Parliamentary questions

Neil Findlay

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

22 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it will do to ensure that every care home resident has a person-centred risk assessment.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Residents should only be admitted to a care home after a full risk assessment. Thereafter, the Health and Social Care Standards set out what everyone who uses services should expect, including being safe from harm.

22 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent report by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission on embedding equality into decisions and processes affecting older people in care homes in Scotland.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-34182 on 20 January 2021. 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…

21 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent report by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission on the human rights of older people in care homes in Scotland.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government is grateful to the EHRC for their report and will give the basis for its work and recommendations careful consideration given our strong commitment to human rights.

18 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the rationale is for its policy that people who have had a positive PCR COVID-19 test are not required to take another test prior to a care home visit, provided they have completed their self-isolation period and are clear of symptoms.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: People who have had a positive PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) COVID-19 test are not required to take another test within a period of 90 days from their initial illness onset or test (if asymptomatic) provided they have completed their self-isolation period a…

10 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it anticipates single-use pencils will be used at polling station at the 2021 Scottish Parliament election and, if they will be, what it anticipates will be done after polling day with all the pencils that have been used.

Answer · Graeme Dey: Returning Officers are responsible for delivering elections - including the setting up of polling stations. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic they will seek to ensure that voters can vote safely, taking into account public health advice. The Electoral …

10 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many care homes have had (a) zero to 10, (b) 11 to 20, (c) 21 to 30, (d) 31 to 40 and (e) over 40 of their residents die where COVID-19 has been a factor or suspected factor (i) between 1 Jan and 30 June 2020 and (ii) since 1 July 2020 to date.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Management information on deaths of residents of care homes is collected by the Care Inspectorate and published in aggregate form on the Scottish Government website. It is available here: Coronavirus (COVID-19): adult care homes - additional data - gov.scot …

8 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many hospital patients have been discharged to hospices (a) untested and (b) after testing positive for COVID-19.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: This specific information requested is not held centrally.

8 Dec 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase democratic engagement.

8 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any of the COVID-19 legislation in place has repealed section 28 of the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: No. The duty on health boards under section 28 of the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 to involve unpaid carers of those being discharged from hospital has remained in place throughout the pandemic. The Scottish Government has worked with NHS Education for Scotlan…

7 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many press releases have been issued by or on behalf of the Minister for (a) Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing and (b) Minister for Older People and Equalities since 1 March 2020.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Since 1 March 2020, the Scottish Government has issued 17 news releases on behalf of the Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing and seven news releases on behalf of the Minister for Older People and Equalities.

7 Dec 2020 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that safe care home visiting can take place.

3 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will protect the human rights of older people in care homes and hospitals throughout the COVID-19 vaccination scheme.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government has provided information on Power of Attorney for Adults with Incapacity that can be used to ensure access to vaccines here : Section 47 certificate of incapacity - gov.scot ( www.gov.scot). The NHS Scotland provides an information…

3 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will address the issue of access to the COVID-19 vaccine for people without the capacity to give consent.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government has provided information on Power of Attorney for Adults with Incapacity that can be used to ensure access to COVID-19 vaccination here: Section 47 certificate of incapacity - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

3 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of COVID-19 deaths has been people diagnosed with a pre-existing respiratory disease.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: In Scotland between March and October 2020, there were 4,756 deaths involving COVID-19 1 , of which 727 had a respiratory condition 2 recorded on their death certificate as the main pre-existing condition 3 . This represents 15% of deaths. 1 Deaths where COV…

3 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people with a diagnosed pre-existing respiratory condition have died each month after contracting COVID-19.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Deaths involving COVID (1) where the main pre-existing condition (2) was a respiratory condition (3) Scotland, 2020. Month 4 Number of deaths March 80 April 374 May 125 June 32 July 7 August 4 September 9 October 96 Total 727 1 Deaths whe…

2 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-32899 by Jeane Freeman on 2 December 2020, what risk assessment has been done in each of the scenarios identified in that question.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Our decision-making process has been informed by the four harms approach throughout. The four key harms are: the direct impact of COVID-19 on health; the wider impact that the virus is having on health and social care services; how the restrictions are impact…

30 Nov 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is regarding free bus travel for all.

30 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, whether the decision of the Sri Lankan police to arrest a Tamil priest for holding a war memorial service in Jaffna on 27 November 2020 raises any concerns for it in terms of Police Scotland's provision of community training for Sri Lankan police officers.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The current training programme, provided by Police Scotland in Sri Lanka, is aimed at improving community policing and gender equality, with all training underpinned by equality and human rights. It is a matter for the Chief Constable of Police Scotland to ag…

30 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the most up-to-date figures are for suicide rates.

Answer · Clare Haughey: Suicide statistics for Scotland were published by Public Health Scotland on the 24th November 2020, available at the link below: Suicide Statistics for Scotland 24 November 2020 - Data & intelligence from PHS (isdscotland.org) .

30 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether knowingly discharging COVID-19-positive patients to care homes constitutes a breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 applies to all employers in the UK without exception. Enforcement of this legislation is the statutory responsibility of the Health and Safety Executive.

25 Nov 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what support it is providing to older people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

24 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5T-02539 by Jeane Freeman on 24 November 2020 (Official Report, c.3), in light of the cabinet secretary's comment that "COVID-19-positive patients are not routinely being discharged to care homes", whether it will confirm how many such patients have be…

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Public Health Scotland is progressing work to improve the systematic recording of information on hospital records to identify when a person is either admitted from or discharged to a care home. PHS are currently testing their IT systems, with the intention th…