Parliamentary questions

Neil Findlay

2,296 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

21 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many patients who were previously categorised as delayed discharge patients have been discharged from hospital to make way for coronavirus capacity, and how many of them have been discharged (a) with and (b) without a care package in place.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: All delayed discharge patients will have required some form of care after discharge, either in their own home, care home or other community setting. Using a Home First Discharge to Assess approach many partnerships are discharging people for further rehabilit…

21 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a substantive answer to question S5W-27947, which received a holding response on 30 March 2020, regarding whether, in light of the COVID-19 outbreak, it will carry out an immediate independent review of social care.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question SW-27947 on 4 May 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/2887…

20 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has asked the UK Government not to provide COVID-19 business support to companies that (a) pay out dividends, (b) buy back shares and (c) are registered in tax havens.

Answer · Kate Forbes: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-28536 on 5 May 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/288…

20 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported comments of a former chief medical officer in response to the COVID-19 outbreak that it should "Test, test, test. Trace the contacts and isolate them".

Answer · Jeane Freeman: On 4 May we published our strategy to help disrupt community transmission of the virus, "Test, Trace, Isolate, Support" (link here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-test-trace-isolate-support/ This document sets out the Scottish appro…

20 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide public money to support companies that are being affected by COVID-19 and are registered in tax havens.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government believes that businesses and individuals should all pay a fair share of tax to support the vital services and infrastructure on which we all rely. We recognise the challenges presented by tax-motivated behaviours. We are actively inves…

20 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many of the planned 1.2 million COVID-19 tests in sentinel practices have been carried out.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government did not commit to undertake 1.2 million COVID-19 tests in sentinel practices – 1.2 million is the maximum representative population that the network of 200 GP practices involved in testing covers. To maximise access to COVID-19 testin…

15 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what targets it has set for testing for COVID-19 each week since 1 February 2020, and how it has performed against each target.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government set a target to have the daily lab capacity for 3500 tests by the end of April 2020. Maximum NHS testing capacity as of 1 May was 4,350 tests a day and has increased since that date.

15 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to financially support community sports clubs and organisations during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government, in conjunction with sport scotland, will continue to work closely with all partners to understand their specific circumstances in supporting community sport to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and will consider these as part of our ong…

15 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will roll out community testing for COVID-19.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: We are continuing to rapidly increase our testing capacity and keep its use under constant review, including whether there are other groups who could or should be tested to improve our knowledge of the spread of the virus and to protect individuals. On 4 May…

14 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it did not initiate a national communications strategy to inform the public that they may be contacted by their GP practice regarding matters including (a) Do Not Resuscitate Orders and (b) Power of Attorney.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Chief Medical Officer wrote to those people considered most at risk from COVID-19 on 26 March. The letter provided information and support on shielding themselves from Covid-19 and how they could access the care and treatment they might need. The letter a…

14 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the handling of the recent ballot of football clubs by the SPFL in relation to the release and distribution of money to clubs as a consequence of the COVID-19 outbreak, and the impact that this may have on promoting the game and its reputation.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: We recognise the significant impact the pandemic is having on our national game and are working closely with the football authorities on issues specific to all levels of the game and to ensure clubs receive the right business support and advice. Sporting iss…

14 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the advice it received from the Chief Medical Officer, Chief Scientific Officer and National Clinical Director that supports its policy not to carry out widespread community testing for COVID-19.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government does not routinely publish advice to Ministers of this kind. The remit, membership and minutes of the Scottish Government COVID-19 Advisory Group, which considers the scientific and technical concepts and processes that are key to und…

8 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason officers from the Army and Royal Marines are advising NHS Lothian, and when it became aware that this was happening.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The military are standing members of local and regional resilience partnerships, alongside health boards and as such support local planning, training and exercising. They have also been providing specific planning support to NHS Lothian and other Health Board…

6 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the comments by its National Clinical Director on Channel 4 on 16 March 2020, whether it will confirm how many key workers (a) overall and (b) in the nuclear sector had been tested for COVID-19 by the end of each week since that date.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: As of 18 May, at least 32,166 key workers or their family members have been tested. This does not include key workers tested through the UK Government regional or mobile testing units, and is therefore likely to undercount the number of keyworkers tested. Inf…

3 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much additional funding has been given each month to Scottish Enterprise to support businesses in responding to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Scottish Enterprise are reviewing and reprioritising their spending plans for 2020-21, so that existing funds can be used to address the impacts of Coronavirus on businesses and the economy. In March, the Scottish Government allocated £300,000 additional fund…

3 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the scientific advice that it is using to inform its current testing strategy for COVID-19, and the advice it used for the period (a) up to 20 February and (b) from 21 February to 20 March 2020.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government does not routinely publish advice to Ministers of this kind.

2 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what additional payments, in addition to paying overtime, will be made to prison officers at HMP Addiewell who work hours in excess of any paid overtime.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: Prisoner Custody Officers (PCOs) at HMP Addiewell are paid by Sodexo Justice Services. who are the operating sub-contractor of…

2 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what additional payments will be made to (a) officer and (b) non-officer prison staff who work extra hours during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has introduced a temporary additional payment scheme In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, This…

1 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to address any growth in the attainment gap that might arise during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Answer · John Swinney: Closing the poverty related attainment gap is the defining mission of this government and our commitment to that will remain consistent throughout and beyond this challenging period. We recognise the challenges that this unprecedented situation presents, in p…