at https://www.gov.scot/publications/vitamin-d-advice-for-all-age-groups/ Food Standards …

22 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase the provision of free vitamin D supplementation to include all high-risk groups for COVID-19.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: We recognise that the provision of vitamin D supplements is important for people who are shielding. We are therefore keeping this matter under active review.

21 May 2020 · First Minister's Question

Question to be taken in Chamber.

10 May 2020 · First Minister's Question

Question to be taken in Chamber.

4 May 2020 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to regularly test all staff and residents in care homes for COVID-19.

27 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government at what point in their pregnancy should women not work in a public-facing role during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Answer · Clare Haughey: As advised in my response to S5W-28753 on 14 May 2020 the published guidance directs staff to verified up-to-date sources of information including the guidance from the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-re…

27 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its advice is to pregnant women regarding work during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Answer · Clare Haughey: As advised in my response to S5W-28753 on 14 May 2020, the published guidance directs staff to verified up-to-date sources of information including the guidance from the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-r…

27 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to protect pregnant NHS employees during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Answer · Clare Haughey: The Scottish Government has collated verified guidance for use by NHSScotland to support its workforce during the Covid 19 outbreak. This includes advice about protection for pregnant employees. This resource is kept up to date with the latest advice from our…

24 Apr 2020 · First Minister's Question

Question to be taken in Chamber.

22 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on covering the cost of the 2020 annual registration fees to the Nursing and Midwifery Council as a token of appreciation for the efforts of nurses and midwives during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The COVID-19 pandemic is having an unprecedented impact and we salute and are hugely grateful for the extraordinary hard work, dedication, skill and commitment of everyone who is working across Scotland’s health and social care sectors during this emergency. …

22 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that people can continue to use cash safely as payment during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government recognises that access to cash remains an important part of our society, especially for vulnerable groups. Like any other surface that large numbers of people come into contact with, banknotes can carry bacteria or viruses. However, th…

22 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what help it is providing to people who do not have access to a bank account and cannot therefore comply with the recommended guidance to use cashless payment methods such as debit cards during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: While people are being encouraged to use contactless payments the Scottish Government recognises that this is not possible for everyone. In these circumstances the World Health Organisation (WHO) advise people to wash their hands thoroughly after touching any…

14 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that people requiring psychological therapies are able to access them remotely during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Answer · Clare Haughey: We have recently announced an additional £4.8 million in funding to increase the scope and availability of telephone and digital services in psychological therapies. This will fund extensions to existing services such as the NHS 24 Mental Health Hub, increase…

9 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total COVID-19 testing capacity was on (a) 6, (b) 7, (c) 8 and (d) 9 April 2020, also broken down by the reasons for full capacity not being used.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The NHS Scotland testing capacity on these dates is set out in the following table. Date Capacity Tests 6 April 2402 1097 7 April 2572 1555 8 April 2620 1644 9 April 2620 1391 We are taking steps to ensure we maximise the use of our daily capa…

19 Mar 2020 · First Minister's Question

Question to be taken in Chamber.

18 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the (a) 18-week waiting time for and (b) provision of psychological therapies.  

Answer · Clare Haughey: The Scottish Government is currently working with NHS Boards to assess the impacts of COVID-19 on the provision of mental healthcare, including psychological therapies.  

18 Mar 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking, in conjunction with local authorities, to ensure local council meetings can take place remotely while social distancing measures are in place.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: Scottish Local Authorities already possess the power to conduct meetings remotely if they so choose. We have not been approached for any additional assistance with this by councils and believe it is very much a local matter they are able to arrange and resol…

27 Feb 2020 · First Minister's Question

Question to be taken in Chamber.

6 Feb 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much additional finance it is providing in 2019-20 in response to the reported increase in deaths by overdose, also broken down by how much has been (a) allocated and (b) spent to date, and how much it will provide in 2020-21.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-27344 on 6 March 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…

6 Feb 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much additional finance it is providing to alcohol and drug partnerships (ADPs) in 2019-20, also broken down by how much has been (a) allocated and (b) spent to date, and what action it is taking to encourage the ADPs to spend all of this by April 2020.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: In 2019-20 Scottish Government provided £53.8 million funding to Integration Authorities for Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs). In addition to this £20 million was provided through the 2017-18 Programme for Government. For 2020-21 we are increasing this by…

30 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements it has in place with the DWP to redirect people from Scotland who mistakenly apply to that department instead of Social Security Scotland.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government is working closely with the DWP to help people understand the services available to them from both Governments. We do this through working together on client facing communications, keeping organisations that will support people who ma…

30 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is possible to require operators of rail stations to make provision for spending areas, where there are no appropriate nearby locations for the use of assistance dogs.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Spending areas at railway stations are the responsibility of the station operator and one which should be considered by them in line with their overall obligation to inclusion. Station operators are best placed to make that judgement based on the environment …

30 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for expanding the provision of spending areas at rail stations that do not have appropriate nearby locations for the use of assistance dogs.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-27213 on 21 February 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/parliamentarybusines…

30 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) which rail stations have spending areas for the use of assistance dogs.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Currently there are no rail stations in Scotland with dedicated spending areas for the use of assistance dogs. However, ScotRail, as the operator of the most of the railway stations in Scotland, advises that spending areas will be considered in the future as …

30 Jan 2020 · First Minister's Question

Question to be taken in Chamber.

22 Jan 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to record the loss of greenspace in Scotland.

15 Jan 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it provides to support the Edinburgh Christmas and New Year celebrations, and what criteria are applied.

10 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-25781 by Jeane Freeman on 31 October 2019, whether it will publish the Minister for Mental Health's letter of 19 June 2019 to each NHS board regarding how they process referrals to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), and the replies…

Answer · Clare Haughey: The Scottish Government currently has no plans to publish this information.

10 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-25781 by Jeane Freeman on 31 October 2019, whether it will provide an update on what progress it has made on implementing the 29 recommendations in the audit of rejected referrals to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), including wha…

Answer · Clare Haughey: An update on the progress of each of the 29 recommendations in the Audit of Rejected Referrals to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services can be found in the Mental Health Strategy 2017-2027: Second Progress Report which was published on 26 November 2019.…

9 Jan 2020 · First Minister's Question

Question to be taken in Chamber.